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 ?

What is your BMI?

Would you consider yourself to have an eating disorder?

Have you ever been overweight?
How did you get into such regular gym- going?
(For context I’m super fat and unfit and dream of being fit and strong)

I have never seen any kids crying at parkrun in the UK . What a shame to turn something so uplifting and positive into a negative memory and association for your children.

Wow

I find this unsettling as if the OP is as another poster said almost in an anorexic frame of mind totally single minded and addicted fixated on one goal of exercising beyond all else. And worse is putting it onto her children

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.

This is exactly what I've thought about everything on the thread. It's concerning. I hope that it's how it's being put over by the poster rather than the actual reality of it.

Mental strength is an interesting concept OP. Some would say that the obsessive training is a sign that you are trying to plug a hole somewhere in your psyche.

Yikes.

Lots of men train this much and don’t seem to get this kind of criticism.

It seems that men are single minded, focussed and determined while women are self obsessed and selfish.

I know many women who watch TV or play computer games for more hours a week than the Op says she trains.

@olga I know what you you mean about men often being treated as less accountable / responsible than women when it comes to hobby vs family time.

But if a man said he dragged his kids to parkrun when they were crying he'd get a right bollocking on here too.

I agree about the parkrun thing - it wouldn’t be allowed at a Uk parkrun.

But some of the other comments are very odd. Lots of MNers spend more that 9 hours a week watching TV or surfing the net without people saying that they are selfish.

But some of the other comments are very odd. Lots of MNers spend more that 9 hours a week watching TV or surfing the net without people saying that they are selfish.

I would agree not Selfish. Unhealthy yes. Unfair on kids making them do parkrun til they cry yes.

Having net calorie intake of 500-600cals a day is not healthy. Training that much is over training unless you're a competitive athlete (which the OP has not said she is) with a full coaching team.

Watching that much tv is not healthy either if you're generally sedentary. But you can do it with your family and make it educational 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don't think I'm being selfish, my training rarely affects the time I spend with DC. My BMI is normal between 18-20% body fat.
Yes 500 calories is extreme and unhealthy and don't do that regularly.
Yes I read, sometimes at the weekend. Often on the commute to work.
I sometimes think stuff this I can't be bothered but that's rare.
The whole crying at parkrun thing, has been blown out of proportion. Was an off the cuff comment and certainly doesn't make me a sadist.
And there is no need to pity my children, they are loved well adjusted kids who love an active lifestyle as much as they love Xbox and pizza on a Friday night.

Do you binge eat?

Training that much is over training unless you're a competitive athlete (which the OP has not said she is)

She has already said that she competes in lots of distance events. And you are not in a position to judge if it’s over training - what an odd thing to say.

Never binge eat and agree I'm not overtraining. I follow guidance.

I am jealous of your sub 20 5km. That's amazing!

@AmateurSwami never been fat. Largest maybe a 12 in my 20's got into with running first, then it progressed from there. Helps that my work totally support heath/wellbeing encourage us to go to the gym and pay for a PT for us weekly

Your job pays for that? That’s amazing! Your training regimen sounds similar to my dh, I admire the dedication.

Wow you are lucky to have a job that pays for a PT.
I would love to park run but ds1 has footy on a Saturday ( our parkrun day here). In the summer I work weekends😪

If something happened and you simply couldn't exercise how do you think you would cope. Hard for you to imagine but it can happen.....

Parkrun kids come - regardless of tears.

That sounds like hell

Sounds like Orthorexia to me

@olga it's something that numerous people have said. I do have a lot of knowledge in this area. The OP has not indicated whether competing in these events is a hobby or a profession, she indicates she has a full time job so therefore is unlikely to be a professional athlete.

I don't think the op is excessive. I weight train 4 days a week and run 6 days. I also do yoga each evening. I have children that I encourage to work out. My daughter loves it, the others are somewhat reluctant but I do cajole them, it's not for long and manageable. I don't consider my self addicted, but I don't like staying still and sitting down. The human body did not evolve to sit down most of the day.