Aibu to never feel the endorphin high after exercise that others talk about?

[FarmerBrian]

I never feel good about exercise. I feel shit doing it and I don't feel any 'high' afterwards, never have done. I just feel knackered & done-in for the rest of the day. I've tried spinning, rowing & swimming.

I get it after a challenging sweaty workout, but it only started once I got fitter. So I had to push through the unpleasant bit to get there.

I've had it twice, once after an 1.5 hour flow yoga class and once after a 10km race. I have been to many many yoga classes since then but never happened again.

@PlanDeRaccordement

It’s the exact same physiologically as the high women get after natural, complication free childbirth....for anyone struggling to think what it feels like.

I have never had this either with exercise or childbirth. Just pain, exhaustion and relief when it stops.

The recent thread was really reassuring in that it made clear that not everyone gets it, those who don't aren't just 'doing it wrong'.

The people who do were shocked that anyone would bother if they weren't getting that hit.

The rest of us know we just have to slog on tediously, because otherwise we'll lose condition and mobility. Instead for feeling good, we have to feel virtuous!

I get it with some exercise, not all. I need to like properly sweat and push myself to a limit to get it.

It still doesn't work with all exercise

I’ve never experienced it after a single bout of exercise use in any memorable way.

I think it’s a cumulative thing.

I don't think i get it, but i love working out and feeling good after. The post workout shower is amazing! And I'm grumpy if I miss a day. So maybe I do. 🤔

@Chanjer

I only get it from sport I enjoy, never from something I'm making myself do, which just feels like work

This!

I get t from swimming 40-50 lengths, or from going for a sturdy 3-4 mile walk, or a 5 or 6 mile bike ride. I also get it after playing badminton, tennis, ping pong, or rounders...

I do enjoy all of the above though.

If it's something I dislike/find boring/don't enjoy, I don't get 'the buzz.'

Weird really!

I'm not sure I get this either. I run a lot and am always glad I've done it but I don't feel a noticeable high. I'm the other way. Get fretful if I miss a day. As a PP said, the shower after is the best bit!

I've not walked my dog this afternoon as we were out for two hours this morning and I feel like I need to go out.

I sometimes get it and sometimes don't. I also feel something like bursts of joy with things I love doing like trampolining or swimming.

Either way, exercise overall makes me feel better so I'm sticking to it.

@ThursdayLastWeek

I’ve never experienced it after a single bout of exercise use in any memorable way.

I think it’s a cumulative thing.

Yes it's the same for me. If I've done 5 fitness classes that week then I feel great, but it's a gentle, background feeling of wellness, definitely not the 'just dropped an E' feeling other people seem to get.

I also only started getting it once I got to a certain fitness level. Before that it was just hard.

I nearly always get it after an intense dance aerobics session but not with lower impact exercise.

No - I don't get any high/sense of achievement from pushing myself physically, which makes it really hard to bother. I went from being rubbish at swimming to pretty good, but no matter how much further I went or better I was than the last time, I never felt proud or pleased beyond rationally knowing that it was a good thing to do for health reasons. And I enjoy swimming! With exercise I don't like it's even worse - I resent having done it. Wish I could change it!

To be honest though I kind of feel like that about everything - I put less value on things I really have to work at than on those that come easily.

Nope, me neither.

However, I do acknowledge I’m generally happier when I do exercise regularly and I sleep better. But I have to do that for about a week/10 days to start feeling better and keep that up. So I don’t get the immediate buzz that pushes me to do it again but I do accept regular exercise generally helps with my mood and outlook.

I'm the same. I've never experienced it. I have exercised hard, socially, extensively and done activities I've really enjoyed. But never anything that can be considered a "high".

I get a proper buzz from cold water swimming, without the tedium of having to exercise!

I don't know whether I would call it a 'high' as such but i do enjoy intense exercise.
I get more of a rush when in competitions but that makes me feel sick with nerves beforehand which is dreadful.

I've never experienced it either, even though I quite enjoy moderate exercise.

I think it's psychological personally, like people who say they feel all radiant and full of energy on an organic vegan diet.

@Gingernaut

YANBU

After exercise, I feel like crap.

Swimming, zumba, aerobics, LBTs, circuit training, long distance walking, personal trainers - I've tried. I really have tried.

It fucking hurts, leaves my throat raw from breathing and I'm left hot, red in the face and sweating.

I absolutely agree with this! People say "you just haven't found your thing yet!" but my god I've tried everything... I've just had to accept that not everyone gets that high (and I greatly envy those that do!).

I don't know about it being psychological. It happens to me when I don't expect it sometimes. Likewise a new diet genuinely HAS given me radiant amounts of energy

But then maybe if I'd never experienced it I'd think it was bollocks too. I guess we'll never know for sure?

When I was in my 20's I used to run. I did my best thinking when I was running. I found it relaxing. Afterwards I felt great, elated, glowing and energized. I think that was the high. I was in great shape and suffered no pain or exhaustion from exercise back then. Now I'm old (late 60's) and crippled, climbing the stairs is like climbing the North Face of Everest. Certainly now highs involved.

For me it has to do with heart rate. I get it when i go for a run and really push it.
When im finished im going back and forth between “i feel amazing” and “i think im gonna throw up”
Fitness classes and strength training doesnt give me that feeling. Except that one bootcamp i did once with a crazy instructor. There i did throw up at the end though

I've always assume everyone got it!

I suppose that might partially explain why training is addictive to some, but not others.

I get it after long runs or very tough HIIT training or cycling. It's a strange hyper rush of happiness and energy.

I also get a relaxing feeling after weight training, yoga or pilates, but it's different.

YADNBU.

Exercise is just exhausting and I always felt it made my day that very much little bit worse when we had to PE. So, OP you are seriously not being unreasonable at all. If anything, you are being extremely sensible.