Obsessional exercise

shellux

Right folks. Last year I worked out a lot but unfortunately became obsessed with it which in turn made me ill so I had to stop. I never felt that what I was doing was enough and what started out as half hour, 3 times a week turned into some weeks an hour 7 days a week at stupid o clock in the morning.

I have been on the 5:2 diet for about 9 weeks now and am loving it. I have lost a stone and am happy with myself but feel that I might be ready to incorporate some exercise but I am scared of it taking over my life again.

Does anyone get like this with exercise and do you have any tips how to avoid it taking over my life again.

Thanks

cleback

I work out for nearly an hour most days of the week and love it. But anyway, listen to your body. Schedule rest days. Best of luck.

BurtHuttz

Rest days are exercise; your body needs the chance to repair tissues and heal. If you choose to start exercising again, you must take rest days! Perhaps thinking in those terms will help you be more moderate in your exercise.

BflSaberfan

I dont think an hour a day 7 days a week is obsessive at all.

Cyclink

That describes most of my friends. Most people who obsess over exercise that way end up getting into some form of competition, where it's rewarded (though also guided to be useful at being better at that sport, not just exercising without purpose).

jess6741

I workout 60-90 minutes a day 6 days a week. I don't think it's obsessive. Just make sure you take occasional rest days and listen to your body.

LadyTigressDiane

I understand ..... there are lots of training schedules on-line and all include rest days. I know it's tough when you want to go work out. Make your rest days ... the days you spoil yourself ... long bath... or anything that will spoil yourself ... live music .... whatever other things make you happy ...

I never seem to slow down ... so I make a point on my rest day ... to have a really good meal ... long, hot bubble bath ... crawl into bed with a good book. Or go see a movie at the theatre or be a lizard on the couch.

having my training schedule posted on my fridge that I cross off my exercise and rest days ... really helps me.

nothingwithoutHim

"Obsessed" is all in the eyes of the beholder...but if you think, for YOU, that an hour a day seven days a week is getting too obsessive, then it probably is. And it will only get worse if you DO give in to that obsession. I've tried it, K? It doesn't feel awesome...know what I mean?

I recommend you read this article. I've found it extremely helpful, and it has a link to a "quiz" to help you determine whether or not you ARE compulsive about exercise.

Best of luck to you!

tricksee

What you call obsession, others would call determination.

Go for it if you're happy!

nklunk

What you call obsession, others would call determination.

Go for it if you're happy!

^^^Love this!!

JGainingHealth

"Obsessed" is all in the eyes of the beholder...but if you think, for YOU, that an hour a day seven days a week is getting too obsessive, then it probably is. And it will only get worse if you DO give in to that obsession. I've tried it, K? It doesn't feel awesome...know what I mean?

I recommend you read this article. I've found it extremely helpful, and it has a link to a "quiz" to help you determine whether or not you ARE compulsive about exercise.

Best of luck to you!

I was JUST going to say this. This isn't about the amount/days that you work out, it's your attitude towards working out. I've been there, and I know how it is. I had to take a long break from exercising because it got to the point where I couldn't skip a day without feeling lazy and gross and I felt chained. These days I do some type of physical activity every day (especially since I work a desk job), but at least 2 of the days I make sure that it's a low-impact exercise, like yoga or walking, so I can let my body get proper rest. I feel like it's a schedule I can maintain now.

Good luck - you can do it

mruntidy

"Obsessed" is all in the eyes of the beholder...but if you think, for YOU, that an hour a day seven days a week is getting too obsessive, then it probably is. And it will only get worse if you DO give in to that obsession. I've tried it, K? It doesn't feel awesome...know what I mean?

I recommend you read this article. I've found it extremely helpful, and it has a link to a "quiz" to help you determine whether or not you ARE compulsive about exercise.

Best of luck to you!

I think I agree with this as well, from personal experience it is down to what you feel and the people around you feel may (and I express MAY) be an obsessive regime. Purely because people close to me who aren't the type trying to sabotage things for me (typically the office colleagues who say 'you work out to much eat this cake, I mean close friends who know what I am trying to achieve) started to see less of me because I was spending time at the gym. Wouldn't miss a workout to socialise, wouldn't drop a lunch workout to see friends etc. That's when I realised it became obsessive for me purely because I was getting anxious about missing a workout - when in reality, what I thought the worst thing that could happen was putting 100lbs on overnight actually turned out to be losing friends because of the gym.

So now recognising that I have worked on the balance, ok so I might not get my 8 workouts a week in some weeks, but that doesn't put me into a cold sweat anymore and as a result my personal life is better for it.

MadisonLeo

We are in the same boat then. It is hard for me to take rest days even though I workout so much I get sick. It is usually from sweating so much and not replacing any electrolytes and from muscle fatigue. I can easily work out for 2 hours and not blink and eye. I do an hour or more of cardio (I track mileage) and then I go into strength training or kickboxing.

All I can say is take a rest day. Your body needs it. Otherwise, work out as long as you want, but replenish electrolytes after 45 minutes of your workout.

RedneckMomma77

I don't think an hour a day seven days a week is obsessive at all, especially when you consider the thirty minutes a day minimum is recommended. I could see you viewing it as obsessive if it totally dominated your life, where you had to work out for multiple hours a day, think four or five hours; but I think an hours is a perfectly acceptable amount. Yes, you need rest days for your body to recover, maybe make it a weekend day to relax and chill with your family, but chose something healthy to do with them. You still get some exercise, but not your normal intensity or amount, so your body can recover.

But that is just my personal opinion. Good luck, and God bless you.

johnnyzerocool

I dont think an hour a day 7 days a week is obsessive at all.

I workout 60-90 minutes a day 6 days a week. I don't think it's obsessive. Just make sure you take occasional rest days and listen to your body.

AGREED!

JessHealthKick

We are in the same boat then. It is hard for me to take rest days even though I workout so much I get sick. It is usually from sweating so much and not replacing any electrolytes and from muscle fatigue. I can easily work out for 2 hours and not blink and eye. I do an hour or more of cardio (I track mileage) and then I go into strength training or kickboxing.

All I can say is take a rest day. Your body needs it. Otherwise, work out as long as you want, but replenish electrolytes after 45 minutes of your workout.

I have found that because I sweat a lot drinking lots of fluids is absolutely vital DURING the workout. Made the mistake and didn't the other day, only to be left dizzy and needing a nap after, as well as feeling like crap the rest of the evening.

That is a little off topic, but yeah. Do what you feel is right for your body and be sure to have that rest day!

SoDamnHungry

If you feel like you HAVE to work out for an hour seven days a week, then it's obsessive. If you enjoy working out that much, you can consider it a hobby. It's a mindset, really. Don't feel bad about yourself for not going. Give your body a rest day, but if you like working out and aren't having any ill side effects, there's not much wrong with working out for an hour six days a week.

Whipppets

I usually work out 10 days in a row and then a day off.. I like going to my gym and seeing all my friends so it does
not seem like exercise.

belgerian

I dont think 1 hour a day is obessive most video programs are 1 hour a day 6 days a week. Or close to it. I wish I could devote about 2 hours a day but I have other obligations. I guess if your family/school/job is suffering as a result of your work out schedule then you might want to take a look at the duration and or frequency. Myself I wish I could get up at supid o clock and go for a run in the early AM. But maybe im obsessive also. LOL.

LindsayLL30

Right folks. Last year I worked out a lot but unfortunately became obsessed with it which in turn made me ill so I had to stop. I never felt that what I was doing was enough and what started out as half hour, 3 times a week turned into some weeks an hour 7 days a week at stupid o clock in the morning.

I have been on the 5:2 diet for about 9 weeks now and am loving it. I have lost a stone and am happy with myself but feel that I might be ready to incorporate some exercise but I am scared of it taking over my life again.

Does anyone get like this with exercise and do you have any tips how to avoid it taking over my life again.

Thanks

Um no I wish I did...do you eat enough to sustain this amount of exercise?

tenintwenty

I've worked at at least an hour a day seven days a week for years at a time since I was in jr. high. I don't see this as excessive, and I'm suprised it would make anyone sick. I regularly do double classes boxing, which is three hours of intense training. Or hike and trial run for 6 hours in a day. Or run and box, climb and run, in the same day. I have noticed myself get weaker and run down at times, but not enough to effect other areas of my life, my performance during workouts will just suffer a bit.

gabiinacio

I workout 6 days a week with 3 days being 90minutes and 3 days at 60mins. I only have one rest day which is Sunday, however I listen to my body if I'm just not up to it, I'll take two days off instead sometimes even three. Not in a row, but do what feels right for you. Sometimes I feel selfish because I work a 8-5 full time job, get my kids, go straight to the gym, the kids stay in the gym daycare, then I go home. I feel like I'm not giving enough time for my kids, but I also need to get in shape and have "ME" time. I spent 6 years not doing anything for myself, so its much deserved. In your case, I would start out slow maybe 3 days a week and see how you feel. If you dont want to work out 6-7 days then maybe you could increase the 3 days you workout for example do 60-90minutes on those three days, idk just my two cents.

Sqeekyjojo

The OP says it made her ill.

That negates anybody else's comments saying it's perfectly normal for them.


You exercise and then you rest so the good can come from the work. If you keep exercising, you don't give your body the chance to improve.

So, you treat a rest as being an activity. It isn't doing nothing, it's healing, getting stronger, dealing with any germs you might have breathed in the day before. It's strengthening, using any excess fat, it is the time your body works hardest.


And then you repay your body for working hard on an active or a repair day - maybe that's what we should call them - REPAIR DAYS - by eating well.

supplemama

I dont think an hour a day 7 days a week is obsessive at all.

This^^^

I work out for at least one hour every single day. That is not obsession, that is how humans are meant to live. We are supposed to be fit and active all day long. People nowadays think being sedentary is perfectly normal, and it's not. I blame the modern age; culture, civilization, etc...we no longer have to physically hustle for our food, most of us i.e hunt, garden/gather, and so on. Many of us have jobs where we have to sit or be otherwise inactive all day. To help compensate for that, we should exercise/move every day on our free time.

I know people who watch and keep up with several TV shows...this means they watch televison for hours every single day! No one ever calls that obsession LOL.

cynthiatwayne

It really is a matter of personal state of mind. I work out a lot and found that for me the best way to deal with my workouts is to follow a very specific training plan with a goal in mind (a half marathon, a full marathon, etc) which incorporates running, cross training, weight lifting and follow the plan for the day. If the plan says rest, I rest (one total rest day a week). If the plan has an easy day, I run easy, cross training, yep I do that, long run, etc. It helps that I had my plan custom made by one of the best running coaches in the country (in my opinion) because for me if I spend money on something, it makes me more accountable to it.

Maybe talk to a trainer or another fitness professional if you can to work on a plan that incorporates activity in a healthy manner allowing for rest days and follow the plan. Post it where you can see it (mine hangs in my office at eye level) and its a constant reminder of what is the activity of the day/week/etc.

Good luck!

supplemama

If you are afraid of it taking over your life again I suggest doing just 30 minutes of exercise 3 days a week first thing in the morning. Then don't think about it anymore after that. Also since your exercise made you ill perhaps you should try knocking down the intensity a bit. For example, if you were walking at 4.5 miles an hour, try walking at just 3 miles an hour. Or whatever, whatever exercise you do reduce the intensity and then you shouldn't get sick. Pushing yourself over your current fitness level is bound to make anyone sick. Work out at a pace/level that matches your current state of physical fitness.

MaryinBflo

Make a calendar for the month and schedule your workouts INCLUDING rest days and then X them out when done. I also am "all or nothing type" So this is what I do and it works for me. If it's scheduled I do it and if it's a rest day scheduled that's what I do! I have just lately been having a hard time taking a rest day but our bodies do need it!

shellux

Haven't finished reading all the posts yet but thought I should add that I look at is as an obsession because I feel so guilty if I don't do it to the point of being really miserable. I am a single parent and work full time and don't have that much spare time so I constantly struggle with my conscience and I don't enjoy exercise but I know I should do it.

divasj

Take walks with your child(ren). Go out and play with them if you can. make what you do fun so that you do not burn your self out.

shellux

Sorry if I offended anyone with this post. It is personal to me not intended to cause offence.

darwinwoodka

I only ever lose weight on my rest days. ;^) Gives me a reason to rest so I can step back on the scale!