Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Does anyone not get endorphins from exercise?

155 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 07/03/2021 21:49

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?

OP posts:
SkeletonSkins · 08/03/2021 18:31

This is so so interesting. I’ve been beating myself because of how much I absolutely hate doing HIIT and similar things, wondering what’s wrong with me. Because I absolutely don’t get any joy out of it other than thank god that’s done for another couple of days. I honestly thought people were lying about enjoying it...

dementedma · 08/03/2021 18:42

I have done C25K several times, being assured by running friends I would get the buzz. Hated every second of it and stopped immediately after the race. I just feel sick after exercise and relieved its over.

Peterbear · 08/03/2021 18:45

Glad it's not just me.i generally feel pissed off and grumpy after exercising. 😔

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Exercise & fitness
waterlego · 08/03/2021 19:12

Skeleton HIIT is the devil’s exercise. I do it but I hate it. Lifting heavy weights is fun though!

ShonkyCat · 08/03/2021 19:23

I go running and I don't always get an endorphin rush but I am always happier after a run.
That might just be a feeling of self-satisfaction though and the joy of being outside.

An early morning run before I've eaten anything is much more likely to be a positive experience than running later in the day.

I definitely get a rush from any sort of intense dance-exercise.

goose1964 · 08/03/2021 19:30

It causes me pain but I'm trying to slowly increase it

ouchmyfeet · 08/03/2021 21:14

Feel like I have found my people. No endorphins for me, I think they're a myth!

dotdashdashdash · 08/03/2021 22:13

@Boph

Never had endorphins or any kind of pleasure from exercise. I loathe it and do it dutifully because it's supposed to be good for me.
Yep. This.

It does not lift my mood, I do not feel good before during or after. I don't enjoy it and I don't get endorphins. And I've been doing it long enough to know they won't come!

SkeletonSkins · 08/03/2021 22:34

Ah see @waterlego unfortunately I hate weights/resistance stuff too!! I do it because it’s good for me but I don’t enjoy it much, better than HIIT though! I loveeeee to swim though, can’t wait for pools to open.

Hotcuppatea · 08/03/2021 22:37

I get massive highs after running, but that's it. I enjoy walking and cycling and team sports, but I only really get the noticeable happy feelz after a run.

MrDarcysMa · 08/03/2021 22:43

I feel the same op. I used to do a type of exercise before lockdown that was very intense and gruelling and you had to go to another headspace. Then I felt amazing afterwards.
Going for a walk, especially alone - doesn't do that for me and I can't switch off and just want to get home tbh.

midsomermurderess · 08/03/2021 22:47

There a building society ad running at the moment, a man running saying how he hates it, he only liked the sauna at the gym, he'll take the bus there after lockdown. That's me and exercise.

OhWhyNot · 08/03/2021 23:46

No and never have

I feel good after a bike ride or long walk but think that so do with fresh air ans maybe the scenery or people I’m with

But exercise in a gym no never it’s misery

waterlego · 08/03/2021 23:50

Ah Skeleton, not too much longer now till you can get swimming again 🙂

BoomBoomsCousin · 09/03/2021 06:12

When I was young I used to get a bit of a high from team sports. I don't get it from other exercise. When I was running and swimming a lot I got a lot of satisfaction from being really fit, but the actual exercise was not a high. It could be sort of relaxing if I concentrated on the rhythm of it, so good stress relief, but it was still just hard work, no high.

WouldBeGood · 09/03/2021 06:27

Yes from exercise like a class or a weights session.

No from a walk.

muppette · 09/03/2021 07:04

You only get them if you do it strong enough.

muppette · 09/03/2021 07:05

Sorry - just seen lots of you don't get this.

Well, I get a massive high from it. So am lucky it seems? Thx as hadn't realised! Thought it felt the same for all!

Whirlwind14 · 09/03/2021 07:10

Me! I loathe it and try to make up excuses not to do it. I’m currently signed up to a weekly HIIT zoom and it’s loathsome. Yes, I’m unfit but there’s nothing pleasant about it, even if I was fit. Ugh!!!!

dotdashdashdash · 09/03/2021 07:48

muppette

I do 5 hiit sessions a week, with weights. I was doing cross fit previously. And I still don't get them. I don't think it's because I'm not working hard enough.

Etulosba · 09/03/2021 09:53

Thought it felt the same for all!

I must admit that I have always been baffled by people who love exercise. Why, just why?

Now I know why.

CrayonInThreeBits · 09/03/2021 11:53

@Etulosba

Thought it felt the same for all!

I must admit that I have always been baffled by people who love exercise. Why, just why?

Now I know why.

Drug addicts all Grin
whatswithtodaytoday · 09/03/2021 12:01

Nope, never. I've gone through phases of running a lot, or doing classes regularly, or going to the gym frequently, but I've never experienced endorphins. I do quite enjoy doing exercise though, it's not like I hate it.

I'm also not competitive at all - couldn't care less whether I win or lose a game, lack the ability to care whether I run faster one day than the next. So what? As soon as I stop doing it I lose condition and then it's a slog to get back into it again.

Collidascope · 09/03/2021 13:23

@JovialNickname

It's counterintuitive, but in my experience that happens when you don't exercise at a high enough intensity, or for long enough. (Non sports or exercise person here.)

Recently I tried to start running and began doing a slow run for 10 minutes, then home. I hated every second of the run, and then at home I felt irritated and angry, and like I was bouncing off the walls. I finally realised I wasn't running for long enough - as actually endorphins and the "feeling good" rush happen after 10 minutes of hard slog. I was doing the difficult bit then giving up when I would have felt the rewards! It feels counterintuitive but you have to exercise harder, for a bit longer. If you're doing (unwittingly) half-arsed exercise or only for a short period it won't happen.

I'm with you on this. I generally run or cycle for an hour a day. The first 10-15 minutes is inevitably awful. I'm quite fit but that first chunk always feel slightly like I might be dying. Then I settle into it and it feels good.
Etulosba · 09/03/2021 14:37

I'm also not competitive at all - couldn't care less whether I win or lose a game

Same here. An attitude that never went down well when forced to participate in team sports at school.

I spent my school days devising ways of avoiding sport at all costs.