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submitted 1 year ago by aCosmicWave@lemm.ee to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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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[-] jflorez@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

I hate it during the workout but I love the feeling after. Problem for me is getting started

[-] guckfoogle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Yup, the first steps are always the hardest but once you get into a routine and start seeing results it does get very addictive, at least for me.

[-] Pulptastic@midwest.social 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I love it. I was a fat kid, lost a ton of weight at 30. Got really into biking which gave me strong legs but made me look like an alien. So I started lifting weights to balance that out (and improve my biking). I also started running without any break-in period because my bike fitness carried over to running well enough.

Now I love all three sports for their own sake. I have gone through phases focusing on each one and have developed training methodologies for each. I especially love biking in the summer, lifting in fall and spring, and running in the snow.

The key as I understand it is to set goals and start small, work your way into it. Also go slower on cardio; learn what zone 2 is and spend 80% of your time there. It is better to be slow and enjoy it than go too fast, burn out, and suffer.

Lifting weights feels like a routine. As someone else said, there is purity on watching your body work, looking at your form, and pushing for PRs. I highly recommend Wendel's 5-3-1 program.

Biking is very freeing, you can go anywhere with enough time. Very calming, in your head time.

Running is shorter and more intense, even at an easy pace I don't usually want to go more than an hour. But it also feels good for the rest of the day, and there is something charming about getting all sweaty from doing awesome things.

[-] DarnHyena@l.cackl.io 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I tried to get back into using a bike last year but man.. what ever leg muscles did the most work with biking were just so terribly gone I could only make it one lap around a small park in my neighborhood. Didn't help that the bike seat dug in between the legs

[-] Mcballs1234@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'm addicted to my bike, I love riding on my bike and its super addicting to go fast and almost getting hit by cars.

[-] Spellblade@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I think there's some people who do but the vast majority of people don't. I mean, if we look statistically, people do very little intentional exercise unless they have to and despite repeated instructions to do more exercise from the government, media, doctors, the amount of people doing exercise hasn't really changed. In fact, it's gotten worse. Compare that to other hobbies or just watching TV or playing video games.

Also regarding exercise highs, clearly some people do get it but there is an extremely strange insistence that everyone can get it if they try and there's not a lot of evidence for this. The majority of studies done on exercise highs are with already fit people who exercised regularly on their own. (And even then some studies had a hard time getting the effect to show up) Comparatively fewer studies are done on unfit, overweight and or obese people to see if they're getting exercise highs at all.

Personally I think that trying to get people to enjoy exercise is setting them up for disappointment. Most people don't like it, that's why they don't do it. I find most of my workouts neutral. A bit like doing a boring assignment at work. I think that's the best way for people to look at it. Imo the key is not to hate it. If you hate what you're doing, definitely change to something else. But if you're consistent and just feel meh about it, I don't think there's any reason to chase some mythical awesome exercise that'll totally make you love working out especially if you already have non physical hobbies you like.

[-] gaydarless@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

I really like this perspective and I think I'll try this framing moving forward. Thanks for sharing.

[-] berkeleyblue@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

No and I never liked it. I tried going to the gym for a while to lose weight but I felt horrible afterwards and during the excersice and the actual Impact on my obesity was quite minimal (probably my fault as I‘m sure I didn’t do everything right). So i stoped going eventually. I know started walking more, I don’t take the bus from the train station home anymore and rather walk the 3.5km with some nice podcast oj my ears. I like doing it, even atvthe current temperatures as I feel like a get 45 minutes just for me where I don’t have to listen to anyone or anything other than my podcasts I enjoy. I work ij Retail so there’s a constant barrage of people and at the end of the day you just don’t want to see people for a while. So while it does help my weight loss it also just feels kinda therapeutic in a way. I just crossed 120kg (down from 136) this morning and plan to try to extend my walks to my days of as well :-)

[-] amcjv12@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I don't have fun at all - when I work out just to "work out," anyway. Then I have to think about it sort of like physical medicine. I do it cause it's good for me.

But if I can find a way to get the heart pumping that's primarily about doing an activity, with fitness just being secondary, I have a lot more fun. I recently got into boxing for fitness because kneee trouble was making high-impact cardio painful. Love it. Training becomes something to look forward to because boxing is fun rather than metaphorical castor oil that I swallow down because I need to.

[-] SeaJ@lemm.ee 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.

[-] S_204@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I like the feeling when I'm working very hard. Whether that's lifting weights, hiking, mountains, or just moving heavy things I generally enjoy that feeling of exertion.

In terms of you starting to enjoy it, the only suggestion that I would make is that the only way through is forward and keep it going until it becomes enjoyable for you. That might sound counterintuitive but ultimately little in life that's easy is worthwhile and the effort that you'll put in will be rewarding.

[-] Moonguide@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I enjoy the simplicity of weightlifting. Make sure your form is good, count reps, count sets, take note of the weight lifted. All of that keeps my mind occupied for 2h, no room for it to wander into topics I'd rather not think about atm.

I also find some measure of joy out of knowing I'm lifting more today than I was last week, it's simple and measurable progress. No room for subjective bias, unlike other things I'm trying to improve upon.

It also has the added benefit of tiring me out. GAD and ADHD make for horrible bedfellows, they've made nights sleepless for me more often than not, so I'll take any help I can get.

Edit: otoh, I hate cardio with a passion. Its boring and does nothing but make me sweat and lets my mind wander. I've tried everything, from music, to audiobooks, to podcasts. Plus, I feel like I run loudly, like my feet are made of lead, and I don't like being loud.

[-] Locuralacura@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Have you ever tried swimming? No sweat, no loudness, great cardio.

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[-] KuroJ@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Depends on the exercise. My favorites are heavy squat and deadlifts. It's just a good feeling increasing the weight every week and hitting new maxes while getting stronger.

I suck at bench so I'm never looking forward to that, but I've set goals to hit by the end of the year so I'm sticking to it.

Honestly now, I feel terrible when I don't workout and it really affects my mental state.

[-] Djangofett@lemmy.ca 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.

[-] debeluhar@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes, I do actually enjoy working out. I am a sotfware developer, but at the end of the work day, I am tired of developing, I am tired of computers, and I just want to go outside. Both cycling and hiking is my therapy and I clear my head when I do it. I like fresh air, nature and views from mountains. Also, I feel really happy when I finish working out, because I know I did something for myself. But it was not always like that. It was hard from the start, but step after step, it became easier and easier for me. Don't start with too long walks/hikes/rides. Starts with smaller ones, and every few days add more and more. Start with 1km walk for example. Next week add maybe 0,5km more. Next week maybe add some hill or something. Just don't overdo it. And find some motivation to do it. Do you like nature? Go walking into nature. Do you like dogs? Get a dog and go walking with a dog.

How did I start hiking and why? When I was hiking with my friends, I was always last, and I couldn't keep up with my friends. Also, it was really hard for me. I was also overweight. So I had to do something about myself. I started walking, but with short walks. Really short ones (like 0,5km only). But every few walks I added more and more. Now I can do really long walks and hikes without any problem.

How did I start cycling and why? Well that's another story. I really liked one girl, and she was cyclist. I was thinking it would be easier for me to hang out with her if I also start cycling. I would also have something to talk about with her. So I started cycling and cycling and cycling. Of course I was also talking with her, showing my results, etc. She was really big motivation for me. Unfortunately, it didn't work out with her, we went on a lot of dates, but eventually, we stopped dating. But at the end of the day, she helped me becoming good cyclist and now I can do really long rides, without any problem.

So, moral of the story: I think the main key here is motivation. Find something that will motivate you. And it doesn't need to be about walking or hiking or cycling. It can be totally different. This worked for me, but something else will work for some other people.

I enjoy lifting, especially very heavy weights that are near a single weight. I also enjoy a lot of the Crossfit type of workouts that we do. It's just me against the old me mentally. I'm doing shit in my late 40s that I couldn't imagine doing when I was 20.

Most days it just has me in a good mental state where I'm enjoying life and pushing myself. There's just something to enjoy about doing things that you think you can't

[-] poudlardo@terefere.eu 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's similar to brushing your teeth. You know you have to do it and feel bad if you missed it. For the last 2 years and a half it became a habit for me, I have to go every 2 to 3 days, but no I still don't see it as a source of pleasure. Instead, I'm relieved once it's done.

[-] jetsetdorito@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I like running, I had a knee injury and I miss running so much. I really have to make myself do weights though.

[-] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

Maybe cycling would be easier on your knees?

[-] BossDj@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

This is me. I loved running until I hurt my foot. No replacement has done justice

[-] andyMFK@reddthat.com 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

[-] richteratmosphere@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 year ago

I get the natural endorphins "runner's high." Music sound beautiful and all is well. And the cardiovascular exercise is good for me.

[-] riskable@programming.dev 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I have a blast playing Beat Saber every day 🤷

I just played this map like half an hour ago:

https://replay.beatleader.xyz/?scoreId=7902656

Note: I'm 45 and blind in one eye yet I still enjoy this game so much that I've lost 15 lbs and have vastly more stamina than I used to 👍

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[-] Ghostc1212@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 year ago

When you pump large amounts of iron in rapid succession at the gym, it makes you feel unstoppable, like you could take on the world. It's an absolutely wonderful feeling to have, and I think it can be chalked up to the testosterone boost. The way to cultivate this mindset is

  1. Simply work out. The body releases the "unstoppable" chemical when you do Chad shit.
  2. Have more faith in your own capabilities. This will naturally happen if you surround yourself with positive reinforcement and if you do step 1.
[-] DontTreadOnBigfoot@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Fucking love it. I'm an absolute gym rat.

Problem is, I'm currently wasting away due to severe anemia, and in the last 2 months, I've gone from deadlifting 500lbs to barely being able to carry in groceries.

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this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023
175 points (97.8% liked)

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