Just Stay Inside

Working out is a worldwide known and practiced activity. Similar to everything else in life, there are negatives that come from working out. The negatives appear when the unrealistic expectations and an unbalanced mindset create adversity for the physical and mental well-being of a person. With these negatives, people turn to a reason not to work out.

One of the most significant negatives that comes from working out is the risk of a few different things; Athlete burnout, overtraining and physical strain, or muscle damage. People become so wrapped up in trying to look a certain way and lift crazy amount of weight, that he or she does not fully listen to the body and continue to train without adequate rest and no recovery. This is known as overtraining syndrome. Overtraining syndrome is a nationally recognized thing and can be diagnosed by doctors. It is similar to Athlete’s burnout. Athlete burnout is a condition where an athlete experiences a new level of fatigue and declining performance in sports despite not changing the workout routine. It also is a reason for mood changes, decreased motivation, frequent injury and a higher risk of infection. Working out puts a physical strain on the body that should not be done everyday. If the athlete does not do recovery, the chances he or she gets injured are very high.

Individuals may fall into the temptation of over working the bodies’ limits. The false mindset of more exercise will lead to better results kicks in for many athletes. This is an absolutely terrible mindset to have because lifting and “being strong” is all relative. The 5’6 160 pound kid that can sneak up 225 on the bench press may think he is strong until he sees the 6’2 195 pound kid doing it for reps. They both think they are strong, but are they both? It does not really matter if there is a right answer because they can both think they are weak or strong and still not be a top five strongest guy in the gym. The consistent pushing of the body’s limits can lead to stress fractures, tendonitis, and various muscle strains. It seems counterintuitive that working out is promoted to help people get healthier, can put such stress on and compromise the person’s health and body.

There is a lot of pressure that comes from social media, a gym environment, and the general eyes of the public to have the “perfect” physique. This ideology can lead to a number of unhealthy behaviors. This list includes over excessive cardio, eating, dieting, compulsive workouts, and worst of all the taking of Sarms, or stronger steroids. “SARMs, which are chemical substances that mimic the effects of testosterone and anabolic steroids, are not FDA approved. Online vendors and social media influencers are using social media to make SARMs seem safe and effective.” Studies show that the risks of taking Sarms are detrimental to an athlete’s health and can cause them to lose their life. Some life-threatening health problems include increased risk of heart attack or stroke, psychosis/hallucinations, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, liver injury and acute liver failure, infertility, pregnancy miscarriage, testicular shrinkage.

Exercising is often looked at as the cure for a bad mood or a instant mood booster. This is not the case for people who are prone to compulsive disorder tendencies. The gym to them can be a competitive place to go that will increase their blood pressure and dopamine which will cause injury. Pursuing the “perfect physique” can cause the development of BDD or what is also known as body dysmorphic disorder. The social environment of the gym can be a demoralizing place for people. It can promote body shaming, anxiety, low self esteem, and depression. The worst the part of these negatives arising is that they are all mental things. There are very very few instances that someone will actually walk up to another person in the gym and harass them by calling them fat, small, or out of shape. These negative connotations of working out come from a person not believing in themself.

Even though it is not as recognized as poorly as nicotine or gambling, working out can become a real addiction. Like all addictions, it becomes a nasty habit that they can’t find a way of avoiding. Individuals become so obsessed with working out, they can’t find another way to pass time each day. This often comes at the expense of the other essential parts of someone’s life. It can cause a rift in relationships, professional commitments, and typically leads to physical burnout.

To be clear, there are huge benefits of exercise. The benefits are helpful today, but not often down the road 30 years from now. High impact activity when is performed without perfect form or proper warm up can result in an injury ranging from sprains to severe nerve damage or a torn ligament. By working out so frequently, there is a premature hit that is put on the joints. This damage throughout the years will lead to chronic conditions like osteoarthritis. The activity that is supposed to build your body up and make you feel invincible, will contribute to not being able to walk down the stairs in the future.

The stress that is inflicted by a strenuous workout can be enough to push someone over the edge, especially if the person who is already under a significant amount of stress in the real world. There is a name for this that people get diagnosed with by doctors. This is called the “exercise paradox.” In other words, the person loses the ability to have a limit. They begin to workout to numb the stress in the outside world instead of working out to feel good.

The obsession that fitness creates caused a transformation in everyday life. People have to create a focus for doing everyday activity like walking up the stairs. Some people will legitimately sprint up the stairs to induce calorie burning activity. This type of hyperfocus on exercise and diet may create tension between relationships, family, and other friends. The tension is because others are unable to comprehend the obsession and can not comprehend what you want. The athlete is so committed to sticking with the strict workout regimen, the person will isolate themself and not involve themself with friends or going out.

While there are definitely reasons to work out, it is important to do it in moderation. There are so many negatives that can be introduced into someone’s life because of working out. The negatives that appear are both physical and mental. The negatives appear when the unrealistic expectations and an unbalanced mindset create adversity for the physical and mental well-being of a person. With these negatives, people turn to a reason not to work out.

References

Kreher, Jeffrey B, and Jennifer B Schwartz. “Overtraining Syndrome: A Practical Guide.” Sports Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2012, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3435910/.

Commissioner, Office of the. “Social Media Posts by Influencers and Online Sellers Promote Sarms Use.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, http://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/fda-warns-use-selective-androgen-receptor-modulators-sarms-among-teens-young-adults#:~:text=Studies%20and%20reports%20show%20SARMs,Sleep%20disturbances. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Pontzer, Herman. “The Exercise Paradox.” Scientific American, 5 July 2018, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-exercise-paradox/.