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Original poster

Does anyone else not get an endorphin rush after excercise

47 replies

Lolacat1234 · 01/04/2023 09:36

I get a good feeling of accomplishment after exercise, I'm glad I did it. But I have never had that "high" rush of endorphins that people talk about. I do a mix of cardio and strength training 6 days a week. Anyone else? I've never been a huge fan of exercising but I'm in my mid 30s now and it's not as easy to eat what I want and stay slim so it's a needs must situation and I have finally found a type of exercise that I like so that makes it easier to do, but I would love to finish a workout and feel that rush that people talk about.

OP posts:
Tanaqui · 01/04/2023 09:56

I usually do from cardio, particularly with music, eg body attack, energetic zumba; but not from weights. But apparently it depends on how your body produces canabinoids, I read about it thr other day but can't remember where, sorry!

CatOnTheChair · 01/04/2023 10:07

Nope. Excerise is an evil to get through to allow for chocolate consumption!

tregunamekoidestrecorumsatisdee · 01/04/2023 10:26

No I have never once experienced this even when I was younger and much fitter and went to the gym every day.

Pixiedust1234 · 01/04/2023 10:30

No never. I would probably exercise (more) if I did, but I hate it.

Knickerthief1 · 01/04/2023 10:30

I am overweight and for the most part am not keen on exercise but try. A few years back I'd been exercising for 3 or 4 years straight and I started getting the rush! I actually looked forward to the harder sessions because I'd get it. Then I had an accident and had to stop for a while and now I dislike exercise! I think it's something that starts at a point of being very fit.

OccultGnuNew · 01/04/2023 10:37

I think the nearest I've ever got to the endorphins is the post exercise "thank god that's over with" feeling

littleredcrab · 01/04/2023 10:42

I never have done, hate every minute and feel so drained afterwards I often have a nap. I really struggle to do any form of exercise except walking to where I need to go and swimming and I'm pretty bad at swimming as try as I might I can't do the breathing.
I've done the get up and put work out stuff on and just end up sitting in my gym gear reading, staring into space or just going for a walk with my headphones in because running is so awful.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 01/04/2023 10:44

OccultGnuNew · 01/04/2023 10:37

I think the nearest I've ever got to the endorphins is the post exercise "thank god that's over with" feeling

Ditto. Even a feeling of accomplishment would be great, but I don't get that either. Mostly I just feel relieved and knackered.

Yoga is the only thing where I get a feeling of accomplishment. And going out on my bike (I hesitate to call it cycling, it's more pottering-with-a-bike) has been known to bring me joy.

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 01/04/2023 10:45

No. Not until I'm fit enough to do the thing without pain, and that's a long way off.

Tietheapron · 01/04/2023 10:47

OccultGnuNew · 01/04/2023 10:37

I think the nearest I've ever got to the endorphins is the post exercise "thank god that's over with" feeling

Same, I just don’t enjoy it much. I do feel better when I’ve done it because it is good for me but I never want to do it.

I used to think it was a myth but it isn’t, I know. But it is not true for everybody.

35965a · 01/04/2023 10:48

I definitely don’t. I enjoy lifting weights just because I like to see improvement but definitely don’t get this ‘high’ you often hear about.

TiredandLate · 01/04/2023 10:50

Nope. DP said this to me the other night after I dragged myself to the gym "do you not feel great after?!" No 😂I'm sweaty and tired and only burned off the equivalent of one piece of toast, I'm grumpy.

RedRosie · 01/04/2023 10:53

I just get an urge for crumpets. With lashings of butter.

IglesiasPiggl · 01/04/2023 10:56

I used to when I was younger. I'm in my late 40s now, and I would describe it as feeling more energised as opposed to a "high" as such. As in, I feel like I have more energy to tackle the day where I might otherwise feel a bit flat.

megletthesecond · 01/04/2023 10:56

No rush here. Regardless of whether it's running, weights, HIIT.
Just a "well that's the heart attack delayed by a bit longer" feeling. It's like flossing teeth, dull but worth it in the long term.

Fatkittythinkitty · 01/04/2023 11:03

I only get it with running. Never get it with weights or any type of other cardio or class

littleredcrab · 01/04/2023 11:07

megletthesecond · 01/04/2023 10:56

No rush here. Regardless of whether it's running, weights, HIIT.
Just a "well that's the heart attack delayed by a bit longer" feeling. It's like flossing teeth, dull but worth it in the long term.

I'll happily floss my teeth because I like the feeling afterwards.
Exercise is boring, I feel like shit afterwards and with the misery of knowing you have do it again the next day but achier.

Original poster
Lolacat1234 · 01/04/2023 11:15

Glad I am not the only one! I've just read it might be genetic! My parents were always sporty at school but it must have slipped a generation with me as I always hated PE, never did extra curricular sports and have only taken up regular exercise in the last few years as I feel I must to stay healthy and look the way I want to!

OP posts:
Orangeradiorabbit · 01/04/2023 12:09

So strange, I thought everyone got it, but it looks like getting the "rush" is a minority feeling.

I'm not fit and I hate working out, I only get that feeling if I kill myself during a super intense session. I don't get it with weights or light cardio, but I've recently started following a spinning class on YouTube, which leaves me dripping with sweat and swearing my way through- after I finish I get jelly legs and need to lie down on the floor. I get the endorphin hit around half way through, this comes after the point when I think I can't carry on anymore, but I push through by shouting swear words 🤣 I feel like Rocky after he ran up those steps and the high lasts a while.

PinkFootstool · 01/04/2023 12:12

Same. Over the years I've done daily 5k runs for months, a few 10k runs, the Great South Run, daily gym routines, classes from Pilates to Boxercise, proper boxing training, baseball, hockey, rugby, cricket..... Never ever had an endorphin high. Not once.

FrankColumbo · 01/04/2023 12:14

I get it, from all exercise really, some more than others. The more intense the exercise the bigger the high.
I didn't realise not everyone did until I read this.
Maybe if you're really fit (unlike me) it takes more exertion to trigger it or something??

Kanaloa · 01/04/2023 12:15

I definitely feel a sort of relief that it’s finished, plus I feel pleased with myself that I’ve been productive. But I don’t feel a ‘rush.’ I just feel like I do when I’ve done the big shop. ‘Oh good, that’s done.’

tvbed · 01/04/2023 12:16

Never understood what people meant by a high after exercise. Even when regularly exercising i just feel mildly relieved it's done and I can justify not doing any tomorrow.
I'm ND so I think my brain works differently from the 'norm anyway and this is one of those many differences.

Kanaloa · 01/04/2023 12:17

FrankColumbo · 01/04/2023 12:14

I get it, from all exercise really, some more than others. The more intense the exercise the bigger the high.
I didn't realise not everyone did until I read this.
Maybe if you're really fit (unlike me) it takes more exertion to trigger it or something??

Yes that must be it! I will be very pleased with myself, I’m just so fit that endorphins don’t affect me anymore 😂

I always think it’s because I’m so UNfit! That I just can’t access the endorphins and maybe if I could run a bit faster I’d get them!

MrsSkylerWhite · 01/04/2023 12:17

Me too. Years in, no rush, just the occasional ache or pain.

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