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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

She says addiction, I think I'm being healthy.

215 replies

Onthewrongsideof30 · 22/05/2018 10:17

My best friend made a comment on a night out to our greater circle of friends...... oh '30' has a completely addictive personality, look at her with exercise that's a completely unhealthy relationship. I never for one second thought I had an unhealthy relationship with exercise, I thought I was just keeping myself fit and based by other fitness threads on here my activity levels are normal. HIIT - 5 days per week, 5km park run Saturday (longer run on top if I can), one interval training session in the evening. I always try to rest on a Sunday. Who is right? When is a hobby an addiction?

OP posts:
Mountainsoutofmolehills · 22/05/2018 10:43

You are fine. She just wants pshcyo babble to make herself feel better for being less energetic than you. Lots of people use exercise for well being. Is she going to tell a depressed person that they are addicted too if they run everyday? Addicted, awesome and toxic are words overused without meaning....

LifeBeginsAtGin · 22/05/2018 10:45

It sounds too much to me - training when you're sick????

FlirtyRomanticToast · 22/05/2018 10:45

I did think HIIT was supposed to be limited to four times a week because of the intensity? But I agree with PPs that it's less the amount of exercise and more about your feelings behind it. How you cope with having to miss a session, if you did have to skip one how determined would you be to make it up etc.

RaquelWelch · 22/05/2018 10:46

I always run once a week (about 40 mins) and like to try for twice a week. My other half says I am addicted!! But I think it is because he can't motivate himself to do it.

FindoGask · 22/05/2018 10:50

I wouldn't ever train when I'm sick but other than that you sound about the same as me. I would say that for me exercise has become a habit, much as anything can become a habit, but I've been a smoker and it's certainly not addictive in the sense that smoking is. I do start to feel grumpy and frustrated if I can't get to the gym for a few days on the trot (eg if I'm ill)

pinkbraces · 22/05/2018 10:50

Addiction isn’t about how many times you do something it’s more to do with how you feel when you can’t do it!

If your boss has to tell you not to train because you are unwell then I would suggest you need to investigate your feelings - it sounds addictive.

I train 5-6 times per week but if I miss a session it’s no biggie, I have no guilt feelings.

BaronessEllaSaturday · 22/05/2018 10:52

Someone I know could reel of a similar list but she is addicted, the hiit session will go on for a couple of hours, the 5k run will end up 15k etc etc. She is obsessive not because she exercises but because of how it affects her mental state.

Racecardriver · 22/05/2018 10:56

Well I would admit that I think your exercise regime is a bit excessive but it isn't harmful to you and if you can stop anything then it isn't by any means an addiction. Maybe she just thinks you are addicted based on sonething you said? Or maybe she thinks that you are too clever to exercise that much (a lot of people don't realise how much daily exercise can help you stay on top of your game mentally because it has the opposite effect for them). Or maybe she meant it as a joke because exercise is good for you so it should be obvious that calling it unhealthy is a joke?

TheOrigRightsofwomen · 22/05/2018 11:05

My current exercise pattern is pretty much the same as it always been. The difference is that I have to do it, I get anxious if I don't, I am continuing even though I am putting my health at risk, I display odd behaviours in order to exercise.

As others have said, it's not really what you do (within reason) it's the mindset you have about it.

NClikecrazy · 22/05/2018 11:06

I'm the same, although sometimes incorporate 2 rest days a week. I can relate to feeling stressed if I can't get my running in - don't think I could go longer than 3 days without doing something. I think it is fine.

Furano · 22/05/2018 11:07

Depend shoe you feel if you can’t train. Or if you prioritise training to the detriment of everything else.

Bearhunter09 · 22/05/2018 11:08

Bloody hell im just jealous I wish I was that dedicated. Good on you

Original poster
Onthewrongsideof30 · 22/05/2018 11:09

@parkruuuner all HIIT sessions, but some cardio focused some weight focused.

OP posts:
lottiegarbanzo · 22/05/2018 11:16

Well do you have an addictive personality? Surely you know the answer to that. Do you, or have you had other addictions?

Or, are you someone who goes through phases, massively throwing themselves into one thing, then another thing? Are you obsessive? Evangelical?

Probably your freind is envious of your commitment and is using you as an example to spell out why her way of life is good, right and she should feel happy with it. Or, she could be having a dig at you because she finds your obsessive, flighty, or evangelical behaviour annoying and was using this as an opportunity to put you down about your latest fad.

Merryoldgoat · 22/05/2018 11:16

Training when you’re sick is a big red flag and if your boss ‘banned’ you it’s a sign that you’re taking it too far imho.

I lived with someone who trained similarly when I was younger, a good friend at the time.

Everyone thought she was super healthy. She was in the midst of an eating disorder and people thought I was a bitch and jealous when I tried to get her to slow down. They didn’t see her eat a bowl of spinach and mushrooms for dinner or try to feed me insane amounts of food whilst she ate a salad.

She was adamant she was fine. You may well be absolutely fine but just keep an eye.

YearOfYouRemember · 22/05/2018 11:18

I suppose it boils down to how you feel if you can't exercise for a day ..

Branleuse · 22/05/2018 11:20

It sounds a lot to me, but still normal. I think if you enjoy it and youre neither harming yourself nor anybody else and you stil manage to maage your other commitments, then its nobody elses business

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 22/05/2018 11:20

Your exercise schedule is probably making her feel like a slothful lazyarse (or at least that's how I feel just reading about it!), and she is trying to persuade herself that you are doing too much.

The only exception to that would be if you have suddenly become obsessed with exercise, or if you are avoiding other activities you normally enjoy so that you don't break from your schedule.

NigellaWannabe1 · 22/05/2018 11:21

You are clearly not addicted - you simply enjoy exercising and do more than the average person.

However, the fact your friend is calling your excercise pattern "addictive" should make you reflect if perhaps you're talking about it too much. Do you go on about it, particularly to people who might not be anywhere as active as you? If so, perhaps you come across as a bit smug or a bore and your friend is just expressing her exasperation with you.

It's just a thought :-)

BlueBug45 · 22/05/2018 11:21

If you are doing HIIT sessions 5 times a week then I would say you have a problem. Only because you aren't suppose to do that many sessions.

Other than that if you have the time to fit in that amount of exercise good on you.

I use to do 5-6 sessions a week depending on what I was training for, sport I was doing as well and/or gym membership.

ghostyslovesheets · 22/05/2018 11:26

Yanbu and it’s not a huge amount is it - HIT is fairly short so not hours a day

I’m slightly addicted to my exercise regime but I don’t think it’s bad - it’s what motivates me to get off my arse!

Spaghettijumper · 22/05/2018 11:32

If my best friend said that then it would worry me. But my best friend has my best interests at heart because she loves me dearly. I wouldn't really be happy with her saying it in front of everybody but she might do it because the it's sometimes the only way to make me listen.

So one of three things is going on. Your best friend cares about you and has said something important in a not very sensible way. Or she's got the wrong end of the stick for some reason and is working on incorrect information. Or she's a bit nasty to you and jumps to conclusions.

Which is it?

newdocket · 22/05/2018 11:33

You cannot actually be 'addicted' to exercise anyway. I do get that you could have an unhealthy attitude to it but not an addiction. I think if you enjoy it then keep doing it. She's probably jealous of your self-discipline.

MarshaBradyo · 22/05/2018 11:34

Agree addicted isn’t the right word here

Tippexy · 22/05/2018 11:36

How the heck do you 5/6 day a week exercisers find the time?!

Do you have a job that doesn’t need work bringing home in the evenings?

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