could i be physically addicted to exercise?

yes it is possible...

... and not only possible but it cam become a bit dangerous if you start to over work yourself. Usually it ends up with an injury (i got that) and then no more workout - the real bummer! Balance is good in everything. If you lose an workout it is not the end of the world unless you make it a habit. I used to try to recover it into the break days but now I think that was a stupid idea. If I miss an workout I take it as a bonus rest day now. In the grand scheme of things nothing will happen. Your muscle will not disappear - they might actually grow bigger.
 
It's up to you really; if you thing that there is something missing in what you do, or if you think that you are doing too much, change it around. You try, you fail, you try again, until you are happy again.

Have you got a goal, a set target? eg, training for a marathon, or a martial arts fight, or a powerlifting competition, or swimming across the ocean, or whatever...if you are going to the gym just for staying healthy, well, it gets a bit stale after a number of years. You still get the high, but not as much...

And as for being addicted, yes, you are addicted, 8 years now. I wish i can become as addicted as you someday :D It's one of the best addictions you can have.

And as for the rest of the guys that posted in this thread...You rock guys; Chillen, Wrangell, FF, you are just experiencing this addiction through your own eyes and set environment, you have your own golden standards that you follow and, thank God you are not selfish, you always try to give pieces of your own experiences back to the people of this forum. You don't have to make it personal :D
 
The best way to know is to listen to your body. Exercise should give you more energy rather than felt drained. It should give you a boost and a happy feeling rather than guilt. Rest period between days of exercising is very important as it helps repair and build muscles. Balance is the key, working out hard is not a bad thing and rewarding yourself for a rest day is even beneficial.
 
It's not necessarily an obsession/addiction. It might be physiological. I can't concentrate, sleep or eat if I don't do intensive exercise for half an hour a day or walk for at least four hours. I'm not addicted to exercise and my dad is exactly the same so it's obviously genetic. I'd recommend bwWhiskey tries to get a job that fits in with three or four hours exercise a day, e.g. fitness teaching. I'm freelance and work from home because I couldn't stand sitting in an office long-term. I used to have to run around (literally) during my lunch break or I'd spend the afternoon fidgeting and pacing. Now I can just pop out for a swim.
 
bwhiskey said:
hello. this is my first post here. im 39 years of age. ive been going to the gym 5 to 6 days a week now for the past 8 years. i run, i do martial arts classes, circuits, etc.

after about the first year id gotten fit, i found that if i missed even one day at the gym (i used to go 7 days a week, before my son was born in 2003), id feel crap. depressed, frumpy, irritable, etc.

does anyone know for a fact is it possible to be physically addicted to exercise so that u actually have withdrawal symptoms like i mentioned above? perhaps it hasnt been proven scientifically yet, i dont know. but it sure feels like this is what i have.

also, now i find that when i work out, i dont get the same high i used to. i do feel less down if i went in down, i come out better, but its not as strong as it used to be, its like ive built up a tolerance of sorts. but im nearly 40 now, and i cant really work out harder than i am already - i feel quite tired after a hard work out these days.

any advice or knowledge about exercise addiction please reply if u can. thanks

oh, one last question, ive never done spinning. is it true it raises your bum up a bit if its saggy? people swear by it but i just wondered what u thought.
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That's the Best ****ing addiction Ever sir. :)

I guess if you like it, keep going, and as long as you never forget family and other things aswell, (Not saying you do) it's perfectly fine, healthy and super fit. *ThumbsUp*
 
Exercise addiction has many names and variations, including over-exercise, over-activity, compulsive exercise, obligatory exercise, anorexia athletica and exercise bulimia. One common thread is that these conditions or obsessions show that even good things can be taken to an extreme.
One sign that you are addicted to exercise is that it begins to interfere with other aspects of your life, and you start skipping work, class or social events to fit in your workout. You never seem to have time for anything else because you are preoccupied with getting to the gym or having enough time for your run.
 
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