Does anyone actually enjoy working out?

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?

kryllic,
@kryllic@programming.dev avatar

Working out is about discipline, not pleasure imo. I’m sure there are some folks who really enjoy working out, but for most of the general public, it’s about sticking to a routine and seeing yourself improve, regardless of how it makes you feel

TurtleJoe,
@TurtleJoe@lemmy.world avatar

I’ve been lifting about a year, and for me there is a big satisfaction in improvement, especially when I can break through a plateau that I’ve been stuck on.

There are also some lifts that a really enjoy while I’m doing them, whereas others feel more like a chore.

books,

I’m a podcast listener, can’t do music… Wish I could but It makes workouts drag for me.

But I absolutely love mt biking. I’m not good or fast, but it’s zen for me.

sverit,

For me it was a process of finding a certain sport that does that for me. Try out as many sports that you can. I hate running. I find cycling ok. I love climbing. Sometimes I like lifting. Music and enough sleep make a huge difference for me, I hate working out when I am tired.

boonhet,

Lifting weights is fun and feels pleasurable. Cardio feels like I’m trying to get somewhere but I’ll never arrive. It’s frustrating. I think it’s because I have ADHD and, well, most monotonous activities are hella hard to keep up for any period of time. Doesn’t help that I’ve been off my meds for a year since developing high blood pressure.

For cardio, I’ve tried different things to trick myself into doing it. Some worked better than others. I used to do long and hard warmups before lifting weights. Of course it had a negative effect on the weightlifting itself, but it was good for my health. To increase effort, I just added 5 minutes each session. Started off cycling 15 minutes at a leisurely pace on the stationary bike, and towards the end I was doing 45 at a much harder pace. Watching the average power climb up each week was fun, it was like a game to me. And the weightlifting at the end of it was the reward to make my monkeybrain accept the annoyance that is cardio.

Of course, then I had surgery (nothing major, a scheduled quality of life surgery, septoplasty to be specific, but I was told to lay off any exercise for 2+ weeks) and then a month later I injured myself. So now it’s been over a year again. Not because my injury was very serious, but because it’s incredibly hard to start, maintain, or re-start healthy habits with ADHD. Incredibly easy to start, maintain and re-start bad ones though -.-

Another thing is, pick a podcast (preferably something funny or informative, not depressing), put it on, and go on a walk. Not the same as running, but on a physical activity for your health scale, if being sedentary is 0% and running is 100%, walking is at least 80% if you ask me. Way closer to running than to doing nothing.

I understand the last bit is difficult for people living in unwalkable cities, but for those who can do it, it feels way better than most other forms of exercise, because you’re getting dosed with happy hormones while you’re walking thanks to the podcast.

7heo,
@7heo@lemmy.ml avatar

Also got ADHD and the way I managed enjoying running was listening to music (for the rhythm) and “zoning out” (aka meditating). What also works out is focusing on an idea you wanna think about, but you run (pun intended) the risk of getting to interesting findings and needing to note them ASAP…

Elbrond,
@Elbrond@feddit.nl avatar

No, I hate it. I listen to podcasts while working out. It’s the only thing that makes it bearable.

limeaide,

Do you take progress pics and keep track of your time, speed, reps, sets, and weight?

That made it fun for me. I enjoy seeing the numbers go up and seeing my body change. It’s like leveling up in a game lol.

Also I find that some people find it boring bc they see it as a useless activity since they don’t see much progress. Something my trainer told me was that I could never outrun a shitty diet and after my diet was fixed, I was able to make real progress

BeigeAgenda,
@BeigeAgenda@lemmy.ca avatar

Agreed, it becomes bearable when I watch some YouTube while on the treadmill.

widowhanzo,

Yeah I can see a treadmill being extremely boring. I usually ride and run outside, but I had to ride on a trainer for a couple of weeks because of an injury and it was just awful. I couldn’t wait to be done. But when I’m outside sometimes I’ll extend my ride for another 10km just because the weather is nice and I feel good, I’m (almost) never in a rush to finish.

I don’t think I could run on a treadmill either, at least outside I have short goals to reach (ok now to the next lamp post…)

BeigeAgenda,
@BeigeAgenda@lemmy.ca avatar

For me it’s about tricking myself into training, and I have never been fan of running that’s why I use an elliptical one.

Working out outside definitely has its plusses, just don’t know if I will do that.

volodymyr,

I am a bit surprised about the diversity of opinions. For me, well organized muscle movement, both cardio and weightlifting, is quite enjoyable simply physiologically. Plus other things like resting the mind, enjoying the scenere, etc.

QubaXR,
@QubaXR@lemmy.world avatar

It takes a while. A long while. But once you develop a habit, a day will feel empty without your routine exercise, and doing it will feel real good.

The important thing is to find what works for you and do that. I bounced off many gym programs and could not keep up with them. Then I hurt my leg and decided to talk to a physical therapist. He developed a program for me that’s easy to stick to, yet challenging enough.

Not everyone’s into jogging and lifting. Look and ask around. Good luck!

DarnHyena, (edited )

I’ve always found myself having trouble getting to work out if I didn’t have some sort of tangible goal to achieve in the process. Like with walking, I need a destination to reach, like maybe going to pick up lunch or groceries. Same for other forms of body work outs, I’ve found vr games can be handy for giving me something to get lost in while still working out, like this one squatting game called hotsquats, or some of those rhythm games

Just doing a treadmill while staring at a tv doesn’t keep my brain as engaged.

lom,

I genuinely enjoy it. Especially cardio. Running cycling, doesn’t matter. I almost always love the feelint

Bristlecone,

Preach buddy 🚴

obesity52,
@obesity52@lemmy.world avatar

Fuck no

amcjv12,

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.

DoWotJohn,

You have to do it long enough to where it becomes a habit. Once you hit that point, you won’t feel as good mentally and physically when you don’t work out. It took over three years for the habit to come about with me, but now I work out 6 day’s a week and appreciate it. I also enjoy the changes it’s made in body.

CoffeeBot,

It varies for me. Some days I’m like “I get to work out! 😄”

And other days are closer to

“I have to work out 😣”

But I like the progress I’ve made, I’m even starting to see shadow under my ribs. I always feel better after the workout though, and it makes me feel like the relaxation time I typically do after is earned.

nadeshiko,

Sometimes I’m loving the workout and feel like I’d be able to workout for hours on end and other times it’s not as enjoyable and I just want to get it over with.

But what I do enjoy is being able to see myself progress. Looking at progress pictures over the months/years and seeing growth, as well as being able to lift more than I ever have before. It never fails to make me happy.

EtnaAtsume,

I certainly do. Sometimes I have to get over the hump to actually GO to the gym on workout days but I’ve never once (well, okay, one workout I had one time after going regularly for years did leave me unsatisfied - I will admit that) finished up a workout and been like “what a goddamn waste of time and energy”.

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