Royal Purple

Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Haley Smith Katie Cruk works out on the eliptical machine in the Williams Center. Over-exercising is a form of purging, much like binging and vomitting to people with eating disorders.

As countdowns to bikini season and well-intended New Year's resolutions to lose weight or get healthy creep into lifestyles across the United States, many UW-Whitewater students spend their time exercising.

Undisputedly, the benefits of healthy exercise combined with a wholesome diet can be an incredible asset to an individual's physical and mental well-being.

"I love to challenge myself, and even though it sounds gross, I love to sweat," Amanda Koenig, a sophomore and cycling instructor at UW-Whitewater said. Koenig holds a special interest for fitness.

"There are only positive aspects of working out, if done in moderation and correctly," Koenig said.

Working out can improve one's mood, enhance one's ability to ward off illness, help manage weight, and strengthen the heart and lungs.

However, when healthy exercise crosses the line and becomes excessive, the effects can be equally harmful. In contrast to the infamous "freshman 15" feared by many incoming freshman, over-exercising has become a large concern to health professioals, particularly across college campuses.

"As a society, we like to take things to the extreme," Jill Mallin, psychologist and outreach coordinator at the University Health and Counseling Services, said. "So when we hear that exercise is good for us and has many benefits, we often think more exercise must be better."

Conversely, too much exercising can, often times be a symptom of a mental health issue or an eating disorder.

"Over-exercise is actually considered a form of purging, just as the use of laxatives, diuretics and vomiting are forms of purging in eating disorders," Mallin said.

Maureen Riley is a senior at UW-Whitewater and has been a cycling instructor for two years.

"There have been times when I have feared that some individuals may be over-exercising," Riley said, "However, because I am not a licensed nutritionist or a physical trainer employed by the participants, my boundaries only extend so far."

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