Is this unhealthy exercise and ideas for improvement?

[Whynotdance]

A few years ago, I worked in a toxic environment and became used to running in the evening to shake off the day. If I had a bad day, I felt that I had to run in the evening and I started doing more and more exercise - then I injured my back. My doctors have told me that running is the worst thing for me and for the most part I can stay away. But if I have a stressful day, I feel compelled to run - despite injuries and pain. I just haven't been able to replace the running with anything else which helps me decompress from the day. My doctors are started to get fed up with me (that the running gives me more pain but I continue to do it) but I genuinely feel like I'm stuck in a loop. I've tried other things - meditation, relaxing, bath, read book, go for walk....but nothing works as well to clear my mind and stabilise my mood as running. I'm starting to hear stories about early onset arthritis and damaging my body ever further but I simply can't stop. Any ideas greatly appreciated, anyone been through something like this?

Is it just running or exercise in general that you've been advised to be careful about. If it's just running that you need to stop then what about swimming?

You can get a waterproof MP3 player, have your music on, block out everyone else in the pool and just go up and down the pool till you've worked off some of the stress.

There are other cardio exercises you can good at home too, more varied than just running, give you the same endorphin hit and ability to trash out some of the frustration.

I do PT, yoga, Pilates, the odd HIIT too. I've never gotten on with swimming, much as I have been told it's good for me. Its cardio I crave. I've tried so many types of exercise...but I always revert to running after a shite day. I feel such a high when I'm running that I don't get from anything else. But I was the same when I used to go to the gym...pounding the machines until I feel like I'd done enough and despite all the pain. 30 mins became 40 mins became 1.5 hours.

Cycling might be worth a try. I'm not supposed to run as I am prone to stress fractures but cycling is satisfying and doesn't put impact on the joints.

I can cycle off stress/anger if I really go for it.

Cycling, this is actually is a good idea. Have been thinking about this...how long do you do it for? Agree sounds less impactful on joints.

The unpleasant truth is that yes, if it's causing you pain and damaging your body to the point you need regular medical attention then yes it's unhealthy. You have the choice to find a more doable alternative or cause yourself permanent damage to the point that you will end up losing running anyway and also lose mobility and aspects of a normal life to the pain.

Try out a range of other cardio classes or home videos, YouTube etc to see if you can find an alternative.

Duration - 20 minutes (4 miles) would be enough to improve my mood. 45 minutes probably optimum for a fast cycle to burn off a crap day at work.

I enjoy longer bike rides ( a few hours) but they're more leisurely paced (but still incredibly therapeutic - there's something about the breeze blowing cobwebs away).

Without wanting to be annoying and sound patronising, just make sure you're very well lit on a bike, especially at this time of year when we get caught out by the daylight going earlier.

Maybe some kind of martial art would work for you?

Cycling or a cross trainer is lower impact.

What about spinning? You can buy a spin bike for home and get classes through an app, Peloton or similar. People rave about it.

A nice walk with music too?

Really good ideas here, thanks! I'm really considering cycling/swimming/spinning. Especially spinning. I do an hour and a half walk a day but it doesn't cut it. In some respects it's worse as I just ruminate about he day the whole time and get home every more stressed!

@fatgirlshrinking - yes, these are the hard facts I need to accept.

It's really hard. I had to give myself the cold hard truths talk a few months ago. I'm fat, not chubby, curvy or overweight. I'm fat, I was half a BMI point off of morbidly obese. Now I'm 10lb off of leaving the 'obese' BMI range. I've lost 35lb and everyday I'm forcing myself to make good choices about food and exercise.

I don't massively enjoy it, I stress eat, and work honestly is shit at the moment. The amount of times I've picked up a chocolate bar, put it down, picked it back up, then given myself a stern talking to and put it away, it's pathetic really.

I'm forcing myself to do c25K despite feeling massively embarrassed jogging in public, I'm working really hard to convince myself I'll enjoy jogging one day.

Battle through the craving to run and you will find something else that will meet this need without breaking your body, you just need to keep at it.

Spinning definitely spinning, I love running but I get the same mental release when I do a spin class.

I got into it when I was injured and couldn't run. I can push myself in the same way as I do when running. I think it would probably work for you too.

Thanks @fatgirlshrinking this is actually really encouraging. I need to lose weight too but am not making good choices at the moment. So good on you for being strict about it and your dedication at the moment is really inspirational to me. I need to stop using the crappy situation we are all in as an excuse and get on with it. And tomorrow I will start doing this!

Ha! Ok...spinning is definitely winning....!

Cycling? I also really like Fight Klub after an awful day. Body Combat, too.

I've had a bad year for running injuries and switched to cycling. I can honestly say I love it and get almost the same feeling after a long ride. Like running you set your own level of challenge - it doesn't get easier you just go further and faster Try it OP

Could you do racewalking or power walking? My sister switched to racewalking when she had to stop running after an op. She sounds much like you in that she ran almost every day to decompress and found it hard to stop, but she gets a similar benefit from racewalking, without the damage she was getting from running.

Running can be very addictive and it's difficult to find something which give the same intensity, I find if I keep under 20 miles per week I can generally avoid injury

Cycling.... Especially on a good static bike with tough video or gym workout.
We use Sufferfest videos with a bike on a Wahoo kickr, but a watt bike or peloton bike are also good. Or go to a spin class at the gym.

I know what you mean! For me it is yoga followed by HIIT. I find the music I play really impacts my ability to concentrate and self-calm. I use prayers/hymns as background when I exercise, not cool 😃 but my dad used to pray and somehow it takes me back to a happy and safe spot.

Wonder if you can choose inspiring music and do a workout to that?

Otherwise, as others mentioned, spinning might suit? I personally don't like it all that much because for some reason I do t get an endomorphin rush with it

I love a Les Mills body combat class to de stress at the end of the day.

Is it possible to change your job so it's a less toxic environment? If you remove the source of the stress maybe you won't feel compelled to exercise as much.

I know this thread is quite old now, but in case anyone else is reading, I'm just putting a word in for a rebounder. I love jogging on it and it's gentler on the joints than running.