Addiction to exercise?

HellonWheels

WOW do I read a lot of myself in what you said. YES the endorphin high is a MAJOR part of it for me, on rest days I feel depressed probably because I'm NOT getting that high. And since sex releases endorphins too, I notice that after sex I don't feel like working out (probably because I already got the high from the sex!)

__________________
"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior"--Confucius

limerickman

But that is the danger - if one gets addicted to the "high" of training, as McColgan did, it then starts to affect ones health because you train and train
to keep that "high".
You end up training and training, exhausting yourself, to attain feeling good
(or "High") but who knows what damage you do physically to achieve this.
This is what happened to the world class runner, McColgan.

I'm not a psychologist but I suspect that you "low" is not a low.
It is simply, not a "high".
So to feel "low" is perfectly normal - this is a state where the endorphins are not being released.

If this "low" is an acute problem for you - where you find that you are unable to work or socialise because your mood isn't "high" - it might be an idea to see
your physician.

HellonWheels

I think maybe I shoulkd reduce my workout a bit, and since sex also releases endorphins, maybe I just need to get laid more.
I think my husband will be perfectly amenable to that.

__________________
"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior"--Confucius

closesupport

Been there done that, due to over exercising and under eating i made my self ill. not only mentally but physically, since i was exercising so much and not eating anywhere enough calories to maintain my weight for my longer runs, loading didn't enter the equation until late on, my primary concern was how i felt on my feet if i felt heavy or looked heavy in my opinion then i would skip meals *(Anorexia) when i felt light on my feet i would cram in alsorts before runs a few hours before. Somedays my legs would feel flat exhausted and weak, okey! most people would probaly skip, but i found that using the weights for a few hours and bunging in a big meal they then felt good enough for me to head off out for a 5 to 10 mile run.

i was obsessed, i would do sit ups for hours after breakfast, i weight trained after dinner, cycled after tea then would run a little later on at nights, but while all my mates where out enjoying a few beers i would be out playing in the rain and the mud. But truthfully all it got me was the inability to walk for 14mths, due to over exercise and malnutrition i weakened my bones in my tibia and fibula leaving me with several fractures a number of sprains and strain and a dislocation that couldn't be re located until my bone density had improved.

now i try to eat sensibly and i also try to ensure that i have at leaste one day a week off so i don't get to suffer that again, but mainly i try to stick to training 2 to 3 times a week instead of 3 to 4 times a day.

HellonWheels

Wow...that's horrible what you went through! I don't workout near as much but what I do do was killing me. I don't think I mentioned this, but the last few weeks I have felt like CRAP...I dreaded getting out of bed at 5 to workout, and after I did manage to get thru it, I felt worse, like death reheated, as my mom used to say. I cut my workouts 15 mins short and felt like a heel for doing THAT. I was snappy and mean to everybody, during workouts my head would spin, the ceiling soun around, I got dizzy, couldnt recall the date or time, feeling horrid...and I felt sure I had some disease like <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=cancer&v=56">cancer</a>, <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=diabetes&v=56">diabetes</a>, etc

I went to my doctor who is also a cyclist ....he asked me lots of questions, and said, EAT MORE FOOD! ESPECIALLY CARBS! He said I was working out too intensely for what I was eating...thing is, intense exercise for me decreases my appetite. I'd get stomach growls but not eat because I didnt FEEL hungry. He told me exactly what to do.....big bowl of corn flakes an hr before workout, with a Powerbar Harvest....drink fruit juice while working out, then eat some more <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=food&v=56">food</a> after workout.

I did that today for the first <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=time&v=56">time</a> and the improvement was absolutely REMARKABLE. Like bringing someone back from the dead to life again. I'm about 20 lbs overweight still (I used to be much heavier), so when my stomach growled and I didnt feel hungry, I figured it would be okay not to eat because I assumed I didnt "need" extra since I had fat stores on me (lol)....was I wrong!

__________________
"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior"--Confucius

Postie

That obsession was exactly the same problem I had. I pumped massive amounts of protein, complex carbs and vitamins through my body so I did not have the same nutritional issues, but it was very hard on my body. Was I high on endorphins? Probably. But I honestly think it was less of an addiction then it was an obsession. I had a goal without an upper limit and I wasn't going to let lack of dedication or will power lower my gains for a second. However, in time I learned that more rest would have actually improved my gains and lower my injuries. What's even crazier is that I had taken this stuff in University and I subconsciously knew what I was doing to myself. I just didn't want to believe it applied to me.

Hence, whenever I talk to someone that is following the same path, my advice is always to put some control on enforcing mandatory rest. Four consecutive days off each month (of course including some rest each week as well) will not cause a decrease in performance (professional athletes on a professional program are not included in this statement). If the rest is that hard to do, the motivation to workout actually increases as opposed to drops off at the end of one's rest period.

Roadrash Dunc

Yup , working-out - weights , running , you name it - is like a drug and can be addictive.

I have a question for you though , dont answer if its too personal :
You said you are *still* 20lbs overweight.Did you start exercising to lose weight and wanted to get to a target weight badly? That would also explain maybe why you were eating poorly.
Following on from that , and i mean this in no offense , but how are you still overweight with such a busy workout routine.Riding 75 miles a morning? I cant believe anyone can be overweight that does that AND not to mention skips meals too!

closesupport

i know now, i was extremly depressed during my injury period. i couldn't bring myself to do anything, i'd do a few sit ups, maybe a few weights but i eventually got to the point of what the hell, i do it to run, i can't run i couldn't walk without feeling excrusiating pain. imagine limping around having to climb stairs on your arse when the other month you where running 26miles in under 3hrs.

i agree it was my own fault it was my own undoing, i should have been happy with running in the times that i was. rest is as important as refuelling, i found that just sitting relaxing and meditation even a spot of stretching wasn't to exherting, but it got me through what should have been my rest day.

i also found myself reading quite alot of medical books sports and nutrition chemistry and sports injury books when i was laid up, maybe this is what i should have been doing on my rest day, anything to occupy myself and my mind taking into consideration that i was supposed to be recovering, even though maybe it was a little late.

closesupport

"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior"--Confucius

i recognise that! conquering oneself is a far greater task than conquering others,

"he who conquuers himself is the mightiest warrior"

CARTE BLANCHE

HellonWheels

No, I did not start this to lose weight, believe it or not. I was once over 300 lbs, and I'm now 145 lbs. I did it to treat a medical problem I had that I learned (in 2001) was being triggered by eating too much food, and highfat foods. I also found out that exercise improves this condition. I started doing all this to fix that problem, and it DID fix it, but now I'm hooked on working out! (lol)...I also returned 3 yrs ago to my teenage love of cycling, so here I am. I lost 160 lbs but I was NOT intending to, I only originally wanted to stop my GI problem.

BTW I didnt say I do 75 miles permorning, I said (or maybe I forgot to say) 26 miles on an exercise bike at high intensity for about 80 mins. This is in addition to regular (outdoor) bike rides of about 50 miles or so, maybe more.

__________________
"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior"--Confucius

closesupport

have you ever heard of sea kelp

sea kelp is a rich source of the trace mineral iodine which is necessary for normal growth and development. Iodine is required for the healthy functioning of the thyroid gland. As a vital component of two thyroid homones, iodine plays an important role in the bodys metabolism, the rate at which the body burns food for energy, and in the maintenance of connective tissues.

Sea Kelp is a rich and dependable source of 60 minerals and elements including iodine, 21 amino acids, and 12 vitamins (including A, C, B12, thiamin, and vitamin E or tocopherol). Because the minerals are in plant tissue they are easily digested and assimilated. Many of the trace minerals contained in Sea Kelp Laminaria are essential for producing enzymes which in turn promote healthy body functions.

you can purchase sea kelp tablets over the counter at any health food shop, or even from the chinese chipy \ restraunt in the for of deep fried crispy sea weed, its very good for providing an energy source, plus all the advantages as stated above.

Carrera

I think it makes sense to devote time to exercise of the body but also of the mind. No matter how good your athletic level is, it makes sense to dedicate time to other activities. The truth is so many sportsmen tend to overtrain with the feeling that more must be better. However, I was reading Roger Bannister's account of the training he did for his first 4 minute mile and he did all his training in conjunction with other activities. Arnold Schwarzennegger also trained at least 3 hours, 6 days a week but he also studied, learned bricklaying and acting and kept busy. I think if you balance sport out and get injured at some point it's far easier to handle time out when you know you can improve in other areas. After all, knowledge is fundamental to being a good sportsman anyway. Even Lance Armstrong is active outside of cycling with business interests and cancer aid e.t.c. so I think it's all a question of proportion that leads to the best results.

closesupport

when i used to go for runs within the first 20minutes to the finish i'd be reciting the multiplications table from 1's up to as far as i could to the point that i was counting the multiples as strides, took my mind of fwhat i was doing i would occassionally find myself saying a little prayer or having a little chat with him upstairs.

needless to say he never replied nor did he say watch that hole in the floor there kidda!

Olasnah

Try getting out and taking a long walk. It's exercise, you are helping your legs tremendously by doing it, and there's no danger of injury from it. I do this regularly on my off days and find it very relaxing but still energetic.