Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Are You Addicted?

….and don’t go all True Confessions on me here. I’m talking about being addicted to running/exercising. Duh…

I know we all talk about being addicted to running and/or working out. And I would say this is good, for the most part. But it can get to the point where it is not longer a positive addiction. Negative addictions like alcoholism and drug abuse are bad BUT we can also become addicted to positive behaviors and this helps to instill self-confidence. But recently I was doing some research looking for info helpful in working with a client and I found this:

A positive addiction must be a noncompetitive activity  (uh oh…) which can be performed alone for about one hour each day (um, yeah so where does a 20 mile run fit into this???).  The activity to which you/me/we are addicted will lead to personal improvement and, the kicker…the person (you/me/we/I) needs to be able to perform the activity without becoming self-critical.

So, what do you think? Is your addiction to running a healthy addiction? 

16 comments:

  1. Based on these requirements that'd be a negatory Batman. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Um, based on that statement my Grandmother is a freak. If she could only knit afghan blankets for an hour a day... Well, you get where I am going with this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've secretly known all along that us runners are a bit out of control. But thanks for giving my husband proof now... ;) Please don't list any footnotes as to where this excerpt comes from. I don't need anymore scientific evidence that I'm crazy...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Considering I can talk myself out of runs for almost any reason I don't think I'm addicted to running yet although I'd really like to be! It is nice to know, though, that I have a positive addiction to blogging. Last night I confessed to what I thought might be a slight obsession, but now I can let my husband know it's actually good for me.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm pretty sure I'm not addicted to running. However, I may need to enter Words With Friends rehab. Please schedule the intervention for after we exchange gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm addicted; my wife would say I'm obsessed!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well, sometimes I wonder if I don't cross the line, just a tad...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Find another definition. I don't like that one!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I sometimes think it's a bad addiction. If I don't get a scheduled run in, I flip out. My whole day is a mess. Running is all I can think about. On a rest day, when I see runners outside, I go batshit crazy and have to really restrain myself from lacing up my shoes. Hmmm.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm not addicted
    I could stop running any time...
    in fact, I stopped this evening.

    (of course I'll start again in the morning and then stop and then start again later but NOT because I HAVE to...)

    ReplyDelete
  11. On days when my daughter is crying because of daddy's need to run I do feel a little bad. But things being kept in moderation is definitely the right thing to do. When the weekends come, I do claim the right to a four hour run on one of those days! My family is pretty supportive of that though.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can't imagine my life now without running. I know I could stop at any time but whenever I miss it for a day or two then the whole world gets crappier, right along with me. It is my stress reliever and actually helps me keep everything else balanced. I definitely feel guilty if I miss a run.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My knee doctor last week came right out and told me I had an addiction. I almost laughed out loud when he said it. I mean, it is addicting, however, it's how far we let ourselves go with it. Esp. when it comes to daily routines, eating habits, having meltdowns if we miss a run... When it starts to run your life and you have to pencil everything else in- except your workout... then it's a problem.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sure it's healthy. I'm not competitive with anyone but myself in running... but you've got me on that whole one hour thing!

    ReplyDelete

You're pretty much awesome!!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails