What Is Healthy Exercise?

Eating Disorders and Exercise Addiction

At least 80% of Mirasol's clients are compulsive exercisers, and newcomers may be shocked to learn that residential treatment for an eating disorder also means letting go of the exercise addiction.

"The exercise addiction gets a lot of positive feedback because it makes them look better and feel more in control of their lives," notes Mirasol therapist Diane Ryan. "But eventually it takes on a compulsive quality and becomes just another way of restricting calories."

To break the cycle, all Mirasol clients refrain from exercising for the first week of treatment.

"For compulsive exercisers, it's a form of detox," says exercise therapist Jill Sprecher, "and some of them go through an actual withdrawal".

After the first week, based on their BMI and overall progress, they can participate in a carefully monitored program that may include yoga, dance/movement therapy, kickboxing, weights, gentle cardio and morning walks in the desert.

All activities are accompanied by plenty of group and individual processing.

"Exercise provides an easy way to check out of their bodies, so I work with them to breathe, feel their muscles and be present in their bodies," says Sprecher.

Mirasol's Family Program also includes an exercise component.

"It's not uncommon to find that the daughter has partnered with the parents in an exercise addiction," says Ryan, "so we provide training on healthy exercise, how to recognize compulsive exercise and how to assess participation in individual and group sports as its relates to eating disorder recovery."

As with healthy eating, healthy exercise is all about balance.

"It's important for parents to recognize that all the things that are wonderful and beneficial about exercise flip and become negative when nutritional status is compromised," says Ryan.