Key Indicators Of Unhealthy Exercise Habits

Experiencing Guilt Or Frustration For Missing A Workout

An individual's workout should be a part of their day they look forward to, rather than being a chore. There are many benefits to working out. It releases endorphins, allows individuals to clear their head, and helps their body feel good. With this in mind, being annoyed about missing a workout is a normal and justified reaction. But when the reaction tips over into anxiety, frustration, or guilt, it can be a sign of a mental health issue. Working out should make individuals feel good, but not working out should not make them feel bad. It's not healthy to tie one's sense of self-worth to the completion of a workout. In the same vein, heightened anxiety indicates a problem. If individuals are so dependent on your workout routine that missing it gives them physical anxiety symptoms, they need to reexamine their priorities. A little frustration isn't a cause for concern, but if the frustration is so strong that it ruins their day or causes them to lash out at others, that's a problem.

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Feeling Exhausted Most Of The Time

Exercising too much or too intensely can lead to feeling exhausted most of the time. This isn't always a sign of a mental health issue, and it could just be an individual hasn't been taking breaks because they aren't aware of how much rest they need. For the most part, the best rule of thumb is for individuals to listen to their body. If they're exhausted and their muscles are impossibly sore, individuals should take some time to rest. They can do some research on how to alternate different types of exercise and targeted muscle groups so they don't exhaust their whole body.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends five hours of weekly moderate exercise or two and a half hours of weekly intense exercise. If individuals meet but don't exceed these levels, their fatigue could be caused by any number of things. It might be the result of a protein or iron deficiency or caused by mental health issues like depression. Patients might have an undiagnosed physical health condition that causes exercise intolerance. In any case, patients should talk to a doctor about their symptoms.

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