Do you guys actually enjoy working out? Like the physical time of lifting and running, etc? Do you derive pleasure from the actual act?
Because I do not enjoy it. I do not like lifting and I do not like running. I still do both 5 times a week because I feel better in general after.
I have seen people mention that they enjoy exercise and I’m just wondering how to unlock this power? I do not like it but if it is possible to, please teach me.

Honestly i feel like i push myself too hard to enjoy it. If i worked out at the same intensity as everyone else in my gym i'd probably enjoy myself a lot more, but i'd also make close to zero gains.

>>76402249
ok but how do u enjoy it? also I thought you’re supposed to push yourself every time?

>>76402216 (OP)
I dont work out because it hurts

>>76402216 (OP)
yeah, Id say that lifting is my #1 favorite thing to do
running/pedaling/hiking or any kind of other endurance-based sports were always boring to me though

I can no longer function unless I've had a intense lifting session in the last 36 hours

It is the only part of my life I enjoy.

>>76402273
>>76402276
How? How can I start to like inflicting strain on myself?

>>76402216 (OP)
I do enjoy the act of lifting but i find wrestling infinitely more fun. I lift to be a better wrestler.

I love lifting. I can feel the endorphin rush after every workout, massively improving my mood. Each time I hit a PR I am completely awash in dopamine. It makes me happy for several days. I love the process of growth. It feels so fucking good. To see the results is amazing. But in order to truly enjoy this process, your mindset/approach for lifting and for each specific workout must be extremely exact, deliberate, and intense. write down your weights and reps for every lift. follow a schedule. each time you go to the gym your only goal is to do one more rep or 5 more pounds than you did last time on each particular lift. its all about progressive overload, and this necessitates being very exact and deliberate. if you can truly embrace this mindset, amazing results are guaranteed as are feelings of ecstasy.

there's no just going to the gym when you can or when you feel like it and putting on whatever weight you're feeling like doing, and doing however many reps youre feeling. there's a fucking science to it

>>76402284
based

>>76402265
By noticing i get stronger i guess. That's about it.

>>76402216 (OP)
I don't necessarily enjoy the action of working out, when im lifting i don't enjoy the action of lifting itself but i enjoy the feeling of getting stronger.
Knowing i can now lift more, even seeing the same amount of weight move more easily or not taking as long to rest, knowing i am now more physically capable than before fills good.

>>76402216 (OP)
its more fun than being bored just run or lift till your board then go on to the next thing and repeat

personally

true joys:
- climbing
- cycling
- calisthenics

enjoyable:

- swimming

put up with it because necessary for basic holistic body function:

- running
- weightlifting

Kind of want to get into parkour to combine climbing and calisthenics with running, but it seems real easy to get injured as a beginner.

>>76402216 (OP)
Yes. I enjoy lifting and running. My favorite lift is the squat. I can't into sports but I can do that. How long have you been running and lifting?

Find something physically active that you enjoy doing instead. Doesn't matter what it is; if you enjoy it you'll stick with it. It could be some other way of lifting (bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman, olympic lifting, etc.), it could be callisthenics, it could be rucking or mountain biking or tennis or water polo or or or... Just go out and try some more activities until you find something (ideally a few) that you enjoy doing for their own sake.

Also, read Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. If you don't enjoy lifting, but want to, this book explains how to do it.

It's not as fun as videogames or sex, but it's definitely gratifying. See number, move number, move more number next time.

It's pretty effortless for me to go to the gym, though. Not once have I hesitated; I've walked to the gym in heavy Canadian snow, rain, hot humid days, you name it.

>>76402426
based
put walking on the true joys list too

>>76402216 (OP)
>Do you guys actually enjoy working out?
Mostly, yes
>Like the physical time of lifting and running, etc?
Lifting? Yes. Running? I hate it soooo much I wish I could do without it but I can't. Le walk uphill is bullshit and mostly useless unless you have A LOT of free time.
>Do you derive pleasure from the actual act?
50% that, 50% feel good brain stuff once I'm done.

>>76402276
Same. I’ve been lifting for 15y and if i don’t constantly feel light doms, muscle tiredness in my body i feel weird and uncomfortable
>>76402273
I like doing 15min anaerobic cardio with heart rate around 90% max bpm, feels as difficult as lifting

>>76402289
Beautiful

>>76402216 (OP)
Yes, but you have to find your niche. I hate running and don't care much for weightlifting but I love cycling.

>>76402216 (OP)
No, but I always try to think about what something is going to make me feel like after I've done it, not while I do it.

>>76402216 (OP)
I fucking love running yeah. I am lookong forward to it every time. The exertion, the strain, the routine, conquering your previous best, achieving new highs, etc. After I do my run I feel like a god for several minutes. It's better than sex.

>>76402216 (OP)
I like everything about it

>gets me out of my house, I WFH
>allows me to be around people after WFH in my shit box all day
>get some sun on the drive there
>hit the gym and start doing movements that I love to do and allow me to channel my anger through
>get to see all of my gym waifus
>love to feel the stretch and burn when I'm hitting those last reps
>love to see my body start to sculpt and look better everyday (low key arousing kek)
>great for mental health

>>76404225
>get to see all of my gym waifus

>>76402216 (OP)
yes actually, theres something very profound in exerting yourself in this manner

>>76402216 (OP)
Maybe you should ask yourself why you hate it and start from there.

>>76402216 (OP)
not an easy answer. i enjoy the process and suffering. i dont necessary enjoy the very act of lifting heavy intense sets and feeling like dying.

i enjoy looking the way i do. i dont necessarily enjoy spending so much time getting 10-15k steps a day and lifting religiously and having a "strict" diet. but i enjoy how it make me look and feel.

please tell me this is one of those troll threads. you're supposed to get satisfaction and endorphin rushes from working out? fuck me.

>>76402216 (OP)
I enjoy riding bicycle more. Lifting without music is very lame though.

i lift to lift my feelings away
and it makes me feel better

and i just really like lifting heavy things

>>76402216 (OP)
Sometimes I enjoy running but having let my cardio go while I started lifting I don’t enjoy it was much anymore. I still enjoy being outside though

>>76404638
>working out
>1-2 hours
>endorphin rushes
>1-2 minutes
lol

>>76402216 (OP)
>I have seen people mention that they enjoy exercise and I’m just wondering how to unlock this power?

Testosterone and the Brain

Testosterone plays a critical role in the brain. Research has shown that testosterone receptors are found throughout the brain, including in regions involved in motivation, reward, and decision-making (Bhasin et al., 2010). It has been linked to a range of behaviours, including competition and challenging, risk-taking, and sexual behaviour, due to its impact on liido.
>One way in which testosterone impacts the brain is by influencing the release of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in the reward and motivation pathways. Research has shown that testosterone can increase the release of dopamine in response to a reward (Wood et al., 2014). This effect is particularly pronounced in males, who tend to have higher levels of testosterone and a stronger dopamine response to rewards than females.

https://www.edenclinic.co.uk/post/testosterone-and-the-brain

And

https://youtu.be/ClxRHJPz8aQ?si=mrWhET5z-xL8Xqan&t=3251

>>76402216 (OP)
I love lifting, sprinting, jogging, climbing, cycling

'ate swimming though (not black just don't like it)

>>76404740
One study examined the effects of testosterone on effort-based decision-making in male rats (Salamone et al., 2015). The researchers found that rats given testosterone were more likely to choose a high-effort, high-reward option than rats given a placebo. The testosterone-treated rats were willing to work harder to obtain the reward, indicating testosterone increased their motivation to engage in physical tasks.

researchers found that rats given testosterone were more likely to choose a high-effort, high-reward option
>researchers found that rats given testosterone were more likely to choose a high-effort, high-reward option

Similar results have been found in humans.
A study of male athletes found that those with higher levels of testosterone were more likely to engage in high-intensity training and were more motivated to achieve their goals (Hirschberg et al., 2018). Another study found that men given testosterone were more willing to put in effort to earn a monetary reward (Zilioli et al., 2015).

>A study of male athletes found that those with higher levels of testosterone were more likely to engage in high-intensity training and were more motivated to achieve their goals (Hirschberg et al., 2018). Another study found that men given testosterone were more willing to put in effort to earn a monetary reward (Zilioli et al., 2015).

And with that we can conclude that the OP is legitimately a low test pussy

>>76402216 (OP)
I don’t like cardio but I LOVE heavy lifting. It feels like sex

I find running kinda boring

>>76402216 (OP)
Yes and no. I like lifting alone in my home with music I select. I can shut off my brain while lifting and just focus on my body and sort of zone out for a while. Lifting itself can be frustrating, sweaty and even painful but the rest of it is pretty good yeah.

>>76402216 (OP)
yeah i like working out, it takes my mind off of everything. head empty, just work out.

>>76402216 (OP)
I'm gonna tell you some autistic shit OP.
One of the main reasons I go to the gym is because I have anxiety that sometimes becomes crippling. Getting exercise is one thing that helps keep it manageable.
I used to not enjoy being at the gym. I would usually be uncomfortable with all the people around me. That was until one day, when I decided to stop browsing my phone between sets. Instead of browsing my phone, I just sat down or stood near the bar and just stared into space and did nothing. At first this was very uncomfortable, far more uncomfortable than checking my phone, but after a a couple of weeks something began to change.
Now when I'm at the gym, my anxiety completely fades away. In the first half of my gym session I spend the time between sets letting my mind wander and thinking about my life. By the time the second half of my session arrives I have already run out of thoughts and I'm just chilling, letting my mind be empty, listening to the sounds of the gym.
Since this change I have become more confident than 80% of people at my gym. I'm more confident than some people with actually impressive physiques. I am HAPPY in the gym. I would say I smile and wave to people, but these days most people quickly look away if they accidentally make eye contact with you.

It's not just for me, I think when you do nothing, you're giving yourself time to reflect on all of the thoughts that usually nag at you during the day. When I'm at the gym, I give my brain time to empty itself of all of it's thoughts, it's basically a form of meditation.

>>76402216 (OP)
I like it b/c I’m surrounded by other hot sweating dudes. Not sure what your problem is.

>>76406865
>I have become more confident than 80% of people at my gym
how are you measuring this?

>>76402216 (OP)
>Do you guys actually enjoy working out? Like the physical time of lifting and running, etc? Do you derive pleasure from the actual act?
Yes. I need discipline to take rest days, not to do training days. It just feels good to move my body and feel my own strength if that makes sense.

>Because I do not enjoy it. I do not like lifting and I do not like running.
Well, there is more to exercise than gym and running, just do one of the million other sports. Gyma nd running are only popular because they have no entry barrier at all and you don't need friends to start or any equipment or talent, really.

Try dancing or trakc or whatever, there is more than enough variety.

>>76404897
Strange. I have low test (due to Hashimoto's) and I absolutely prefer anything high intensity, high risk. Feels like taking uppers to me, low intensity just makes me tired and bored.

I enjoy it man. I love the pain that comes from hitting your muscles just right. So you reach your limit but don't injure yourself. To me, its an easy way to feel alive when most of my life is spent sitting at the computer. Fit and lifting... sadly is almost like a simulator from a time where we had to do physical things to survive. But which we still have to do or our bodies break down.

Have you considered if you have a health problem that makes exercise unrewarding? You might be nutritionally deficient in something that makes you tired or feel low. That can happen due to genes, medications you're on, pre-existing illness... Maybe curable if you learn more about it. I have learned that adequate nutrition trumps every supplement there is.

>>76402216 (OP)
Once you become more aware of your body, moving and exerting oneself becomes enjoyable - you are doing what your body was built to do. Like when you learn the movement and do it properly. You just want to do it because it feels like what your body is supposed to do. This can later be extended to other physical activities.

Also my current selection of exercises stretches me out (guillotine bench; btnp; super wide stance squats and seated gms), so I feel like I had a massage session.

Also hormonal rush.

I'm an alcoholic and smoke crack-cocaine regularly. When I go to sleep I dream about working out. An arm pump is better than any crack high.

>>76402216 (OP)
i like it cause its so simple. i work in tech so its really nice to get away from all this computer bullshit