I can only exercise obsessively or not at all

Post Reply New Topic

I got into running a few years ago...and immediately began running on tight schedules (with plenty of scheduled days off), slowly built up my skills, and began training for an ultramarathon. Marathons didn't interest me (too many elbows in my face). I wanted lonely trails and hours running through beautiful landscapes.

I also bought a treadmill and began running every morning. I read the New York Times on my kindle while I ran a slow morning pace, then did my training runs in the afternoons. Then I moved to a new job location only five miles from my house, so I ran to work and back, even in 90 degree heat. It was awesome and I loved it.

Then I had to stop running because I lost a lot of weight when I went off gluten (turns out I have celiac and some other food intolerances and it took a while to sort that all out). Now my diet is better and I want to get running again...but I can only run as a special interest. To the exclusion of all other things. First, I don't know if I can induce that interest at all. And of course, I don't want to give up my current obsession (drawing and painting).

I don't know how to just run a little bit from time to time. Like, how to do it in a "normal" way. I still have my treadmill, but I've barely used it. And I emphatically don't want to run outside -- we have 90% humidity every day and I have an allergy to something in the air.

Anyway, does anyone else have this problem -- only being able to exercise obsessively or not at all? Any advice?

yep, I tried a few sports and all of the done to the best of my ability/ excess including running..though I used to opt for mountain marathons and ironman races

once I achieved what I wanted I lost all interest and moved on

running etc is as addictive as hard drugs, it is all, the endorphins which give one a fix, then there is the meditative and relaxing aspect of training, the adulation of competing and succeeding/ improving, and all the obsessive cult like practises and community aspects, and the control of sculpting ones body..so all in all a heady cocktail

so maybe dip a toe in again and you may catch the bug again

or just be grateful you have explored that avenue and enjoy your new interests

Last edited by Don Quixote on 20 May 2015, 4:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Me too. The only way to do it is to do interval training for 15 min a day which is actually a better workout than 30-60 minutes of running.

Combine that with weight training and you won't overdo it.

I exercise obsessively. Every day for 30+ years. Unless I am really sick. Which (fortunately) is not often. I plan everything around my exercise routine.

Thanks, everyone! I'll try the 15-min a day thing, alternated with push-ups. It's just so hard to do a little bit and stop. I basically want to go on forever if I care at all.