Exercise and Extreme Sports As A Form of Self Harm

Exercise is a great activity that can improve your sense of well being, but can exercise become a form of self abuse. The Edinburgh Psychology Centre in Scotland believes it is possible that your mind set when you workout could be contributing to form of self abuse.

Here are some tips to help you boost the positive effects of your workout:
1- Set an positive intention at the beginning of your workout that creates a loving feeling for yourself.

2- Keep that feeling during the whole workout and let negative thoughts sail by.

3- Check-in, are you working yourself to exhaustion because you are your own worst critic.

Extreme workouts/sports could be an indicator that you are pushing yourself too hard.

Remember that working out should help you feel better inside and out. Self harm can be subtle. The Edinburgh Psychology Centre states, "Self harm describes a wide range of things that people do to themselves in a deliberate and usually hidden way. In the vast majority of cases self harm remains a secretive behavior that can go on for a long time without being discovered."

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The Feeling of Strength

Making weight training part of the standardized health care program after cancer treatment will help the millions that have been affected by cancer recover to live better than normal lives. They may even be stronger than they were prior to the cancer treatment. A fitness professional should be part of your health care team. So many of my clients use my personal training instruction as well as a massage therapist, acupuncturist or other health care professionals to help them manage and recover from diseases.


It is not only until recently that the value of weight training is climbing in popularity. I believe this to be because people are now recognizing weight lifting is different than cardio or other forms of exercise. It can be used to strengthen specific muscle groups and achieve the desired results for an individual. For example if cancer survivors increase blood flow in their muscular system they will inadvertently increase the flow of all fluids in the area effected by cancer as well as throughout the entire body. Moving fluids, deliver vital nutrients to the tissues for healing and carrying away unwanted waste. The stimulation of the muscular system by lifting weights is a way that we can help to facilitate the body’s natural fluid pump system.

For further information on a 3 year study on how weight lifting can help to recover from cancer reference the article from Science Daily Weightlifting Slashes Lymphedema Risk After Breast Cancer Treatment, Study Suggests.

Many Thanks and Enjoy Moving