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?

For me it has to be quite vigorous exercise to get the endorphins. I used to run a lot and a 3+ mile run would make me feel great, but a walk or an exercise class wouldn't be enough. But I do notice that if I don't exercise for 2-3 weeks my general mood is worse and I feel mildly depressed.

I don’t enjoy running or doing HIIT at all and have to force myself to work out (however, I do love doing weights) but I love the feeling afterwards, the high can last for hours. All in all the post workout glow is worth the pain.

Like eating salad and breastfeeding. It’s something I do/did because I should and it’s good for me (or the babies) not because I enjoy(ed) it.

I actually enjoyed breastfeeding it made me feel pleasantly stoned and love salad!
Exercise however is just a slog.

God no. It makes me feel dreadful. Sick, lightheaded, shaky. I just walk instead. Whatever endorphins are I get the opposite of them.

Nope, nothing. I do get a certain high from riding and skiing but I’m guessing that’s more adrenaline than endorphins.

Tried jogging and gym memberships but hated it all. I just stick to brisk walking with my dog.

I know Crayon! Not sweating sounds very ladylike, but it is a nightmare. I just bloat, which is really unattractive. It never used to be such an issue, but given the summers we are getting recently, I am just always very hot, and bloated.

Welltidy, Crayon. I have the opposite condition hyperhidrosis. Unless the weather is absolutely freezing out, just going for a walk has me looking like I’ve just stepped out of the shower. My hair is literally dripping and stuck to my head. As well as being embarrassing it’s so uncomfortable and spring and summer are a nightmare. Just dusting in a warm room is enough to make my clothes stick to me. It’s horrible.

Nope have never got endorphins. Just feel horrid, and have been very fit so it’s not lack of fitness. Now I just make sure I do a couple of sessions of Pilates a week for core strength and some walking. Life’s too short to be spending hours doing things you hate/give you no pleasure and clearly we are not all built the same way.

I do with certain exercise, but the conditions have to be right... a certain music playlist, sun shining, epic scenery etc. I most often get it if I run or if I'm hiking up and down hills so I guess that's when my heart is working hardest. Yesterday I walked 14 miles on a completely flat trailway and got nothing other than sore hips and knees!

I feel for you Dodgy. I remember years ago watching Tara Palmer Tompkinson sing on something like Celebrity Fame Academy, and she sweated more than I've seen anyone sweat before. It must be really hard. Me, I just look quite pregnant a lot of the time when I'm outdoors in summer!

I've been doing Joe Wicks PE with the kids and god love him, I am grateful he's come up with something I could persuade the kids to do with me, but he keeps saying about how great you will feel afterwards, and I do - great that it's a good 47 hours until the next one!

That sounds utterly miserable as well Dodgy :(

Sweating disorders are one of those things that sounds trivial until you've experienced it. Like restless legs syndrome, which after I'd experienced it I started to think should be renamed BASTARD TRAITOROUS LEGS AND SOMETIMES ARMS TORTURING YOU FOR NO GOOD REASON SYNDROME.

I walk for an hour in the countryside - first 20 mins grumpy, second feeling a bit more positive, last 20 mood uplifted. Get home tired but cheerful.
But I am not marshalling DCs or dragging dog.

I agree Crayon. They aren’t really known about i don’t think. I’ve certainly never come across anyone who is absolutely drenched from doing virtually nothing just because the temperature is over 65 degrees. I’ve tried anticholergenic drugs but the side effects are nearly as bad as the 😓. I can imagine not being able to sweat is as horrible in entirely different ways.

I swim & I hate it when I'm doing it. I have to really concentrate on my stroke, try not to swallow water, swim into anyone, I always start sneezing, etc
However, when I get out I feel good.
For a start I haven't thought about anything other than swimming for an hour so my mind is clear & feel nicely loose-limbed as well.
I don't know if it's endorphins, I don't feel pumped or anything, but I do feel relaxed.

What hacks me off most is Mn threads where people insist I MUST get endorphins. It's just I'm doing the wrong exercise. No. You're wrong. I don't.

I know for a fact that I don't, Oblo, and that it's not because of what I'm doing or how I'm doing it but a real brain-based difference, because I've experienced (for a few months while literally insane) what it's like when you do get endorphins from exercise.

I enjoy a lot of exercise - walking, off road cycling, swimming. The first two I enjoy being out in the fresh air in pleasant places away from people, the third I enjoy as love the feeling of being in the water. Nothing to do with endorphins as far as I'm aware.

I'm running at the moment to try and retain some fitness over lockdown, I get a moment of pleasure just before home as I'm so glad it's just about over but I'm not sure it's endorphins.

I don't get endorphins.
I used to do a lot of fitness, when I was a soldier. We'd get to the end of the session and I could see that everyone else was buzzing and I was sweaty, hungry and achey. Oh how I jealously hated them in that moment.

This is really interesting. I have never really linked it to the intensity before!

With yoga, I think I felt great after then maybe because i just really enjoy it? So I think I do (or did..) get a 'feel good' hit from it, whether a fast sweaty class or whether a slow meditative class. Intensity doesn't seem to matter here.

But sounds like that's very different from the endorphins you hear people talking about from going for a run or whatever? From pushing yourself really hard?

Seems like I've been confused all along

But then, as lots of people pointing out, they definitely don't get any endorphins from the intense pushing themselves.

It depends. I'm a dog walker so I'm reasonably fit anyway, but I do feel a lot happier/satisfied after a long day of walks as opposed to just an hour or so.

Before lockdown I regularly did 4-5 hour days and I was always happy (and tired) afterwards.

But sounds like that's very different from the endorphins you hear people talking about from going for a run or whatever? From pushing yourself really hard?

@AbsentmindedWoman, yes that’s how it is for me. Yoga can make me feel really mellow and calm afterwards, which is lovely and something I definitely need as I am quite tense a lot of the time 😆

Bodypump, Bodycombat or heavy weightlifting in the gym can give me an actual ‘high’ though. A thrill/buzz. I’m not sure I would feel it the same way if it weren’t for the pumping music though.

I don't get a high from exercise. I've been doing high intensity stuff for years, and now have a Peloton and spin 3/4 times a week and still don't get a high.

I also find running really, really stressful and am baffled as to how anyone finds it relaxing/a good time to clear their head. It just caused every anxiety and embarrassing moment in my life to pile into my head at once.

I view working out as a necessary evil.

Also seems that music plays a part in some people finding the endorphin rush. Fascinating, and does make sense.

I also find running really, really stressful and am baffled as to how anyone finds it relaxing/a good time to clear their head. It just caused every anxiety and embarrassing moment in my life to pile into my head at once.

I don't know, when I used to run (never more than a couple of miles, and slow) it took every ounce of effort to make my legs keep going so I definitely couldn't think of anything else.

Sounds like you were running effortlessly if your mind was able to wander off and torment you with past memories Agree not relaxing though!