Is anyone else racked with guilt if they don't exercise?

[Magnificen]

I'm a typical 50 something. Always been overweight. I look 'ok' but am def 2 or 3 stone overweight. Always losing and gaining the same 2lbs. Weight is definitely a big part of my daily thoughts although I am really trying to change my mindset and have improved. I am learning to accept myself and appreciate that life is too short to be constantly hating ones own body.

However I am utterly consumed with guilt if I don't exercise. I allow myself 2 days a week with no exercise. Today I dont feel well. Nothing serious. Just feeling bleurgh. I absolutely can't face swim/walk/gym but am consumed with guilt because I've already had a day off exercise.

I know that exercise has little impact on weight and that diet is the key but I just can't seem to give myself permission to be ok not exercising. I'm so jealous of my husband who plays golf once a week and does bugger all else but has zero guilt about it.

Does anyone else feel like this about exercise? It feels borderline like an eating disorder? Not sure I'm being dramatic tho. The guilt is absolutely all consuming tho.

(This thread is about guilt and exercise. I'm not looking for weight loss advice thank you)

On days when you feel bleurgh, what if you made yourself go out for a walk - but only committed to once round the block. Best case, you get into it and do your usual walk, worst case you only go round the block, but at least you did something. It might appease your guilt.

Yes, I've got covid at the moment and even walking up the stairs I'm feeling it. I went into the room I exercise in and picked up the weights but just couldn't.
I feel really guilty, but then I feel the same about the housework I'm not doing also.

It depends why I’ve skipped. If it’s just CBA then I’m pissed off with myself. If I’m genuinely ill or busy then I cut myself slack. I basically aim for a certain mileage each week and I do try to front load it so I’ve got scope to catch up if needed- ie do my long run on a Tuesday rather than wait for the weekend and then get derailed by kidmin.

Yes! If I skip my regular classes, I feel so cross and out of sorts.

Yes I do, and also if I don’t get my 10,000 steps in too. I missed Christmas Day and it still annoys me now 😂

I’ve been trying to vary the exercise I do so it’s not always the same, but I am annoyed with myself if I don’t do ‘something’ each day.

I don't feel consumed but I prefer not to miss it. If I do, I do a bit extra the next day.

I think I know what you mean OP. I don't need to lose weight, so for me it's about keeping up a level of fitness (basic fitness, not gym/running etc). So if I don't do 20 mins hard walking every day, plus weights at home a couple of times a week, I feel bad about it.

Yes. I skipped my run yesterday because I was tired and sore and aching after an afternoon of gardening, and I thought if I’d gone, I’d just compound the tiredness for the rest of the week and risk getting injured. Felt guilty all day.

It’s silly, when you’re in a good consistent habit. But you can do two things- firstly, it’s a great motivator to remind yourself that it’s an hour’s pain for a whole day feeling you’ve achieved something. And secondly, if you do decide you need a day off, be comfortable with the decision and stop angsting over it, because you lose half the benefit of the break if you beat yourself up.

No. I exercise to get fitter and stronger. But I don’t feel guilty if I miss a few sessions. I go back a few steps in my fitness and need to redo it, but that’s OK. It is easier to have designated days where you do exercise, though.

I don't go to a gym- garden, up and down the house, work hard, swim regularly and big walks every single day with dog. I can miss one or the other and not feel guilty, but me and the dog, BIG walk every day. 6 miles yesterday, only 2 today because of physio app.

I don't make myself feel guilty if I don't exercise but I try to keep the habit of not more than 1 day in a row. So I'll always do something tomorrow but the following day I can have a day off again or I'll keep going and do some sort of movement each day till I want a day off.

Not guilty as such, more annoyed with myself if I don't get out for at least an hour's walk every day.

I understand OP. I don't feel guilty as such. But I exercise intensively every day, usually at 6 am (HIIT/ Spin / Bike + weights), then I run any day I don't do this. It always makes me feel better, mentally and physically.

If I don't exercise it's a sign something is not good that day or has gone wrong, so I will feel out of kilter.

While broadly exercise is good for me, it's also not always healthy, as I'm quite obsessive & cannot bear to miss it.

If you are bored with your workout regime, try Caroline Girvan. Somehow she manages to make the same old exercises both exciting and rewarding.

Does the guilt hide a fear of falling off the exercise bandwagon and losing the habit, never to recover it?

i don’t feel guilty if I don’t exercise per se - but I do hate missing a regular commitment to myself or others, whether exercise or something else, because I feel it weakens the commitment by somehow making it optional.

But if you dont feel well you should give yourself a pass. It’s important to listen to your body and take time to rest and recover.

I’ve lost over 3 stone, did lots of exercise as well as intermittent fasting. I love the athletic look that I have, which has been brought about mainly by weight training. I think that if I’d just fasted and done no exercise other than the odd tennis match and walk, I’d be slimish but not fit-looking. I like looking fit, with muscular legs and arms.

I don’t dislike the gym but I don’t love it either. I do feel guilty when I don’t go, but I push myself. I want to lose another 10 lbs.

Guilt? In a word - no.

Don't make yourself feel bad - it is counter-productive.

If you mean being completely sedentary all day then I'd feel bad. If you're out and about walking and doing physical jobs then that's ok. It doesn't have to be an organised workout to class as exercise.

Yes - I obsess over it. And I have to get my 10k steps in on top too. Every day its the first thing I thing about. Its very unhealthy and I don't really understand it....I've always been into exercise, since I first joined a gym at 16. I've had very few spells since of not being obsessed.

I am very fit but peri menopause has made it worse as I'm not as slim as I was once, but I would love to be able to stop the guilt etc, its exhausting 😟

I’m on a lot of exercise phase at the moment. But do I feel guilty if I don’t? No!

I got a bit obsessed a few years ago and had to do 3 workouts a day. Every day. I never took a day off. I was riddled with injuries and constantly trying to badly manage them all.
I hired a PT who obviously told me I was overtraining and made me rethink my relationship with exercise. I can now take days off without guilt. Now I’m working on my relationship with food.
Your body needs recovery to grow. Not giving your body time to recover is actually diminishing all the work you’re putting in doing the exercise. Take a day off actually 2 days off would be better. Your body will thank you for it and if you really have to do something then yoga or a walk is perfect

Not interested in exercise as such, but quite happy to walk the dog, gardening or general stuff, but not ‘exercise’

I hate not getting my 10k steps in too. I am active so almost always do - except the day I left it charging at home, and it irritated me all day, like my steps didn't 'count' 🤦🏻‍♀️

Madness, I know.

Yes. I’m also 50, 2st overweight. I exercise about 6 times a week plus 12 dog walks (walker comes twice a week). And still I feel bad if I miss a session.

yeah, i used to when i had an eating disorder. take a step back from it all if you can op this is a dangerous slope