There's a guy a few threads down that's shooting to exercise 17 hours per day for 100 consecutive days; he might be someone to reach out to.

Me. I started seeing a counselor about 7 months ago and have completely changed my thought process around sport. No longer making performances or results the reason for my self worth. I’m still trying to exercise but because I love being active not because I feel like I have to do it

Omg! That's so funny!!! I think he has financial motives and self-promotion behind his crazy activities.

That's super brave of you to see someone and deal with it. You should be proud of yourself. It sounds like you've done so well. Thanks for sharing.

There are a couple of Exercise Addiction threads around - if they might be of any help

https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...earning%5D_P5116249/

https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...ronLady%5D_P6369879/

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Me. I'm no superstar athlete,far from it at 50yo,but have had issues with boom bust exercise and binge eating with exercise or restriction as the purge and have had therapy for it. Essentially bulimia with exercise instead of vomitting.

I find it very hard not to be doing something, even just walking, even when I'm in pain. I have several knackered joints and a heart issues likely from bad genetics and a life time of being stupid with ignoring my body. Had ME/CFS too.

I have to monitor what I do and eat at the moment to avoid going back into that hole. Counselling has been very helpful to deal with the issues behind it.

What were the obvious warning signs that made you realize the problem? Did it adversely affect relationships with those closest to you?

Yes,as you said....it seems to affect mood, relationships, sleep, and overall wellness.

Grumpy and depression due to tiredness and pain. Grumpy when you can't to do stuff due to tiredness, pain, over eating, the physical effects of both, shame or guilt.

It's been a problem for most of my life. No eureka moment, just steps of enlightenment along the way followed by, being sucked back in to it. After a life time of it I am aware I need to keep on to of my game with the issues.

I'd encourage anyone in that position to seek help. Self-help books can help, but someone skilled to talk to will short cut a lot of self-deception in a supportive way and uncover root causes.

That's enough from me shared on here now. But feel free to PM if there's a genuine need.

I know lots of people in the Ultra-triathlon world who train excessively to escape from their demons..While people laud the efforts of some of these well known "stunt" athletes or social media influencers/athletes,very few few actually bother to try to understand why it is people do the crazy shit they do.If they do find out,even fewer care enough to try and help.

everyone has some kind of addiction imho.... i can say im addicted to exercise, but i turned it into something productive - to generate income. That is why my line of work is bike messenger. I couldnt sit in an office anymore. There are many work addicts out there. I actually hate riding bikes for fun now (zwift, group rides, etc)

 I don't have an exercise problem.
That's like Picasso having a painting problem.
It's not a problem if you are awesome at it.

Haha, coming to an alcoholics forum and asking if anyone has an alcohol addiction LOL!

We are here because we are addicted to exercise and sport! What do you mean you did not train 20 hrs this week???? Your ST account may be revoked if you don't get out there and surpass 20 hrs this week.

I am an alcoholic. Addict. Whatever. Athletics has been my release to let my addictive personality become a super power. It saved my life, and I can still be addicted to something. Besides, I'm retired, and every day is Saturday.

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Athlinks / Strava

 
i've gone through phases where i was having a lot less fun than is appropriate for a non-professional. and i've observed the same in friends and acquaintances. i've also noticed a lot of people, including in the hp end of the field, have other borderline issues with addiction. its something to be mindful of. even those of us who are comfortable with the acceptance that what we like to do falls outside the bounds of normal and even healthy sometimes.

speaking for myself, whether im in a phase of training for a major goal or not, i find i do better if i pay as much attention to how i feel as i do my numbers.

the moments in multisport that have given me the most satisfaction don't correlate well the moments i've had good podiums or been "good" by some external measure. i find its helpful for me to remember that.

Longdog,
You mentioned you had ME/CFS. Are you cured? Were you unable to exercise at one point because of it and are now back?
I have been unable to exercise for 3 years and had ME/CFS for 7 years with intermittent symptoms. Pretty severe now. Took a 10 month absence from work because of it.

I definitely had an exercise addiction. Didn't slow down when I needed to and made my illness way, way worse. Triathletes beware. Post-exertional malaise was my earliest symptom.

Cured no. Far far better and in full time work and getting out hiking, biking, and swimming , eventually yeh, but with provisions made.

I was diagnosed with CFS/ME at a specialist centre here in the UK about 14 years ago after being finished from a teaching job due to it (not actually diagnosed when they finished me, but had been off in long term sick and getting tests). At my worst I was pretty much house bound, couldn't think straight or read (could read and see the words, but I couldn't compute what I was reading).

After a couple of years on the sick I got back to part-time , then full time work, but to be honest still find work a challenge. Tried all-sorts of diets, supplements and woo woo treatments to little benefit. Though doing The Lighting Process course did help me a lot, and I continue to use that at times along with relaxation and a dark room.

The main thing was learning what affected me, how much, and how much I could handle without being put too far into the red. I tracked activity and it's effect for a while and how long it might take me to get over an activity to help me plan, just like you might a training plan.

I really have to try to balance what I do or I suffer big time. If I have a 'big' thing coming up hike, bike, late night or long work thing I need to make sure I'm well rested and have to plan for what is terrible recovery afterwards, take extra leave afterwards if necessary, and plan to do very little. As well as the physical drain, I get brain fog and my mood will suffer with it. Sometimes I need to take myself to a dark room and just relax. Cold water swims help too as a bit of a mental reset, but also with inflammation and fibro I'll get in my legs.

I got back to cycling century distances occasionally and a few days bikepacking or backpacking. But a long day ride can take me a few days to a week days to recover from with work/family being tough in the meantime. A few days bikepacking could take a good 2-3 weeks to feel OK. Any disruption in my sleep knocks me for 6.

I do do at lot, and certainly compared to my age peers (51yo) , but it is a constant effort to avoid boom and bust. Sometimes I just say F it and suffer the consequences, and often I dip out of social commitments (parties, late night stuff) as I find them too draining and unpleasant as it's just too much for my head.

As per the thread title I have a problem sticking with the exercise/activity limits I should impose along with binge eating as a self-destructive way to manage mental health issues I've had and have probably brought a number of health issues on myself as a result.

So, I'm loads better than I was, and if I did less and pushed myself less I'd undoubtedly be better still. It's a work in progress....

Im no doubt addicted to exercise and have pretty much been so since the late 80's.
I think to achieve a fair modicum of success at endurance sports one pretty much has to be obsessive.