Another negative consequence to over-exercising is compulsion that usually accompanies it. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia and other body starving diet tactics are dangerous enough. When you add an addiction of too much exercise to an already detrimental dieting tendency, you are left with possibility of heart damage from insufficient fuel and nutrients to sustain workout. While aforementioned health issues are serious enough, an individual can also develop frequent headaches, loss of coordination and various stomach problems.

Over-exercising is not a physical disorder. While it will affect you physically, it is more of a symptom of depression. And if you think about it, over-exercising, eating disorders, feelings of inadequacy due to poor body image, poor judgment when evaluating priorities are all symptoms of depression. The bottom line here is when your choices begin to compromise your health, happiness or safety it is time to seek out effective counseling.

A lifestyle incorporating exercise is nothing but beneficial in many aspects. People exercise with a goal in mind whether it is to feel better, defuse stress or build muscle. Luckily, over-exercising can most easily be detected with a simple time evaluation. I advise my clients not to go beyond one hour a day five days a week in a formal gym-type setting; and that is extremely generous. It is also easily controlled as you work different parts of your body different days and have variety in your exercise regime. And just for good measure, strolling your baby in park or games of tag with your preschoolers are acceptable at all time.

American Council on Exercise decided to study activities of employees and their activity levels based on daily attire. The findings were relevant to expectation – an eight percent increase in caloric expenditure in subjects that wore casual and comfortable clothing. These casually-dressed participants took more steps throughout day, including stairs over elevators, and subsequently, more calories were burned. This was solely based on time in office and does not include a visit to gym. In addition, this study was conducted in colder seasons. The researchers agree that there could be as much as a 15-20% increase in steps taken in warmer months, which would equal a total of 23-28% increase in activity of those that dress casually to work.

While studied percentage may seem insignificant, it does offsets nation’s average annual weight gain of .4 to 1.8 pounds. If this does not encourage you to seek out better means of your professional presentation, you may want to also consider less foot trauma and decline of irregular inner thigh contractions from putting off that lingering urge to visit ladies room.