Is this my new hobby or an obsession?
rosevalleygirl23
Posts: 55 Member
Ok so I found myself obsessively checking my fitbit stats the last few days (I got it in August). And I've been been on this website an awful lot recently. Is fitness tracking and weight loss my new hobby or is it an obsession? How can you tell the difference? Has anyone else ever feel like this, like maybe you are are overindulging in the fitness stuff (stats and tracking, blogs, tv shows, workouts, new exercises, ect.) I'm changing some big habits here, I get that, but I wonder when I will find some more balance. You know like have time for other hobbies.
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Ive been wondering the same thing. :huh:0
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yes when I first start it is like an obsession. but once it is a habit it is more obtainable. because you know what you want to do to get results, so it doesn't take so much research (books, tv shows) but it will always take some effort to maintain once you get to your goal so it doesn't get come back to bite you in the butt.0
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To succeed, I have to put some effort into this process. To keep from getting bored, I have to keep changing and learning. Do I think about it quite a bit, yes. Is it affecting my life in a negative way? No. I see many many positive things coming out of the lost weight and increased fitness, so the time I am investing in it I am getting back and then some in increased energy, productivity, and focus.
Besides, I always obsess a little over my hobbies. As long as it doesn't start going Fatal Attraction or something, it's just normal for me. :bigsmile:
Possibly the reason you are asking this question is because you already ARE starting to envision time spent in different ways. Put some of the food or exercise stuff on autopilot for a week and spend a little time on that other hobby and see how you feel.0 -
I have been asking myself the same question, is this a hobby or obsession now, I am not sure yet...
Perhaps this just reinforces and encourages me to keep going...0 -
Both?0
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i was completely obsessed with mine for a month, then i realized it was controlling my life so i got rid of it. I haven;t felt that way since i was a smoker0
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I agree.yes when I first start it is like an obsession. but once it is a habit it is more obtainable. because you know what you want to do to get results, so it doesn't take so much research (books, tv shows) but it will always take some effort to maintain once you get to your goal so it doesn't get come back to bite you in the butt.0 -
When people study for their CPA exams, LSATS, or other very important things in their lives, it's a temporary obsession until they know the material inside out. Are you learning a healthy lifestyle for your well being? For your health? If the answer is yes, then it's worth the time invested until you are familiar and then it becomes habit and takes up less of your time.
I know that i am worth it!0 -
I actually read less diety stuff since I joined MFP.
I get all the info I'd ever need here really ( I am sure to apply a healthy dose of common sense before accepting as fact ).
And I love my fitbit but I never look at til about now and try to cram in whatever I can do haha.
I have felt a bit iffy about imposing restrictions on where we go to eat when I have not many calories and the man wants to go get barbeque or something. So now I just figure, screw it, it's once a week at most if he wants BBQ I will just accept the calories and move on with my life, so far its working out ok
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For me it became an obsession. Not a good thing for me. I love my fitbit to death, I really do. But it's taken over my life. I'm back to working now after being off so long injured (still injured but no choice) and even though I'm exhausted & in pain by the time I get home I'm finding I still HAVE to meet my goal. I did have a goal of 40,000 a day but since working can only reach 30,000 before bed.
It's an obsession that can be hard on you. Same as an ED can be.
My fitness became an obsession, still is. My eating at a deficit became an obsession in counting calories.... fixed that one by being a 4:3 convert.0 -
I have been wondering the same thing for myself too, partcularly when I first started. Then I seemed to have a lull/plateau and now I am back on track yet once again seeming obsessed. I can't decide if it is good or bad. Good being on track but the obsession is not good. There has to be a happy medium. I haven't found it yet. I am trying to set a good example for my daughter by working out and being fit and healthy but I don't want her to think that obsession about it is healthy.0
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I think that like anything new and exciting, it's all encompassing. Researching, logging, checking, rechecking, logging again, working out, so on and so forth, I was on here SO much.
But once things start becoming more familiar, it becomes more of a routine and you're not putting as much mental effort into things.
As with ANYTHING, taken to an extreme and becoming a true obsession is dangerous and obviously leads to things like eating disorders, etc. But taking a healthy interest and concern in your fitness and well-being is a good thing.0 -
OCD?
Nah, it's probably both. It's a new thing so it's exciting. At least it's a healthy hobby/obsession 0 -
This is a good habit for me to make because I need to keep aware of what I eat and keep myself motivated to stay o track. Now when I get to consistently checking food calories and overreacting to not meeting my daily goal then I will worry. There is a line between healthy habit and unhealthy obsession. We must find our happy medium!0
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I think it starts getting into unhealthy obsession territory when it starts screwing up other areas of your life (job, relationship, friendships, etc.). If your life is basically in order and you're just really into fitness, I don't think that's a problem.0
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Obsession. it is not unhealthy, in fact because of my new obsession I have never been healthier. I love working out so much that It makes me upset when I have to take a day off that is not a scheduled rest day. I love the feeling I get when I am in the gym and I love the results even more, so much that I am thinking about training for a fitness show.0
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I think it is both.0
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Habit and since breaking my toe, obsession! :bigsmile:0
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I think you'll find the fascination eventually wears off. I really like the redesign of the Fitbit dashboard, very cheery and cute. 0
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obsession is what lazy people call dedication0
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for me its an obsession.0
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I've been tracking my foods on this site for about 10 months and find that part is just habit now, it only takes little time each day. Just discovered the forums here a few days ago though and almost feel obsessed with it oddly. Must change that!0
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I think everyone is using the word "Obsession" a little roo lightly in this thread...
if you are checking your stats and your MFP multiple times a day, and checking things and making sure to get your work out in, and weighing your food and checking all the calories on EVERYTHING and planning your meals and prepping things ahead of time and buying work out clothes.... guess what... youre NOT obsessed lol.. youre AWAKE NOW. youre finally looking at yourself and realizing your body and your health are IMPORTANT...
if you agonize over a hobby.. why shouldnt you put that much attention and effort into the most important thing in yourlife.. YOUR BODY. lol
"Obsession" is letting something take over your entire life... if you'd rather work out than have sex with your husband... youre obsessed. If you cant sleep at night because youre worrying about the calories you will consume and track tomorrow... you are obsessed.
Dont be hard on yourself because youre FINALLY looking out for your body and being careful about how you treat it... its the only body and the only life you have... ADORE IT! Be patient with it! Dedicate time to it... just remember to love ALL aspects of it.. youre friends, family, other hobbies. Healthy isnt just about exercise and caloric intake...0 -
"Get obsessed and stay obsessed!" That's the only way I can do it.0
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I was like that the first 2 weeks with my fitbit. I still check it about 3 times a day now, make sure it syncs, see how my friends are doing...
More of a motivation, but obsession? not so much.0 -
Very true!!0
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Not an incredibly horrible obsession/hobby to have. Once the new wears off you will get back to normal0
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Fitness Pal can become an addictive time suck, just like Facebook. Especially if you sit and read posts in the forums. If you're worried about the time you spend online, maybe start by eliminating some of time spent just reading forum posts. Stick with logging calories and exercise only. That takes very little time to do. See if freeing up some of that time gives you more time in your day for the things you feel your missing out on.
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For me, it's become an unhealthy obsession. I check my fitbit and MFP all day long and I obsess about every morsel that goes into my body, along with every calorie that I burn. I know I need to get a grip and obsess less, but it's hard, Especially with the success that I've had since joining MFP.0
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I have recently taken a psychology class in college and we talked about obsessive compulsive disorder and obsessions/compulsions. If constantly checking on health stuff and it is interfering with your life. Like you get anxious about not checking or have to constantly check and have no self control then yes it is an obsession.0
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