Ever bitten into a spicy pepper and enjoyed the burn? That’s what it feels like! Different strokes for different folks, but for me, every drop of sweat is a medal of honor. It’s tough to describe, but it’s about the journey of getting stronger, faster, better. Embrace the grind, my friend, and you might just find that elusive gym rat bliss.

No. Never. I think I'm very different because I am never motivated, nor feel good during/after exercise. No, my testosterone is fine.

I am not a fan of other workouts but I LOVE cycling. Wind in my face, sightseeing, ability to push harder or just cruise to catch my breath makes it really enjoyable IMO.

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.

https://i.imgur.com/GoNzZgP.png

It’s type 2 fun. You don’t want to do it, but you’re glad you did when you do

I like running, I had a knee injury and I miss running so much. I really have to make myself do weights though.

Wow, this thread has been really eye opening. As someone who completely hates exercise (I honestly can't imagine many other things that are more unpleasant), it had never really occurred to me that people exercised because they genuinely enjoyed it. I always just assumed that everyone else hated it and just forced themselves into it.

Lifting is ok, going TO the gym sucks.

I've always had sporty hobbies so at least I'm somewhat in shape. Over the years I did karate, parkour, bouldering, football, volleyball, and ive been deeeep onto hema for a long time now.

I just love having an activity that is basically "playing" but very physical. Even when i feel like I'm not progressing, I'm still having a good time and get to completely exhaust myself once a week.

I used to. Lifting weights helped me in many aspects of my life. Particularly in regards to making goals and seeing them through. It was difficult to get into but once I started seeing results (pretty quickly) the gym became my second home for years. And then my daughter got sick and I got depressed and now it's been 5 years and god I miss it but just haven't been able to get back

Number go up, weight get heavier, me happy.

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 feel pleasure while my bicycle. The feeling is a mixture of childhood play and feelgood brain chemicals.

I like to go fast :)

Climbing is the first time I had fun working out - the problem solving aspect of it is fantastic, and no route is the same. I even started training specifically to be come better at it. Now the trick is to not get injured when you get too psyched

Yep. Especially after the training it’s like “yeah man I did it”.

Also, it’s all about consistency. Perfectionism is the enemy of consistency. Don’t be a perfectionist. Just be consistent and soon you’ll see results.

Like I see some people who just started working out and do as many push-ups or any other excercise with as many reps as they possibly can and after they’re exhausted.

That’s wrong. These people think that if you don’t do 100 pushups first day you’re a failure.

No, do even one push up. It’s more that 0. Then do 2, then 5, then 10, then 5 again coz you don’t feel like it today.

Like don’t starve for perfectionism. Just be consistent and you’ll actually get to enjoy working out. It’s a great way to clear your mind, have a healthy body, build muscles, better body chemistry and less diseases etc. Be consistent, not perfect. And avoid guys who make you feel you’re not doing enough. These guys will make you feel like every exercise should be perfect or with the highest reps possible or smth.

For me its like playing Diablo. Only that im leveling my own character instead of an imaginary character (but love Diablo too!)

The repetitiveness would have me get bored instantly... Have you tried bouldering? Every route is different, you have to figure out how to move, which muscles to activate etc..., so you stick to the boulder (wall) and dont fall off. It is so much more rewarding because you not only do a physical activity but also analyse and solve a problem. Might not feel like this for the very beginner problems but definitely later one, once your technique backpack gets a bit bigger. Can highly recommend.

Apparently I'm in the minority here but I love working out. Specifically powerlifting. Cardio is ok after the fact but I don't particularly enjoy it during, but lifting heavy is a huge stress relief and something I look forward to daily.

I love riding my bike on the weekends and if my commute wasn't 1.5 hours each way, I'd go to the gym pretty often.

I make workout my me time: my music, my time, my body.

Viewing working out as something that is good for me instead of a chore also does help. Concentrating on my body, really feeling the muscles contract is kind of a meditation to me.

Riding my bike for long rides? Absolutely love it.

Slinging weights in the gym and sweating my ass off on an elliptical machine? Hate every second. But I listen to audio books in the gym, and that makes it much more enjoyable. Im envious of people who actually enjoy the gym lol.

I very much like how I feel after the gym, and overall when Im active which is why I keep going back.

I don't. I think post workout endorphins are a myth spread to make maintenance on our meat mechs seem more palatable. I "like" to swim, in so much as the water continuously washes the sweat off while I work out.

I like the feeling when I'm working very hard. Whether that's lifting weights, hiking, mountains, or just moving heavy things I generally enjoy that feeling of exertion.

In terms of you starting to enjoy it, the only suggestion that I would make is that the only way through is forward and keep it going until it becomes enjoyable for you. That might sound counterintuitive but ultimately little in life that's easy is worthwhile and the effort that you'll put in will be rewarding.

Running is meditative for me and without it I feel horribly depressed. I get in the zone and am able to work through so many different emotions that I can't otherwise access when I'm not running. The workout itself isn't super enjoyable, but the runner's high and the rest of my day are so much better if I get my run in.

No. I just like how I feel afterwards.

EDIT: Wait... I do enjoy cycling and jogging. I just don't enjoy working out athe gym. For jogging I enjoy listening to music and having my heart pump harder for an hour. For cycling I enjoy the scenery.

I do. I do it every day, at a public gym/pool. It was originally a way to maintain or regain "ability" (don't call it "fitness", I'm still old and fat). After a while, you start feeling better, and some time after that, start noticing things are getting worse if you don't do it.

For me, doing something fun, out of the house with others, helps a lot. Spin class, circuit training, water aerobics, having others around doing the same thing is motivating. I worked with a trainer for a while, they helped come up with things I like, for example, one of my favorites is tossing a medicine ball. Don't ask me why, but I like that.

If you don't enjoy it, try something else.

When you pump large amounts of iron in rapid succession at the gym, it makes you feel unstoppable, like you could take on the world. It's an absolutely wonderful feeling to have, and I think it can be chalked up to the testosterone boost. The way to cultivate this mindset is

1. Simply work out. The body releases the "unstoppable" chemical when you do Chad shit.
2. Have more faith in your own capabilities. This will naturally happen if you surround yourself with positive reinforcement and if you do step 1.

I feel like if you feel like you need to cultivate a mindset for a particular activity, you are probably better off finding another activity. Unless you have extremely specific goals that really demand a particular exercise, it is better to simply be moderately active doing something you enjoy doing.

I've tried running/jogging, I am actually not bad at it. I freaking hate actually doing it though, I would rather be doing almost anything else. Which makes it a terrible exercise for me to do, because I will find any excuse to not do it. Same for lifting weights. I enjoy swimming but dislike public pools, in my current country nobody has private pools, even the rich.

For me I have always enjoyed martial arts, particularly sparring. I can't necessarily find people to do that with regularly where I live now, but I can still practice forms and the like by myself. I get a not insignificant workout from regular Beat Saber sessions too, honestly.

I hate working out because it's super boring. Like just standing there, not moving and just lifting weights.... Or running in a circle on a track... Or even cycling with no where to go. It all seems pointless. However lately I have been rock climbing, specifically bouldering. It's everything I want in working out. Problem solving, working my body in weird ways, and it's very acceptable to socialize while you do it. After, my body is screaming at me, but I had a great time so it's good!

I've been going to the gym 2-4 times per week for about a year now. It's a massive chore every single time and I don't enjoy doing it but I do it for health benefits.

I walk, a lot. Everywhere. Always have done.

It keeps me nice and slim, and is my way of dealing with stress and any thoughts I may have swishing around in my head. I live in an area that allows me to walk anywhere I want (ie. not America) and I don't need a car at all, luckily.

And I do push it a bit. I walked 36km which is around 21 miles on Sunday, and 32km on Saturday. My legs were starting to hurt like hell nearing the end of it but I always keep going. It feels good to push past what I thought was my limit and keep going. I don't think there's any real conscious thought behind it, it's just how I am. And as I'm in the office today, I'll be walking there and back too (5 miles each way), no bother at all.

Running and weight lifting though? Not my thing. Too much rushing around for the former and not enough moving around for the latter!

Edit: realised my conversion to miles is off. It's early. Turns out according to Google maps I walked 21 miles Sunday...! Took just under 5 hours. And I did get a bit sunburnt, but otherwise fine as usual

Cardio is awesome, the runners high is real, but you have to be well conditioned so it's tough for beginners.

Sometimes, I also like to do workouts because it makes me feel productive while not being as mentally taxing as my 'job' of being a full time college student :/

I dislike it, so I joined a gym with a social aspect to it which keeps me accountable. And I love how I look now that I work out a lot, being comfortable shirtless in public like at a pool or beach and feeling confident in my body combined with the social aspect is enough to not mind dreading the workouts.

There’s a certain immensely satisfying feeling I get during weightlifting or cardio knowing that it’s one of the single most productive/beneficial things I could be doing for my life in that moment

I enjoy the simplicity of weightlifting. Make sure your form is good, count reps, count sets, take note of the weight lifted. All of that keeps my mind occupied for 2h, no room for it to wander into topics I'd rather not think about atm.

I also find some measure of joy out of knowing I'm lifting more today than I was last week, it's simple and measurable progress. No room for subjective bias, unlike other things I'm trying to improve upon.

It also has the added benefit of tiring me out. GAD and ADHD make for horrible bedfellows, they've made nights sleepless for me more often than not, so I'll take any help I can get.

Edit: otoh, I hate cardio with a passion. Its boring and does nothing but make me sweat and lets my mind wander. I've tried everything, from music, to audiobooks, to podcasts. Plus, I feel like I run loudly, like my feet are made of lead, and I don't like being loud.

I don’t enjoy motivating myself to go workout. Everything up until the point of the actual workout isn’t enjoyable. But the workout and post-workout I do enjoy. There is a high associated with it. And that feeling of accomplishment, and visible progress is extremely enjoyable.

The only advice I can give is to give it adequate time. It’s easy to get discouraged. Just keep this in mind: You spent a lot of time doing damage to your body, you’re going to need to put in some effort to reverse that damage. Give it some time before getting discouraged.

I have a blast playing Beat Saber every day 🤷

I just played this map like half an hour ago:

https://replay.beatleader.xyz/?scoreId=7902656

Note: I'm 45 and blind in one eye yet I still enjoy this game so much that I've lost 15 lbs and have vastly more stamina than I used to 👍

I only cycle once in a while and it feels amazing when the wind rushes through my hair and I zoom through the city.

Lifting: I definitely don't like while I'm doing it.

Riding my bike though: it's great to get out there early in the morning and explore, see nature, etc. with the bike, I also just like the feeling of speed, so the physical act of riding can actually be enjoyable.

To a lesser degree, the same can apply to running. I find that when I've been in better shape, I could experience that runner's high.

I hate being in a gym, all those people around, not being able to see outside, stationary...yuck.

I picked up cycling and try and ride my bike frequently. I used to be much more into it, but that was also as a stoner kid and it was a great way to get out some energy before work and calm down after work.

Now it's more of an effort but I like to reward myself with a beer and some food. I try to ride about 14 miles every other day. It takes an hour or two at my pace but I can spend that time thinking, listening to music or a podcast. It can be really meditative and it feels good to have my muscles tired.

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.

So I've found there's two different 'pleasure' experiences:

One is during the workout where you disassociate and just feel your muscles working. In running this is usually called a "runner's high", and in weightlifting it's typically refered to "lifting heavy thing make me happy" / "Big rock make sad voices go away"

Then there's the after-workout where you just feel your muscle exhausted as you relax and it's extremely satisfying. You know you're getting stronger and the workout will be easier next time.

Both of these feelings take a few weeks to start, you'll have to get results from your workout and then your mind and body will start rewarding you with dopamine for doing a good job. (Although some days working out still sucks ass though and is both tiring and a chore, that part doesn't go away it's just easier to ignore).

I'm addicted to my bike, I love riding on my bike and its super addicting to go fast and almost getting hit by cars.

I've tried for years to go to the gym regularly. I despise going to the gym. Putting on workout clothes, mindlessly trudging on a treadmill or whatnot before slogging through a bunch of machines then shower and going home. I loathe the idea of sacrificing 1+ hour of my precious free time just to feel miserable and accomplishing fuck all... Everyone claiming "just stick with it and you'll start to enjoy it" lies. There's no other way to say this. Lies. If you love it, good for you, but it definitely isn't a universal thing.

Walks around town I do kinda enjoy but not enough to make me want to do it. But point me someplace new or nice to hike and I'm off to the races. I love being out in nature, taking in the sights and I don't care whatsoever if I need to work for it.

The last few weeks I've also started to go swimming with my girlfriend. I've not been a fan of swimming as a child and basically never did it anymore since then. So I'm pathetic at it but to my huge surprise I do quite like it.

So my recommendation to you is: try loads of different things. Chances are you'll like doing certain things way more than others. Ideally you'll find something you love. Or at least you should be able to find something you don't hate.

For me it’s about making it a routine and part of your daily life. I started out with 3 days a week lifting and now do 3 days lifting and 3 days cardio. I find it’s easier to stick to and enjoy if it’s something I do everyday. The other thing I’ve noticed is you really need to pay attention to nutrition and sleep too. Working out is a lot easier/ more enjoyable if you are providing your body with the nutrients it needs and getting enough sleep. If you just eat junk food you’re going to feel like junk when you workout

It takes some time to build a routine, getting to that point requires effort. Once you're comfortable and know your limits I personally get a lot of satisfaction from pushing my body to get faster, stronger, more agile and so on. You might feel exhausted but you know you can keep going and your body will respond.

Together with all other health benefits you get from it makes you feel good about yourself after a workout which translates to better confidence, mood and more.

.

As I get older, I enjoy it more. It's a reminder that I'm not as old a bastard as I feel some days, and I know the benefits are real, noticeable, and literally life changing. And at that moment I'm the youngest I'll ever be for the rest of my life, so it's a good time to do it.

Maybe I don't love the specific moment that my muscles are on fire but perspective keeps me happy while doing it

I enjoy it in that I find it helps me disconnect from work. Not even consciously, I just find after running for 40 minutes any lingering mental hangover from my office job are gone. It's similar to what happens when doing volunteering or community work.

I've always found myself having trouble getting to work out if I didn't have some sort of tangible goal to achieve in the process. Like with walking, I need a destination to reach, like maybe going to pick up lunch or groceries. Same for other forms of body work outs, I've found vr games can be handy for giving me something to get lost in while still working out, like this one squatting game called hotsquats, or some of those rhythm games

Just doing a treadmill while staring at a tv doesn't keep my brain as engaged.

I don't have fun at all - when I work out just to "work out," anyway. Then I have to think about it sort of like physical medicine. I do it cause it's good for me.

But if I can find a way to get the heart pumping that's primarily about doing an activity, with fitness just being secondary, I have a lot more fun. I recently got into boxing for fitness because kneee trouble was making high-impact cardio painful. Love it. Training becomes something to look forward to because boxing is fun rather than metaphorical castor oil that I swallow down because I need to.

Sometimes I’m loving the workout and feel like I’d be able to workout for hours on end and other times it’s not as enjoyable and I just want to get it over with.

But what I do enjoy is being able to see myself progress. Looking at progress pictures over the months/years and seeing growth, as well as being able to lift more than I ever have before. It never fails to make me happy.

I only enjoy it after I'm done with it. Never before or during the workout. I still do it, just it's pulling teeth everyday.

I figured out for myself that I need to have a goal when working out.

Instead of aimlessly running on a treadmill, I'd rather go cycling to some nice place with a view.

Instead of lifting weights a number of times, I rather climb up a wall and challenge myself mentally in addition to physically.

I love running, but running is the worst when you haven't run for a while. After a few weeks when your body is into it it feels amazing and I am craving to get out there. I do mostly trail running so for me it's an opportunity to get out in the nature, a break from work and kids and just be by myself and enjoy the moment

I'm a podcast listener, can't do music.. Wish I could but It makes workouts drag for me.

But I absolutely love mt biking. I'm not good or fast, but it's zen for me.

No and I never liked it. I tried going to the gym for a while to lose weight but I felt horrible afterwards and during the excersice and the actual Impact on my obesity was quite minimal (probably my fault as I‘m sure I didn’t do everything right). So i stoped going eventually. I know started walking more, I don’t take the bus from the train station home anymore and rather walk the 3.5km with some nice podcast oj my ears. I like doing it, even atvthe current temperatures as I feel like a get 45 minutes just for me where I don’t have to listen to anyone or anything other than my podcasts I enjoy. I work ij Retail so there’s a constant barrage of people and at the end of the day you just don’t want to see people for a while. So while it does help my weight loss it also just feels kinda therapeutic in a way. I just crossed 120kg (down from 136) this morning and plan to try to extend my walks to my days of as well :-)

For me it was a process of finding a certain sport that does that for me. Try out as many sports that you can. I hate running. I find cycling ok. I love climbing. Sometimes I like lifting. Music and enough sleep make a huge difference for me, I hate working out when I am tired.

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No, I hate it. I listen to podcasts while working out. It's the only thing that makes it bearable.

I hate exercise for the sake of it. I'd gladly ride my bike all day, but put me on an exercise bike for ten minutes and I'm bored out of my skull.

Unrelated: I'm really fat.

I lift 3x a week. I do it because it helps my mental health a lot and I feel good afterwards. The high is real but you gotta push yourself pretty hard to get it.

As for starting, start small. Maybe start with a half hour walk every day. Then make it longer. Then replace the long walk with a short run. Then longer runs. Then maybe you want to try something else that's a little tougher and you start lifting weights. That's what happened to me.

But you gotta stay on schedule. That's the hard part. It's really easy to get complacent and stop.

It varies for me. Some days I’m like “I get to work out! 😄”

And other days are closer to

“I have to work out 😣”

But I like the progress I’ve made, I’m even starting to see shadow under my ribs. I always feel better after the workout though, and it makes me feel like the relaxation time I typically do after is earned.

You have to do it long enough to where it becomes a habit. Once you hit that point, you won't feel as good mentally and physically when you don't work out. It took over three years for the habit to come about with me, but now I work out 6 day's a week and appreciate it. I also enjoy the changes it's made in body.

Yes, I feel pleasure when lifting weights. It's good to feel powerful, and it's good to feel like I'm getting stronger. I also get pleasure from knowing I can do it and that I'm dedicated and can keep up the routine. So I suppose it's mostly mental pleasure, but physically having that feeling of power is great at the very least.

It takes a while. A long while. But once you develop a habit, a day will feel empty without your routine exercise, and doing it will feel real good.

The important thing is to find what works for you and do that. I bounced off many gym programs and could not keep up with them. Then I hurt my leg and decided to talk to a physical therapist. He developed a program for me that's easy to stick to, yet challenging enough.

Not everyone's into jogging and lifting. Look and ask around. Good luck!

I like the way I feel after a workout. That's enough motivation for me to do cardio and lift.

I certainly do. Sometimes I have to get over the hump to actually GO to the gym on workout days but I've never once (well, okay, one workout I had one time after going regularly for years did leave me unsatisfied - I will admit that) finished up a workout and been like "what a goddamn waste of time and energy".

I recently started and I fucking hate it. I need a 'reason' like playing a sport. So for now my motivation is my daughter. So I can keep up with her. And I'm going to try join the local soccer club next year as a carrot on a stick to aim for.

The feel of your muscles tightening. It sure makes you feel that you're doing something great and you're achieving something good.

Thats how I feel.

Lifting weights is fun and feels pleasurable. Cardio feels like I'm trying to get somewhere but I'll never arrive. It's frustrating. I think it's because I have ADHD and, well, most monotonous activities are hella hard to keep up for any period of time. Doesn't help that I've been off my meds for a year since developing high blood pressure.

For cardio, I've tried different things to trick myself into doing it. Some worked better than others. I used to do long and hard warmups before lifting weights. Of course it had a negative effect on the weightlifting itself, but it was good for my health. To increase effort, I just added 5 minutes each session. Started off cycling 15 minutes at a leisurely pace on the stationary bike, and towards the end I was doing 45 at a much harder pace. Watching the average power climb up each week was fun, it was like a game to me. And the weightlifting at the end of it was the reward to make my monkeybrain accept the annoyance that is cardio.

Of course, then I had surgery (nothing major, a scheduled quality of life surgery, septoplasty to be specific, but I was told to lay off any exercise for 2+ weeks) and then a month later I injured myself. So now it's been over a year again. Not because my injury was very serious, but because it's incredibly hard to start, maintain, or re-start healthy habits with ADHD. Incredibly easy to start, maintain and re-start bad ones though -.-

Another thing is, pick a podcast (preferably something funny or informative, not depressing), put it on, and go on a walk. Not the same as running, but on a physical activity for your health scale, if being sedentary is 0% and running is 100%, walking is at least 80% if you ask me. Way closer to running than to doing nothing.

I understand the last bit is difficult for people living in unwalkable cities, but for those who can do it, it feels way better than most other forms of exercise, because you're getting dosed with happy hormones while you're walking thanks to the podcast.

I am a bit surprised about the diversity of opinions. For me, well organized muscle movement, both cardio and weightlifting, is quite enjoyable simply physiologically. Plus other things like resting the mind, enjoying the scenere, etc.

I genuinely enjoy it. Especially cardio. Running cycling, doesn't matter. I almost always love the feelint

I did a few of those things, jogging, cycling, lifting weights. I rotated between them because I actually didn’t like any of it in the long term. I did some if these indoors (fitness center) and outdoors, in small fitness centers and large ones. The longest streak was about 3 years of intensive cycling outdoors.

In the end I started climbing / bouldering and stuck with it. The mental component is far more engaging.

I get the natural endorphins "runner's high." Music sound beautiful and all is well. And the cardiovascular exercise is good for me.

I do light workouts at home, and it's honestly a hassle, but I enjoy the benefits of it (especially walking just to take my mind off of things). So I kinda just suck it up lol. I'm still working towards making it a habit (if not already), so what I do is also watch videos during sessions.

I find that being active along with having a balanced diet makes me feel energized throughout the day, and also make me sleep better at night.

I also look forward to cheat days. I work hard and in return, reward myself with something good. Whenever I find myself feeling lazy, I try my best to push through with it. Feels kinda bad to skip tbh so I try to make it up the following day.

Yes, I love it. I feel that enjoying it comes with a few factors: knowing what you're doing is correct and maximizing each workout, and a shift in mindset that the "dread" of it doesn't actually have to be dread, which takes time to shift your head into as you get familiar. Of course, there are days where I'd rather not go, but showing up for the ritual is what matters, at that point. To get the post-workout high, you have to push yourself adequately to feel it. It doesn't have to be equal intensity of it afterward every single time, but it's a good sign that you've worked out really well.

If you mean in a gym? I hate the gym and am one of the people that only likes the effects.

If you mean outdoors, like cycling or running or hiking, then oh yeah! It’s fun to lose yourself in the action: it’s meditative as the physical action is repetitive and it allows you to just take in your scenery and let your mind wander freely.

Ive made the argument for years that working out in the gym is by far the worst possible way to work it. Its just so boring and depressing and take sup your limited time.

Why would I spend an hour at the gym working out when I can play football with freinds, or go to a skate park or go mountain biking, or even just go for a run through a park? Its like trying to learn something by just doing math problems over and over again instead of working through actual problems.

It depends on the workout for me. When I'm in shape of course, if I'm not in shape then it's hell.

Running 4-6km is very neutral, nothing special

Running 6-10km is kinda enjoyable

Running 10-15km feels really good for some reason

Then everything above 15km is hell (I only ever ran a half marathon at once)

I find running a bit like meditation, or I just let my mind wander wherever. I can't really put to words the experience, but I would definitely describe it as enjoyable. Especially in winter, I absolutely love it when the cold bites my skin as I start running, and then when you warm up you don't feel it anymore.

I enjoy a nice bike ride.

I enjoy lifting, especially very heavy weights that are near a single weight. I also enjoy a lot of the Crossfit type of workouts that we do. It's just me against the old me mentally. I'm doing shit in my late 40s that I couldn't imagine doing when I was 20.

Most days it just has me in a good mental state where I'm enjoying life and pushing myself. There's just something to enjoy about doing things that you think you can't

Fuck no

I don’t really enjoy these activities on their own, but I do enjoy some activities that I can do in conjunction. Listening to music or podcasts can be done at the same time as almost any workout. If you are working out at home, you could even watch tv or something. I enjoy being able to play a game or browse the web on my phone if I’m using a stationary bike. Basically what makes it tolerable for me is what I can do at the same time.

I enjoy working out. I look at it as “me time”, listening to a podcast, doing sets. Also the community at my local gym is great - nice people.

I had to drag myself out of the house for strength training once a week at first. It took a while but I actually started enjoying it to the point that I go to the gym almost every day now. I think it helps a lot that the gym is like a 2 minute walk though.

Anything where the scenery moves, yes I am enjoying it whether I'm riding, biking, hiking, inline skating, trail running, etc. I think part of what works for me is I almost never repeat the same route twice and if I feel myself getting burnt out on one activity I switch it up and do something else. Too much road biking? Go mountain biking? Too much of any kind of biking. Go trail running or inline skating, or at least go for a hike.

But weights and gym stuff? No. Just no, I cannot.

Is there anything the rest of us can do to cultivate such a mindset?

For cardio it's basically "go slow". The main source of discomfort is the exertion.
An easy long run with good music is quite meditative and enjoyable.
When your legs hurt and you're wheezing your lungs out, not so much.

Working out is about discipline, not pleasure imo. I’m sure there are some folks who really enjoy working out, but for most of the general public, it’s about sticking to a routine and seeing yourself improve, regardless of how it makes you feel

For me Brazilian jiu Jitsu got me in great shape and the grind of it helped me get into hard workouts too. I don’t enjoy lifting or doing cardio but I love the after reward. Jiu jitsu definitely helped me know I could push past what I thought was a limit.

I love CrossFit, but I'm not culty about it. I don't really care for the community aspect of it, and in fact, I prefer to go during "open gym" instead of normal classes.

But I like it because someone else sets the workout, it's different every day, and every movement is scalable to my needs. Add on to the fact that I'm seeing noticeable progress in my strength, conditioning, and physique, and sometimes I do actually enjoy the work in the moment.

I also enjoy running because I'm one of those weirdos.

It becomes enjoyable when you are fit. When you are not, your body will hate you, until you are fit enough.

I find gyms insufferably boring.

I play an intense competitive sport which burns easily 5000 calories a week, keep a reasonable diet, and do stretches/cooldowns according to my Dr and physio. Then at home I do a pretty basic routine of squats, push-ups, sit-ups, and stretch band exercises. I don't smoke and barely drink anymore either.

I'm 38 and that keeps me in great physical condition, healthy weight, nice muscle tone; plus I'm energetic, and mostly injury free. I've also noticed I'm aging significantly better than my stagnant friends and colleagues.

Find a sport you enjoy and go all in on that.

I enjoy it but different people prefer different types of exercise and sometimes try the wrong one for them then give up. Some people really do love cardio, some feel amazing when they lift weights and get stronger, some prefer a group class or sport. If you're doing something solo though I HIGHLY recommend adding in music or an audiobook or podcast, especially if you're feeling like it isn't for you. That can help if you're getting bored. Then, switch it up. If you didn't like the elliptical, try a weight lifting session. If the weights weren't your cup of tea, try a yoga class or a free yoga video if you just want to try it at home without so much expense and commitment.

I used to hate lifting. Now I look at it like a meditation, and look forward to it (mostly) every day.

It for sure takes time to reach a point of fitness where exercise feels good. Starting out totally untrained is really tough, and most people don't stick with it long enough for exercise to feel good.

It's also helpful to find something you like or think is cool in the first place. Many people fall off the workout grind because they think it's mandatory for them to suffer through steady state cardio for an hour or insert thing that you in particular don't like.

For me, powerlifting was the perfect balance of measurable, incremental progress, plus there's time between sets to get focused for the next one. I literally can't do steady state cardio without wanting to blow my brains out, but lifting weights and being strong? Yes please. With how I feel outside of the gym because of it? I'm in this shit for life.

It's similar to brushing your teeth. You know you have to do it and feel bad if you missed it. For the last 2 years and a half it became a habit for me, I have to go every 2 to 3 days, but no I still don't see it as a source of pleasure. Instead, I'm relieved once it's done.

This is one of the reasons why working out in VR with games such as Beatsaber and Ragnarock impacted my health quite positively. Workout is no longer an inner battle trying to fight myself, but a very enjoyable hour of my day(but it’s important to move ASAP to both games’ higher difficulties!). Have been doing it for almost two years and it doesn’t get old. I’m also quite musical, so that might have a lot to do with the enjoyment.

Usually, but there's a lot of hard days. My main motivator is that I know I will always feel great after exercise. When I've done the regular gym sessions and jogging, I feel like I have the energy to do all the things I want and my brain feels 20% smarter. I've seen that some other people seem to function without exercise just fine, I don't understand how. But I can't...

I mainly do just gym and jogging. Jogging is the easy one for me. I usually feel instantly good when I start my run and the barrier to go is low: keep running gear at hand and just go out of the door. There's hardly ever any pain or unpleasantness. I've done this so long that my body sort of runs on its own. Or that's what it feels like.

Gym is harder. I've got some random pains in my muscles from doing it. Some pain is completely normal of course but I don't really enjoy pushing my body when it hurts or if there's a fear of some real injury. But it can be very pleasurable and motivating as well. On a good day, I feel strong and lifting feels good without pain. And there's progress also.

Anyway I'm quite excited about current progress at the gym. I genuinely feel better and more energized than before.

But answers to question about how to feel good: Jogging: go regularly for 20+ years and it will feel nice almost all the time... Gym (weight lifting): i would like to know this myself, it seems there are some good days but a lot of bad days as well

I cycle for adventure and experience, it's also why I prefer gravel and offroad cycling to road. That gravel crunch in the forest, smell of the trees, sound of birds and absolutely no traffic is pure bliss. Ok sure there is some suffering during climbs, but the feeling of accomplishment when you finally get on top and the descent that follow are worth it.

I join one gravel competition a year, but I go for the event, not to actually compete. I like riding with one friend, on paths where we can ride side by side and chat, and I don't see a point in group road rides where you just stare at the butt of the rider in front of you the entire ride.

In general I experience joy the entire bike ride, it's like my therapy, a couple of hours without a phone, outside, just me and silence. I guess the fitness that comes with it is good too.

I do classes, 1hr of body combat to go hard and then it's done. The music, instructors and feeding off the energy of the ppl around you make it enjoyable.

I like mountain biking. Every other type of exercise can shove it.

Does swimming, yoga, biking and gardening count as exercise, or are we strictly taking about big muscle workout?

It's dependent on how my day was and the music/podcast I'm listening to. If both are good, I can enjoy my workout with a better mindset. If not, I just remind myself that my body will thank me later on and I generally have a better attitude after working out regardless.

Yes! I've had to fight like hell to enjoy working out. It's taken years. But now I deeply enjoy it. It kind of feels like competetive sports - it's just really cool to see how far you can push your body, and to see it grow and get stronger over time.

I had to start by just getting into really basic routines doing things I wouldn't hate. Little jogs, light weights, etc. Eventually you stop dreading going to work out. As you get stronger it gets easier and more enjoyable.

Listen to music and https://youtu.be/j0B7bzP-Gog

When I lifted a lot, seeing the progress I was making in terms of increased squat, deadlift, etc was pretty motivating. Picking 350 pounds up off the ground feels pretty good too.

for me, yes, when cycling. its a form of meditation to me and you can always back off if it gets too hard or exhausting. im working on my climbing now which is definitly challenging me but its also good for building that mental fortitude of 'head down, just peddle dont think'. its done wonders for me mentally, as well as physically

I really enjoy it when I have something I'm aiming for. The accomplishment of hitting a new PR (1 rep max of otherwise) gives me a major dopamine hit. It's going to be different for everyone though, I dispise cardio even though I do it for example. I usually have to trick myself to enjoy it like turning on a TV show or podcast or audiobook I'm really interested in. Recently the Pre-work out Ive been using has had a major positive impact in my mood as well. Not just because of the addition energy but I almost feel euphoric during my whole session.

I love it. I was a fat kid, lost a ton of weight at 30. Got really into biking which gave me strong legs but made me look like an alien. So I started lifting weights to balance that out (and improve my biking). I also started running without any break-in period because my bike fitness carried over to running well enough.

Now I love all three sports for their own sake. I have gone through phases focusing on each one and have developed training methodologies for each. I especially love biking in the summer, lifting in fall and spring, and running in the snow.

The key as I understand it is to set goals and start small, work your way into it. Also go slower on cardio; learn what zone 2 is and spend 80% of your time there. It is better to be slow and enjoy it than go too fast, burn out, and suffer.

Lifting weights feels like a routine. As someone else said, there is purity on watching your body work, looking at your form, and pushing for PRs. I highly recommend Wendel's 5-3-1 program.

Biking is very freeing, you can go anywhere with enough time. Very calming, in your head time.

Running is shorter and more intense, even at an easy pace I don't usually want to go more than an hour. But it also feels good for the rest of the day, and there is something charming about getting all sweaty from doing awesome things.

Yes. I wholly enjoy working out these days. The noise @ 6am irritates my neighbors like their smoke irritates my lungs @ 12am.

Yeah, but no.

I've been lifting weights daily since I was 15, and I'm 33 now. I enjoy it in that it makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something more than I would be if I just sat on my ass at home. It feels good to push yourself physically and 'feel the burn' and work up a sweat. Humans were meant to use their bodies and if you don't there's a very good chance that that is the reason you feel like shit all the time.

But also no because I find weight training to be exceptionally boring. This is easily mitigated though because once you have the flow of your workout solidly built into your head, it's simple enough that you can turn your brain off and focus on the podcast you're listening to. 30-50 minutes will pass by in a flash.

I still have days where I dread my workout, and I have to really push myself to complete them. Generally, if I go straight home from work and sit on my couch, I will not get back up.

I love cycling, although I would say it's a combination of travel + physical activity that does it for me. I can also listen to some stuff in the background while cycling, which satisfies my ADHD monkey brain, because it's two (or three) experiences crammed into one time slot (efficiency!).

Pleasure for me comes from achievement. The time I first ran 5k in under 30 minutes, or the first time I deadlifted more than my own bodyweight. Achieving these things gives you that nice feeling. Yeah, there are people who can run faster or lift heavier, but I try and concentrate on my progress - doesn't always work but I know deep down I'm getting better at the things I choose to do.

For its own sake, no. Unless I happen to be doing something I intrinsically enjoy that happens to give me exercise, I hate it every time. I need some really motivating tunes otherwise, and they wear out fast after a few listens.

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.

I do genuinely enjoy cycling yeah, at least if it's outside. In general though I hate working out (and don't do it nearly enough as a result), but I do actually like the feeling afterwards

I walked on the treadmill today. It was nice. No pressure to go fast or do any prescribed workout. I put in my earbuds, had a video playing off to the side, and went at my own speed. First time I’d done that kind of thing in a long while, and it was nice. Got a whole mile in. I don’t know if that’s the appeal exercising has for everyone else, but that’s it for me.

I go to the gym 6 days a week if I can and the term we use is "Secondary fun"

It is fun to think about doing it, it feels great once you're finished and your heart rate drops back down. But it sucks mid workout.

I definitely do. My dumb-dumb brain doesn't really get the whole neurotransmitter thing, but as stingy as it is with dopamine and nor-adrenaline, as generous it is with endorphins. Oh, you're 5 minutes into your cardio warm-up of your hour long work-out? Enjoy this heap of endorphins for the next 2 hours. I feel good, it's extremely meditative because thoughts are just on pause, I love getting stronger and more in shape, and I always go in the sauna at the end of my work-out which is a huge motivator before going and makes it all even better at the end. I always walk out of the gym completely zen and satisfied.

If you don't get such an easy endorphin rush, I don't know what to do. I can imagine it would suck in that case.

Started hitting the gym for about 4 months now, what has helped me a lot is getting a personal trainer, he helps me push past the last 5%, and it gives me someone to talk to between reps. And while I don't necessarily get pleasure in the moment while lifting weights, I do get it afterwards, when feeling my muscles burn. And it does wonders for my energy levels and my general mood.

I also started running a month ago, I promised someone I will participate in a 10k in October with them. This is definitely more on the "existence is pain" side, but while doing it I try to focus more on my form and breathing, and less on how it makes me feel.

Yeah sometimes. I know that even if I did nothing in a day, if I go work out I feel like I did something.

It also feels good to get a personal record on a machine or at an exercise.

It also feels great to get a good pump in.

After a workout you feel satisfied and tired and it's great!

Also seeing your strength and stamina go up in everyday tasks is satisfying.

My advice is start slow. Even if it's a light day and you're kind of miserable, you still feel good about getting it done. Try to convince yourself to go for a week, and go easy, very easy. Like just get any amount of exercise done. It'll become easier and easier to go to the gym and to do exercises. And you'll find that you'll start to like some of them.

You might like how it stretches a muscle or tendon that is always a little tight. Back extensions feel AMAZING

You might like how strong certain exercises feel

You might like how the extra muscle alleviates pains you've had in the past

You might like how much definition a certain exercise gives you.

You might even just become proud of how good you can do an exercise. I used to have that. "Yeah I'm not bad at working out, but crunches? I'll beat anyone"

it's fun sometimes to bring a friend along and compete a little as well. You can also motivate each other to keep going.

Yes, I now love taking exercise in most ways but I came to it quite late. Today for instance, as training for a sprint triathlon I've decided to to, I ran to the swimming pool, swam the required distance and then ran back. It felt great to be able to do it. Some bits of my body were sore but not in a bad way, just a reflection of the fact that I worked hard and accomplished something if not done before, it feels great.

For me there is no greater endorphin rush than listening to some really good bassey music and really pushing myself on a cardio machine

Rum & bass + rowing machine really got the adrenaline going for me, was actually comparable to being high for a period of time

Lifting weights is different but feels very good to see yourself in the mirror lifting something heavier than you've ever done before and you get addicted to chasing that feeling

I think part of the mindset is getting yourself to embrace the physical punishment and actively seek it out, couldn't tell you exactly how to do that but for me a lot of the time knowing it's going to be difficult will get me more excited now

I climb , so it’s fun and not really a chore at all. If anything I’m disappointed when my skin gives out and I have to give it a break.

These people addicted to running tho... 👀

IDK how they do it. I hate running. I have had extended periods in my life where I exercised 6 times a week, but I never enjoyed it.

Yes, of course. But if you don't enjoy it, you don't have to do it, or don't have to do it at the level you're attempting. There are 1000 ways to be fit and healthy, you don't have to pick 2 and do them forever. Experiment.

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.

Yeah, it's very relaxing stress release. I spend a lot of my day looking forward to my lifting between 10-11pm and thinking about what accessory work I'll be able to get to do after my main lifts.

You can listen to podcasts, nobody is coming to ask you to do something and demand your attention, there's no other chores to do during that hour.

It's addicting too, feeds the same itch from video games leveling up, grinding in Diablo for that piece of loot that raises one stat by like 2% you get hungry for those little boosts and they stack up over time and you keep trying to optimize your loadout so you can squeeze out a little more performance from the build, same thing with lifting and trying to keep pushing to the next increase.

Yes! I love it. It's almost a meditative experience for me, kind of like when you're in the shower alone with your thoughts. Also, since I've been regularly working out for a couple of years now, I'm at a point where if I don't work out, then I start feeling like shit.

Is there anything the rest of us can do to cultivate such a mindset?

Idk, but I definitely did not like it at the start. I just sucked it up and pushed through, making sure I did it on a regular basis. Eventually, it stopped feeling like a chore and started feeling like a part of my routine, like brushing my teeth in the morning or showering in the evening.

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.

I am in a gym at this very moment. No I do not.

Do I enjoy my workout? Fuck no! I do it because I want to keep my body in shape and healthy. But I do experience some pleasure. During my warmup jog, I hate myself for putting myself through this, but later when I'm lifting weights, I feel like I'm somehow doing something good by lifting something so heavy. And afterwards, I feel very elated, free and awake. So it's a net positive even if the process is near torture sometimes.

YES.

And it seems I'm in the minority as well. I enjoy my workout during, but I think it's mostly psychological. This is doing either weights or cardio. For weights, the pump is key, and addictive, which is not specifically psychological.

I think the psychological part has something to do with the accomplishment of getting the workout in, and looking forward to the feeling or "high" afterwards which is noticeable to me.

Also regular workouts make me feel better generally throughout the week, on a regular basis. Very noticeable if I stop for weeks at a time, and I miss it.

When I'm running, yes I do. When I'm doing any other form of exercise? Not really.

But I really love feeling fit

I didn't enjoy it at first, but seeing progress in my weightlifting encouraged me a ton. Eventually I did start enjoying the actual workout, and if I skip a day it feels like something is missing.

Ive been lifting for about 4 years, it took 6-12 months for me to start enjoying the process.

I do. Something in my monkey brain just likes lifting heavy shit.

Depends on the exercise. My favorites are heavy squat and deadlifts. It's just a good feeling increasing the weight every week and hitting new maxes while getting stronger.

I suck at bench so I'm never looking forward to that, but I've set goals to hit by the end of the year so I'm sticking to it.

Honestly now, I feel terrible when I don't workout and it really affects my mental state.

I'm at a point where sometimes I don't want to go lift, but it's part of my routine that if I don't go I feel like shit. a chore to go, change and warm up but 20min in I just fall in the zone

I hate it during the workout but I love the feeling after. Problem for me is getting started

I hate cardio, so that's what I do. Weird thing, but I figured if I hate something it's the thing I need to work on. Besides, it seems like cardio is the thing that helps you lose weight the fastest.

No. It's always a pain the ass. I love how it makes me feel though.

I love lifting weight. I squat three to four times a week and I love going heavy. I also love bench and deadlifts also. Seeing my body get stronger is also rewarding, and just being physically capable is a great bonus. Helps counter act my sitting!

Having had both great and terrible work out days, I found what led to the good, enjoyable days was purely the mindset. HIIT on a stationary bike sucks, but I had some fun sessions when I turned it into a game. Weight lifting routines can be super boring, but changing from rep based to time based and seeing if you can crank out a few more reps without sacrificing form can make it fun.

It takes a lot to get into that mindset for me, but it's possible and it makes a world of difference. Gamification of any task can introduce a challenge and give oneself a better purpose in the moment.

I personally enjoy cycling because my environment is calm and has low traffic with several bike paths. It's a zen feeling for me in short.

I did cross fit for a few years and actually got in shape. I genuinely enjoyed working once I got in shape. You almost get addicted to the feeling if your heart rate being maxed out while sweating buckets.

Gods! I used to! I had to stop the kinds of exercise I loved post disability, and the fucking physical therapy shit I can still do isn't enjoyable, it's just so damn dull and doesn't give the same feeling of satisfaction, despite hurting so much more.

But I would work out up to three hours a day when I had time. Calisthenics, strength training, martial arts (unarmed, plus various weapons), break falls and air rolls (an offshoot of the martial arts).

It was fun, and I could feel the benefits of it, and I miss the ability to tell my body what to do, and it just does it.

But yeah, I not only enjoyed the workout itself, and the benefits, but I even enjoyed the ache and burn of it. It was fulfilling on so many levels.

Cycling, yes. Running, not so much because my calves tend to seize up and it gets a little painful but I can see how it could be enjoyable.

Climbing is absolutely amazing!

Lifting weights… I tried. I find it exceedingly boring, and it never felt like I actually worked out, even when I was pushing hard.

For the past year my workout has simply been roller skating. And yes, it is joyous every time!

Cycling, definitely. It's just fun to do.

Of course you can be pushing hard or some jackass in a car just passed you with inches to spare, and those times aren't fun, but most of the time it's fun. My wife says I do my best thinking while I'm riding. If I'm on a group ride, there's often good conversation with friends.

I do enjoy lifting weights but I can tell it's because I've been sitting at a desk all day. I think I'd hate it if I had any other job.

Pleasure from Dopamine release happens after a painful stimulus ends, so it's not exactly pleasure, but I do find running and cycling enjoyable. Nice time to be in my thoughts, see some natural beauty, feel the sun and wind on my skin, earn a feeling of accomplishment, etc

Yup, I look forward to and enjoy the heck out of my workouts. I go to an indoor rock climbing gym and enjoy every minute on the wall. What's the trick to that mindset? Find something you enjoy. I hate running. I kinda like cycling. And don't really care for weightlifting or other general "workouts". But, dang do I like climbing.

The best workout you can do is the one you will actually do. Find one you like and that's much easier.

I used to enjoy aerobics classes when I was younger. Now that I'm old, after my morning chores, I put out 4 big puzzle mat squares and do those old moves (low-impact so I don't have to put on a bra or shoes) for 30 minutes or more while my phone plays 135 bpm music and the TV plays Midsomer Murders on silent with closed captions. At 135 bpm, even high-marching in place is aerobic, and adding kicks and punches and dance moves is easy and better for the joints. No choreography, just 8 of something and switch, so I can follow the murder plot. I don't have to change out of PJs or go anywhere or let anyone but the cat see me sweat. Afterwards I stagger into a cooling shower and come out to catch the murderer. I DON'T enjoy working out, and I DON'T get a high from having done it. But I can go to bed at night without doing guilty leg lifts and crunches in bed and waking up my spouse. So I try to do it daily.

It's kind of hard to describe really

It's like you're lost in the movements, you're caught in the flow, the strain is no longer a struggle, you just flow, you move and it moves.

Your reps go on, your sets flow together, the down time ceases being a factor, you're there.

The presence of mind and body, you are there, you are now, you move.

Numbers mean nothing but you know when the reps are done, the exercises flow together.

Someone could call your name and you wouldn't know it as it's not in your mind.

There's only the movement, there's only the flow.

There is no you, there is no weights, there is no other, there is only movement and flow.

And when it's over you know it, yet feel like you could go a second time through the whole affair. And sometimes I do and then I feel Godly for the whole day and sometimes the next.

And the sleep quality that night is beyond description.

I've hit that state many times doing calisthenics (my typical workout), when out biking, and when out hiking. It's always the same really.

Hour long calisthenics routine? What's a second hour really?

20 mile bike ride? I could go another round, why not snag some dinner from that food cart I got lunch at?

15 mile hike? Well tonight's going to be even better with all the stars, what's a second trip around the mountain?

You don't get there immediately, you won't get there every time, but when you do it's bliss.

For those that has natural build for body building, sure, it might be fun. Not everyone is built to lift weights.

For me, it's the feeling of knowing that I can do something that I know for a fact I wouldn't have been able to do before. I've been lifting dumbbells since January and one thing that I've loved about doing so is feeling my arms exert effort without being tired, at least for awhile. Focusing on that is one of the highlights of my day.

And it translates to my everyday life too! Whenever I lift something heavy, I surprise myself when the part of my body that holds me back is something else completely, my arms don't complain at all.

Back at February, my uncle gave us an elliptical that no one uses at his house. I've been using that 15 minutes a day, and about 2 weeks into doing that routine, I've noticed that my stamina has become noticably better. The one change that stuck out to me the most is that I can run up the stairs at my school without needing to gasp for air. Imagine that, a big fat guy being able to run up and down three storeys without wheezing a sound like that of a creaky door. No way I could have done that a month prior.

I don't know how well you or the other folks here can relate to that, but to me, it's what makes me continue my routine even if I don't end up losing as much weight as I'd like, nor looking for fit as most would assume from doing this type of stuff.

Pardon for the little story I've typed up, just felt passionate at the moment and really wanted to get my thoughts out. and just to clarify, I havent gone to the gym so my workout is only composed of just me, what I've got in my house and some advice that I've heard from friends, family, and tidbits I read off the internet.

I think there's some people who do but the vast majority of people don't. I mean, if we look statistically, people do very little intentional exercise unless they have to and despite repeated instructions to do more exercise from the government, media, doctors, the amount of people doing exercise hasn't really changed. In fact, it's gotten worse. Compare that to other hobbies or just watching TV or playing video games.

Also regarding exercise highs, clearly some people do get it but there is an extremely strange insistence that everyone can get it if they try and there's not a lot of evidence for this. The majority of studies done on exercise highs are with already fit people who exercised regularly on their own. (And even then some studies had a hard time getting the effect to show up) Comparatively fewer studies are done on unfit, overweight and or obese people to see if they're getting exercise highs at all.

Personally I think that trying to get people to enjoy exercise is setting them up for disappointment. Most people don't like it, that's why they don't do it. I find most of my workouts neutral. A bit like doing a boring assignment at work. I think that's the best way for people to look at it. Imo the key is not to hate it. If you hate what you're doing, definitely change to something else. But if you're consistent and just feel meh about it, I don't think there's any reason to chase some mythical awesome exercise that'll totally make you love working out especially if you already have non physical hobbies you like.

I personally don't unless it's an interactive activity. Examples are rock climbing, swimming, badminton and tennis. Otherwise, workouts feel boring.

For me it's not the workout, but the feeling of accomplishment after pushing the limits of body and the burning sensation in muscles.

I enjoy reformers pilates a lot, but that's because of the deep stretching worked into the routine. It's a game changer. If I could, I'd be doing it every day.

I fucking hate cardio with the passion of 190 million burning suns. However, I have experienced a runners high before. You get a bit lightheaded and dizzy, but not so much that you pass out. It just feels good. However, not good enough to get me up off my ass and do it, lol.

Yes, I do actually enjoy working out. I am a sotfware developer, but at the end of the work day, I am tired of developing, I am tired of computers, and I just want to go outside. Both cycling and hiking is my therapy and I clear my head when I do it. I like fresh air, nature and views from mountains. Also, I feel really happy when I finish working out, because I know I did something for myself. But it was not always like that. It was hard from the start, but step after step, it became easier and easier for me. Don't start with too long walks/hikes/rides. Starts with smaller ones, and every few days add more and more. Start with 1km walk for example. Next week add maybe 0,5km more. Next week maybe add some hill or something. Just don't overdo it. And find some motivation to do it. Do you like nature? Go walking into nature. Do you like dogs? Get a dog and go walking with a dog.

How did I start hiking and why? When I was hiking with my friends, I was always last, and I couldn't keep up with my friends. Also, it was really hard for me. I was also overweight. So I had to do something about myself. I started walking, but with short walks. Really short ones (like 0,5km only). But every few walks I added more and more. Now I can do really long walks and hikes without any problem.

How did I start cycling and why? Well that's another story. I really liked one girl, and she was cyclist. I was thinking it would be easier for me to hang out with her if I also start cycling. I would also have something to talk about with her. So I started cycling and cycling and cycling. Of course I was also talking with her, showing my results, etc. She was really big motivation for me. Unfortunately, it didn't work out with her, we went on a lot of dates, but eventually, we stopped dating. But at the end of the day, she helped me becoming good cyclist and now I can do really long rides, without any problem.

So, moral of the story: I think the main key here is motivation. Find something that will motivate you. And it doesn't need to be about walking or hiking or cycling. It can be totally different. This worked for me, but something else will work for some other people.

It’s a few things. It’s the positive feedback loop of seeing and feeling yourself get bigger and stronger. It’s the rush of good chemicals/hormones/whatever the body releases. It’s the feeling/thought that there is nothing you could be doing that could be more beneficial for your health, and knowing the knock-on effects that has for you long term. Its the pump.

Depends. In the past when life was easier, a little more yes. Now that life has become more complicated with responsibilities it's different. I still enjoy a bit of time away from everything but sometimes it's exhausting to manage it all. I wouldn't stop though.

Yes, I love running. I also go hiking and do body weight exercises.

To answer your question, the only way to cultivate the habit is to start something and sticking to some plan. I know it’s easy so say but it’s the only thing that works.

I do follow some runners on Instagram and YouTube for motivation.

I've been an athlete since a child so in some weird way I guess I've been raised to just enjoy the discomfort of working out because I know the reward is tenfold of whatever discomfort I'm feeling while working out. So basically don't raise sedentary kids, give them a love of working out so they can live a healthy and happy life.

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.

I absolutely love lifting heavy shit and I can't imagine my life without it at this point. The feeling you get when hitting a new PR is incredible. Knowing that you actually pushed yourself feels great to me.

The rest period are also weirdly meditative for me.

I always dread doing it but once I've started and after I've finished yes

Recently bought a rowing machine, gotta say I enjoy taking my frustrations from the day and putting that energy into rowing.

I started working out at a park nearby in the morning. I kinda hate it on the moment, but I reward myself for the last 15 minutes or so, with some creativity.
Freestyle dance (??!), kicking around, doing the cartwheel, random moves. All the while listening to old school hip hop and pretending I'm a hot shot, haha.
Those last minutes are amazing.

It’s worth pointing out that you don’t need to go overboard with exercise. A brisk 20-minute morning walk and a few minutes of body-weight exercises (push ups, squats) is all you really need to do for physical health. To lose weight, eating healthier is the only effective option — no fad diets, just more whole foods and less junk.

Gyms are weird. However, trail running in my favorite park til I feel like I might go into cardiac arrest is great! Plenty of distracting wildlife, no cars. Pushing past that feeling of "I'm gonna die" as I pass the muscular heavy lifters.

What can you do to cultivate this? Uhh...hate yourself and love the outdoors? But in a "guess I'll floss cause it hurts" kinda self loathing. Also gotta find a park you wouldn't mind dying in.

Sometimes, but not always. Whether it's cardio or weights, I'd guess maybe 20% of sessions are amazing, 20% are garbage and I can't wait to finish, and 60% are fine. I generally prefer weights, but there's actually something really fun when you're having an s-tier cardio session.

It depends. Running and lifting I enjoy the results but the activity is boring, I never got runners high.

Jazzercise was fun fun fun though, any sort of dance aerobics like that is perfect because have to pay just the right amount of attention to it - enough that I can't think about other things, but not so much that I really have to think hard about the movements. I wish there were still classes by me.

Yoga is fun too, in a different way. It takes concentration, always adjustments to posture, and it's very empowering to be able to do handstands or other arm balances, it's challenging in a good way and the reminders to coordinate your breath with movement is helpful.

So for me it depends on what the workout is but sure, I like moving physically, enjoy it and don't do it only for results.

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 lift weights a few days in the week and it's just routine now. I don't find working out to be fun, but seeing friends at the gym and and chatting is fun.

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

Working out is pain and suffering, but you can get so used to it you don't notice/mind the pain.

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.

Yes, I love it. I feel that enjoying it comes with a few factors: knowing what you're doing is correct and maximizing each workout, and a shift in mindset that the "dread" of it doesn't actually have to be dread, which takes time to shift your head into. Of course, there are days where I'd rather not go, but showing up for the ritual is what matters, at that point.

It's not fun, I do it cause it gives me euphoric feelings similar to opiates and it makes my brain shut up for a few hours. Plus I sleep like a champ after a good workout

I can definitely lose myself in the flow of accomplishing a workout the same as I used to playing sports.

I also usually like the feeling of being a little sore/achy knowing I did something worth doing that day.

I like the feeling of not being winded walking up stairs and feeling like I can carry all the weight without much effort.

I like eating a pile of food knowing my body needs to eat because it had to work.

Somedays though, working out and all the rest of it just sucks.

I love lifting weights/using machines at the gym but absolutely despise doing the exact same things at home alone (or at an empty gym for that matter).

There is something about being surrounded by others that also workout that really motivates me at the moment, gets me into the mood of working out and giving it my best.

Then, while lifting/using a machine, it becomes a game of how much i can manage today, how much have i progressed, how much i lift compared to some other random person. There is also thr good natural feeling you get while working out, and when i give it my all, i can really feel it.

I still heavily dislike cardio at the gym, such as using a treadmill. I try to turn it into a game though - manage to run exactly 1 kilometer in exactly 5 minutes etc. It somewhat helps for short runs.

I enjoy it when I'm eating at a modest surplus - it's trash on a deficit

It’s more the feeling of satisfaction and less a feeling of pleasure.

Working out is not a pleasurable thing, it’s hard, tiring, and painful.

But you see positive changes in your body, you feel better day to day and you know you are adding years on to your life.

This is what makes it enjoyable. But it will not be like this on day one. It will be like this maybe after 2-4 weeks of doing it consistently.

Also you have to eat right. If your just eating junk you may not feel as good.

Nah, it's definitely a delayed gratification in my case. I don't dislike working out per se, I just like doing other things more. Hence why I do a couple of physically demanding sports.

Sometimes yes, I enjoy pushing my limits. I only started to enjoy it when I started seeing visual progress though..

I'm ill right now and not happy that I can't go to the gym

I've found that the hurdle is actually starting and motivating yourself to go do it..after though, I feel great for doing it.

I also used to run a LOT and now can't anymore cause of injury. Tried swimming but it wasn't enough to keep me in shape due to my age and...indulgent lifestyle.

Going to the gym became my only option and yeah, the results were almost instantaneous. I lost quite a few kilos, felt more energised, and my outward appearance improved.

I think when you consider the positives it makes a lot of sense...

• You feel good for challenging yourself, and even better when you succeed.

• You feel good full stop because exercise gives your endorphins.

• You feel good for sticking to a routine. This has the added benefit of demanding that you are more organised generally, in order to make time for workouts.

• You feel good because you start to look better.

• You feel good because it helps to relieve day-to-day stress that builds up.

I'm not aiming to get huge or anything. But I think the benefits should be pretty obvious. I enjoy going for the reasons I just listed and cause I can listen to music on my headphones and kind of zone out.

Yes, it lets me take my mind away from things for abit. Helps to keep me in shape as well

No. Working out sucks. But after smoking for 15 years and finally quitting, getting too fat over the past 4, now I'm trying to be healthier. I do actually feel kind of better, even more than when I quit smoking.

So the working out part sucks but the other parts are better because of it in my experience.