Have you ever been addicted to exercise?

What do you think is worse - too much exercise or not enough? How much do you exercise? How much exercise would you be prepared to do for your ideal body?

Comments

[OH]

I am sorry to hear about your addition. I know what you are going through. I became addicted to excercise about 10 years ago. I was getting up at 5am doing 11/2 hours in the morning before work then anothe 1 hour in the evening, I cleaned windows until 1 am, I weighed about 7st and am 5ft 6",in the end I made myself very ill and had to spend 4 months in bed not moving. I couldnt exercise for about 5 years, put on weight and got very depressed ( suicidal).

Please get and take and much help as posssible. Something will work. x

[SARAH REID]

After my daughter was born 4 years ago I wieghed 18 1/2 stone and was a size 24. Seeing photos of myself made me feel so ashamed. Aswell as having severe post natal depression on attenmpting suicide 4 times, I have lost 10 stone and everyone thinks I should be over the moon, but excersize has become an obseession,it has taken over my life. I can do 7 hours step aerobics a day aswell as an hours run and walk, that was until october when my health took a serious downturn and I slit my wrists in desperartion. Stress has got so much I am having 3 epileptic seizures a day-last week I had 4 including the worst one I'D ever had and stopped breathing. My husband says he cant take much more, he has put up with so much. I get up at 4 am do step aeobics and will spend every free minute doing steps as I am unable to leave home to run any more due to my seizeres. If I dont sort muself out soon I am going to lose my husband, health is going to detiriorate furthur. Councelling hasn't helped but I started psychothepy before christmas and hope that will do the trick. I am desperate to sort myself out, if I don't excersize I am terrified to eat and fear everything that passes my lips will make me ballooon again, if I eat somthing sweet I am like a wild animal craving more sweet foods anmd binging. At one point I was taking laxatives, yesterday I made myselft sick for the 1st time. I am desperate. Aswell as this I have OCD, a fear of getting dirty, touching doorhandles. I have noticed my daughter picking up on my habits-using tissues to open doors etc and worrying about food. I am desperate for help, if I can share my story and help people or if you know anyone who can help me please get in touch

[Anna]

It's so sad that Maria let exercise take over her life, but I understand how easy it can be to let that happen. Working out gives you such a buzz and when you notice your shape changing and get compliments, that makes it so addictive. But I think she should try and get more help because letting it get in the way of having children is a step too far. At the end of her life she won't look back and think: "I wish I'd exercised more", she'll be more likely to think: "I wish I had had children…"

[Sam]

Before I got pregnant I used to work out six maybe, seven times a week, I loved it! Mind you I do working from home as a writer with a gym at the end of my road I did have the luxury of being able to do that. It was more about health and sanity than my figure - I had a toned body but not a really muscly one.
Having done that for 20 years (since I was 17) I know that it takes a lot of effort and that celebrities who flaunt 'fit' bodies probably have to work out a lot more than I did!