Discussion Do you guys exercise?

[CrazyDiamond04]

I've been doing light exercises for a while now (push-ups, walking, sit-ups). There's a gym at my university but I've always been too anxious to go there; though I've been seriously considering sucking it up and doing it anyways. I think exercise is a great avenue out of depression; it's been proven that being physically active releases endorphins and "feel-good" chemicals into the brain to fight depression.

 

[sserafim]

No. The only exercise I do is walking around lol. My psychiatrist always tells me to exercise though, he says that it releases endorphins and makes you feel good. I used to go running sometimes but I haven't in a long time

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

I hate exercise. I consider it to be a form of self harm that is only culturally acceptable because of its elusive ""benefits"".

 

[CrazyDiamond04]

No. The only exercise I do is walking around lol. My psychiatrist always tells me to exercise though, he says that it releases endorphins and makes you feel good. I used to go running sometimes but I haven't in a long time

Walking is a really good form of exercise! I do it a lot too. Exercise doesn't have to be extremely strenuous to be good/beneficial.

I hate exercise. I consider it to be a form of self harm that is only culturally acceptable because of its elusive ""benefits"".

why do you dislike it so strongly? No judgement, I'm just curious.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

why do you dislike it so strongly? No judgement, I'm just curious.

It just hurts and unlike what everyone keeps saying, it never gets easier or more enjoyable. I once went to the gym three times a week for seven hours each time for six months and it did literally Jack shit for my health. I only gained weight because the exercise just made me too hungry so I canceled it out. It doesn't even make me feel good either and I never stopped being sore from it.

 

[CrazyDiamond04]

It just hurts and unlike what everyone keeps saying, it never gets easier or more enjoyable. I once went to the gym three times a week for seven hours each time for six months and it did literally Jack shit for my health. I only gained weight because the exercise just made me too hungry so I canceled it out. It doesn't even make me feel good either and I never stopped being sore from it.

Damn, that sucks :( Have you considered lighter exercises like walking/hiking? Strictly going to the gym isn't necessary to help one's mental state. I don't do any extremely strenuous exercises either, at least not right now. Also, out of curiosity, what were you eating when hungry?

 

[bima]

A little bit, I aim to do 10-20 push-ups a day (1-2 every hour) and because of my ed lowering my energy levels I can't do any demanding workouts without resting in bed for a few hours afterwards.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

Damn, that sucks :( Have you considered lighter exercises like walking/hiking? Strictly going to the gym isn't necessary to help one's mental state. I don't do any extremely strenuous exercises either, at least not right now. Also, out of curiosity, what were you eating when hungry?

I hate hiking because of ticks and I know there are ticks in my area and they can spread Lyme disease which can potentially make me allergic to meat which I would hate even more. Walking sucks for much of the same reason since my neighborhood is pretty close to all the wildlife in my city so it's little better than hiking.

I don't pay attention to what I eat because doing so will be worse for my mental health because I know what I'm eating is bad I just don't want to know how.

 

[Weinerwinner]

I have a personal trainer to help out with my exercises at a local gym. They say I don't eat enough so they recommended me some supplements. It's really important to increase appetite when exercising otherwise there is no weight gain... This is going to be really hard because of long term depression has made me really weak and frail and I'm 36 FFS.

 

[ConfusedClouds]

I exercise a lot. Constant internal debate whether I end up pushing myself too far. In a past life pre-covid I dabbled in playing elite sport, so its sort of continued from that. Heavy weights in gym, high intensity intervals or gym classes or sprints and long mountain hikes. Have been known to go to spin and circuits after a big hill day. Yet therapist encourages me to continue and I know I feel good for it all - tbf I eat way too much so its probably not bad. I keep hoping I'd drop down from over exertion but I just keep getting stronger and fitter which is super annoying. Just also gives me nowhere else to turn if I'm still overwhelmed and feeling super twitchy. The other day it took 1h15 of a slow jog even after gym classes for my chest tightness to finally balance out again. So annoying.

 

[pace_of_the_future]

Excersizing is pretty much what keeps me on this world. Or at least helped me cope for a long time now

 

[jamie_]

gym really helped me claw back my normality. it's the base that allows me to do other things. sometimes it might feel hell but i'll just imagine it's like holding my breath under water and telling myself to just get through it and then i usually feel good once im done. only problem is i get obsessive sometimes about my body. like now, ive wasted this weekend going back and forth over questioning whether i should get bigger or leaner and constantly looking at myself in the mirror/on pictures that its literally caused a depressive episode because i don't look how i want lol.

 

[carac]

My work is my exercise, cycling there and back 5 times a week plus all the lifting and carrying I do.

 

[pebpebpebpeb]

no, i wish i had the confidence to do so. i'm always scared someone will walk in, and my anxiety is too bad to go to the gym.
i enjoy hiking, wish i could do it more.
i have hyperhidrosis and sweating triggers my sensory issues. that is why i find it uncomfortable to exercise so much.
this thread is inspiring me to set small goals. small workouts throughout the day.

 

[Dliena]

I will from time to time but it doesn't really change how I feel.

 

[CrazyDiamond04]

I have a personal trainer to help out with my exercises at a local gym. They say I don't eat enough so they recommended me some supplements. It's really important to increase appetite when exercising otherwise there is no weight gain... This is going to be really hard because of long term depression has made me really weak and frail and I'm 36 FFS.

Yeah, I get what you mean. Whenever I'm in a depressive mood I stop eating and I end up losing weight, I'm trying to put on more weight now as well.

 

[Praestat_Mori]

No. It won't change anything for me.

 

[CrazyDiamond04]

gym really helped me claw back my normality. it's the base that allows me to do other things. sometimes it might feel hell but i'll just imagine it's like holding my breath under water and telling myself to just get through it and then i usually feel good once im done. only problem is i get obsessive sometimes about my body. like now, ive wasted this weekend going back and forth over questioning whether i should get bigger or leaner and constantly looking at myself in the mirror/on pictures that its literally caused a depressive episode because i don't look how i want lol.

I know body dysmorphia included depression is somewhat common with people who work out a lot, especially with bodybuilders. I feel the same way too sometimes, especially when progress is so slow, y'know?

no, i wish i had the confidence to do so. i'm always scared someone will walk in, and my anxiety is too bad to go to the gym.
i enjoy hiking, wish i could do it more.
i have hyperhidrosis and sweating triggers my sensory issues. that is why i find it uncomfortable to exercise so much.
this thread is inspiring me to set small goals. small workouts throughout the day.

That's really good :) I've never gone to the gym for the same reason, it's too anxiety-inducing for me, but I think I might end up biting the bullet and doing it anyways; can't hurt to try if nothing else. I'm glad that the thread is inspiring you though! Even simple physical exercise make me feel better.

 

[KafkaF]

I've been doing light exercises for a while now (push-ups, walking, sit-ups). There's a gym at my university but I've always been too anxious to go there; though I've been seriously considering sucking it up and doing it anyways. I think exercise is a great avenue out of depression; it's been proven that being physically active releases endorphins and "feel-good" chemicals into the brain to fight depression.

I have weights and a bench at home. I do a full body workout with weights three times a week. When it's warm enough I bike an hour or two a few times a week as well.

Been working out since I was a teenager, though I have had pauses, unfortunately.

 

[Ironborn]

I never got the endorphin rush other people seem to.
I used to lift weights because I had a physical job and it prevented injuries but I never enjoyed it.
Maybe years of manual labour has just poisoned my mind against it?

 

[CrazyDiamond04]

I never got the endorphin rush other people seem to.
I used to lift weights because I had a physical job and it prevented injuries but I never enjoyed it.
Maybe years of manual labour has just poisoned my mind against it?

Is it possible that it was because of it being part of your job? I feel that mentality can change a lot when it comes to how enjoyable something is; if you do it for yourself you may feel differently. It's kinda like when you choose to do something on your own accord vs when someone tells you to do something. Being told to do something kinda sours the experience, y'know?

 

[arnxxx]

I joined a local sports club payed for by the local government. Its a small group with one trainer that gives us exercises for about an hour. It works good for me to be in a group. Its also in the evening, when I always feel better than during the day.

But I dont feel the direct results. I can go there depressed and leave depressed...
I used to swim but the last two times I couldn't get rid of depressive thoughts. I wanted to stop the whole time.

So i would recommend a group session.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

Is it possible that it was because of it being part of your job? I feel that mentality can change a lot when it comes to how enjoyable something is; if you do it for yourself you may feel differently. It's kinda like when you choose to do something on your own accord vs when someone tells you to do something. Being told to do something kinda sours the experience, y'know?

Yeah I'm sure I'll come to love stabbing my eyes if I just do it on my own accord.

 

[trashprincess]

Not intentionally, but I don't drive, and rely on manual labor for work.

 

[Linda]

I always find that a few hours dancing makes me feel better, even if it's physically tiring. In my early 60s I used to travel once a week to a distant city so I could dance with one of the top dance schools in the country I live in. Four and a half hours travlling to get there, four and a half hours of dancing, basically without a break, and then four and a half hours of travel to get home. I loved it. At 70 I no longer have the stamina for that, but I still dance weekly for an hour and a half in my local town.

Physical exercise is good for your mind as well as your body.

 

[Kimlett]

I hate exercise. I consider it to be a form of self harm that is only culturally acceptable because of its elusive ""benefits"".

Man, I agree with you. I despise it and I've never felt any benefits from it. In my case I think I was traumatised because I was the fat kid at school and P.E. teachers just made me feel miserable.

To me, the fact that exercise is important in life, healthy, and supposed to help greatly in depression recovery, is enough reason to ctb. I should just put that in my suicide note and no more explanations will be necessary lol

 

[Toobrokentofix]

Yes. I do cold water swimming. It takes alot of motivation to get out there, but whilst I'm in the water my head feels alright

Yes. I do cold water swimming. It takes alot of motivation to get out there, but whilst I'm in the water my head feels alright

I also used to be super morbidly obese and couldn't do anything barely and so I am grateful that I can

 

[SadLad]

Try to go to the gym at least once per week but it's hard when you work full time and feel like shit 24/7.

 

[SexyIncél]

I have an excellent personal trainer, who asked what my goals are. His team also does nutrition. Friendly, and we're humorous (but in brief ways that don't waste the session)

Very useful, because otherwise I'd have no idea which pains are good vs bad. Some pain-signals mean you're doing ok. Others mean "OH NOOOOO"

Watches my form; helps extract a couple extra reps — or sees if I'm not gonna make the goal & lowers the reps before I drop a glorified cannonball on my head

The first couple weeks suuuucked. Aches in my biceps, butt & thighs; aggravated a cough I had. (Massage gun helped.) Afterwards, I'd feel just fine 15 mins after being pushed to the point where where my hands shook when holding a cup

Main problem: costly af. Exercising outside sessions could also be demotivating, if you're in a stressful job

 

[sserafim]

I have an excellent personal trainer, who asked what my goals are. His team also does nutrition. Friendly, and we're humorous (but in brief ways that don't waste the session)

Very useful, because otherwise I'd have no idea which pains are good vs bad. Some pain-signals mean you're doing ok. Others mean "OH NOOOOO"

Watches my form; helps extract a couple extra reps — or sees if I'm not gonna make the goal & lowers the reps before I drop a glorified cannonball on my head

The first couple weeks suuuucked. Aches in my biceps, butt & thighs; aggravated a cough I had. (Massage gun helped.) Afterwards, I'd feel just fine 15 mins after being pushed to the point where where my hands shook when holding a cup

Main problem: costly af. Exercising outside sessions could also be demotivating, if you're in a stressful job

I've been wanting to ask you this for a while. Are you actually an incel?