Did getting fit and healthy make you happier?

[ShabbyAbby]

Just that really. I often think if I get fitter and healthier I will feel better and therefore my mental health will improve.

However I don't get past the early stages as I get too worn out and wonder if maybe is it worth the pay off? Maybe I'm just lazy

Yes, absolutely, 100%.

dementedma bobbly what exercise gives you the buzz? Have tried aerobic type classes( hideous) and pilates/yoga which was ok but no buzz. Quite like swimming and walking but they dont burn many calories

I do several things.

Boxing - I work at a desk all day and find that punching stuff is great for "unfolding" my body and stress relief. And it's mixed up with lots of other intervals of core and aerobic exercises.

HIIT classes - so it's always varied and changing with bodyweight and kit, not just Jane Fonda style stuff!

Weights - a programme devised by a PT who I meet up with every few weeks for a coaching session. Am loving the feeling of strength and capability this gives me! Also great for ongoing calorie burning.

(I have worked out that short and sharp intervals are my forte, I can't bear the long slow monotonous stuff. All of these classes ^ have a range of people in them, old, young, fat , thin, new, experienced...I am in the fat and old range!)

And lastly I ride a bike. But this is mostly for (fairweather) fun, not fitness, inasmuch as I might whoosh down hills, but I've no compunction about getting off and walking up them! I am lucky to love in beautiful countryside though - it's not so great if you are in the middle of a city!

Well I was happy before! I have the good fortune to have a pretty optimistic nature- but in January 2018 i woke up one morning, looked at myself in the mirror, and thought "Holy crap I'm as big as a house!" Signed up for WW; turned out I was over 15 stone. Now 10st 4lb, and very pleased with that.

But getting thinner isn't the same as getting fitter as i have discovered. DS has started Parkrun and i thought it looked fun so have registered. Doing c25k first so as not to collapse. Done week 1. How can jogging for 60 seconds be so hard? Hope it gets easier.

TLDR: yes, losing the weight made me happier (or possibly smugger, sorry). Getting fitter- work in progress but happy to be giving it a go.

I think I've pushed myself too hard in the past and at times exercised for the wrong reasons. I do get the "high" though. I just also get unhappy when I have minor injuries or set backs and I think I give up too easily. I think I need to see it as changing my life not my body.
I am thinking of maybe joining just one class (instead of a gym membership full!) and having a back up if I can't make it for whatever reason. Then buying a skipping rope or something and just doing a little each day, or possibly C25k. I just think I overdo it and want to get "the most" out of my gym membership and end up in a pattern of injuries and obligation which is really unnecessary.

I hate exercise classes. There's always a couple of women being uber friendly with the class lead and I find them cliquey but love the friendly atmosphere at park run. I only really run with others as I'm not very good at motivating myself but not appearing crap in front of others pushes me on.

I can't even begin to explain how much better I feel when I'm fit. I have been significantly overweight and was absolutely miserable and had no confidence whatsoever, but as a healthy BMI and a size 10-12 I'm genuinely a happier person. However weight aside, I have never been happier than when I've been physically fit. I have far fewer health niggles, my back doesn't constantly ache, I can keep up with my child so much easier and run around after her etc, I'm less tired, I can cope with less sleep. I actually get outdoors into the fresh air rather than wanting to hide away. Plus running is the only way I've ever found of dealing with stress that actually works for me, and is also the most effective way I've ever found of making new friends. I've always been a social runner and find that runners in general are nice, friendly people and far less cliquey than people in for example playgroups or fitness classes at the gym where you might go to try to make friends.

Currently half way through a couch to 10k and 7 weeks into slimming world and it’s a massive yes from me! Taking control of my eating and feeling myself get fitter has really altered my mindset.

It makes a huge difference to my MH.

If you’re getting injuries probably be better to try something else or take it down a few notches!

Am not at all sporty or athletic but have tried all sorts.

When sleep deprived walking was nice.

I think of it as a treat, regular active time slots. And do thinks I like.

I don’t do anything too goals based, eg running events or sponsored things, or trying to do more/faster, as that feels like a literal and mental treadmill! (Whereas DH loves to try to beat his personal best!)

Pay as you gym isn’t bad prices for the odd gym session without monthly commitment

Yes. It made me feel generally much better every day. I have more energy, my clothes fit better & look nicer.
I don’t get so many colds and my complexion has more of a glow. All those things together make it easier to be upbeat & optimistic.

dementedma I dislike running too. I can do about 8k now but it’s still hard work. Not sure when the feeling good everyone told me about, is supposed to kick in.

Read jog on by Bella Mackie.

I'm not sure. I'm probably the least fit I've ever been at the moment and I'm not happy about that - but I don't think I'm less happy in general.

I've been very fit in the past but don't enjoy exercise - when I was at my fittest I just had a life it was much easier to build exercise into. Now for various reasons that's much harder.

There are some forms of exercise I prefer over others, but even at my fittest I don't think I've ever experienced the rush some people describe. Usually I just want to go to sleep.

I have a very stressful six to eight months with crashing work deadlines and serious family illnesses. Exercise helps me sleep and stops me from falling into complete despair.

If I'm honest- no.

When I was younger (30s?), I used to do the'right' stuff, gym, cycle to work etc; I lost the same couple of stone several times, but I still recall thinking, one day, sweating away at the gym- I actually don't feel much different to what I do when I'm exercising moderately, and I can hand-on-heart say that an hour at the gym/doing aerobics 3-4 times a week and a 8 mile round trip bike ride, plus weekend walking up hills actually changed my clothes size or made me more toned.

I would get less puffed out, yes, so I must have been fitter, but it didn't make me feel amazing.

But I know I will be heavily outnumbered on here!

And I smile inwardly when I listen to the girls at work, 22-30, recount their gym stories, checking their fitbits every 5 minutes etc- then demolishing chips and cake at lunch, with a FB feed of boozy nights out.

I was a bit like that at their age!

Started running a few years ago as part of a charity challenge and lost a lot of weight, I felt fantastic and was much healthier.

Last year suffered meningitis and was diagnosed hypothyroid which has seriously affected me and I have spent the last year trying to keep running the same distances, but I can't. Injury set me back a few weeks ago, but I am starting back up next week. Will start with a 5k and work up to 10k over the summer.

The fitter I am, the better I feel. The more 'outside' exercise I do the better I feel.

I don't beat muself up about it though, if I'm slower on my run, or not feeling it I don't hate myself for not going out there.

I like social exercise so go out with a MTB group, a roadie crew, meet freinds at spin, run with colleagues etc

Yes! And now I'm miserable coz I'm injured I've lost loads of fitness and I can't do anything other than swimming which I hate!!

Dementedma - I also loathe running. The best endorphin high I get is walking up steep hills alone at speed. I have MapMyWalk in my phone and it has certain footpaths that it benchmarks you doing (so you’ll know that 50 people regularly do that route and you’re number 5 on the leaderboard). Completely anonymous, but it instils a sense of satisfaction in me.
I think if you hate running there will be something else that you can enjoy. I would find swimming good if you didn’t have to go at the same speed as everyone else

I go to the gym three times a week for cardio/general health reasons and I will stick with it, but I find it boring. It's much easier when my gym 'buddies' are there and I always feel better when I have been, but I will never love it!

Being really honest... no.

I spent last year trying to kid myself that I loved dance / cardio sessions I got myself into and managed to lose 2 stone and was basically the fittest I’ve ever been.

It didn’t make any difference to how I felt about myself apart from just giving me a lot of hassle trying to fit it in around my life and spending tons of time showering afterwards and getting dressed again etc. When id already got up and dressed once and normally like to shower and get dressed early in the morning...

Just not my thing. I don’t like being sweaty. I do like brisk walking however so I do a lot of that now to keep reasonably fit. Which I do know is important.

But really I’d rather sit on the sofa and have a share bag of counters.

I don’t know why my post has been hidden

I just said I’d rather eat chocolate!