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?
I make workout my me time: my music, my time, my body.
Viewing working out as something that is good for me instead of a chore also does help. Concentrating on my body, really feeling the muscles contract is kind of a meditation to me.
Running is meditative for me and without it I feel horribly depressed. I get in the zone and am able to work through so many different emotions that I can’t otherwise access when I’m not running. The workout itself isn’t super enjoyable, but the runner’s high and the rest of my day are so much better if I get my run in.
I would if I could, but my body doesn’t like that. Usually do 3-4 times per week and try to cross train on my off days. I lift but I don’t get that same meditative feeling. Cycling is close but still not quite the same.
I haven’t gone running in a really long time now but I used to love getting that runners high. When I first started training for an obstacle run I could barely run for 2 minutes straight and in the end I’d finish my 10km and decide to do one more lap because the music was just so good and I felt like I could go for ages. I ended up doing like 4km extra one time. Man I miss that feeling… Maybe I should start doing it again.
It’s dependent on how my day was and the music/podcast I’m listening to. If both are good, I can enjoy my workout with a better mindset. If not, I just remind myself that my body will thank me later on and I generally have a better attitude after working out regardless.
It for sure takes time to reach a point of fitness where exercise feels good. Starting out totally untrained is really tough, and most people don’t stick with it long enough for exercise to feel good.
It’s also helpful to find something you like or think is cool in the first place. Many people fall off the workout grind because they think it’s mandatory for them to suffer through steady state cardio for an hour or insert thing that you in particular don’t like.
For me, powerlifting was the perfect balance of measurable, incremental progress, plus there’s time between sets to get focused for the next one. I literally can’t do steady state cardio without wanting to blow my brains out, but lifting weights and being strong? Yes please. With how I feel outside of the gym because of it? I’m in this shit for life.
Usually, but there’s a lot of hard days. My main motivator is that I know I will always feel great after exercise. When I’ve done the regular gym sessions and jogging, I feel like I have the energy to do all the things I want and my brain feels 20% smarter. I’ve seen that some other people seem to function without exercise just fine, I don’t understand how. But I can’t…
I mainly do just gym and jogging. Jogging is the easy one for me. I usually feel instantly good when I start my run and the barrier to go is low: keep running gear at hand and just go out of the door. There’s hardly ever any pain or unpleasantness. I’ve done this so long that my body sort of runs on its own. Or that’s what it feels like.
Gym is harder. I’ve got some random pains in my muscles from doing it. Some pain is completely normal of course but I don’t really enjoy pushing my body when it hurts or if there’s a fear of some real injury. But it can be very pleasurable and motivating as well. On a good day, I feel strong and lifting feels good without pain. And there’s progress also.
Anyway I’m quite excited about current progress at the gym. I genuinely feel better and more energized than before.
But answers to question about how to feel good: Jogging: go regularly for 20+ years and it will feel nice almost all the time… Gym (weight lifting): i would like to know this myself, it seems there are some good days but a lot of bad days as well
I cycle for adventure and experience, it’s also why I prefer gravel and offroad cycling to road. That gravel crunch in the forest, smell of the trees, sound of birds and absolutely no traffic is pure bliss. Ok sure there is some suffering during climbs, but the feeling of accomplishment when you finally get on top and the descent that follow are worth it.
I join one gravel competition a year, but I go for the event, not to actually compete. I like riding with one friend, on paths where we can ride side by side and chat, and I don’t see a point in group road rides where you just stare at the butt of the rider in front of you the entire ride.
In general I experience joy the entire bike ride, it’s like my therapy, a couple of hours without a phone, outside, just me and silence. I guess the fitness that comes with it is good too.
I do classes, 1hr of body combat to go hard and then it’s done. The music, instructors and feeding off the energy of the ppl around you make it enjoyable.
Classes are the best. Loud music, workout to the beat with other people there. I tried lifting, but was so bored between sets that i just went home halfway through a workout. Than i started Body pump, and there is no time to get bored.
Yes! I’ve had to fight like hell to enjoy working out. It’s taken years. But now I deeply enjoy it. It kind of feels like competetive sports - it’s just really cool to see how far you can push your body, and to see it grow and get stronger over time.
I had to start by just getting into really basic routines doing things I wouldn’t hate. Little jogs, light weights, etc. Eventually you stop dreading going to work out. As you get stronger it gets easier and more enjoyable.
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.
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
Pleasure for me comes from achievement. The time I first ran 5k in under 30 minutes, or the first time I deadlifted more than my own bodyweight. Achieving these things gives you that nice feeling. Yeah, there are people who can run faster or lift heavier, but I try and concentrate on my progress - doesn’t always work but I know deep down I’m getting better at the things I choose to do.
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