this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023
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I can imagine people having fun getting lost in the flow of playing a competitive sport. I've also heard some people experience a post-workout high. But does anyone actually feel pleasure in the moment while lifting weights, jogging, cycling, etc?

If so... what does it feel like? Is there anything the rest of us can do to cultivate such a mindset?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It depends on the exercise for me. Weights/ strength training I struggle to enjoy but going for a run is my jam. It can get pretty rough on the longer runs but every time when I finish and catch my breath I generally feel a lot happier about myself and find dealing with life a lot easier.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Love working out, more body weight and running then anything.

[–] MR_GABARISE 1 points 1 year ago
[–] adorablepeanut 1 points 1 year ago

I prefer the dentist tbh. She is cute though 😏

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I get a sense of satisfaction from pushing myself and feeling more in tune with what my body is doing in space - you have to pay close attention to form, muscle exertion, etc. It's meditative, in a way.

On the flip side, I don't do well in team sports because I'm clumsy with bad eyesight - I have a tendency to blame myself for being a burden on my team.

You don't have to work out solo if you don't want to. Most sports qualify as cardio - you can do that instead of jogging. Besides, you can always strength train with buddies and hype each other up.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I ride BMX for fun. It's evenly split between hour long rides and hour long trick sessions. It feels good to go fast on the bike or to explore what's around the next corner. Feels amazing to nail a new trick or improve consistency with old tricks. Then afterwards I get LSD flashbacks looking at the popcorn ceiling while catching my breath. Fun all around.

[–] c0mbatbag3l 1 points 1 year ago

I do, or moreso I should say I enjoy the feeling I get while working out. Seeing my body with a pump, feeling like I just put everything into that last set even if it wasn't the strongest I've ever been on that exercise or the best form I've ever had.

It's not the "runners high" for me, but an appreciation that no matter what I get done that day (or not) that I went to the gym and maintained/progressed my physical training. It's like coming from a hard day at work and looking at a well made bed, knowing no matter how shit your day was that you've put effort in and will see it returned. It also turns out that when you work out more often than not that you'll eventually notice you feel "off" when you don't. You feel happier and less like a blob of a human even if your body composition still reflects it. You can feel the muscle a little bit firmer and theres a bit more pep in everything you do. Like you're more capable of just moving around in day to day life.

I've been a consistent Mon-Fri gym goer for about 11 years now and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. I don't lift as heavy as I used to because I'm trying to keep my joints in good health when I'm older, but with mind/muscle concentration and controlled movements you can trigger hypertrophy even with weights that won't end in knee replacements by age 45.

It's a fun form of fitness, and I like it more than running. While I mostly enjoy it for the way it makes me feel after the gym, there's nothing like looking at yourself in a mirror with an extra 50 pounds of lean muscle than you started with and the ability to put more weight over your head than you could originally deadlift.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I rock climb and do conditioning for it. Sometimes I trail run and there is a weird mid action addrenaline i get from it. Same when I am on a high wall. I know I am not gonna fall, but it's up to me to commit and finish this challenge.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I'm usually running with friends, so you running becomes secondary, with sometimes doing a bit of a focus for it for a few minutes for an interval or special foot training. I struggled a long time with running for myself, but I just need to set myself a route goal and then keep my pace in view on my watch, otherwise I go way to fast for longer distances.

[–] aquarisces 1 points 1 year ago

I do enjoy it more from the sense of breaking and detaching from my working day. I don’t really do anything too intense (if I had that approach it would kill the fun for me I reckon) and have a few set exercises I do but it feels good to get a bit of fitness in during the day.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Right now, escape to the gym and lift some weights is all in want to do. Summer holiday with the family is fucking killing me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I love running and running on the treadmill. I get into a rhythm and it's like meditation. I don't listen to music and I'm faxing a blank wall.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have recently started to enjoy taking bike rides. I used to do it before with friends and didn't mind it but it was not super enjoyable. It likely had to do work the fact that they would always do 40 mile bike rides that had a decent amount of hills. None of us have time for bike rides that long anymore. But a nice 10 mile bike ride is a nice but of time to just clear my head and enjoy looking one way and seeing the Cascades and looking the other way and seeing the Sound and the Olympics.

I have heard of runner's high and read a good explanation for it that I don't remember. Regardless, I don't get runner's high and honestly hate running. Even with a podcast in, I can't get myself to like it. It might be a bit better if I did it more often but that is a big hump to get past.

[–] EfreetSK 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Eh, not sure if enjoyment is the right word. But it's nice.

I started with running this year and it was awful and painful. But after I passed a certain threshold I realized it's no longer painful, I could just hold the pace and run like forever.

Now it's sort of relaxing experience where I can just let loose my brain and think about whatever I want for like half an hour. Which is nice when you're an adult with no time for yourself

How to achieve this - I don't even know myself how I made it. I got one of those Garmin watches for birthday and there was this Coach feature, I just followed it and after like 4 months I was able to run 12 km

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I forgot to add, it's good to have a goal. Whether it's losing weight or building muscle, and have a plan to achieve it. Keep at it, it takes time for new habits to form.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

No - not really. I don't hate it either tho. It's going to the gym that's the hardest part. Being there is fine.

[–] TheBig2023Meltdown 1 points 1 year ago

Sometimes yes, I enjoy pushing my limits. I only started to enjoy it when I started seeing visual progress though..

I'm ill right now and not happy that I can't go to the gym

[–] ji88aja88a 1 points 1 year ago

I've found that the hurdle is actually starting and motivating yourself to go do it..after though, I feel great for doing it.

[–] ext23 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I also used to run a LOT and now can't anymore cause of injury. Tried swimming but it wasn't enough to keep me in shape due to my age and...indulgent lifestyle.

Going to the gym became my only option and yeah, the results were almost instantaneous. I lost quite a few kilos, felt more energised, and my outward appearance improved.

I think when you consider the positives it makes a lot of sense...

  • You feel good for challenging yourself, and even better when you succeed.
  • You feel good full stop because exercise gives your endorphins.
  • You feel good for sticking to a routine. This has the added benefit of demanding that you are more organised generally, in order to make time for workouts.
  • You feel good because you start to look better.
  • You feel good because it helps to relieve day-to-day stress that builds up.

I'm not aiming to get huge or anything. But I think the benefits should be pretty obvious. I enjoy going for the reasons I just listed and cause I can listen to music on my headphones and kind of zone out.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I started running to lose some weight recently. And I genuinely enjoy it.

It's alone time, time to think, or listen to an album or podcast and just be alone.

I enjoy the progress I'm seeing. Every week I can run further than I could the last week, every week gets easier and faster, and beating my pb is a real endorphin rush. Every week I weigh less than I did the previous week.

I enjoy feeling proud of myself. It would be so easy to sit on the couch and watch Netflix. Or play a silly little video game. And that's what most people do. I enjoy not being most people. I enjoy putting in the work to better myself.

I enjoy pushing myself. When my legs burn and I don't think I can run anymore, but I push through that and run another kilometer. the runners high is real. Not comparable to a fun drug, but still feels good.

So yeah, I'm not a fitness guy, but working out definitely has it's place and can be enjoyable

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