I can imagine people having fun getting lost in the flow of playing a competitive sport. I’ve also heard some people experience a post-workout high. But does anyone actually feel pleasure in the moment while lifting weights, jogging, cycling, etc?
If so… what does it feel like? Is there anything the rest of us can do to cultivate such a mindset?
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Yeah for sure. Somedays no, but once you make it part of your routine it gets alot easier to enjoy. I usually listen to podcasts or music to keep my mind more active though and that helps alot, because then you are not thinking solely of the physical exertion on my body.
No. It’s always a pain the ass. I love how it makes me feel though.
I have a little limitation on my leg because of a work accident, so every time I exercise it makes me feel “normal”, like a boost of confidence despite the limitation, I even feel happier when I’m tired, like I needed to expel that extra energy out of me.
I’d rather hang upside down under water and smack my face with fast moving rocks than work out in a gym
Cuz I kinda do that
I have a love hate relationship with it. I absolutely love it when I’m consistent with it. When I fall off the wagon, I hate trying to get back into it. Its hard and I could easily just go and do anything else.
I’ve found that the hurdle is actually starting and motivating yourself to go do it…after though, I feel great for doing it.
For me it’s not the workout, but the feeling of accomplishment after pushing the limits of body and the burning sensation in muscles.
No - not really. I don’t hate it either tho. It’s going to the gym that’s the hardest part. Being there is fine.
I’ve been riding a bike almost every day since 2009. I’ve been hit by 7 cars, been partially disabled by the last 2, but also went from 350lbs to 190lbs, raced, rode a bike to my first full time job at a bike shop for 2 years riding 66 miles round trip, then lead out the group ride for the shop most Saturdays to make it a century ride. I can barely walk now but still hit 26 miles on the bike most days. It is the only time I’m still kinda normal. Many bad days when I’m physically doing terrible, riding is my whole day and helps get be back in shape. Today was one of those days after feeding a cat caused something to fail in my back last night.
I tried the gym, jogging, and other junk before. I just had to find my thing. I’m a hardcore roadie.
Aside from the fact that you are literally developing yourself, I really enjoy doing fitness because it doesn’t have any flow or competitiveness to it.
I’m someone who constantly thinks of projects and side projects and things to do and improve, but I’ve seen that when I am doing weight lifting, my mind is completely there and empty of all the worries
I enjoy being in a roll with a good gym schedule, seeing the progress, and the sense of having put the work in.
Otherwise it really depends on the exercise for me : I dislike those that make it hard to breathe. But leg presses, and bicep curls alfeel empowering.
Yes. It’s my meditation moment. I don’t have to think about anything other than my posture and movement. I just put on the music I like and go. It also helps relieve tension and frustration when something bad happens during your day. And I feel great afterwards. That post-workout high is real.
I’m walking every street in my (very large) suburb (think Southern California) and picking up litter while doing so. I track my progress with an app and map it to a website (citystrides.com) that fills in each neighborhood as I go.
It started as something to do during Covid–although I took a year off in there, somewhere. I listen to podcasts while I go. So I’m out of the house (I’m retired now–that helps), get some “fresh” air (🤷♂️ )–all while listening to and from and about interesting people. As a bonus, the space I’ve passed thru that day is a little “better” for me having been there.
I apparently have a dose of “completeism”–a compulsion to ‘complete’ something thoroughly. There’s something psychologically very satisfying about watching that map get filled in.
This is amazing, you’re amazing, keep up the great work. That map is beautiful.
That’s very thorough. You should also take photos along your walks, you’re definitely stumbling upon interesting things and people.
The de-littering aspect takes up a surprising amount of mental cpu cycles. You’re constantly scanning the environment for detritus. I DO photograph interesting or quirky things as I encounter them–when I notice the–but that doesn’t seem to be the primary focus of each walk. Plus, the Valley isn’t known for it’s stunning architecture. 😜
(The wealthier parts of the Valley–in the hills south of Ventura Blvd, for example–there are a lot of really interesting (and gaudy and ridiculous-looking) homes. There is also a LOT less trash, so it can be a more aesthetic experience. I like doing those neighborhoods early on Sunday mornings when everything is quiet and there is almost no traffic.)
I’ve encountered a gentlemen online that is walking different areas of the greater L.A. area and taking many interesting photos–but it’s hard to de-trash AND photograph and get thru the planned route in a timely manner.
Yeah, I totally understand! It just really resonates with the idea of street photography, which is a lot of walking, a lot of looking, and a lot of appreciation of the little things, the little moments or visual accents that happen in daily life. You’re welcome to join in [email protected] to check out what I’m talking about.
What software do you use to track your walks and map them out so thoroughly?
There are several apps that I can use–but I most often it’s the “Walk” app on a Garmin Vivoactive 4 smartwatch – which then syncs with the CityStrides website.
And I totally get street photography–which is really rewarding too. I call it being in “Photographer Mind”–where I literally interact with the world differently: a much more visual orientation–which can be very meditative and relaxing. I love it!
Thanks for the information and the discussion! I’ll definitely check the website out. I used to just manually map Google’s My Maps, but it got tedious.
That’s how I started!! I still manually map each walk (which IS kind of a chore) on gmap-pedometer and My Maps (Google). I’m kinda afraid to stop–just incase something goes sideways with CityStrides! 😏
Cities in the US look so tidy with the way streets are laid down. Here’s where I stopped mapping out my routes:
I compete in powerlifting and it’s a lot of fun. You just need a good goal and you’ll end up loving the process of getting there.
It’s delayed gratification.
I hate working out. It feels like shit. It hurts. It takes time. It’s not fun.
But this is so much better than looking like shit.
I’m weight deficient for a man. Had to deal with a lot of comments from not being a real man to bring viewed like a cartoon character to some women.
Every time I want to stop a set early or not workout that night, I hear all the haters and I run back to my routine.
I do it for them. And it works.
