DH 51 - what level of cycling / exercise is too much?

[sportswife]

As someone who just does Pilates and the odd jog, I am fully prepared to accept my perspective may be a bit limited. But is this 'normal' for a man now in his early 50s -

• Cycling probably 200-300 miles per week, inc going out at 5am
• In the gym or similar nearly every day
• martial arts basically all Saturday and possibly a half day in the week as well
• boxing training one afternoon or evening per week, sometimes more
• eats foods in a certain order

Wouid you be concerned about this? Also he does a 'big' bike ride at least once a year too eg. London to Malaga. There are other competitions and more sporadic activities he does too and even when he's on holiday, he literally can't sit still and goes diving, windsurfing or rock climbing or paragliding whatever he can possibly find on offer in the area.

I think there's a fine line between healthy and obsessive and am worried he may be crossing it and what to do if so?

Sounds like he’s squeezing every last drop out of life, good on him !

I'm not worried about it impacting family time because he mainly works from home di is generally around and out kids are teens anyway. I was posting more because I'm worried he's doing too much for his age. But yes, I totally agree that there are worse things he could be addicted to.

This is a mid-life-crisis fear of mortality stuff. Not healthy and in an ideal world he’d get some therapy.

Tell him he can’t beat death and that he needs to spend some time with you.

There are men his age and older who do a lot more. My dad's almost seventy and runs 4-5 hours a day - up fells and mountains. He does it seven days a week unless he's injured or the weather is dangerous.

Honestly, if he's happy and not constantly falling or getting injured, I'd try not to worry too much. One day he'll have no choice but to slow down and stop anyway.

I bet he’s in good shape though, unlike the ‘cuddly’ couch potatoes! That said, he’s definitely at the far end of the fitness spectrum. There’s probably a degree of obsessiveness about it and maybe a sense of making the most of his time before old age sets in. Personally, I think it’s fine except for the supplements woo-woo, which is a bit unnecessary.

I don't think these people think they can beat death. They just want to be fit and active for as long as possible, which is fine.

OP says herself she's not worried about family time/time together.

Then you are being ridiculous.
If he’s still spending enough time with the family, would you prefer he spends time at the pub or sitting in front of the tv instead of cycling?

It sounds like an addiction. My DH did a stupidly long run, then not long after he started with anxiety symptoms that ended his career.

As long as he's pleasant to live with, let it go.
What does "eat foods in certain order" mean?

Ask him what his Eddington Number is, in miles or km. DH is targeting 200 in km.

Perfectly happy to be told I'm being ridiculous. It's actually reassuring in a way.

Sorry to hear about your DH @KangarooKenny Anxiety is difficult to predict in men, I think.

When people worry about teens doing too much exercise it's usually because people are worried they are doing it to create a particular bodyshape or lose weight. It sounds like your husband is just doing things that he loves, and those things happen to be active.

Yes l, I take your point Paintsplat. I wouldn't say he's obsessed about body shape snd he never has been really. But recently (in the last 6 months) he does weigh himself which is something he never did in the 20 years we've been together. He has lost a lot of weight as well. But then a lot of his friends seem similar, so it's hard to know really.

Going out in the heatwave though is I think potentially problematic - it shows the need to go out and exercise outweighed any dangers of going out in that weather.

As is weighing himself

If he didnt manage a day for whatever reason how would he feel

He’s 51, not 81!!

God he sounds boring! Has he got the energy left for sex?!

Seems a fine amount, my husband does similar, there are people in his cycling club who are in their 70’s, they recently had four over 50’s do an triathalon.

Is he actually cycling or having an affair/second family on the side??

200-300miles sounds a lot….until you get into cycling. Then you realise it’s perfectly possible to rack up the miles quite quickly and easily.

I cycle about the same every week, have a home gym, so do four sessions a week and then hike, climb or run too if I can fit it in. I didn’t really get into exercise until 30 (36 now) and now I just naturally bounce off all the walls… the more exercise I do, the more energy I have and the more I want to do. I find it very good for my wellbeing to be out and about. I can eat and eat too, which is a bonus.

My dad died last year after years of debilitating illness, he pushed himself to do physical things that much less disabled people wouldn’t have bothered to do; it inspired me to make the most of my body whilst I can. Being able to get 100km away from your front door under your own pedal power is an incredible feeling.

Some of my less active friends think it’s a bit much, and I’ve been called ADHD like someone else on this thread. I just think they haven’t realised what they’re missing out on. Your husband is probably having an absolute blast.

I wish I was like this! Has he got any tips?!

I'd love the time and energy to do that much exercise.

Why on earth would you say something like that? 🙄

I do have adhd & I'm super lazy. 😁

Eating in an order is the current thinking on avoiding sugar peaks.

We use supplements, it's an easy way to have more protein. That amount of exercise is catabolic, so he needs more protein to avoid muscle loss.

It's his life. The issue is whether it is having a detrimental effect on yours.

Weight has a direct correlation to cycling ability/speed.

it sounds a lot. I cycle 100-150 miles a week on average. I’m much older

He can’t limit calories exercising that much and certainly wouldn’t need to!

You can’t over train, but you can under rest (apparently). So as long as he’s building rest days into his plan? Maybe for next birthday get him a voucher for a session with a sports scientist type, help him build a plan - he’d probably enjoy the professional input, and you’d have the comfort of knowing someone who understands these things had given him a steer in right direction