Asklemmy

I had to drag myself out of the house for strength training once a week at first. It took a while but I actually started enjoying it to the point that I go to the gym almost every day now. I think it helps a lot that the gym is like a 2 minute walk though.

I enjoy working out. I look at it as “me time”, listening to a podcast, doing sets. Also the community at my local gym is great - nice people.

Is there anything the rest of us can do to cultivate such a mindset?

For cardio it's basically "go slow". The main source of discomfort is the exertion.
An easy long run with good music is quite meditative and enjoyable.
When your legs hurt and you're wheezing your lungs out, not so much.

For me it’s about making it a routine and part of your daily life. I started out with 3 days a week lifting and now do 3 days lifting and 3 days cardio. I find it’s easier to stick to and enjoy if it’s something I do everyday. The other thing I’ve noticed is you really need to pay attention to nutrition and sleep too. Working out is a lot easier/ more enjoyable if you are providing your body with the nutrients it needs and getting enough sleep. If you just eat junk food you’re going to feel like junk when you workout

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

For me Brazilian jiu Jitsu got me in great shape and the grind of it helped me get into hard workouts too. I don’t enjoy lifting or doing cardio but I love the after reward. Jiu jitsu definitely helped me know I could push past what I thought was a limit.

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.

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I figured out for myself that I need to have a goal when working out.

Instead of aimlessly running on a treadmill, I'd rather go cycling to some nice place with a view.

Instead of lifting weights a number of times, I rather climb up a wall and challenge myself mentally in addition to physically.

I enjoy a nice bike ride.

I enjoy it but different people prefer different types of exercise and sometimes try the wrong one for them then give up. Some people really do love cardio, some feel amazing when they lift weights and get stronger, some prefer a group class or sport. If you're doing something solo though I HIGHLY recommend adding in music or an audiobook or podcast, especially if you're feeling like it isn't for you. That can help if you're getting bored. Then, switch it up. If you didn't like the elliptical, try a weight lifting session. If the weights weren't your cup of tea, try a yoga class or a free yoga video if you just want to try it at home without so much expense and commitment.

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I lift 3x a week. I do it because it helps my mental health a lot and I feel good afterwards. The high is real but you gotta push yourself pretty hard to get it.

As for starting, start small. Maybe start with a half hour walk every day. Then make it longer. Then replace the long walk with a short run. Then longer runs. Then maybe you want to try something else that's a little tougher and you start lifting weights. That's what happened to me.

But you gotta stay on schedule. That's the hard part. It's really easy to get complacent and stop.

I do genuinely enjoy cycling yeah, at least if it's outside. In general though I hate working out (and don't do it nearly enough as a result), but I do actually like the feeling afterwards

It’s type 2 fun. You don’t want to do it, but you’re glad you did when you do

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 used to hate lifting. Now I look at it like a meditation, and look forward to it (mostly) every day.

So I've found there's two different 'pleasure' experiences:

One is during the workout where you disassociate and just feel your muscles working. In running this is usually called a "runner's high", and in weightlifting it's typically refered to "lifting heavy thing make me happy" / "Big rock make sad voices go away"

Then there's the after-workout where you just feel your muscle exhausted as you relax and it's extremely satisfying. You know you're getting stronger and the workout will be easier next time.

Both of these feelings take a few weeks to start, you'll have to get results from your workout and then your mind and body will start rewarding you with dopamine for doing a good job. (Although some days working out still sucks ass though and is both tiring and a chore, that part doesn't go away it's just easier to ignore).

It depends on the workout for me. When I'm in shape of course, if I'm not in shape then it's hell.

Running 4-6km is very neutral, nothing special

Running 6-10km is kinda enjoyable

Running 10-15km feels really good for some reason

Then everything above 15km is hell (I only ever ran a half marathon at once)

I find running a bit like meditation, or I just let my mind wander wherever. I can't really put to words the experience, but I would definitely describe it as enjoyable. Especially in winter, I absolutely love it when the cold bites my skin as I start running, and then when you warm up you don't feel it anymore.

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".

Wow, this thread has been really eye opening. As someone who completely hates exercise (I honestly can't imagine many other things that are more unpleasant), it had never really occurred to me that people exercised because they genuinely enjoyed it. I always just assumed that everyone else hated it and just forced themselves into it.

I love running, but running is the worst when you haven't run for a while. After a few weeks when your body is into it it feels amazing and I am craving to get out there. I do mostly trail running so for me it's an opportunity to get out in the nature, a break from work and kids and just be by myself and enjoy the moment

Listen to music and https://youtu.be/j0B7bzP-Gog

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'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.

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.

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

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.

It becomes enjoyable when you are fit. When you are not, your body will hate you, until you are fit enough.

Yeah, but no.

I've been lifting weights daily since I was 15, and I'm 33 now. I enjoy it in that it makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something more than I would be if I just sat on my ass at home. It feels good to push yourself physically and 'feel the burn' and work up a sweat. Humans were meant to use their bodies and if you don't there's a very good chance that that is the reason you feel like shit all the time.

But also no because I find weight training to be exceptionally boring. This is easily mitigated though because once you have the flow of your workout solidly built into your head, it's simple enough that you can turn your brain off and focus on the podcast you're listening to. 30-50 minutes will pass by in a flash.

I still have days where I dread my workout, and I have to really push myself to complete them. Generally, if I go straight home from work and sit on my couch, I will not get back up.

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.

Gods! I used to! I had to stop the kinds of exercise I loved post disability, and the fucking physical therapy shit I can still do isn't enjoyable, it's just so damn dull and doesn't give the same feeling of satisfaction, despite hurting so much more.

But I would work out up to three hours a day when I had time. Calisthenics, strength training, martial arts (unarmed, plus various weapons), break falls and air rolls (an offshoot of the martial arts).

It was fun, and I could feel the benefits of it, and I miss the ability to tell my body what to do, and it just does it.

But yeah, I not only enjoyed the workout itself, and the benefits, but I even enjoyed the ache and burn of it. It was fulfilling on so many levels.

When I lifted a lot, seeing the progress I was making in terms of increased squat, deadlift, etc was pretty motivating. Picking 350 pounds up off the ground feels pretty good too.

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

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

Cycling, definitely. It's just fun to do.

Of course you can be pushing hard or some jackass in a car just passed you with inches to spare, and those times aren't fun, but most of the time it's fun. My wife says I do my best thinking while I'm riding. If I'm on a group ride, there's often good conversation with friends.

I hate cardio, so that's what I do. Weird thing, but I figured if I hate something it's the thing I need to work on. Besides, it seems like cardio is the thing that helps you lose weight the fastest.

Cycling, yes. Running, not so much because my calves tend to seize up and it gets a little painful but I can see how it could be enjoyable.

Climbing is absolutely amazing!

Lifting weights… I tried. I find it exceedingly boring, and it never felt like I actually worked out, even when I was pushing hard.

Does swimming, yoga, biking and gardening count as exercise, or are we strictly taking about big muscle workout?