I’m a fitness addict— a fitness junkie. Exercise is my drug of choice and I crave for the pain and intensity it causes. I feel the best when I’m dripping with sweat after thinking I was going to get a heart-attack from a hardcore workout. That feeling lasts all day, all night until my next workout where I die for an hour or so and then I feel amazing again. That is the high of a fitness addict.
Confessions of a fitness addict:
- When I heard my cyclist-coworker’s wife gave birth to their first child, the first thought that came to my mind:
“Omigod. He won’t be able to cycle as much anymore…”
- I can get up at 5am for a workout no problem but for anything else… good luck. It’s usually me screaming at boyfriend to wake the fuck up for our early rides or workouts but on other mornings, it’s usually him unsuccessfully trying to drag me out of bed. Or him jumping angrily out of bed after I’ve snoozed my alarm for 2 hours. He always complains how I have such a hard time getting up for anything except working out.
- Naps are fun. After working out early in the morning, I may get to work early, power nap in the car until 10am then I will drag my groggy-self into the office and microwave my Americano that got cold during my nap. Sometimes, I’ll come back in the afternoon and take another power nap in the car.
- I crave for pain. Being in my current mindset, I sometimes don’t understand why other people don’t find excitement in doing the Grouse Grind or biking/running up a really steep hill. Whether I am planning to do the Grouse Grind, go for a long, hard and hilly bike ride, 100 burpees or a Crossfit workout, it’s that painfully satisfying feeling that I’m constantly craving for. If my mind is set on working out, it better be hard or I won’t be satisfied!!
- I think 6-packs and huge muscles are overrated. Too many people I know train to get big and buff but then they go out and party, drink, smoke and do drugs like no tomorrow. This really proves that just because you are ripped does NOT mean you are healthy. People who live a healthy and balanced lifestyle inspire me— not their bodies.
- Social media is a dangerous tool. It saddens me when people gain so many followers because they post images of themselves working out and eating clean but again, they are constantly smoking, drinking, partying and doing too much drugs. Not to mention the those who are sickly skinny and only workout occasionally but aren’t really committed into the lifestyle for the right reasons. I understand that people like to show off their progress but it makes me sad how naive the world is. Uneducated people (and people who only want to be skinny) should not be the center of influence just because they occasionally workout. On the other hand, nice bodies DO motivate people to get fit and be more mindful of what they eat… so it really comes down to how stupid or not stupid you are in finding your own way to do it right.
- I spend too much money on workout gear. Because I’m afraid of running out of clean clothes on the days I get too lazy or forget to do my laundry. You can never have enough sports bras, bike shorts, tank tops and socks. But it’s the most well spent money ever!
- I really learned my lesson this year and have been very careful about over training and recovery. I use to ignore random pains and continuous aches but now I get them treated by making sure I make my physio and RMT appointments and taking rest days. I’ve been battling with a tight IT band and knee pain for the past couple of months and it was not fun.
- I’m boring because health, fitness and cycling is what I live for. Sometimes when I’m supposed to be socializing, I don’t want to be talking about anything except for health, fitness and cycling. Sometimes I feel like I cannot connect with people because we have such different mindset and interests. I don’t care about boating, beaching, tanning and designer purses. All I want to do is ride my bike, lift some weights and eat poutine.
- I think I am somewhat of a judgmental fitness snob. But I don’t care. There are so many things wrong with the fitness industry.
