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?

[Sprogletsmuvva]

Grasslands - Exercise isn’t always fun, if you are doing it to a high level or for a particular functional purpose.

Back in the Noughties, I was planning a summer trip in serious mountains. From previous experience, I knew I needed better upper body strength than a daily life of office/running/cycling gave me. So I went and did weights a couple of nights a week for a few months. Boring? Quite often, yes. But I enjoyed more trip more than I might have done if I was less capable (and indeed would probably have been less safe on the crunchy bits).

I had open abdominal surgery a few years ago. Was hoiked out of bed the next morning and prescribed regular stair-climbing. Again, tedious but necessary.

[pollymere]

I was always advised to exercise only five days a week, and to only do running on no more than three. This is so muscles can recover. You do seem to do a lot on a Saturday.

[Grasslands]

“Intensive training 6 days a week” that’s excessive.

[raspberrysuicide]

I know someone who's training for the UTMB and he doesn't train 6 days a week.

[smallchanceofrain]

I'm in awe of anyone who exercises in any way whatsoever. If it's an addiction then I could probably do with having it. If I'm ever found dead in a place people go running you can be sure I was killed elsewhere and dumped there.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

noeffingidea OP is not exercising excessively. If she was her body would be breaking down
I think it's more about the emotional relationship OP has with exercise and food.
This comment from OP in a previous post "come home from work emotionally drained and sore...just started eating junk..still hungry..should I stop feeling guilty? Help." is revealing an unhealthy attitude to exercise and food that is worth consideration.

[Onthewrongsideof30]

The post others have pulled up was a bad day, we all have them! It wasn't a binge, it was a crap excuse for dinner. We've all had those bad days. I was exhausted,emotional and didn't want to face 3 days of meal prep. I work hard 5 days, Saturday is a 25 minute 5km - hardly a high intensity. So I do get rest. I don't carry any injuries, aches yes. I'm rarely sick and I'm happy with my body. I'd like to drop that last 2kg, but hey I'm realistic - I want a life too. My social life doesn't get effected by training. Nor does my family (no I'm not single, no kids) I'll move my session accordingly. Yes I use it as an emotional crutch. But I have had a tough few years and it has helped me deal with some MH problems and fertility issues. There are worse things I could be doing.

[SherbrookeFosterer]

That was a very cruel thing to say to you.

My ex used to call my "passions" addictions and it used to make me feel ashamed of being enthusiastic about anything.

Don't take any notice, and just do what makes you happy.

[jade9390]

It is none of her business and that sounds reasonable, but you did not say how long you train each session. I am a former anorexic who went to OA and exercised for at least 2 hrs every day, sometimes longer. As a previous commenter said, it is maybe a problem, if you exercise to replace another addiction but at least it is a healthy one. Like all addictions, it is unhealthy if you do not do other things, such as neglect your family, use it to put of other things or miss events. I would not go out unless I had done the 2 hours, felt guilty if I could not exercise, missed a day, could not do the 2 hours, due to lack of time and of course was obsessed with losing inches and weight and feeling disappointed in myself, if I did not lift heavier weights, do more reps or run more or faster than the last session because I was also too competitive and a perfectionist. If you are just keeping fit, enjoy it and do not mind missing a session for other things, you are not an addict. Nobody is called a tv addict when they enjoy an hour or 2 watching programmes each day.

[Zintox]

I’d call seven exercise sessions over six days every week an unhealthy obsession.

[Petitepamplemousse]

Your friend is just jealous of you. Perfect amount of exercise to be doing, not like you’re spending hours each night in the gym. And a 5km run is not much.

[Grasslands]

Again I find it beyond strange people saying exercising 6 days a week is “perfectly normal”. I’d say that it is highly unusual. Doubt 5 people out of 10 do this.

[eileandonan]

onthewrongsideof30 don't waste your energy worrying about it.Whats normal for you wont be for the majority. There are those that exercise everyday and those that never do any or do a little. Doesn't make you an addict or them lazy. I was sporty as a DC and hate feeling unfit and have got back on my daily HIIT work outs, my DSis had major surgery last year and she too was a sporty child and likes being fit and when she could get back to exercise she was and still is running 5k in the morn and 6 k at night with a HIIT work out also. However her DC have grown up now and she gets up early anyway with her dogs.

[Bramble71]

Well, I don't know about addictive, but that's a lot of exercise! She's probably a bit envious, IMO. Not much of a friend, criticising you like that.

[Lollipop30]

It depends in the manner you do it I think. I have a friend who trains like you, she is very fit and looks fantastic but it has become an obsession. Her training hasn’t increased per se but it’s importance to her has and it is coming before other things. For example she gets very irate if she needs to change training times or can’t for some unavoidable reason.

[Petitepamplemousse]

@Grasslands OK most people probably don’t but doesn’t mean it’s not normal. I do similar amounts to the OP except some days I do fast laps of swimming or weight training instead as I find too much HIIT hard on the knees. But almost daily exercise with a once per week rest day is fine. Athletes have lower incidence of cancer than the rest of the world. I don’t enjoy exercise every time I go — usually I do feel happy afterwards I enjoy the endorphins. But often I just grit my teeth and do it. It’s about discipline more than fun for me, which brings its own reward.

[Petitepamplemousse]

BUT I am not a slave to my routine e.g. my friend wants to meet for drinks tomorrow after work so I’m skipping the gym.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

You say it's your emotional crutch but as "addictions" go it's probably one of the better ones. Your friend probably did touch a nerve.

We all have our vices- I have loads so just recognise that and aim for a balance so exercise isn't over arching your entire life, it's just a part of it.

It's good that you can be flexible with your routine. Feeling that you have to be rigid and dedicated to a precise schedule of exercising and eating (recording all calories burnt after each session for e.g) will lead to feelings of failure because you're human and won't be perfect.

Remember to treat yourself kindly. If you're tired, hungry and want a day off don't punish yourself.

[Highhigh1982]

OP

Your fertility issues.

Your exercising like this won’t be helping matters

[dipsticky]

Sounds like a heck of a lot of exercise.

What happens if you skip a couple of days?

[ProperLavs]

I knew a woman once who became addicted to running. She also developed that slightly haggard look that some women of a certain age can get if they exercise to extreme. I run and I do hit but I do not work myself to exhaustion.
When I was younger I would feel really guilty ion i didn't exercises and that's not a healthy attitude to have.

[Petitepamplemousse]

Just saw you have fertility issues. Yeah, excessive high impact exercise can affect hormones. I would dial it down if I were you.

[NotARegularPenguin]

I do a similar amount of exercise (about 12-14 classes a week). I get loads of comments from people about how I’m a health freak. I just ignore and I do think a lot of people feel guilty they’re not doing more so it’s easier to call me a freak.

[Sennelier1]

If she's your best friend it shouldn't be a problem that her opinion differs from your's. That's what friends do, they worry and watch out for each-other.
She could say it differently though, not claiming to speak the only truth "it IS unhealthy" but expresssing her concern as in "I THINK you're going the wrong way".
Maybe have a good and personal talk about it with her, and ask her not to say things like that in front of a whole group?

[GnotherGnu]

NotARegularPenguin, I think I can guarantee that no-one feels guilty that they are not doing 12-14 exercise classes a week.