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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!

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  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.

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  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...

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  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.

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  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.

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

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

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

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  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.

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  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...)

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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!

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You're pretty much awesome!!