Exercise addiction
letjog
Posts: 260 Member
Take a look at the following checklist. Interesting to see how many you may or may not have, and where the line is between a healthy love of all things physical and an addiction. I'm not sure where that line is.
-I have missed family events and social obligations in order to exercise
- have given up other interests so that I have more time to train
-When I miss a workout, I get irritable and depressed
-I only feel content during, or in the hour following, exercise
-I like exercise better than anything else – time with friends, sex, a good movie
-I continue to train when I'm sick, injured or exhausted
-If I find extra time in my week, I tend to spend it exercising
-People tell me I'm too involved in exercise
-I have a history of anxiety or depression
-I have missed family events and social obligations in order to exercise
- have given up other interests so that I have more time to train
-When I miss a workout, I get irritable and depressed
-I only feel content during, or in the hour following, exercise
-I like exercise better than anything else – time with friends, sex, a good movie
-I continue to train when I'm sick, injured or exhausted
-If I find extra time in my week, I tend to spend it exercising
-People tell me I'm too involved in exercise
-I have a history of anxiety or depression
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Replies
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I enjoy a good workout, sometimes even a bad one....most of this criteria does not apply to me. I think I have a good balance of exercise, fun, and family at the moment.0
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I also love exercise, but what you describe definitely sounds excessive and unhealthy. If you have a hard time finding a healthy balance, the perhaps you should consider talking to a sports psychologist or someone else who specializes is such issues.
Just like diet, exercise needs some degree of moderation!0 -
Is there such a thing as EA? Exercise Anonymous?0
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The list on my post is copied and pasted from websites about exercise addiction (ie I do not have all of these!)
But I have a few. I suppose an addiction is only bad if it is affecting your life in a negative way... BUT if you choose not to go on a night out so you can go to the gym, yes it's a bit weird but is it really such a bad thing?0 -
Ok, well, im 9/10 of these. But allow me to explain:
1. I already hate family events. It's either I'm a pretty fit guy going to a baby shower, or im a fat slob going. Both of which, I'm going begrudgingly. I'm dragged there, and when there, I'm looking for some kind of sports broadcast.
2. Yes, certainly I've given up on interests like "sit on my *kitten*" but, in terms of like "party my *kitten* off" not so much
3. When I miss a workout I do get pretty irritable....much like when some ppl miss their episode of honey boo boo.
4. This is not applicable to me. I feel pretty good all the time. If I hit a workout PR, i feel DAMN good.
5. I like sex better than most things. however, mediocre sex does not beat out a phenomenal gym session....That's just the honest truth.
6. I have trained while i was sick, injured, and/or exhausted. Most of the time, I trained through it, and it was ok. One time I was really really injured in which case, training was not possible!
7. The only people that have told me that I am too involved in exercise have consequently asked me for exercise advice. Therefore, just questionmarks here.
8. One time I got pretty anxious, and another time I got depressed. Does this count as a "history"?0 -
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7. The only people that have told me that I am too involved in exercise have consequently asked me for exercise advice. Therefore, just questionmarks here.
8. One time I got pretty anxious, and another time I got depressed. Does this count as a "history"?
LOL at number 7. So true.
8 - Be serious now - No.0 -
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ok for me then...
-I have missed family events and social obligations in order to exercise
This occurs commonly but was something I avoided before I took up exercise.
- have given up other interests so that I have more time to train
Yes, but that's because I enjoy training more than most other aspects of my life!
-When I miss a workout, I get irritable and depressed
I get very irritable
-I only feel content during, or in the hour following, exercise
Almost.
-I like exercise better than anything else – time with friends, sex, a good movie
Kind of true actually
-I continue to train when I'm sick, injured or exhausted
I've been battling some niggles but no true injury. I don't get sick because I'm fit (no cold in 2012)... ANd I train when exhausted
-If I find extra time in my week, I tend to spend it exercising
YES
-People tell me I'm too involved in exercise
No they just say I'm weird
-I have a history of anxiety or depression
Yes0 -
Hahaha..no..I was just messing around. Some people get way way too serious about things....once some guy told me that the reason he wasn't in the top five was because it was his wife's time of the month! Like that had anything to do with his placement -.-0
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The list on my post is copied and pasted from websites about exercise addiction (ie I do not have all of these!)
But I have a few. I suppose an addiction is only bad if it is affecting your life in a negative way... BUT if you choose not to go on a night out so you can go to the gym, yes it's a bit weird but is it really such a bad thing?
I don't think it's weird to choose to go to the gym instead of going out, I think it becomes weird if you feel that you can't ever go out because of your gym schedule. A person with balance would either choose to go out once in a while or rearrange their schedule to do both.
I have literally replaced antidepressant medications with a healthy lifestyle and exercise. I now hold my exercise in equal importance as I used to take my medication. Whenever people tell me I am too 'addicted' to my routine, I explain that and they shut up about it. Ha.
**note, I did the medication tapering safely and under the supervision of a doctor. I do not condone or mean to suggest anyone try to do that on their own.0 -
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I can claim 2 of the 9 symptoms. I think I'm pretty far from having an exercise addiction. I think some people on my friends list do though, to some degree.0 -
I answered yes to most of these and I don't even exercise that much. Believe me, I've been addicted to things and this isn't it, whether I meet the criteria or not. It's just my favorite hobby and I have to be social so much at work that I like being alone to exercise on my off-time.0
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Well if I only worked out once this year, that I'd consider a "real" workout a few days ago (not counting the endless boring walking), but I can't stop thinking about it much the same way a teenage girl can't stop thinking about a boy she just met, does that mean I'm OCD, or an addict too or something?
Like I seriously can't wait to workout like that again, the power, the sweat, the exhiliration, but sadly I don't feel safe to do it without a professional trainer there to spot me and nitpick my form, so he's so expensive, I don't know when I'd get to do it again.:ohwell:0 -
im a PROUD addict ill live longer bro dont hate 0
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about half of those0
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Well if I only worked out once that I'd consider a workout a few days ago, but I can't stop thinking about it much the same way a teenage girl can't stop thinking about a boy she just met, does that mean I'm OCD, or an addict too or something?
Like I seriously can't wait to workout like that again, the power, the sweat, the exhiliration, but sadly I don't feel safe to do it without a professional trainer there to spot me and nitpick my form, so he's so expensive I don't know when I'll do it again.
Hey! that's good. but...no...not an addict. I was at one point, probably, but not now. the way I see it, if you want to step on a stage and compete, you have to be an addict. if you are trying to look good for the beach, not so much.0 -
I'll tell ya this though, sometimes I can in partial sick (a few hours) if my gym workout is going strong0
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Get a copy of starting strength and learn about form yourself. Trainers are nice, but you can do it yourself. And I rarely ever use a spotter, but someone will always be willing to spot you between their own sets if you need it, but as a beginner you shouldn't be lifting to failure anyway, so with a power rack you can get away without a spotter for most everything.Well if I only worked out once this year, that I'd consider a "real" workout a few days ago (not counting the endless boring walking), but I can't stop thinking about it much the same way a teenage girl can't stop thinking about a boy she just met, does that mean I'm OCD, or an addict too or something?
Like I seriously can't wait to workout like that again, the power, the sweat, the exhiliration, but sadly I don't feel safe to do it without a professional trainer there to spot me and nitpick my form, so he's so expensive, I don't know when I'd get to do it again.:ohwell:0 -
I'll tell ya this though, sometimes I can in partial sick (a few hours) if my gym workout is going strong
:O Naughty! 0 -
Take a look at the following checklist. Interesting to see how many you may or may not have, and where the line is between a healthy love of all things physical and an addiction. I'm not sure where that line is.
-I have missed family events and social obligations in order to exercise
- have given up other interests so that I have more time to train
-When I miss a workout, I get irritable and depressed
-I only feel content during, or in the hour following, exercise
-I like exercise better than anything else – time with friends, sex, a good movie
-I continue to train when I'm sick, injured or exhausted
-If I find extra time in my week, I tend to spend it exercising
-People tell me I'm too involved in exercise
-I have a history of anxiety or depression
Yes, I've skipped a social event for a long bike ride (a social one)
No - my training fits into a million other activities, but likely gets dropped when the world takes over
Yes - I need to be physical
No. I feel content a lot.
No. Are you kidding?
Sometimes - depends on the injury and exhaustion - some is reasonable.
No, There is never extra time.
No.
Meh.
2.5-3 out of 90 -
-I have a history of anxiety or depression - Yes.
Where do I find the exercise anonymous meetings :grumble:0 -
I've used it as a means of avoidance, for sure. Also though, I think there are very few other experiences that can be as satisfying in that outputs depend on inputs. There's none of the messiness or indirectness of actual life.
That, and the rest of most Western experience is very mind over matter, or at least desk-bound. The problem being, we're really a lot matter, and it feels good to spend more time doing matterly things.
And, agree that an experienced exerciser can control mood in a very direct, immediate way, I guess that's clear. I too replaced meds with workouts.
Of these, the avoidance is the only worrisome thing. That and I spend more time planning workouts than I'd like (but, I keep having to work around injuries and things; but, at one time I was kind of obsessive about figuring out the best/awesomest routine).
AND, there's the fixation on the body, and body parts, that has actually been worse for me the closer I am to 'goal'. Right now I'm ten lbs 'over', and can't do more than very easy workouts. While I'm a little unhappy about what this means for my *kitten*, I think overall I look better. Worth nothing that I'm more capable of seeing the whole, compared to when my thighs looked more cut, and I had a four-pack (never did better than that, lol).0 -
-I have missed family events and social obligations in order to exercise - not me
- have given up other interests so that I have more time to train - me
-When I miss a workout, I get irritable and depressed - me (not depressed but certainly irritable!)
-I only feel content during, or in the hour following, exercise - not me
-I like exercise better than anything else – time with friends, sex, a good movie - not me
-I continue to train when I'm sick, injured or exhausted - mmmm, sometimes me...
-If I find extra time in my week, I tend to spend it exercising - not me
-People tell me I'm too involved in exercise - not me
-I have a history of anxiety or depression - not me
Only 2 1/2 out of 9. Must train harder.....
:-)0 -
HELL YES -When I miss a workout, I get irritable and depressed0
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The list on my post is copied and pasted from websites about exercise addiction (ie I do not have all of these!)
But I have a few. I suppose an addiction is only bad if it is affecting your life in a negative way... BUT if you choose not to go on a night out so you can go to the gym, yes it's a bit weird but is it really such a bad thing?
.
I have literally replaced antidepressant medications with a healthy lifestyle and exercise. I now hold my exercise in equal importance as I used to take my medication. Whenever people tell me I am too 'addicted' to my routine, I explain that and they shut up about it. Ha.
**note, I did the medication tapering safely and under the supervision of a doctor. I do not condone or mean to suggest anyone try to do that on their own.
Me too. A lot of people FINALLY find relief from the yoyo cycle of depression/anxiety once they find a good exercise routine and sometimes change their carb/protein ratio.
It's almost like those people's bodies/minds were "designed" to be fulfilled that way. (I say that tongue in cheek b/c the medical/nutrition field denies the use of food, herbs and exercise as a treatment for mental illness---only drugs that you can pick up in a pharmacy.)
So, as you said, when people might say that exercising regularly (like 5 or 6 days a week, although not at high intensity) indicates an obsession or addiction, merely ask them if taking zoloft 5 or 6 days a week indicates an addiction and which treatment for anxiety/depression that they'd rather be "addicted" to.0 -
I think there is a HUGE difference between being committed and passionate about exercise, and being addicted. When my father went down from 230lbs to UNDER 150lbs in a year and started tearing biceps (OUCH and yuck!), shoulders, and ligaments in his knee and STILL didn't see that maybe his twice a day workout routine was a bit much, I sent him the article about exercise addiction... I think that some people just replace one addiction (binge eating, for example) for another (running 10 miles a day and lifting for 2 hours). It's all about balance and sustainability right? Enjoying the process and the outcome...0
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I think there is a HUGE difference between being committed and passionate about exercise, and being addicted. When my father went down from 230lbs to UNDER 150lbs in a year and started tearing biceps (OUCH and yuck!), shoulders, and ligaments in his knee and STILL didn't see that maybe his twice a day workout routine was a bit much, I sent him the article about exercise addiction... I think that some people just replace one addiction (binge eating, for example) for another (running 10 miles a day and lifting for 2 hours). It's all about balance and sustainability right? Enjoying the process and the outcome...
Agree
Perhaps "reliance" is a more suitable word. It's okay to *rely* on a certain activity, (such as regular mealtimes, taking medicine, leisure activities,) as a regular part of life that you're committed to and people wouldn't begrudge you for it. However, our society does NOT see exercise as a "regular" part of life---in fact, it (and the gym) remains somewhat of a dirty word for most Americans---and so people who have a regular routine/commitment to exercise are often criticized/mocked/"intervened" out of pure ignorance or inferiority complex. 0
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