Overtraining & exercise addiction?

I've been spinning 5-6 days a week for the past several months, and also doing two days a week of strength training, either on the Cybex equipment, or doing a Group Power barbell class.  Today it was an hour-long "strength" spinning class (which means keeping your heartrate at about 85% of max, and a lot of resistance on "hills"), and the instructor kept saying that we shouldn't do any other leg work for the next two days to prevent over training.  So, I asked her whether I should skip my regular Group Power class tomorrow.  She said that if I did the class, that I should take it easy on the legs, and then she said, "and we should all learn to manage our addictions" (which kind of offended me).  So my questions are: 1)  Does an exercise like spinning, that I consider to be a cardio workout, not a true resistance workout, really require a rest the following day?  I don't ever get sore following a spin class, even the higher intensity ones.  2)  Does the level of exercise I'm doing qualify as an "addiction"?  I guess if so, I'll still trade that for my former addiction to food, but like I said, it offended me that a fitness specialist at the gym would imply that I'm addicted.   Tami

Hi Tami I wrote an article last year of OH that tells you what I think about it. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/fitness/cmsID,9613/mode,co ntent/ Keep doing what makes you happy. Earl

Excellent article, Earl.  I agree 100% about not lumping exercise into the same category as alcoholism.  It just doesn't make sense.  Even exercise bulimia (exercising hours a day to compensate for over-eating) would be considered a "disorder", rather than an "addiction".  And I sure don't qualify for that.   Tami

Tami, If you are addicted then I defnitely am and I am FINE with that! I am in the gym  6 days a week for an hour, see a personal trainer twice a week for more cardio and weight training AND have pilates twice a week. I gave NEVER felt this good. My personal trainer knows my workout schedule and supports it 100%, though he does ask that I take one day off a week, which I usually do and I do seem to perform better when I do that. I dont know about all this over training stuff, but if you feel good and are not pushing yourself to work through real pain, I think you are just fine. Earl, GREAT article!

Thanks, Donna.  Tami

Hello Tami, There are many factors or signs of overtraining. For instance, frequent feelings of fatigue, elevated resting heart rate, weight fluctuations, sleep disturbances, and several more can all be signs of overtraining; keep in mind however that the existence of one of these does not mean you are overtrained. Due to the restrictive nature of bariatric surgery your recovery between exercise sessions is compromised as a result of the number of calories you can or rather can't consume. So, nutrient timing becomes important; well, nutrient timing is important anyway but if you calories are restricted it becomes that much more important. In regards to an exercise addiction; it does not sound like you are "addicted" to exercise. Sometimes people say things because they don't have anything else better to say or they lack the education to give you an educated answer. Below are several data points, but not all, that I would collect if I were monitoring you for overtraining; this monitoring would take place continuously and I would look at changes over time. Resting Heart Rate Scale weight Do you feel fatigued? How would you rate your cheerfulness today? How would you rate your nervousness today? How would you rate your feeling of frustration today? How would you rate your feeling of soreness today? How is your health? If you have an illness, record your most severe symptom: Give the time you went to bed: Give the time you awoke: Did you have difficulty falling asleep? Did you sleep restlessly? Did you awaken before your scheduled rising time? Are you injured? Hope this helps....I also sent you a message so check that and let me know if you need more info.

Hi Jeremy, thanks for your response, and your PM.  I was hoping to hear from you on this matter.  To be honest, I didn't really consider that I'm at risk for overtraining at this point, because I feel awesome.  But, it's good to know what to watch out for.  My question regarding "overtraining" actually was whether spinning is on the same level as weight training in regards to taking a day off after a "strength" class.  I just totally disagreed with the instructor on that matter, because to me, spinning, even with resistance, is more on par with a recovery exercise after a day of heavy resistance training.   And, as far as her comment about "managing my addictions", well, I have to wonder what her motivation was for coming up with that remark.  But, it *could* be the fact that I have better definition than she does, and I've only been working out since January! Tami

This was a really informative thread -- thank you for sharing Tami. I too, LOVE, to spin. I was in spin class five days a week before surgery....and the first question at my 1 week post-op follow up was: "when can i spin?" !!! Like you, I've never been sore after spinning class (they way I am after Pilates or lifting). I think her comment was ill-informed...which is a bummer....I've never encountered a spin teacher with that kind of attitude...mine are all triathletes who are just as passionate about cycling as I am. Anyhow...you got lots of good info...I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. My work life is SO stressful that I would simply crumble if I couldn't spin mid-day. Does that make me an addict? I guess so...addicted to living healthily and happily! Vashti

Thanks for your note.  I guess in a way, it's all about how you define "addiction".  I agree with Earl's point of view that the term "addiction" has really negative overtones.  But, do I make exercise a priority?  Oh, yeah.  Do I miss it when I can't go to the gym?  Well, right now, I'm sitting at my desk in my workout gear, and I am NOT a happy camper.  The reason?  We're down one car due to a repair, and I was supposed to drive my 16-year old to school so I'd have the car.  But, she jumped in and took off.  Ahhhh!  So, I missed the 8:45 spin class.  But, I can promise you I'll be walking to the gym to make it to the 4:30 class.   I have a feeling this particular spin instructor just doesn't like it when someone questions her wisdom.  She's a "master" instructor who teaches other spin instructors.  This isn't the first time she's made references like this to me, and I think it might go back to months ago, when I shared with her an article from Jeremy about working out in your "cardio" zone vs. the "fat burning" zone, which seemed to be in opposition to what she'd been telling us in class (to stay in the "fat burning" zone).   The ironic thing is that we were really talking about the same thing, just using different terms.  What she was referring to as "fat burning" zone actually meant anything below your anaerobic threshold.  Tami

Tami, Even if you are below you anaerobic threshold, the majority of calories  burned are still coming from carbohydrate (glycogen). Its not until your training intensity becomes fairly low (50-60% of max heart rate) that fat become the primary substrate used. So, even calling a sub-anaerobic threshold exercise intensity "fat burning" is a bit misleading and as you know from my "Fat Burning Zone" article, a bit of a myth. In regards to being a master instructor; this means she is probably a pretty good cyclist but does not mean she knows a lot about physiology. This in itself is not a bad thing but people should know their limits when it comes to dispensing advice. Keep on spinning!