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

[Onthewrongsideof30]

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?

Onthewrongsideof30
Correct me if I'm wrong but you didn't mention that in your first post. If you read what I said, surely it's only training if you are training for something. All you asked for was an opinion on wether this was excessive.

calledyoulastnight- sorry about spelling your name wrong

Ah...your 'impress' comment was to someone else. Sorry.

Here is a list of things you can spend an hour doing each day (if you have time!) without people accusing you of being obsessed:

watch tv
surf the internet
drink tea/coffee while gossiping with colleagues
read
take a relaxing bath

BUT YOU MUST NOT EXERCISE

@Onthewrongsideof30 I say training too, so I was having a laugh at myself, not you!

5 HIIT classes a week sounds excessive to me. They are called High Intensity for a reason so assuming you are working at your maximum in all the classes I don't think it can be good for you to be doing them on consecutive days. You are likely to get some sort of injury or joint damage if you carry on like that.

Your workouts seem to be focussed on strength and cardio - it might be more balanced if you substituted yoga or or stretch for some of the HIIT classes or runs.

I think you could do with another rest day during the week as it does sound a bit too much. It’s definitely a problem if you feel the need to train when you are ill as that sounds slightly obsessive.

Your friend sounds jealous!!

i wish i had this addiction!!!

Sour grapes pure and simple

How do you find the time?

Monday - aerobics 6-7
Tuesday - run 6-7
Thursday aerobics 6-7 weights 7-7:46
Sat - run at some point

Not that much time really

We tend to find time for things that we enjoy and value
If I hated exercise I wouldn't be able to find time for it, but I enjoy it and see it as very important so it's top of my list

I try to get to the gym 6 times a week and was succeeding up until recently (currently just moved so lots at home to do)

I can decide not to go. Last night I felt my knee was sore and tonight I have an appointment so won’t be going. I wouldn’t say I was addicted. I would say I had a routine.

@Loonoon I agree. It isn't the amount of exercise it is the type.

If HIIT is done properly you only need two classes of each per week.

I'm a single parent to two young children, I also work part time. Unless I pay for a babysitter I can't get out to exercise, and I find exercise DVDs a bore. It's not always straight forward.

I'm a runner and constantly have none runners telling me it's bad for me

scrumpy I like my new name!

I agree about resting when ill/tired. Does you more harm than good. Often you can still do gentle yoga/Pilates.

I don’t agree mygast. It’s essential that we all exercise and It’s just excuses. I’m in a similar position and you tube is my friend. Choose from weights to kettles to yoga to dance - all free and in your living room. You owe it to yourself.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow wow would you like to patronise me more or are you done now?

Happy to continue! Everyone has to exercise if physically able. Like brushing your teeth.

Your post irritated me in its lameness

And your rudeness irritated me. What about MH problems? Or should I still be exercising despite these? And please don't tell me exercising will help them, I used to be a regular gym bunny and still had the same problems I have now.

you said you didn’t like exercising at home and I responded to that.

I’m sorry if you have MH issues. Exercise can still really help though

Add in an extra rest day or maybe switch it to a gentle Pilates rountine or meditate for half an hour. It's not scary extreme what your doing just touch heavey on the muscles. It sounds as if your using exercises to wind down which is healthy, having other ways to chill out would be even healthier and a bit more balanced?

I find exercising the best thing for my MH. I'd struggle without the endorphins and well being it gives me.

You cannot actually be 'addicted' to exercise anyway yes you can, there's a whole literature on it and it is often co-morbid with eating disorders. I know someone who had both, they limited what they ate and exercised from 6am, worked, then again til late at night. It's a way of controlling weight/compulsive behaviour.

Just because something in moderation is 'good' for you, doesn't mean in excess it can't be bad. Like restricting your eating, which is good if you need to lose weight and don't do it too much, but can be very dangerous if it tips towards addiction.

I don't necessarily think you have a problem having said that, the way you describe it is more of a passion and way of life than necessarily dysfunctional or having negative effects (pushing through the odd cold might not be that bad, continuing to exercise when you've damaged your body through nutritional deficiencies would be bad). I just wanted to counter the idea you couldn't be addicted to exercise, lots of people with eating disorders have excessive exercise as a feature.