Exercise bulimia is just another harmful side effect of wellness culture that’s become normalized. Like all things in diet and wellness culture, the messages that support harmful habits often sound like motivation or inspiration when really, they can (and do) lead to compulsive health behaviors tendencies.
Exercise bulimia is one of those behaviors that can be incredibly harmful if gone unchecked. I experienced exercise bulimia in my early- to mid-20’s. I was steeped in diet culture, forced myself to get up early 5 days a week to workout, and was even a personal trainer. If I missed a workout, I was anxious and stressed, constantly checking my reflection to see if I’d gained weight from missing the workout.
The thing is, no one would have said I had exercise bulimia or any issue at all. I was always the “healthy” one in my friend group. I was a personal trainer—of course I worked out a lot and “watched what I ate.” Sadly, it wasn’t “healthy” and my journey with disordered eating would continue to escalate for another 5+ years.
When I finally committed to eating disorder recovery with 1:1 support, I took time off from working out. After a few months, I felt my body craving movement, but it needed to be different—mindful and gentle. Soon, I found a new connection with movement that I’d never known before. You can learn more about my transformation in this blog post, The Surprising Pilates Transformation of a Former Personal Trainer.
I share my story to give you hope—you can get off that exhausting hamster wheel (which is how it felt to me!).
If you’re ready to find a healthier relationship with your body and movement, here’s what you need to know about what exercise bulimia is, the link between it and wellness culture, and signs that it’s time to ask for help.
