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Addicted to Exercise

Addicted to Exercise

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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13 Comments

  1. Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin

    I think I have a very addictive personality and it used to be directed towards food, and recently I’ve transitioned it towards healthy food and working out. I’ve never really struggled with exercise addiction though. I think there’s a fine line because a lot of times a training schedule can seem really rigid, but at the same time it’s important to train yourself well for events so you perform well. I agree with your point that the most important thing is paying attention to your body’s signals!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I definitely have an addictive personality. I went from being addicted to food and sugar to exercise. But I think that’s a healthy addiction to have….until it crosses the line. But I think I’ve worked it out of my system. If I miss a workout I don’t feel like it’s the end of the world anymore.

  2. Jill E.

    i, like beth, have an addicted personalty, and when i first started working out i would get depressed if i did not work out but that was the worst of my symptoms and what helped my overcome that was in some way fitting in some sort of exercise even if its walking in the mall or a couple crunches before getting out of bed just something everyday.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Jill–as someone who has struggled with depression my whole life, I found that when I started exercising on a regular basis that my depression was “cured.” At least–as long as I KEPT exercising. For two years my depression was gone. Exercise was the magic cure. Then, like any drug, you need more and more to get the same experience/feeling. So I’d exercise more, harder, longer, etc. to get that same “high.” That’s where I ran into trouble with the running.

  3. Jennifer

    I also think I have an addictive personality. Exercising too much hasn’t been a huge problem for me, but I can see that I am starting to punish myself for NOT working out, even when I’m sick, which isn’t good. Since I’ve been sick for the past few days and haven’t worked out, I feel a bit of panic that I’m going to gain weight back or that I won’t get myself to the gym when I’m feeling healthy again. But I know that won’t happen. In fact, I’m hoping to feel well enough to do a short workout this afternoon. But the addiction to food was definitely there, and rears its ugly head from time to time. Learning balance is the key!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I used to be that way! If I got sick and couldn’t work out I would panic, feel like I was going to gain back all my weight…but I don’t feel that way anymore. I realized that I would not gain 100 pounds in 4 days because of not exercising. Last time I was sick I took 4 days off and couldn’t care less. 🙂

  4. Kathi

    I know I have an addictive personality. I have been addicted to both dieting and exercise. I continue to work on it each and every day. I decided to leave the gym I was a member at. I know lift weight at home and walk every day it seems to be helping me.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Being aware of the addiction (whatever it is) is often the hardest part. But good for you figuring out what works for you to stay balanced!

  5. Carbzilla

    When I was in college and losing my 33 lbs for the first time,I got a little carried away. It was one thing to do aerobics every day without fail, but eventually I found myself walking 45 mins each way to the gym AND working out once I got there (all aerobic, no weights). It was taking hours out of my day. The next time I got into regular workout, I was dedicated but much healthier about it. I wish I weren’t so black and white about it. Especially since I haven’t been to the gym in months. Great topic!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I’m pretty black and white about things too, which is probably why this happened to both of us. When I went through my obsessive running phase last year I was running all the time, including lunchtime and on days I didn’t run at lunch I’d walk for 60 minutes. Like fast, speed walking. Too much!!

  6. Lori Lynn

    It’s been a bit hard for me not to get addicted with my running right now. For almost my whole life, I was overweight, and these last few months I have lost a lot of weight. I took up running, and while it has helped with being able to maintain my weight, there is still a bit of fear that I won’t be able to have the stamina to run. I guess that’s why it’s hard for me to be able to miss more than 2 days of running. I’m also training for a 5K the end of March, so that’s partly why I’ve wanted to keep going so much. I have had to loosen up a bit, b/c my body has told me that it’s doing too much!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I know the feeling! Once I lost the weight and COULD exercise for long periods of time, or run a lot, I wanted to do it more! It was addicting in a positive way.

  7. Ella Ye

    Thid topic is great!!!!!!!

    I’m a typical person who gets to addicted to things when I start to put my hands on it…

    I’ve been going to gym almost every day recently and 2 hours each time, i kind of feel like I’ve been expecting for the gym time every morning when i wake up, and the rest time is just of no value. It’s a life style like “if I ‘m not in gym, i’m in the way to gym”..black and white style is really not good, as u can not stick it long time .

    My MC is to come soon and I had been worried that i could not exericising during MC. Now i really need to get rid of that thoughts, not only for losing weight but also for life

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