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Obsessive Tendancies

Uklou222

Hi all,

I’ve recently got back into fitness/eating better, and I am finding that I’m getting obsessive with it. If it was up to me I would be exercising a couple of hours everyday, but I know that just isnt good for me or very sustainable. It’s the same with food, I feel like diet/fitness consumes me and it’s all I think about. What I’m asking is, how do you think I can not be as obsessive with it? Does anyone have any tips or techniques to help with obsessingPersevere

  • Hi,

    I struggle a lot with food/eating and I also struggle with compulsive exercise and rigid routines in general. Have you managed to make any progress in your relationship with food and exercise? 

    Part of me thinks that maybe the only way to stop the exercise compulsion is to stop all forms of movement for a long time- but the thought of this is utterly terrifying (which maybe means that it has to stop...) and it is very sad as hiking is one of my favourite things ever (though I have been unable to do it due to injuries for over 2.5 years now). I also loved other outdoor exercise and activities including running. Exercise used to be such a great stress relief. Now, because of various issues, I can only engage in quite low intensity exercise but it has become extremely compulsive. eg. I have to cycle xx km a day and it has to be EXACTLY that number. I think if the world were to end I would still be doing my biking. This compulsion (plus other compulsions and general fear of change) make it virtually impossible for me to go anywhere (eg travel or go to visit a friend). Only today a friend of mine who I really like asked me if I come and live with her for a few weeks as I am currently in total burnout and she thought this would help me. The thought of leaving my home and routines etc terrify me and are holding me back from even considering if I would like this. 

    Food is also super complicated for me and I get stuck in routines/ with rules. (I always had sensitive digestion and ended up cutting out foods from the diet as I thought they were worsening the digestive issues, which eventually results in a very limited and rigid diet and unintentional weight loss . When the weight gets too low, i forcefeed myself back to a more normal weight suffering terrible stress and digesitve issues- then the cycle starts over again.). I have now realised that I feel so confused about eating that my brain is constantly trying to "figure it out" , creating patterns and rules to help, except that it doesn't work as each day is different...  (I have been in routines involving anything from 2 pizzas + 2 desserts + only sweets, fruit veggies banned; from much more restricted patterns with only rice and fish and handful of fruit/vegetables). No matter how hard I try to break these patterns/ rules, new ones always try to sneak their way in... Plus I ended up with real phobic reactions to food or even to changing things about the food (eg. different brand even if everything seems the same...). 

    Does anyone else experience issues with getting locked into food/eating routines? I know routine is not bad but for me it just becomes so rigid and circumstances change and I cannot adapt. 

    I also realised I struggle to tell appart hunger, stress, fullness and nausea... which makes it difficult...

    Sorry, this is so weird and messed up. Does anyone have any tips or ideas? Or is anyone struggling with similar issues?