Exercise Habit

[rowyn]

I read an article whose author described exercise, like drug use, as an addiction: 'providing a stress-relieving high' or something on those lines.  And I thought "Really? An addiction?"

I've been getting regular exercise for over ten years now, pretty much continuously. I've skipped weeks now and then, and the amount varies: some times I might barely have jogged 30 miles over an entire month, others I might bicycle for over 300. But nonetheless. It is a habit. I exercise regularly. It has some tangible benefits: I do feel less stressed afterwards, particularly after biking outside.

But an addiction?

I am tellin' ya, if this is an addiction, it would be the easiest to break ever. Give me one reputable headline saying "exercise wears out your heart! Conserve heart action by sitting on the couch more" and I would be ALL OVER that couch. Yesssss. Come to me, sweet couch. Heck, I don't even need to learn that exercise is bad for me! Just demonstrate it's not good for me! I COULD QUIT ANY TIME.  LET ME QUIT RIGHT NOW. PLEASE.

It's a habit, yes. Like going to work five days a week. That doesn't mean I crave it or even want it. I have never found myself thinking, "Oh, I know I should stay home and eat ice cream, but I just can't resist the incredible lure of EXERCISE! I'm trying! I know it's a mistake but ... " *bikes for 10 miles, unable to control herself*

Yeaaaaaah no. Maybe there are people who're addicted to exercise, but I am so not one of them. -_-

Comments

I actually did get a "runner's high" a few times.

[jorrocks-j.livejournal.com]

I think the last was not quite twenty years ago.

Nowadays it's more like "Ah-hah-hah! I see you, incipient old-man-pot-belly! I see you trying to sneak into my life, bringing with you comic jollity and cozy avuncularity and diabetes and neuropathy and erectile dysfunction! Ah-hah-hah, hee-hee-hee, oh you scalawag YOU'RE GOIN' DOWN LIKE A MOTHERFUCKER, MOTHERFUCKER!..."

So I run and I suck at it but I suck less than the guy who never got off the couch. End of story.

Re: I actually did get a

[rowyn]

I can't really handle jogging any more. It is made of misery and hatred of life. I think the problem is that it really suffers in comparison with biking, which is sort of fun. Not actual "this is better than sitting at home with my computer" fun, but "this is kinda nice and I don't mind much". :D

Re: I actually did get a

[archangelbeth]

I simply cannot jog. Or run, really. My knees are fuuhh-riiiied. (Fried, only drawled and emphasized.) I can walk. I would rather not, but the kid apparently derives emotional well-being by going on walks and I am paranoid enough (...and need the exercise myself...) to not want her going around the neighborhood on her own.