[IchbinkeinTeufel]

Anyone else struggling with this?

I've posted about this before, a longish time back. It's still a problem, or rather, became one again. Muscle building, getting lean, and all that, is a pretty tough thing, takes time and dedication... so how am I meant to ascertain the difference between my OCD making me go nuts or just a regular level of "nuts" that is needed to push and challenge the body?

Take today, for example: I worked out for at least 40 minutes, during the day, as per my usual workout, then worked out again, in the same day, (kinda) at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, having now finished, had a speed shower, and tidied the equipment away - it's now just gone 4am, the time I should be in bed, at the latest. A similar thing to this happened 3 or 4 days ago, only it was three times in one day, and I am talking resistance and cardio, here. Shadow boxing, calisthenics, dumbbells, barbells, biking, long-distance walking, etc, with a great various amount of exericses.

Then there's the hours spent looking at videos, learning as much as I can. Then there's the talking to friends and family about fitness, posting about it online (like now!) and thinking about it when I should be focusing on other things. Rather embarrassingly, I even end up bringing it up with the guys at the shop I go to. I can't help it! If someone asks how I am, 99% of the time, the fact of the matter is, I'm bloody sore! I'm aching! Not like, agony or anything like that, just regular aches and pains associated with doing this stuff. So yeah, if you ask how I am right now, I'd say, "Sore." then of course they ask why, or give me a weird look, so I have to say, "Just worked out," or something to that effect.

Then there's the friends and my dad who all worry, like what I'm doing is insane and I'm going to do myself a major injury, which in itself freaks me out, because I think "what if" (remember, OCD) so I don't know what I should be feeling or thinking on this matter.

I take picture logs, weigh myself relatively often. I actually more or less met my weight goal (long break from fitness, gained weight, now lost it) and now I'm bulking (muscle mass) so I'm not focusing much on my weight, rather my body fat loss and muscle mass gain. I'm constantly "checking myself out", to be sure I'm looking OK or improved. I'm taking picture/video logs after some of my workouts. Is all this normal? Surely I need to check form and mark progress, right? Am I being obsessive?

I log calories and workouts. Logging calories (the macros, too) and all the foods I eat, every day, is a fairly typical thing to do when you're into fitness, but because of my OCD, I again wonder if it's beyond the norm' for me. When you add it all up, it makes me sound proper nuts. I am truly dedicated. I know what I want, and I'm trying my level best to get it. I love it.

I need some guidance, from both those that workout (resistance and cardio alike) and those that don't, whether having or not having OCD.

Thank you for reading, and sorry for the length.

[BeaFlower]

I'm not sure, but I think that I could be because of OCD if you feel forced to repeat the same exercise again and again, because you have the sensation not to have done it well. If not, I don't know. Do you feel somehow forced to do it, or are you happy to do it though it's tiring?

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

Do you feel somehow forced to do it, or are you happy to do it though it's tiring?

Both these things.

[BeaFlower]

If you feel forced, maybe it could be really related to OCD. I'm not sure. Could you talk to your t, if you have one?

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

I haven't had a therapist in a long time.

[BeaFlower]

I'm sorry for this. You are attending college, if I remember well...you could find a counselor there, if you think to need one.
However, I'd go on with physical exercise, but trying to limit it a bit, to see how it goes. If you go to a gym, probably there are trainers...you could ask them how much exercise is recommended, and which exercises it's better to avoid when you're in pain.

[nr47]

I think this is OCD. I used to do the same thing man. I hated it though - it just felt like I was going way too far with one thing. Now, I work out a few times a week...and enjoy what I do. I'll go to the gym maybe 1x a week for weights - otherwise, it's basketball, rock climbing, or a group fitness class. Do you enjoy all the counting calories, eating healthy, and the many different kinds of exercise you're doing? If not, I'd say it's OCD. Try using a Pleasure Predicting Sheet. Basically, you schedule activities in one column, and in another column, write who you are with. If you are by yourself, write: self. In the next column, put the % pleasure you derived from the activity. If you see that your exercises are hitting 70-80-90-100%, you don't have an issue...you're just enthusiastic as hell. If you see 20-30%, you may be making yourself do it...for no good reason. You could be doing more fun and productive things.

I think you're going over on the nutrition part. I used to do something similar, but I became unhealthily underweight. That's when I saw that I was being OCD about this.

If you're talking about this a lot with people, it's because you have unanswered questions about your working out, etc. You're probably asking them questions - if you're not involving them in your doubt, then you're just enthusiastic...but I can't see that as being the case - because I've had similar issues. Just recently, I was talking to like 6 people about dancing, and how to dance. Because I have doubts about how to dance (I used to be a choreographer). I'm seeking knowledge that I already know, or have questions I don't need to answer. The doubt is the problem, the uncertainty. You and I need to get comfortable with doubt and uncertainty. ERP is good for that.....if you can't or don't want to go to a therapist or psychologist, find a book online on Amazon with good reviews for OCD and depression. Good luck man