this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023
615 points (97.1% liked)

Asklemmy

49272 readers
539 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy πŸ”

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
 

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?

(page 6) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] OceanSoap@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

I enjoy reformers pilates a lot, but that's because of the deep stretching worked into the routine. It's a game changer. If I could, I'd be doing it every day.

I fucking hate cardio with the passion of 190 million burning suns. However, I have experienced a runners high before. You get a bit lightheaded and dizzy, but not so much that you pass out. It just feels good. However, not good enough to get me up off my ass and do it, lol.

[–] guckfoogle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago

I've been an athlete since a child so in some weird way I guess I've been raised to just enjoy the discomfort of working out because I know the reward is tenfold of whatever discomfort I'm feeling while working out. So basically don't raise sedentary kids, give them a love of working out so they can live a healthy and happy life.

[–] kurogane@lm.helilot.com 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I started working out at a park nearby in the morning. I kinda hate it on the moment, but I reward myself for the last 15 minutes or so, with some creativity.
Freestyle dance (??!), kicking around, doing the cartwheel, random moves. All the while listening to old school hip hop and pretending I'm a hot shot, haha.
Those last minutes are amazing.

[–] PartialPenguin@aussie.zone 2 points 2 years ago

I lift weights a few days in the week and it's just routine now. I don't find working out to be fun, but seeing friends at the gym and and chatting is fun.

[–] CatBusBand@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago

I personally don't unless it's an interactive activity. Examples are rock climbing, swimming, badminton and tennis. Otherwise, workouts feel boring.

[–] worfamerryman@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago

It’s more the feeling of satisfaction and less a feeling of pleasure.

Working out is not a pleasurable thing, it’s hard, tiring, and painful.

But you see positive changes in your body, you feel better day to day and you know you are adding years on to your life.

This is what makes it enjoyable. But it will not be like this on day one. It will be like this maybe after 2-4 weeks of doing it consistently.

Also you have to eat right. If your just eating junk you may not feel as good.

[–] minorsecond@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago

I compete in powerlifting and it’s a lot of fun. You just need a good goal and you’ll end up loving the process of getting there.

[–] Jocker@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago

For me it's not the workout, but the feeling of accomplishment after pushing the limits of body and the burning sensation in muscles.

[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

It depends. Running and lifting I enjoy the results but the activity is boring, I never got runners high.

Jazzercise was fun fun fun though, any sort of dance aerobics like that is perfect because have to pay just the right amount of attention to it - enough that I can't think about other things, but not so much that I really have to think hard about the movements. I wish there were still classes by me.

Yoga is fun too, in a different way. It takes concentration, always adjustments to posture, and it's very empowering to be able to do handstands or other arm balances, it's challenging in a good way and the reminders to coordinate your breath with movement is helpful.

So for me it depends on what the workout is but sure, I like moving physically, enjoy it and don't do it only for results.

[–] MrMcMisterson@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 years ago

I have a love hate relationship with it. I absolutely love it when I'm consistent with it. When I fall off the wagon, I hate trying to get back into it. Its hard and I could easily just go and do anything else.

[–] burningmatches@feddit.uk 2 points 2 years ago

It’s worth pointing out that you don’t need to go overboard with exercise. A brisk 20-minute morning walk and a few minutes of body-weight exercises (push ups, squats) is all you really need to do for physical health. To lose weight, eating healthier is the only effective option β€” no fad diets, just more whole foods and less junk.

[–] icesentry@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

I absolutely love lifting heavy shit and I can't imagine my life without it at this point. The feeling you get when hitting a new PR is incredible. Knowing that you actually pushed yourself feels great to me.

The rest period are also weirdly meditative for me.

[–] benjacoblee@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I enjoy it when I'm eating at a modest surplus - it's trash on a deficit

[–] BubblyMango@lemmy.wtf 2 points 2 years ago

I love lifting weights/using machines at the gym but absolutely despise doing the exact same things at home alone (or at an empty gym for that matter).

There is something about being surrounded by others that also workout that really motivates me at the moment, gets me into the mood of working out and giving it my best.

Then, while lifting/using a machine, it becomes a game of how much i can manage today, how much have i progressed, how much i lift compared to some other random person. There is also thr good natural feeling you get while working out, and when i give it my all, i can really feel it.

I still heavily dislike cardio at the gym, such as using a treadmill. I try to turn it into a game though - manage to run exactly 1 kilometer in exactly 5 minutes etc. It somewhat helps for short runs.

[–] R9442@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

For me, it's the feeling of knowing that I can do something that I know for a fact I wouldn't have been able to do before. I've been lifting dumbbells since January and one thing that I've loved about doing so is feeling my arms exert effort without being tired, at least for awhile. Focusing on that is one of the highlights of my day.

And it translates to my everyday life too! Whenever I lift something heavy, I surprise myself when the part of my body that holds me back is something else completely, my arms don't complain at all.

Back at February, my uncle gave us an elliptical that no one uses at his house. I've been using that 15 minutes a day, and about 2 weeks into doing that routine, I've noticed that my stamina has become noticably better. The one change that stuck out to me the most is that I can run up the stairs at my school without needing to gasp for air. Imagine that, a big fat guy being able to run up and down three storeys without wheezing a sound like that of a creaky door. No way I could have done that a month prior.

I don't know how well you or the other folks here can relate to that, but to me, it's what makes me continue my routine even if I don't end up losing as much weight as I'd like, nor looking for fit as most would assume from doing this type of stuff.

Pardon for the little story I've typed up, just felt passionate at the moment and really wanted to get my thoughts out. and just to clarify, I havent gone to the gym so my workout is only composed of just me, what I've got in my house and some advice that I've heard from friends, family, and tidbits I read off the internet.

[–] unalkalkan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Aside from the fact that you are literally developing yourself, I really enjoy doing fitness because it doesn't have any flow or competitiveness to it.

I'm someone who constantly thinks of projects and side projects and things to do and improve, but I've seen that when I am doing weight lifting, my mind is completely there and empty of all the worries

[–] EfreetSK@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years 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

[–] Djangofett@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years 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.

[–] jhin@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I love lifting on certain days/splits. I dread leg day, but I love push day. Progress feels good, and even if I don't meet my goal, I usually feel good pushing myself.

I used to hate running. I did a Couch to 5k program that got me 5k ready in a month and dreaded every day of it. And I didn't even do well on the 5k.

But! I went on to train for a 10k, and that actually felt great! After a certain point, I entered some kind of zen and started enjoying it. Is that runner's high? Anyway, I kept up with running, and now each run is almost meditative.

[–] FeliXTV27@feddit.ch 1 points 2 years 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.

[–] nixfreak@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 years ago

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

[–] egonallanon@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years 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.

load more comments
view more: β€Ή prev next β€Ί