Incorporating Exercise Into Eating Disorder Recovery

Contributed by Canopy Cove

There are many reasons to engage in physical activity. In the early days of the human race, “exercise” was purely for methods of survival, roaming the land and running, jumping, or attacking for food or as a means of protection. The stakes are not nearly as high today, but incorporating exercise into eating disorder recovery is still very important.

We exercise to socialize, gain a sense of community, satisfy our competitive nature, challenge ourselves, entertain others, or process negative emotions such as anger, sadness, or stress.

We also run ourselves into the ground, push our bodies to the point of exhaustion, and work out intensely without fueling ourselves properly afterward,

These behaviors may serve a function, but it is not one focused on survival. Instead, they are focused on cultural pressures to appear a certain way or an inability to cope with the negative emotions that are signaling danger to us.

It is these complications that make engaging in physical activity dangerous for someone recovering from an eating disorder. The distorted relationship between exercise, food, and the body has been studied extensively, with statistics showing that between 50 to 80% of individuals with eating disorders engage in excessive exercise behaviors [1].

This symptom not only worsens the physical toll an eating disorder can take on an individual’s body, but is one of the last symptoms to subside throughout treatment and predicts longer periods of eating disorder hospitalization as well as “quicker relapse and a chronic outcome, at least among AN (Anorexia Nervosa) patients [2].”

Because of our cultural exercise values as well as these risks, a question looms over the heads of many in eating disorder recovery – will I ever be able to exercise safely again?

The short answer is, yes. In fact, learning how to engage in balanced and healthy exercise is an integral part of recovery.

Many treatment centers are recognizing the integral relationship that body movement has in our lives and in eating disorder development, which makes it undeniable that it should be addressed in what is being called Body-Oriented Treatment, which addresses the entire body and its relationship between the emotional and social aspects of an individual’s life [3]

If you are ready to reintegrate exercise into your new, free, life, here are some things to consider.

Start Fresh When Adding Exercise Into Eating Disorder Recovery

The first thing to be aware of as you reintegrate exercise into eating disorder recovery are those false and harmful beliefs you had about exercise before. These previously held beliefs can come back with a vengeance unexpectedly but can be counteracted with planning.

Consider your previous exercise ideas such as calorie counting, any expectation of a desired result, or any “should” or “have to” rules that you pushed yourself to follow. Get rid of these, whether metaphorically by simply deciding that they are no longer helpful or literally by writing them down and tearing up or burning the piece of paper.

Let them go.

Now, ask yourself what is your new philosophy on exercise?

What is your goal?

What are your motivations?

Consider these questions carefully and answer them honestly, as how you respond to them can determine whether or not you are ready to integrate exercise into your new life.

Make peace with the relationship you used to have with exercise and embrace the new relationship you are building, and a relationship focused on moving your body in a healthy way that moves you, emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Take Your Time

You will, undoubtedly, want to jump back into the exercises you enjoyed previous to your treatment or while still in your eating disorder. But, this can be dangerous, as you certainly don’t want to over-do your body or jump back into disordered or dysfunctional exercise behaviors.

This process needs to be taken slowly, beginning with the reflection of old and new beliefs discussed above and continuing with a complete reintroduction to fitness, movement, and the body.

Many treatment centers begin exercise reintegration with what is know as psychoeducation, that is, providing educational information based on the psychology of exercise and movement.

So much of what our culture teaches us regarding fitness is based upon a biased and self-serving diet and beauty-industry based culture.

Take some time to learn the true science behind various forms of exercise, what they do for your body and mind, and how to engage in them safely and healthily and nourish yourself properly afterward. Once you gain this understanding, slowly allow yourself to ease back into exercise.

Your body and mind have been ravaged by an eating disorder and will be further ravaged by pushing yourself too hard. Go for short walks, complete breathing exercises, do some light stretching, engage in activities that are light and can teach you to tune into your body again.

Listen to Your Body

For a long time, you and your body have been at odds. Your body is begging for nourishment and protection, and your eating disorder is convincing you to ignore these alarms.

As you slowly move your body again, you have to learn to listen to, and respect, signals such as hunger, thirst, pain, or tired. Pay attention to what it feels like with each step or stretch or movement, when does your body feel satisfied with these movements and when is it asking you to stop?

You and your body are working to repair your relationship, and that means communicating and listening in a way you may not have been open to before.

A helpful way to do this is to process your exercise, before, during, and after. Whether with your treatment team, your family, or in a journal, write down what you are noticing about your bodies’ signals and how you are receiving those.

If you begin to feel tempted to ignore these, that is okay. You have spent a long time ignoring them, and your brain is learning to go a new way. Gently push yourself to do as your body is telling you and process these challenges as they come up.

Tap Into Your Support

You do not have to endure this process alone. As you communicate with your body and engage in more movement, work to also communicate with your treatment team and loved ones.

This can help you experience more support as well as accountability. The voice of your eating disorder may challenge this, wanting you to attempt this feat in isolation so that it increases your likelihood for relapse.

Fight this urge and, instead, be open with those in your recovery circle that you are working to reintegrate exercise into your life and would like help in processing this experience.

Eating disorders are challenging, as they involve behaviors that are more difficult to avoid upon recovery.

When an individual is in recovery from alcohol or substance abuse, they abstain from the people, places, and things that fostered those behaviors. Whether in recovery or not, individuals still have to eat, and they still need to move their bodies.

Exercise can undoubtedly play a role in your recovery and life after your eating disorder. Just as you gather your strength, courage, and resilience to build a new relationship with food, you can do so with exercise.

---

Resources:

[1] Davis, C., et al. (1997). The prevalence of high-level exercise in the eating disorders: etiological implications. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 38(6), 321-326.

[2] Calogero, R. (2010). Incorporating exercise into the treatment and recovery of eating disorders: cultivating a mindful approach. Treatment of Eating Disorders: Bridging the Research-Practice Gap.

[3] Danielsen, M. et al. (2018). How to integrate physical activity and exercise approaches into inpatient treatment for eating disorders: fifteen years of clinical experience and research. Journal of Eating Disorders, 6:34.

---

About Our Sponsor:

Canopy Cove Eating Disorder Treatment Center is a leading residential Eating Disorder Treatment Center with 25 years’ experience treating adults and teens who are seeking lasting recovery from Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder and other related eating disorders.

We are a licensed rehabilitative provider accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Trusted and recommended by doctors and therapists throughout the country, our program provides clients with clinical excellence and compassionate care.

As one of the most experienced Eating Disorder Centers in the nation, we’ve developed a highly effective program that incorporates solid evidence-based therapies that have been shown to increase recovery rates.

• Each person we treat receives a customized treatment plan tailored to their specific needs.
• We increase recovery rates by simultaneously treating co-existing conditions such as anxiety, depression. (We also accept clients with an Eating Disorder and co-existing Diabetes).
• We provide family education and family therapy throughout the recovery process. (Offered by phone for out of town families).
  Our Christian-based eating disorder treatment program warmly accepts all clients from various belief systems.

Get help now. Call 855-338-8620.
www.canopycove.com
[email protected]

---

About the Author: 

Margot Rittenhouse, MS, PLPC, NCC is a therapist who is passionate about providing mental health support to all in need and has worked with clients with substance abuse issues, eating disorders, domestic violence victims, and offenders, and severely mentally ill youth.

As a freelance writer for Eating Disorder Hope and Addiction Hope and a mentor with MentorConnect, Margot is a passionate eating disorder advocate, committed to de-stigmatizing these illnesses while showing support for those struggling through mentoring, writing, and volunteering. Margot has a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.

---

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer a discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Published on November 2, 2018.
Reviewed & Approved on November 2, 2018, by Jacquelyn Ekern MS, LPC

Published on EatingDisorderHope.com