1 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 1: Hi guys, and welcome to a another new episode of 2 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: You Need Therapy Podcast. My name is Kat and I 3 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: am the host. And if you are wondering what is 4 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: couch Talks, it is the special bonus Q and I 5 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: episode that we put out every single Wednesday, where I 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: answer questions that you guys send in to me. And 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 1: if you have a question, you can send it to 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: Catherine at you Need Therapy podcast dot com. You can 9 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: also just send some feedback. If you were really feeling 10 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: in the giving mood and wanted to give us a 11 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: review and a rating, you can do that on Apple 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: Podcast if you scroll to the bottom, you can rate 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: us give us five stars. And if you just really 14 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: have some big feelings about some critical feedback that you 15 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: want to give me, I would really appreciate you sending 16 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: me an email with that and I can hopefully address 17 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: it or just take it in. You know. I like 18 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: feedback of all kinds, the good, the bad, the in between. Anyway, 19 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: let's get to the content. So surprisingly, I guess it 20 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: shouldn't be surprising, but you know, the exercise Addiction podcast 21 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: I put out the episode I put out a couple 22 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: of weeks ago. I guess it was last week. I 23 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: was thinking that it wouldn't do as well as it 24 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: did in regards to connect with you guys. I don't know, 25 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 1: that was my own stuff coming up. I guess it 26 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: is not a drawing topic, or maybe it is. I 27 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 1: don't know. I think I'm all on my own stuff 28 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,759 Speaker 1: about that, because that's something that I have worked with personally, 29 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 1: worked with a lot in my job here with clients, 30 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: and I guess it's something that if i'm I'm in 31 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,839 Speaker 1: it all the time. But I got some really great 32 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: feedback from you guys, and it was one of my 33 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: most I don't even know how to say this, but 34 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: I got more messages and emails about that episode than 35 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: I have really any episode. So that tells me you 36 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: guys have a lot of questions about that stuff. So 37 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: I put out on my Instagram a little question box 38 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: and asked if you guys had any questions about the episode, 39 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: and I got a bunch and I'm gonna answer to today, 40 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: but I do just to say it feels good that 41 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: you connected to the content and that it was helpful. 42 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: That feels awesome. And if it was something that you 43 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: were like, oh this is me, I really want to 44 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: encourage you to reach out and get some help. If 45 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: you can make therapy work for you, then and then 46 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: I would encourage you to do that, but I would 47 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: do more than just taking the content. Right. So awareness 48 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: means nothing if we don't do anything with our awareness. 49 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: So I'm glad it was helpful and it probably kick 50 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: started something, and I hope that continues to move you 51 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: in a good direction. So two questions. I'm going to 52 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: keep them anonymous, per usual, and um let's get into them. 53 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: So the first question is, this was from Instagram, so 54 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: the questions aren't really Usually the emails are kind of 55 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: longer than I read them, but these were just like 56 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: two sentence questions. So the first question is what are 57 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: your thoughts on fitness trackers. I have a love hate 58 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: relationship with mine. Okay, so I have a lot of 59 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: thoughts on fitness trackers, and I'm going to give you 60 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 1: both my personal thoughts and then also my professional opinion. 61 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you both. You know, Cat the therapists 62 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 1: and then Cat the human that deals with her own stuff. 63 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,119 Speaker 1: So when I read this, I and when I read 64 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: this now, I think of things like fitbits and Apple watches. 65 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: I'm not reading this question in regards to things like 66 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: my Fitness Pal and apps and stuff where you log 67 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: your food and movement, but rather than things that track 68 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,959 Speaker 1: it for you. So obviously I used to use these 69 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 1: things like it was my job, literally my job. And 70 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: it started when I got a garment back back in 71 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: the day. Oh my gosh, back in the day when 72 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: like they're predometers is that they're called where they just 73 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: track your steps and then fitbit. I don't know what 74 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: came first, but I just remember getting a garment when 75 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: I got really into running, and I got it because 76 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: the first thing I had was the like nikest shoe thing, 77 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: like the thing that you put in your shoe, and 78 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: then it was an app and it would track your mileage. 79 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: But it was like so not accurate because I used 80 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: it when I was training for my first half marathon, 81 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: and obviously I listened to it when it was like 82 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: eight miles, was like, okay, eight miles, I'm done. And 83 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: then when I ran the actual race, the Nike app 84 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: tracked like sixteen miles, but I only ran thirteen, So 85 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: that told me that I had I mean, didn't make 86 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: a difference, but it just was not accurate. I think 87 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: it would tell me I would run like eight miles 88 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: when I probably ran like six, which is fine, but 89 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: that's where it all started for me. So then from 90 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: that I got a garment because those are more accurate, right, 91 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: and was taking me back memory lege. Honestly, I got 92 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: them to track mileage, like I said, and to see 93 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: how far I was running. But the thing about these watches, 94 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 1: they also have the ability to track other things and 95 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: they do it automatically, so they would track pace, calories, burned, 96 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: all that stuff. So what would happen is I would 97 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: because it had all of these things and it did 98 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: all these things. I was one fascinated with it and 99 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: became very obsessed with it, and I would end up 100 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: staring at my watch the entire time I was running, 101 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: and then I would dread running because that's not fun. 102 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: And then I would get really down on myself if 103 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: I didn't get a certain time, or I would remember 104 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: how much work it was to get that time, and 105 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: then I wouldn't want to go running again. And it 106 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: became like a job in a chore. And that's one 107 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: of the things that I think made running a job 108 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: in a chore for me and my own exercise addiction 109 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 1: It never was so much about the calories that at tracked. 110 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: For me back then, it was more the stats. I 111 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: became very obsessed with the stats and being good at 112 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: running and all that. The calories obviously affected me. At 113 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 1: that point in my life, wasn't paying that much attention 114 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: to calories burned. I just knew that I was burning 115 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 1: a lot. Now, I think that a lot of people 116 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: look at their fitness trackers for the calories burned, and 117 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: so I do want to talk about that as well. 118 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: And I like the idea of fitness trackers. I like 119 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: the idea of them. So I don't think this has 120 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 1: to be black and white. I don't think this has 121 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: to be a black and white thing. The problem is 122 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: when it comes to exercise addiction and eating disorders, these 123 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: do become dangerous because we tend to be black and 124 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 1: white fingers. It's something else for us to become obsessed over. 125 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 1: Like I said, for me, it was like my pace 126 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: and my mileage and all that, and for some people 127 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 1: it is the calories. For some people it's the milestones. 128 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: For some people it's getting all their circles to close. 129 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: It becomes an obsession. So professionally, I think it's something 130 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: that an individual and personally has to is something that 131 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,279 Speaker 1: an individual has to be very honest about because they don't, 132 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: in certain aspects work for me, and they don't work 133 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: for a lot of my clients, and for some people 134 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: they might be Okay, I have an Apple Watch now, 135 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: and you'll really rarely see me wearing it. I wear 136 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,280 Speaker 1: it when I run still to track my mileage, and 137 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: I also use it to look at my heart rate 138 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: because I was having some issues where my heart rate 139 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: was getting too high at a certain point, so I 140 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: just like to see that every now and then. But 141 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: when it comes to weight training, I don't wear it 142 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: at all because I have no reason to, and part 143 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: of that because I don't care about how many calories 144 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: I'm burning and I don't really find value in the 145 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: milestones that my Apple Watch tracks, like I don't really 146 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: care if it's like my longest run ever or three 147 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 1: consistent workouts like those mouthstones aren't necessary for me to 148 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: pay attention to. And like I said, I do use 149 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: my watch now to track my mileage when I go 150 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: for a run, But the difference is now I am 151 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: usually not looking at my watch at all unless I'm 152 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: trying to see like if I'm done. Like today, I 153 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: went for a run with my friend Kira, and I 154 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: didn't look at my watch one time until I knew 155 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: we were about to be finished, and I just was 156 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: looking at when our stopping point was on our loop, 157 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: and then we looked at the pace, but it didn't 158 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: guide us at all, and we were actually pleasantly surprised, 159 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: which is nice. That's fun. It puts some excitement back 160 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: in your workouts to be excited with something that we 161 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: we did that I didn't think I was doing, but 162 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: I was actually running faster than I thought I was running. 163 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: But it was fun. It wasn't a job, it wasn't 164 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: a chore. I mean, it wasn't that fast anyway. But 165 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: I also don't wear my Apple Watch for cycling really either, 166 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: for the same reasons. Every now and then I will 167 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: have it on because maybe I wore that day, and 168 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: like literally me be not even once a week, maybe 169 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: every couple of weeks, I will track a workout just 170 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: to be curious. But most of the time, if you 171 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: see me wearing I probably forgot to start it. So 172 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: that's where I am with personally, with Fitness Tracker, I 173 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: could take it or leave it. And for me, they're 174 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: not things that, like I find a lot of value anymore. 175 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: They're helpful. I mean, it's helpful to have my Apple Watch. 176 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: When I'm on vacation. I can go out for a 177 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: round and know how far I ran right and no 178 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: one to turn around and when I reach my halfway mark. 179 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: But a lot of the things that I think that 180 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: they are created with the intention for like, I don't 181 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: find value in those things in my recovery process. But 182 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 1: this is me, this is where I am. I don't 183 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: equate a good workout to a high calorie burn or 184 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: even time spent moving. I don't again, find value in 185 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: the milestones that a lot of these trackers have. I do, however, 186 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: like the reminders that the Apple Watch has, like to 187 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: breathe and stand. So that's one of the reasons I 188 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: try to wear my watch every now and then, to 189 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: help me create better habits of getting up and moving 190 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: around when I've been at my desk for too long, 191 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: or you know, if I've been like having a really 192 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: anxious day, it's nice to see that reminder that says, hey, 193 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: you might want to take a breath. So there there. 194 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 1: I find value in that kind of stuff. I do 195 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: not believe that most people going through any sort of 196 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: recovery process need a fitness tracker, because I think the 197 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: potential risks outweigh any benefit you could show me, right, 198 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: and this is people who are like in their stuff, 199 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:23,599 Speaker 1: like in the process of recovery, more so at the 200 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 1: beginning stages. And I get the idea again. I remember 201 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: in I think it was elementary school, at one point 202 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: they give us all these predomins I think that's the word. 203 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: They were to track our walking on our steps. This 204 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: was back in the day before fit bit and um 205 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: they were there to help motivate and push us to 206 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: move more in in a well intentioned, healthy way. However, 207 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: how many people do you know who have gotten like 208 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 1: a fitbit and then become obsessed with their steps a 209 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 1: day goal. I mean, it just becomes an obsession that 210 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: is unnecessary. Again, the intention is to help people create 211 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:01,319 Speaker 1: these like good habits for themselves, but they become things 212 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: that like take the point of the good habit away. 213 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: And you know, I used to work at a cycling 214 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: studio that had these monitors attached to their bikes that 215 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: tracked the rider's statistics throughout the ride. And this included 216 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: their class rank, the calories they burned in the miles 217 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: that they wrote. There's other things too, but those were 218 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: the main things. And there are a couple of problems 219 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: with this one. There was so much room for error 220 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:29,679 Speaker 1: with these machines because any given day a bike would 221 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: act different, and if you want on this bike this 222 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: day and this bike that day, your stats could be different, 223 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: just because the bikes are wired a little differently and 224 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: there is room for error in them. So that was 225 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: one problem that we were like relying on these machines 226 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: to tell us the whole truth, all the truth in 227 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 1: their like God to us. And then two, people became 228 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 1: more concerned with their stats than the actual experience, Like 229 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 1: they were more concerned about getting their email that had 230 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 1: their stats at the end of the workout than they 231 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: were enjoyed wing themselves and paying attention to their body 232 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: and and all of that. And three, because of this, 233 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 1: they were just as damaging as they were motivating. If 234 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: you had good stats, then your workout was amazing. And 235 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,599 Speaker 1: if you had bad stats, it would put somebody in 236 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: a bad mood and it would like ruin their workout, 237 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: just like my pace would ruin my run and so 238 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 1: let's circle back to one right, So there's room for 239 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: error in these machines. Sometimes it was a technical error, 240 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: but still people would leave so down on themselves after 241 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: they had worked so hard and did such a good 242 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: thing for their body. They would be down on themselves 243 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: because maybe they were number two in the class instead 244 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: of one, and man, I feel sad for that. And 245 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: there are so many conversations I would have with riders 246 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: where I'd be like, Hey, what would it look like 247 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: to not turn your bike on today and just do 248 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,199 Speaker 1: the workout, Just move your body and see how you feel, 249 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: see if you even need those stats. And more times 250 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: than not, eventually those people that I would talk to 251 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 1: would never turn their bikes on because they learned that hey, 252 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: actually being with myself and enjoying myself and having a 253 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 1: good time as I'm moving my body is more satisfying 254 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: than these numbers. You know, if you have a valid 255 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 1: reason to wear a fitness tracker, that is great, and 256 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 1: I think that there can be valid reasons depending on you, 257 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: your story, your health, all of that. I would just 258 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: encourage anybody to be very honest with how helpful they 259 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 1: actually are and if they are taking the magic that 260 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 1: movement can be away or if they are actually helping 261 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: you reach whatever goal you have. And also in that 262 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: honesty is that goal of goal that is healthy and 263 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: makes sense for you. So that's a long way to 264 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: talk about my feelings about fitness trackers, and again there's 265 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: no right or wrong answer here. I just think they 266 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: can be very dangerous, and if they have the potential 267 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: to be really dangerous, then is it really worth the risk. 268 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: I do think that there can be a time if 269 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: you can't use one right now, you might want to 270 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: use one in the future, like me, Like I honestly 271 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: could take it or leave it. And I think that's 272 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: a big, big, big indicator of if you have a 273 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:04,319 Speaker 1: healthy relationship with one is if the workout counts without it? 274 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: Right you hear that all the time? Did you work 275 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,559 Speaker 1: out even count if you didn't turn your Apple Watch on? Yes? 276 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: I think that's like if it really ruins your day 277 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: if you don't have it, that's an indicator that you 278 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: don't have a healthy relationship with yours. So I think 279 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: that's where we're going to stop, because I could keep 280 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: talking about this for about seventy five hours. So let's 281 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: move on to question number two. All right, how do 282 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: you find a middle ground after an exercise addiction without 283 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: becoming exercise avoidant? Oh this is good and this is 284 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: in a nutshell hard Okay. So again, a major problem 285 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: we face when dealing with eating disorders and exercise addiction, 286 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: and really any addiction is the pool towards these polarizing 287 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: sides of things. I'm talking about, the black and whiteness, 288 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:49,959 Speaker 1: the right or wrongness, the good or badness. I'm either 289 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: doing it all or I'm not doing it at all 290 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 1: is really a space we live in when we're in 291 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: this exercise addicted state. So one, the stuff takes time. 292 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: It takes time to develop a new relationship with movement, 293 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: and that is just it. And the other thing is 294 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,680 Speaker 1: you are not so much mending the old relationship or 295 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 1: healing the old relationship or fixing the old relationship you 296 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 1: have with exercise and movement. You are starting a new one. 297 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: And that's something I believe about all relationships, really, even 298 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: romantic When we contemplate dating someone again, we have to 299 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: go into that experience as a new experience. Go for it. 300 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: But this relationship is a new one, right, You can't 301 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: bring all your old stuff into this including the past 302 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: hurt and all of the past fights and all that 303 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: stuff if you want it to work. And that's how 304 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: I feel about exercise too. You have to create a 305 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: new thing. Time off and time away helps as well. 306 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: And that is different than being exercise avoidant. Taking time 307 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: to separate yourself as not being avoidant. It's being kind. 308 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: And so I think that the language we use is 309 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: important when talking about this. If there's a certain type 310 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: of movement that you become addicted to, maybe you take 311 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: a break from that and try something else, and then 312 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: when you return to that, you create boundaries and you 313 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: have a support system as you start engaging in again. 314 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: One thing that I really learned in my recovery is 315 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: that I really love moving with people and that was 316 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: a big help. So in my addiction, everything I did 317 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 1: was usually alone, right. I did a lot of elliptical 318 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: ng which you will never find me on one of 319 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: those again. And I did a lot of running by myself. 320 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: I did not like running with people, and now I 321 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: prefer it. I want to say two things in that one. 322 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: Being able to explore different types of movement is huge. 323 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: So I was a huge runner. That was my main 324 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: source of movement. And in my recovery process, I tried 325 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 1: a lot of things. I tried a lot of things. 326 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: I didn't just like, Oh, I'm gonna do cycling and 327 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: I loved it all of a sudden. No, like, I 328 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: tried it all. I did kickboxing, I did pilates, I 329 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: did pure bar I did I mean tons of stuff. 330 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: I went to a zoom book class. I I tried 331 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff. I could go on and on 332 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: and on about that. Did different hit workouts, different boot camps, 333 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: weight training and this kind of weight training, this trainer, 334 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 1: this whatever. I was very explorative and I paid attention 335 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: to myself and those things too. I really sat and 336 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: and talked myself through did I like that? What did 337 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: I like about that? What did I not like about that? 338 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: So as I developed new relationships with movement, I was 339 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: very aware of why I was doing these different things right. 340 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: And that leads me into encouraging you guys, to look 341 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: into your motivation for your movement. Right. If you're still 342 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: coming from the same place of why, then a healthy 343 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: amount of exercise probably won't satisfy you. Thus you would 344 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: do nothing right. So if I still was moving my 345 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: body and exercising because I wanted to be the fastest 346 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: and the most athletic, and then this and there that. 347 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: Then doing a healthy amount of movement from my body 348 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: wouldn't satisfy any of those things, right, So then I 349 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: would just not do it at all because it wouldn't 350 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 1: be fulfilling that that validation, that hole in me. So 351 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: if you have a new reason to move your body, 352 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: not doing the extreme may be helpful. And I will 353 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: say one of the most common examples of this, and 354 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: the most common things out here when I ask you 355 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: why they move is to get a certain body type. 356 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: And often when we move in a way that is kind, 357 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: and if we move our bodies a kind amount, the 358 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: way our body responds looks very different esthetically then when 359 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: we engage in extreme exercise addictive behaviors. So if my 360 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: motivation is still to get that certain body type, then 361 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 1: I might be more apt to be exercise avoidant because 362 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: doing the kind thing for my body isn't maybe going 363 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 1: to get me that body type. And I say that 364 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: really easily, as I didn't say that easily because I 365 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 1: do try to say things kindly and in a way 366 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: that can be heard well. But it's easier said than done. 367 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 1: Is what I'm trying to say, And there's a lot 368 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 1: of grief work in that. There's a lot of grief 369 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: work in creating new relationships with exercise, because you are 370 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 1: letting go of an old one, right, and you're letting 371 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: go of those old reasons and in those old wise. 372 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,639 Speaker 1: So I would encourage you to bring that up if 373 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 1: you're in a therapy relationship, bring that up with your 374 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: therapist or do some journaling. Amy Brown on her podcast 375 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: Four Things with Amy Brown a couple of weeks ago, 376 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 1: had a conversation with Ali Fallon, who has been on 377 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: this podcast before, about some writing prompts to help with 378 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: grief work. And I would encourage you to go back 379 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 1: and listen to that because if you aren't in a 380 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: therapeutic relationship and you want to work on a grieving 381 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 1: and old relationship with movement, those prompts might be really 382 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: helpful for you, because again, grief is not just about 383 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 1: people passing away and losing humans. It's it's all encompassing. 384 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: So grief is the loss of anything. For grief is 385 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: in the loss of anything. So yeah, that is kind 386 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 1: of in a not so nutshell nutshell how I would 387 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: encourage some of y'all to move into a space of 388 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:53,440 Speaker 1: healthy movement after some exercise, addictive experiences or behaviors or relationships. 389 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 1: It's tough, guys, So again go back to number one. 390 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 1: It's hard. I didn't number these, but go back to 391 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: what I said in the beginning, it's hard. It takes time. 392 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: So I'm with you and that it didn't happen for 393 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 1: me overnight. And sometimes I still have bad days. So 394 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 1: aim for feeling better rather than just doing this perfectly. 395 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,640 Speaker 1: That might be helpful. All right, Well, that wraps up 396 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: this episode of couch Talks. Uh. If you guys have 397 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: questions again, send them to Catherine at you Need Therapy 398 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: podcast dot com. And if you don't follow me, please 399 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: do at cat dot de fata and at you Need 400 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: Therapy Podcasts is where you can find me. And again, 401 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: would love if you rate review anything that your heart 402 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: really is being poled to do right now that revolves 403 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: around writing and reviewing the podcast would be great. And 404 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: with that you can follow the podcast. It used to 405 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 1: be subscribed. Now we are changing our language and we're following, 406 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 1: so do that. I'd appreciate that. And I think you 407 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: guys are great and I love you guys, And I'm 408 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: going to go now and i'll talk to you guys 409 00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: on Monday.