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Too much exercise (as in: addicted to it)

paltatomate

paltatomate

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Something not drug related happened to someone I know, and it got me thinking about all the endorphins and dopamine one gets when doing exercises.

I'm not talking about someone who might overdo because of pressure from someone or maybe even themselves (like for weight gain/loss).

Bit did it happen to any of you that you got so enthusiastic or high and euphoric while exercising that you went too far?
How do you go about balancing the right amount of exercise, and nutrition for it,especially during recovery?
 
Kind of. I rode my exercise bike a few days in a row, then when walking back from the grocery store my ankles/hips and leg muscles felt great so I walked faster then caused a hernia walking too aggressively
 
I have injured myself a few times from running too much and not giving myself enough rest days.

I run compulsively as a reaction to stress/anxiety/depression/illness, so I don't always let myself heal or push myself too hard.

I think it's best to create a schedule and stick to it to prevent those kind of injuries.
 
This topic cam up again this morning, and Ia new question formed in my mind:

Can some become addicted to exercise in a way comparable to drug addiction.
Meaning to a point where exercising becomes such a necessity for a person that they forget about risks and injury prevention and also leading to complete exhaustion?
I mean NOT those cases where someone overdoes because of body image issues, which many times means they don't eat/drink enough or take performance enhancers which can lead to problems unrelated to the amount of exercise..
 
I think a lot of those things are needed for the behavior to be classified as an addiction. The formal definition is when a behavior is repeated even in the face of negative consequences whether those are health, financial, social, etc. If there are no negatives then it isn't really an addiction
 
lecroute said:
This topic cam up again this morning, and Ia new question formed in my mind:

Can some become addicted to exercise in a way comparable to drug addiction.
Meaning to a point where exercising becomes such a necessity for a person that they forget about risks and injury prevention and also leading to complete exhaustion?
I mean NOT those cases where someone overdoes because of body image issues, which many times means they don't eat/drink enough or take performance enhancers which can lead to problems unrelated to the amount of exercise..
Click to expand...

Absolutely.

I have literally been addicted to running, to the point where I do it compulsively when I shouldn't be, and resulted in some significant injuries including a lvl 2 torn groin muscle.

The "runner's high" I get from running is vaguely similar to a drug high, but not as powerful. I was more addicted to the psychological escapism of running. Well, both I guess.

When I am experiencing anxiety I often will compulsively go run 3-5 miles. It's a mostly healthy habit, but I have certainly abused it and injured myself many times from not resting enough.
 
I developed a compulsory behavior to both literally and figuratively run away from my problems.

The freedom of just running, but also sort of a dark masochistic aspect to it. I felt like I was both rewarding myself and punishing myself.

Either way, the anxieties and problems I was worried about would seem much less bothersome after a run. I became addicted to that aspect.

Running is a form of meditation.
 
Snafu in the Void said:
I developed a compulsory behavior to both literally and figuratively run away from my problems.

The freedom of just running, but also sort of a dark masochistic aspect to it. I felt like I was both rewarding myself and punishing myself.

Either way, the anxieties and problems I was worried about would seem much less bothersome after a run. I became addicted to that aspect.

Running is a form of meditation.
Click to expand...
That's a poetic and at the same way very clear way to describe the situation.
And maybe explain it to someone who can't understand why someone would basically run themselves into hospital.
 
I have a cousin that used to be addicted to alcohol y cocaina for almost 20 years. When he finally quit he switched over to running. He became a marathon runner. He said that if he didn’t run everyday he felt like he’s having withdrawals from running. He also has screws in one of his ankles & it gets really swollen but he just ices it & takes all these anti inflammatories & supplements & keeps pushing it.
I actually haven’t seen or heard from him in years, so I don’t know if he’s still doing it. But he was definitely doing it for a while (still may be).
 
lecroute said:
Something not drug related happened to someone I know, and it got me thinking about all the endorphins and dopamine one gets when doing exercises.

I'm not talking about someone who might overdo because of pressure from someone or maybe even themselves (like for weight gain/loss).

Bit did it happen to any of you that you got so enthusiastic or high and euphoric while exercising that you went too far?
How do you go about balancing the right amount of exercise, and nutrition for it,especially during recovery?
Click to expand...
Off to rehab, you have a 14 hour a week habit; the tread mill is like crack too you, you need help, a good gym membership, workout clothes and Gatorade could destroy you; stop and get fat and lazy , before it is too late.
 
VITTU TÄYSIIIII!!!!

iu


I have investigated a bit that "runner's high" and while there is still some research to be done, it seems like it involves phenethylamine (TAAR1- and VMAT2-agonist), endocannabinoids and endorphins. One of the most comprehensive kind of highs one could achieve.

Sometimes I feel like I need a Jesus to stop exercise, but I have already once turned my back on him, convinced he does not exist, so, every day I am trying to play with the limits of my body... Gosh, I guess I need sex, but I have not been able to form new relationships for 5 years, so I am just PULLING THE FUCK OUT OF TARMAC!

When winter is starting to fade away I always think "Okay, this year I am not going to develop unhealthy hyperfixation to physical superiority, it is not important, it is so superficial" and 3 months later I find myself riding 50 kms a day, doing garden work and weight exercises while eating 1.5-3 g protein/kg/day (I am still fat tho because I am also alcoholic)
 
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AngelsandFairiesarereal said:
I have a cousin that used to be addicted to alcohol y cocaina for almost 20 years. When he finally quit he switched over to running. He became a marathon runner. He said that if he didn’t run everyday he felt like he’s having withdrawals from running. He also has screws in one of his ankles & it gets really swollen but he just ices it & takes all these anti inflammatories & supplements & keeps pushing it.
I actually haven’t seen or heard from him in years, so I don’t know if he’s still doing it. But he was definitely doing it for a while (still may be).
Click to expand...
Yeah, he lost his foot, and has a peg leg.
He has become the most feared pirate on Lake Michigan; Captain Nike, he'll make you walk the treadmill plank.
 
But yeah, I'm curious about the chemistry of exercises and endorphins. I know of nothing that keeps me more reliably happy as exercise. Combine it with the beauty of being in nature and solitude and the sense of achievement it brings, and it is true bliss.
The problem is, when I get the occasional injury ( and it's been more frequent in recent years) and can't do it and feel like I may never be able to again, I get so depressed. It's an awful feeling. I've been going through some knee pain the past some months, but I think I'm getting over.
 
chippermonk said:
But yeah, I'm curious about the chemistry of exercises and endorphins. I know of nothing that keeps me more reliably happy as exercise. Combine it with the beauty of being in nature and solitude and the sense of achievement it brings, and it is true bliss.
The problem is, when I get the occasional injury ( and it's been more frequent in recent years) and can't do it and feel like I may never be able to again, I get so depressed. It's an awful feeling. I've been going through some knee pain the past some months, but I think I'm getting over.
Click to expand...
Sometimes it’s nice to just go out in nature & sit there & watch the birds & little critters & stuff. Sometimes just listening to nature & feeling the breeze and all can be nice, even if you can’t really be too active.
 
I enjoy nature, buy I can't walk alone in nature to places I've never been. I either stop the moment I get drawn into my own mind, or I keep going and get lost. Which could be a welcomed challenge, or it could overwhelm me because I get confused. Like waking up in a strange place.
I love to be outside and I love to do exercise. But like @chippermonk and probably others have their physical issues, I have mental ones that keep.me.from.doing certain things.
 
chippermonk said:
There is a 12 Step program for compulsive walking. Through a program of tough love and therapy and a bit of Jesus, they whittle you down step by step to no steps at all, at which point you are just sitting around watching Fox News
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Actually when I used to watch Television, almost half the people on the news part were liberals. Shepard Smith was a gay liberal and he was their main news guy. A bunch of the commentators were more conservative.
More of the people on MSNBC and CNN were liberals by % than Fox were conservative.
That loud mouth sexual harasser Bill O'Reilly was a gun grabbing, pro same sex union, Eco nut( global warming) and other liberal beliefs. That was the case back when I had cable.
He was neither party, he just was prolife because of being Catholic. Greta Van Sustren( mis) who quit because she was offended that she was the only woman, besides pistol packing former Judge Jeneane Pirro( mis?), who was never sexual harassed. Too ugly, for even for all perv's there.
The liberals are mad because, they believe that only they should control the News narrative and if you ain't a lefty, no free speech, fucking hypocrisy.
Ruppert Murdock created it because he saw all the leftist news casts, and his greedy mind said" I know how to become even richer, give a voice to 40% of Americans, 20% were liberal and 40% like me independent. Next time, no horney ass grabbers, old man.
 
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chippermonk said:
But yeah, I'm curious about the chemistry of exercises and endorphins. I know of nothing that keeps me more reliably happy as exercise. Combine it with the beauty of being in nature and solitude and the sense of achievement it brings, and it is true bliss.
The problem is, when I get the occasional injury ( and it's been more frequent in recent years) and can't do it and feel like I may never be able to again, I get so depressed. It's an awful feeling. I've been going through some knee pain the past some months, but I think I'm getting over.
Click to expand...
I would enjoy nature but there are laws against hunting them; those damn geese who leave green turds all over my back yard.
 
lecroute said:
This topic cam up again this morning, and Ia new question formed in my mind:

Can some become addicted to exercise in a way comparable to drug addiction.
Meaning to a point where exercising becomes such a necessity for a person that they forget about risks and injury prevention and also leading to complete exhaustion?
I mean NOT those cases where someone overdoes because of body image issues, which many times means they don't eat/drink enough or take performance enhancers which can lead to problems unrelated to the amount of exercise..
Click to expand...
Absolutely they can. Is this you?
 
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