Burnout... is this common?

[jps]

I finally caved a little bit to burnout. I had a good stretch of at least 5 days per week, 60-75 minutes per day, for about two months straight. I had two substandard workouts in a row and decided to take a couple of days off. Well, that extended to nearly three weeks now.

Now, it’s not like I wasn’t getting ANY exercise at all, I just stopped my routine at the gym for that stretch. But the exercise was simple things like taking the dog for walks, a couple of decent hikes, playing some light-hearted basketball with the neighborhood kids in my backyard, sporadic pushups/situps and some aerobic Wii stuff. Nothing major, just trying to stay active.

I wasn’t going incredibly hard when I was working out, just enough to work up a decent sweat and get some burn, but I’d never go to the point of complete physical exhaustion. I feel great, but I do feel guilty for skipping so much time and it seems the longer I stay away from the gym, the easier it is. I’m hoping just getting back in there will sort of start the cycle again, but I know this gym stuff is going to wear on me again and it’s going to be a constant fight for me. Sure, I enjoy the results – and I enjoy physical activity – but I’ll admit, the type of work in the gym, aside from basketball, bores me stiff. Even though I’m getting stronger and seeing the results, I hate lifting. Even though I love the stamina and shape it gives to my legs, I don’t like cycling or running. I’m the type of guy that enjoys team sports the most so this individual stuff just doesn’t feel “fun”. And with time constraints, it’s difficult to commit to something. That’s what was great about the gym. I was able to slip an hour in when I could and it was daily. Sometimes at 8 am, sometimes at 4 pm, sometimes at 1 am. The gym fits my sporadic schedule. Team sports won’t.

Eating right was the easy part. I eat every day anyway, so it was a matter of making the right choices. Exercise is different. It takes a more proactive approach.

Thanks for letting me rant. I think I can make it to the gym tonight at about 930 pm. Let’s see if I can actually motivate myself to do it.

[foxl]

Oh, my yes! VERY common indeed.

A few breaks are helpful, not harmful.

In fact, my interval training book recommends building in break weeks, in order to prevent that no-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel feeling.

It helps, for sure!

[KatGirl]

I feel like I am in the same situation quite often. I started working out about 3 days a week back in December 2008 (after dx). Once I got in better shape (around January) I started going to the gym 4-5 times a week. I now go 5 times a week for 75-90 minutes. For a while I was feeling great and really motivated (I think mainly to prove to my doctor that I could do it). When I went to the doctor 2 weeks ago he was really happy with my progress (new A1C is 5.2%).

Since going to the doctor and getting things under control, I feel now I can slack off and relax a bit. However, I know deep down that is not an option. I am hoping the good results will be enough to keep me motivated. I am also like you, I get bored fairly easily. I do other activities other then working out. I signed up for cardio tennis, I play golf, and I am in a bowling league.

I try to mix up these activities throughout the week so it gives me something to look forward to. One thing I cannot do is workout for 5 days straight. The most I can do is 3 in a row. My ususal routine is I go to the gym on Sunday afternoon (tennis is in the evening). Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday are gym days. Bowling is on Wednesday nights and I have golf lessons on Saturday so I don't workout on either of those days. I have the typical M-F 9 to 5 job so it is easy for me to keep up this routine.

I have recently started changing up my routine. I am hoping that will keep me motivated. After about 5 weeks, I am finally starting to see more weight coming off (I would think that would be motivation as well).

I think burnout is fairly common. I believe changing up the routine and taking breaks helps to prevent burnout and will keep you motivated. I realized that just because I am not working out at the gym doesn't mean I can't get excercise somewhere else.

[SCC]

Yep, burnout is common, and actually necessary or you'd be injured or so bored that you'd quit. But three weeks is going a bit long...which is why you are writing!

Can you find something at the gym that's a class or a small group to train with - something that will get you back into actually GOING INTO the gym? Maybe try something new?

I usually trick myself and make a date that for some reason that I must go to the gym and then I'm OK again.

Can you read a book on different training techniques and try that? How about signing up for a walk/run thing for charity? Buy a fitness magazine and take it along to try some of the stuff in it?

Anyway, you are in good shape for recognizing a problem! It's common for sure! Good luck, you can figure out something that will click.

[foxl]

You might also google sports psychology! There is a ton of info out there and people have made entire professions off it!

[fgummett]

Or cancel the expensive gym membership and make activity a natural part of your daily life instead of a chore that you have to find time for: walk or bike to work or the store, get off the bus a couple of stops early, park at the far end of the car park, take the stairs, go for a brisk walk at lunch-time, take "smoke -breaks" where instead of puffing you walk around the block, get a manual/push lawn-mower etc... no need for psychology, expert trainers, books or expensive gym memberships/equipment. Turn it into regular activity just like brushing your teeth... or at the very least, something realistic and sustainable for life

[Ronin]

HI JPS!

Gyms can kill your exercise plans. You note that you really hate lifting, even though you like the results. The problem is that you want to put that gym based exercise to some good use, being a gym-rat just isn't your style.

Here is a suggestion: find a weekend sports session that you can participate in (many churches, synagogues, or other organizations have regular basketball or other leagues). Then commit yourself to no more than three days per week in the gym with the sole goal of maintaining your strength for the weekend games.

I have the opposite problem -- I love cycling so much that, given the opportunity, I will ride every day to the point of exhaustion and still keep on riding. For me stopping is the hard part (yeah, I'm addicted to cycling) as it moderates my moods, allows me to sleep better, and I just love that endorhine high -- it also helps maintain my weight as well as BG levels. In some ways lousy weather is my friend because it causes me to do something other than ride -- I just hate riding in the rain.