too much cardio? i can't stop!

Alli · 02-Sep-02, 02:59 AM

okay, i'm addicted to cardio. i do about 2 hours of cardio a day, every day. if i skip a day i feel like crap, and i always end up going for a run in the middle of the night or something. i also do weights at least five times a week.

i literally cannot stop. its also getting worse, i find myself running that little bit faster, or a little bit longer. i think its because i'm increasing my calories intake, so i exercise more. i think its a subconcious thing.

am i going to kill myself doing this?

AdamJM · 02-Sep-02, 03:33 AM

Wow, that is definently to much for a weight lifter, but have you ever considered marathons or like iron man competions? Thats a ton of cardio.

Alli · 02-Sep-02, 04:27 PM

ahhh... first off i'm a chick, so i'm not sure they'd let me enter in an iron man competition!

i could go in girl competitions, but i don't think my doctor would let me. and all those girls are massive, i'm only little.

**cursor** · 04-Sep-02, 11:21 AM

Are you doing any weight lifting yet, Alli? What is your current target caloric intake? Have you talked to your doctor about it?

mixtic187 · 04-Sep-02, 11:42 AM

Alli,

You are the girl who had the eating disorder, correct? i know thats a symptom of anorexia.. but i'm sure you already know that.. especially if you are so compulsive about it that you are getting up in the middle of the night to run..its time to cut down on the exercise a bit.. you said you are increasing your intake of calories, but the intake of calories are not going to benefit your body to get healthy because you are burning them all off! Please be careful.. there is nothing wrong with exercising daily.. and enjoying it.. but it can't take over your life to the point where you are obsessive.. maybe you could call a friend to talk instead of jumping up to burn those calories that your body so dearly needs? take care of yourself!

Alli · 04-Sep-02, 03:47 PM

yeah, i've cut back a bit since i posted. i do also lift weights. my current intake is about 800-1000 calories a day. i'm slowly reintroducing things into my diet, so its slowly on the climb. i'm having a day off today altogether. thanks for the advice and support!

AdamJM · 07-Sep-02, 12:50 AM

Actually I got a coach that ran iron woman competitions, from what I hear she was quite good too.

Fudomyo · 09-Sep-02, 06:20 PM

Normally I'd say that 2 hrs of cardio is fine. Most Atheletes that go on 3-4 hr bike rides, or run that much, eat 4,000 - 6,000 calories. 1,000 calories is an excellent breakfast on that plan.

I can't see how you don't feel like a$$ running that much without eating.

How's the weight gaining going?
Fudo

Alli · 09-Sep-02, 09:01 PM

things are going pretty well actually. i'm up to 110 lbs now, and i feel alot better. i have energy for the first time in years! i'm feeling really good and healthy.

**cursor** · 10-Sep-02, 07:10 AM

That's great Alli. The feel-good benefits from getting better nutrition is great. When you get that caloric intake bumped up some (with the proper nutritional balance), and combine that with weight training for muscle development, you're going to feel simply awesome.

swanem · 13-Sep-02, 07:40 PM

I also run ALOT (every day) but I have started a streching and partial yoga plan in with that. I was concerned about hairline fractures (I have Twisted Tibia Torsion in my right leg) and broken ankles. This streching had taken up alot of time that would have been spent running.

Not only that, but my flexibility has increased and I seem to hurt alot less at the end of the day.

Erik

Alli · 25-Sep-02, 03:15 AM

swanem- i used to be a gymnast, so i'm already freakishly flexible! i love pilates and yoga- i also do them about twice a week.

i've also got some weird thing going on with my knee- my shin bones are at a funny angle with my knee bones, and so they grind together. i've also got a really badly twisted pelvis which has ruined my back, and so when i run, everything's uneven. horaah for gymnastics and the nasty, nasty injuries that come with it!!

kdebrick · 02-Oct-02, 01:59 PM

Hi Alli:

I read what Rach wrote and agree with her. I also had an eating disorder when I was 25 that turned to exercise addition and for years I exercised for hours and hours a day. I'm 47 and my body hurts all the time. I don't exercise like that any more. I've gotten myself into a very healthy exercise program but unfortunately my body is suffering from early arthritis, knee problems, hip problems. I've always had a really good healthy diet (after I started eating again). I'm 5'8" and I kept my weight at 100 pounds for almost 4 years. I almost wasn't able to have my daughter because my body was so messed up from all the exercise abuse. Doing 2 hours of aerobics isn't bad if you have a goal in mind (like athletes do) but if you are just doing it because you feel the "need" then that's another story. I've lived with it for years and about two years ago I finally somehow, through the help of a great trainer, (that I met on one of these web sites) helped me break that cycle and start enjoying all aspects of my life again. It sounds like you are on the right course by cutting back and adding weights to your exercise routine. Just don't feel like you have to do everything, every day. Good luck!

kath