Exercise Addiction?

Is there any way of determining if somebody is addicted to exercise?

I dont think im addicted, but i get a very uneasy and anxious feeling, sort of frusturated and pissed off if i dont go to the gym (however, i only do about 40 minutes of cardio each time).

I go EVERY single day, but the *maybe* one day of the week i dont go to the gym, i feel like this. And i also just have to do 60 sit ups and leg lifts as well as stretching every day - the last time i skipped a day of that was probably a year ago.

I know that im not going to gain weight by not exercising considering i only burn about 200-300 cals each time, but why do i get so upset the one day i cant exercise?

I recognize my behavior and reactions as abnormal, but could i possibly be addicted to exercise?

I am the same! 

My bike got stolen just this week, and yeah, I was gutted it was gone, but my first reaction, not kidding was "OMG what am I gonna do for exercise now!?"

So I am now walking to work and running home.

I think there's a lot involved here.

I find I get into a mind set of eating and then exercise the two are inextricably linked in my life.  

I also happen to think the adrenaline rush and endorphines we can get from a really good work out are slightly addictive.

Perhaps also - a friend of mine when she diets, cuts out all other forms of addictive substances like alcohol, cigarettes (and even weed in her case).

So I think there might be a bit of transference into a new addiction for her. 

If you have a tendency to find your a kind of "all or nothing" personality, or that you have cut out other things you might have been addicted to this could also be the case. 

An exercise addiction could be less unhealthy than drink or drugs?

Unless of course you are plunging to a dangerous BMI or weight for example.

On the days you dont get to exercise, your body might be missing the rush and your brain might be tempted to tell you if you dont, those calories that day will make a difference! It's nuts I know.

There is a thing called 'Vigorexia', which is a kind of dysfunctional way of perceiving your body and the amount of exercise you think you need to do to maintain it.  Guess it's all related to self esteem, engrained patterns of behaviour and thinking etc.

Most of the literature you can find on the net relates to muscle men who pump out in front of mirrors etc...But I definitely think there is something to this.

As with everything it's about balance isnt it.

I am desperate not to get back into an unhealthy cycle of binging and then running to make up for the guilt and calories like I did last year!

If like me, you find yourself doing those 60 sit ups alone and in private so no one knows you are doing little extra work outs, then yeah I think it might be an issue.

It's great to want to feel healthy,fit and to maintain a level you are happy with, but if you find this continues or spirals out of control maybe it could be an addiction or problem.

honestly, yes.  i'm definitely going to say yes.  i agree people tend not to only see men who are obsessesed with ganing muscles in this category, but it effects a lot of girls out there.  i work with girls with eating disorders and their exercise addiction can get so bad, that their moods and behaviors eventually start disrupting and ruining their lives.  they'll give up seeing friends and family to hit the gym.  everything definitely needs a balance.  if exercise makes you feel better, thats fantastic.  BUT if not exercising really makes you pissed off, maybe you should consider talking to a therapist or a doctor about it, because it could really lead to more.  every body needs breaks, and exercising everyday isn't necessarily healthily.

I think I am.

Yesterday I was in a weird mood. Like completely void of energy and blah. I went to workout and after was my usually chipper self. I went a couple days without working out and I think that was the culprit.

weird, but a good addiction I suppose

OMG!  I am totally the same.  I am completely "off" when it comes to my everyday activities if I don't get exercise.  I noticed during the summer when I had to skip the gym for a few weeks and went absolutley nuts!!  I was getting mad at little things when it came to my kids and not recognizing the big things-like I said totally "off".  I think it might be the endorphines or something.  All I know is that I can't go without it!

Personally I don't see your behavior as abnormal.  I am right there with ya!!

I have a hard time convincing myself I need a day off too. Like right now tomorrow is supposed to be a slack off day but I find myself trying to validate more exercise. The rational side of me keeps telling the exercise fiend “this is how overuse injuries happen, and I don’t want any more of those.”

That exercise high and extra energy feels so good and it is awesome to look in the mirror and see muscles and not jelly rolls.

I find that I feel so guilty when I dont exercise. Right now, Im trying to decide if I am going to go on my treadmill! I dont really want to and I know that I should give my bodya break, but I feel so bad about not exercising. Its not that Im physically addicted to exercise, but mentally addicted to the sense of accomplishment when Im done.

What a great thing to be addicted to!

...just make sure you are taking the necessary steps to recover with plenty sleep and well rounder nutrition or exercise can start to be counter productive.

Keep up the great work!

Funny story.

I was talking to one of my friends and he said that him and a lot of my friends were worried about me and my recent behavior. I had quit eating bad food , only really drinking water and had been working out 6 days a week.

He said "Rob, i think you are working out too much , it is unhealthy and you are addicted"

When i was done laughing i said "This coming from the same friends who sat back and watched me play video games for 10 to 15 hours a day and shove bad food down my throat and smoke 2 packs a day and drink every other day and said absolutely nothing....NOW you say i have a problem? You need to get your priorities straight bub"

I have traded in nicotine and booze and various other addictions for one that makes me feel great , makes my healthy , will prolong my life AND enables me to do fun things i was never able to before...rock climbing , mountain biking , water skiiing , snowboarding , paintballing...you name it , if it will make me huff and puff i will try to excel at it! =)

The Diagnostic Manual, the DSM-IV-TR, defines excessive exercise as exercise that "significantly interferes with important activities, occurs at inappropriate times or in inappropriate settings, or when the individual continues to exercise despite injury or other medical complications."

If you are doing any of the above i would suggest taking a step back. Otherwise, it is perfectly normal to feel like crap when you are not working out...it does not mean you are really an addict , it means your body has gotten used to feeling good.

im much the same.

i cant sleep at night cos i worry that i havnt done enough exercise

any help?

I have emotional problems as well when i do not work out for one day. I either work out in the morning or between 4-6. If it is passed six and i haven't worked out its like my body knows it is not going to happen and i become very agitated and short-tempered. So i usually resort to doing calisthenics for about 30 minutes to feel better.

Working out just seems to take all the weight of everything off of my shoulders. I too only work out for about an hour which includes 30-40 mins of cardio + stretching and light weights every other work out.

I USE to be like this. It was like the end of the world if I didn't exercise almost to the point it would take over my life. Not fun at all. Now, I'll admit I'm a lot more lazy and hardly work out as much as I use to. However, every now and then I do feel a bit of guilt if I don't work out I'm just more accepting of it now. Lmao. I've also learned that working out too much can seriously injure ones body. I've learned the hard way.

Lets just say I feel like crap anticipating my workout, during it, but when I'm done I feel so much better and relieved because I did it and most of all that it is OVER. Lmao!