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?

I'm addicted to exercise. My schedule is planned in for the week and everything else fits in around it rather than the other way round. If I can't train I feel disgusting and fat, lazy and dirty.
Not really sure where my addiction comes from .

What happens when you deviate from your routine described in the OP? How do you feel? Do you ever deviate? Do you decline other fun commitments in favour of your routine?

You sound exactly how I wish I was!! All I think when I read that is well done and you're doing your body nothing but good. Maybe to a novice it seems alot but it's your body and you look after it and it is what you're used to. Motor on and enjoy the benefits of it :)

your pal sounds a tad envious.
do you boo.

Whether you are addicted or not, it was unreasonable of her to broadcast her opinion in front of you and other third parties on a social occasion. I think that you should look past the veracity (or otherwise) of the comment, which is only her personal opinion at the end of the day, your GP might well beg to differ, and consider whether she has tried in the past to embarass you in company. If she has, it could be a sign that the friendship is toxic.

The facts that you say you are pissed off when you can't exercise, it's stress relief, and that you were keen to get back to it even when ill are all very telling, as is the detail you give about everything you do in your exercise sessions. You are in effect admitting that you are dependent on your normal level of exercise for your wellbeing, and it does all sound a bit obsessive.

It's not as simple as listing your sessions and asking us to decide if you're healthy or addicted. As PPs have said it depends on your mindset towards it.
My friend was exercising slightly less than you and the staff at her gym took her aside and told her she was doing too much and was developing an unhealthy attitude towards it. They actually sent her home and told her when she was allowed to come back. That was the short, sharp shock she needed to realise it had become a problem. Perhaps your friend was trying the same.

I didn’t think you had a problem. Sounded a reasonable amount to me.

And then I remembered you from another thread a few days ago

Been on a strict diet for 4 weeks on top of very intensive training. 6 days per week. Been training like this for a year. Diet is to help build muscle and drop the last few % of body fat. I did an endurance race at the weekend burning approx 3000 calories. Gave myself the weekend to recover and a couple of day prior to carb load. Back on the diet today, but have come home from work emotionally drained and sore. Couldn't face meal prepping, so just starting eating junk. A handful of pringles, 3 biscuits and cheese, 2 bits of ham, 2 mini quiche, spoonful of pasta salad and a glass of wine. I'm now in bed feeling really sorry for myself. (And still hungry) should I just get some sleep and start again tomorrow. Or should I stop feeling guilty and go and make some dinner (that isn't junk) help !

Now, that doesn’t sound quite so heelhu and normal

You sound exhausted

Do you have time for interests outside work and exercise? I get the sense from your posts that you are single and have no children, is that something you’re looking to change?

It's envy. I also work out 6 or 7 days per week and my relatives like to tell me I'm obsessed. While they spend hours every day watching telly...

An addiction if you just can't miss any of your exercise without feeling guilty or lazy. If you manage to fit in all other demands made of you without any problem then go ahead. I know someone who is addicted and finds it hard to spend time with children without yearning for the gym. Sad.

There are plenty of people who work out just as much and more often than you do so I certainly wouldn't call it an addiction. And even if it is, so what? It's much healthier to be addicted to exercise than cigarettes, alcohol or sugar.

I am envious of you. I do try to exercise (well not at the moment as I'm pregnant and the thought of it makes me want to cry) and go 3/4 times a week as well as parkrun but I still don't like it much. I wish I could love it like you do!

Just seen your last post. I do think you're too rigid with your exercise and tracking and recording everything you do, the calories expended and the restricted diet you're following.

I think it would be worthwhile taking a step back from tracking and recording everything; that way obsession lies. You don't want to feel guilty about having days off from your regime or for treating yourself with food occasionally.

Exercise for enjoyment and the great feeling it gives you but don't move into the territory of only eating what you think you've "earned" and punishing yourself for derailing from your strict regime.

Be kind to yourself OP. You can get great pleasure and fulfillment from exercise for a life time if you keep it sustainable and don't fuck up your body now.

If you feel good, then do it, had criticism all my life for going to the gym every day. At 63 I am as fit as 10 and happy 😃

Exercise during illness isn’t necessarily bad. Eg 10-20 miles cycling with a bit of a cold (if you’re used to 100) = fine. Pushing on as normal with a death’s-door cough = not.

The ‘acceptable ‘ level of exercise seems to depend on your gender. A bloke (even married) whose life outside work is triathlons is seen as keen (“dedicated “ “enthusiastic “) but fine. A woman doing the same is antisocial, selfish, obsessed etc. (And god forbid she put on any visible muscle in her chosen activity.)

I think people do get addicted to exercise

Comment says more about her than you. Comments people make about others usually do

You're being healthy.
Although as someone who used to exercise 5/6 days a week and will be back to it as soon as my kids are teens then I'd swop one HIIT for yoga or Pilates and another HIIT for strength and weights.

why would anyone think the op's addiction to a strict diet (and occasional binge) and excessive exercise is healthy??
truly bazaar. exercise is meant to be fun no prescriptive....

think ur friend is being unreasonable. she is probs jealous of your shape!

That's a lot of exercise but that isn't a bad thing if you're enjoying it. I think whether you were addicted would depend on what lengths you go to to avoid missing a session. Do you still go if you're injured if you're away for the weekend with friends? Would you miss a big event to exercise? Would it make you anxious if you missed a week?

If your diet is so strict it means you binge (as opposed to having a planned treat now and then) then yes it sounds a bit unhealthy.

Either way if I thought my friend was addicted I wouldn't make a snide remark about it in front of a group.

You can't do right for doing wrong.

Grasslands the OP is not exercising excessively. If she was her body would be breaking down, injuries not healing up, no resistance to colds and infections, etc. We are supposed to be active, pretty much every day.
Also agree with Sproglet, there's nothing wrong with exercising through minor illnesses either, obviously not if you can't breathe properly or something, but there's no reason not to train through a cold, for example.

I work out 6 or 7 days a week because I enjoy it.

I get annoyed if people put things in the way of my morning gym time (such as putting me under house arrest to wait for the likes of Yodel to grace me with a delivery) but am perfectly happy to take a day off of my own volition or not work out every day when on holiday. I wouldn't work out when ill, though. That is possibly taking things a bit far.