I'm addicted to exercise- AMA

[sub20min5km]

I train to high/high intensity minimum 6 days a week, across 9 sessions. I've done many extreme events. Will move meetings at work/social events to train. AMA ?

I don’t see what’s bad about it although addiction probably isn’t the right word to use

What do you do when you're ill - does it upset you not to be able to train?

God, I could not physically run carrying my 5 year old for more than 5 steps.

Do you really have to ask how it impacts your family after the story of taking them to parkrun every week sometimes with tears. You are taking away their agency and choice because your need to exercise comes before their needs and wants not to.

@chickenninja I live overseas. My parkrun is at 7. Due to heat. But thanks for picking holes... I hate missing a session but am realistic that sometimes you need to flex so will compensate in other ways

@Hiphopopotamus I'm not taking away anything. They at young teens can stay home. But yes as young children they ran/walked despite the tantrums and demands to to stop.

I might take my dcs on a park run - I’d expect them to grumble but I reckon they’d be able to make it round. Probably not running the whole way though.

It’s one of the sad things about children - they don’t get enough exercise, we measure them by our own weak standards and they could be capable of more!

But I wouldn’t drag mine regardless. Personally I think shorter bursts of high interval exercise is better for kids than a run.

Anyway, massive digression.

OP - have you ever really struggled with any exercises?

@TooExtraImmatureCheddar being sick upsets me. I trained through IVF with medical clearance. You can lift your 5 year old - the trick is how you distribute the weight. I can stagger carrying a 100+ kg man .... not easy but possible

@Iggly yes, I was never the sporty kid at school. But fell into huge depression at uni and this dragged me out of the darkness. I'm not naturally athletic but mentally strong

"I'm addicted to..."

Never a very good thing.

I was with you until the 'tears at park run' bit.
I'm a regular at park run and rather evangelical about it. However there is nothing worse than seeing young kids being forced round sobbing. My two used to go, decided it wasn't for them so I let them stop. They've both now said they'll come back to it. Their choice so will probably stick at it for longer.

Forcing a child to exercise to the point of sobbing speaks volumes about you OP and it's not saying good things.

'Addicted' usually doesn't mean a good thing.

all sounds really mentally unhealthy and self-obsessed to me. Team sports would be better rather than all this 'PB' wank.

Forcing kids to run when they are in pain and crying is going to put them off exercise completely. Let's kids play to be fit and do games. You'll put them off fitness forever otherwise.

"I'm mentally strong".
Not strong enough to identify and admit that you are obsessed, to an unhealthy (how ironic) extent. Why are you boasting about being able to ' carry a 100kg man'? Seriously, do you think most women sit around and wish to be able to do that?

Op do you think there is a better word than addicted to? Which usually means a harmful activity

You really enjoy for example

You sound like a sadist, your poor kids 😞

I see kids moaning, whinging and being cajoled at Parkrun every week. Seems totally against the spirit of the thing.

Op is getting a hard time.

In all honesty I’m place marking as this thread is motivating to me as a mother who stopped exercise as soon as my child came in my life

My goodness this thread has deteriorated quickly!

I feel really sorry for your children.

This is incredibly selfish of you honestly. You need to tone it back.

Exercise shouldn't be your main priority.

I know if my mum were like this I'd have been badly affected by it.

Anything at an extreme suggests a corresponding compromise elsewhere.

Would you agree?

Do you consider yourself a physically, mentally, socially and emotionally healthy person?

So you ever read a book?

I mean ‘do you ever read a book’?

Do you secretly judge people who aren't as toned and fit as you?

One of my friends is an exercise fiend and the way she looks / winces at perfectly healthily sized people (say size 12) is outrageous - not saying you're the same, just wondering.

Do you never think ‘I can’t be arsed today’ and sit on the sofa watching tv and eating crisps?

You become addicted to the mental battle. There is a very famous runner who states 'running is a battle between the part of your brain that wants you to stop and the part that wants you to keep going'

Obviously I'm not implying this is in any way relevant to you but take out "there is a famous runner who states" from the quote above and it's probably the perfect description of when I was anorexic.

It's interesting to see what different people pour their energy into - some exercise, some family time, some diet, some work... not saying any is right or wrong just interesting there are so many addictions that are each viewed so differently.