Is My Exercise Routine Disordered? Signs of Compulsive Exercise & Intuitive Movement
- Apr 20
- 4 min read
How to Tell if Your Movement Is Intuitive and Embodied or Disordered
You consider yourself a physically active person, and you take pride in that. You know that movement and exercise can support your health and well-being.
And yet, something about your relationship with exercise feels… off.
Maybe the intensity or frequency feels misaligned. Maybe your workouts leave you feeling anxious, guilty, or pressured instead of grounded and energized. You know, logically, that movement shouldn’t be about compensating for what you’ve eaten or trying to change your body, but those thoughts and urges still show up.
If this resonates, you are not alone.
When Exercise Stops Feeling Good
Movement didn’t always feel this way.
You might remember, as a child, moving your body through play: running, climbing, laughing, and feeling free, joyful, and connected. Movement was something you experienced, not something you controlled.
A part of you may sense there’s another way to relate to exercise. But it can feel hard to tell:
Is my exercise routine healthy or is it disordered?
Signs of a Disordered Relationship with Exercise
As a trauma and eating disorder therapist serving the greater Philadelphia area, I often help clients explore this exact question.
Below are some common signs of compulsive or disordered exercise. As you read, notice what resonates with curiosity as best you can:
Do you skip social events or things you value in order to exercise?
Do you feel compelled to exercise at inappropriate times or in unsafe conditions?
Do you continue exercising despite injury, illness, or exhaustion?
Do you use exercise to “make up for” what you’ve eaten?
Do you feel guilt or shame when you don’t exercise as planned?
Do you feel anxious about fitting exercise into your day?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It may simply mean your relationship with movement is out of alignment with your needs and values.
What Does a Healthy Relationship with Movement Look Like?
A more intuitive, embodied approach to movement often includes:
Moving in ways that feel enjoyable or meaningful
Experiencing little to no guilt or anxiety around rest or missed workouts
And if guilt and/or anxiety do appear, you’re able to notice those emotions and associated thoughts and let them move on by without acting on them
Fueling your body adequately for movement
Honoring your body by resting when injured, sick, or depleted
Letting go of rigid rules about how or when you “should” move
In this kind of relationship, movement becomes something you listen to, not something you force.
How to Begin Healing Your Relationship with Exercise
If you’re starting to question your relationship with movement, that awareness matters. Here are some gentle questions to help you reconnect with your body:
Do I actually want to move right now?
Why do I want to move? (See what comes up, without filtering)
What kind of movement would feel good or supportive today?
What signals might my body give me about rest, fuel, or hydration?
Have I eaten enough to support this type of movement?
Is my body physically able to move in this way today?
If my body didn’t change at all as a result of this movement, would I still want to do this?
If you have a current or past history of an eating disorder or disordered eating, it can be especially helpful to work with a therapist and registered dietitian who specializes in eating disorders alongside this process.
Reclaiming Joyful, Intuitive Movement
It’s important to name this: our culture often promotes a disordered relationship with exercise, one rooted in control, appearance, and productivity rather than connection and care.
But there is another way.
A more intuitive and embodied relationship with movement can feel:
Joyful
Empowering
Liberating
Grounding
Connected
And it is absolutely possible for you.
Practical Steps to Build a Healthier Relationship with Movement
1. Explore Movement That Feels Good
Inspired by Intuitive Eating (Principle 9: Movement—Feel the Difference), try listing different types of movement and noticing your reactions: Do they feel appealing? Neutral? Unpleasant?Let curiosity, not pressure, guide you.
2. Start Slowly
Shifting your relationship with exercise is not about extremes. Small, intentional changes over time are more sustainable and supportive.
3. Find Support
You don’t have to do this alone. Working with an eating disorder-informed therapist, dietitian, or supportive community can make a meaningful difference.
You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone
I’m a trauma and eating disorder therapist, as well as a yoga teacher, based in Wyndmoor, PA just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I support individuals in developing a more compassionate, intuitive relationship with food, movement, and their bodies.
If you’re wanting a different relationship with exercise, one rooted in trust rather than pressure, I’d be honored to support you. Reach out if you'd like to set up a time to talk.
In the meantime, I invite you to try this gentle, 5-minute seated yoga practice to experience a more embodied approach to movement:
Take care,
Abby