Does anyone not get endorphins from exercise?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

I think I used to when I was going to about 3 or 4 yoga classes a week, for example. I felt great because I loved the whole experience. Excellent teachers and beautiful studio. But not now, getting ready for a walk. Yeah I need to go and sometimes it's fine.

However sometimes I feel like I actually get the opposite of endorphins? I get tense and a bit cross and so relieved to get home!

Do you feel a bit shit after exercising? Or is this purely a reflection of how unfit I am now?

@pickingdaisies I'm hoping I get this runners high that you describe. Third attempt at C25K. Wish me luck.

Oh yeah, this is me. Been a runner for years and never had any sort of 'endorphin rush'. The only thing that makes me feel good about exercising is that feeling when you get home from a run and being glad its over.
I've seen exercise touted as being great for relieving period pains but it always made mine worse. I wonder whether its related?

I've had the endorphin rush ... once! At a step aerobics class in the 1990s. About 20 minutes into the session (I think it was my second or third class) I got this burst of energy and euphoria, like my body was jet propelled. I chased that Holy Grail for years and never felt it again.

I did C25K in September and October last year and have kept it up since, but no endorphin rush, certainly not at my speed. But I've discovered that I prefer exercising outdoors and that running is more fulfilling than walking. I just make sure I have an audiobook or I would be too troubled by the jumble of thoughts released in my head when I do any sort of physical activity.

I think if I had time I might? But with 2 kids, one that screams non stop if I leave him with DH, be a full time job I can never work out when people have time for exercise. 5-9 I'm running around after kids and getting the house sorted. 9-5 I work non stop and then 5-8 I'm putting kids to bed, dinner etc and then 8-10 I'm working again and then fall asleep. Weekends the kids here here obviously, and I continue to work evenings. I think I'd love to be one of those people who just jog off down the road for an hour! Although when I did do exercise before kids it was always 1 hour of exercise = 1hr plus 30 mins to get ready + 1 hour of showering and trying to feel less hot and yucky.

I usually just feel relieved when it's over. Does that count?

Nope, never had any kind of rush or high.

I just get hot, sore, my throat hurts from breathing, my tongue stings, often get a stitch. Feel miserable and frustrared during and after, almost to the point of tears if i really push myself so don't think it's a lack of intensity.

The only exercise I enjoy is swimming, I think because I don't get hot so can actually do it for a reasonable amount of time. I also find it's more of a mindfulness enjoyment, like meditation, than any kind of rush.

I never did until recently when I started running in my 40s. No idea what’s changed - it’s such a profound difference I wonder if it’s hormonal or something. Maybe partly a new found (post small children) appreciation for having carved out a few hours a week just for me.

I find this fascinating- never realised that it was possible not to get the incredible high from working out.

I get the biggest highs from the hardest workouts so CrossFit or sprinting until literal exhaustion on the floor gasping for breath. I don't get a buz from light exercise it just feels nice to be outside thou but I don't get any warm feeling until I stay 70% max heart rate

Nothing for me either. 10 mile walks, hill hikes, long bike rides, running - everything just gives me a rotten migraine, I hate it all. I desperately wish I was someone who could get addicted to exercise.

My only hope is having a routine, and having the dog helps. Knowing I have to get up and walk makes me feel depressed and irritable every morning, but at least I have no choice. I don't really even enjoy it once I get going, I hate feeling hot and clammy and having that telltale booming of the migraine coming.

Nothing for me either, maybe a slight feeling of satisfaction but never had a real buzz from exercise in any form.

Never had a exercise high. Just migraines, sore joints, and even worse depression. Brilliant!

I don't think you get the kind of endorphin rush from walking as you do from, for example, an energetic team sport or game of squash. Walking makes me feel good because I do it somewhere beautiful, breathe good quality oxygen and look around at nature and it takes my mind of technology and work. A walk round my neighborhood doesn't do it for me. I do get a small endorphin rush if I jog for about 45 minutes though, even at low intensity.

I do but only when reasonably fit, from medium intensity exercise.

Not from a short walk, or a short run when not very fit. That's a slog (though getting outdoors, especially in sunshine and just moving around rather than sitting still is good).

Once I've built up fitness, then yes, from putting effort into running or swimming, for 20+ minutes two or three times a week.

I always feel better, later in the day, from having exercised, even a little bit. That's not an endorphin rush though, just a general sense of wellbeing, from having pushed some oxygen around my brain and muscles and stretched a bit.

Even a long hike doesn't give me an endorphin rush, it's not high enough intensity. It does give me a lovely sense of physical and mental tiredness and helps me sleep though.

I used to think this when I did a lot of low-impact exercise.

Since lockdown I had to switch to shorter high-impact exercise.

Now I understand how people get addicted to exercise!

I think you need to exert to get the endorphins.

I run a lot. Up to about 10 miles a time. I've never had a high.

I still like getting outdoors and physically can't sit around all day...I feel a burning need to get up and move. But a high from running? Never.

I don’t think you get them from walking though. Your heart rate isn’t high enough? I walk a fair bit but like you am relieved to get home, maybe feel refreshed at best. Actual proper hard exercise like spin, running, weight training I get the endorphins about half way through when my heart rate is maxed out. That’s a whole different kettle of fish. Still feel a bit “high” when I’m out of the shower after.

Never have!
Honestly thought I was not good enough at exercise as just couldn't relate to this 'feel good' rush afterwards!
I swim, walk and yoga. Hate every other form and gave zero desire to get my heart rate pounding to the point of feeling sick. Previous generations didn't go on and on about it like we do. Just keep a good weight, keep active through gardening / walking /doing stuff that needs doing and relax- that's what makes you feel good..

Really interesting thread!

I too have had periods where I was a gym regular, never had endorphins and never managed to change my fitness levels. I had more stamina, but couldn't get my heart rate or intensity level up. It just got boring.

Never. Not a sausage.

Until I had a hypomanic episode, and discovered all those endorphin-seeking fitness freaks weren't deluded and/or lying after all, it's a real thing that really happens. Albeit for me something which apparently only happens when I'm worryingly mentally ill and en route to concerned psychiatric workers sitting on my sofa pushing drugs and hospitalisation.

Normally, exercise just makes me feel slightly depressed for a few hours/days.

It's a bugger isn't it?

If I go for a 5k run, then I don’t really get anything from it other than the exercise. I don’t especially like exercise, I just do it for fitness and health.

However, after a 10k run I do get this feeling, especially if I’ve pushed myself. However, I typically don’t have time or motivation to do longer runs, it’s easier to fit in a 5k from time to time.

I joined LA Fitness on Tottenham Court Road in the 90s and went almost ever day after work for 2 years. Body pump classes, boxercise, step aerobics. PT sessions, you name it. Certainly got my moneys worth from it.

Loathed every moment and it made barely any difference to my body apart from giving me bulkier thighs.

I'm only get endorphins from certain types of exercise like lifting weights (deadlifts, squats etc with barbells).

I definitely don't get them from walking but I do feel better for having moved my body and having been outside.

I won't comment on the endorphins as I get them from the gym, a power walk, a run... but DH doesn't unless he has a good long gym session.

Can I just ask those who don't like exercise and so don't bother, do you worry about your fitness? How you'll be when you're older? Lackmof muscle, etc?

A couple of my friends say that like is too short to exercise but I think life is too short not to keep fit and get the most out of it!

Yes, I worry MrsJ.

If you knew that it was good for you to beat yourself around the head with a plank for half an hour twice a week, and it would make you look sexier and live longer in better health, would you do it? And if you couldn't make yourself do it, would you worry?