fitness? exercising?

[iamalreadydead]

does exercising actually make anyone "euphoric" or is that just bullshit and not applicable to everyone?

trying to eat normally for the first time ever but it's going badly. I've been restricting for months and every time I eat past like 1200 calories my stomach bloats and it makes me look like a fat fuck. It's disgusting. The only way I'll feel comfortable in this body is if I have some definition whether it be bones or muscle and if I can't be skeletal I have to have the mental fortitude to exercise. Which I don't.

Is getting big at the gym even fucking sustainable if you have brain damage, is being healthy even a reasonable thing to want as someone who just rots all day?

 

[Rairii]

If I do exercising I enjoy then yes I feel some "euphoria." Now if you made me run I'd feel like absolute crap and not be able to make it far because I hate it. So I think you have to find something you enjoy. Which may not be the stereotypical going to the gym, definitely not it for me. I prefer more sport activities.

I wanna comment on the restriction thing, I know you didn't mention it as a question so I'm sorry if I'm overstepping. However I have done the whole weight restoring from anorexia after restricting for a long length of time on very limited calories. The bloating eventually goes away once you start to eat more consistently. It takes a while but it does happen, you just kinda have to push through. Which feels shitty but seems to be that way for most everyone in recovery from restrictive eating disorders. Not trying to push you towards that if you don't want that though, just sharing what I noticed for myself and those around me. I am relapsing so I'm in know place to advocate for it lol.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I can't say I've ever experienced that talked about endorphine rush from doing exercise. Maybe I just didn't do enough of it. I used to hate it but overall, I felt better-fitter at least for making myself do it. That's all just slipped now though.

 

[iamalreadydead]

If I do exercising I enjoy then yes I feel some "euphoria." Now if you made me run I'd feel like absolute crap and not be able to make it far because I hate it. So I think you have to find something you enjoy. Which may not be the stereotypical going to the gym, definitely not it for me. I prefer more sport activities.

I wanna comment on the restriction thing, I know you didn't mention it as a question so I'm sorry if I'm overstepping. However I have done the whole weight restoring from anorexia after restricting for a long length of time on very limited calories. The bloating eventually goes away once you start to eat more consistently. It takes a while but it does happen, you just kinda have to push through. Which feels shitty but seems to be that way for most everyone in recovery from restrictive eating disorders. Not trying to push you towards that if you don't want that though, just sharing what I noticed for myself and those around me. I am relapsing so I'm in know place to advocate for it lol.

that's actually very comforting, yeah I'm literally like 2 weeks into recovery from a restrictive ed. it's frustrating because literally the part of my body that makes me noticeably underweight is my stomach, cause that's where all my weight drops from instead of my thighs or upper arms. The bloating legit just makes me look like I weigh 3 times my BMI because of that. The pushing through part is really hard but I'll try, I appreciate that response a lot actually.

 

[Georg]

Exercising will make you always feel better. There are no downsides.

But, you need time to do it and it most likely will not solve the reasons why you are here.

And start slowly. Walking for two hours straight is exercising too.

 

[Deadweight]

Initially I would get a depressive slump after exercise when I started. I couldn't find anything on it apart from some speculation about it being hormone changes as you exercise. I felt a bit better once I got into it, but my life was still crap and my head was still fucked. Lost a bunch of weight and put on a little muscle, but then I had to contend with my ego.


It was worth it, but still a piece of shit

 

[sick.faery]

it can make you feel really good yea

 

[Rairii]

that's actually very comforting, yeah I'm literally like 2 weeks into recovery from a restrictive ed. it's frustrating because literally the part of my body that makes me noticeably underweight is my stomach, cause that's where all my weight drops from instead of my thighs or upper arms. The bloating legit just makes me look like I weigh 3 times my BMI because of that. The pushing through part is really hard but I'll try, I appreciate that response a lot actually.

Oh yeah, that is still early in, it is super frustrating. During the early stages of recovery I looked uw everywhere else but my stomach made me look like I was pregnant. It doesn't help that most of the weight you gain goes to your stomach at first but it does eventually go to other parts of your body and the fat around your stomach starts to lessen as well. Not to say that to scare you but I think it helps to be prepared. I probably would have wanted to nope out even harder if I had found out on my own but it isnt permanent thankfully. I'd say after 6 or 7(?) months of participating in no behaviors and being weight restored for a while my body finally started to look like how it does naturally. I didn't exercise until like 5 months in other than like walks since I was told not to, so I can't say if it'd make a difference. Well anyway, I really hope everything goes well for you.

 

[floatingfish]

I personally really enjoy exercising.

On the other hand, I have trouble controlling my diet and my meds don't help so…

 

[unnormal9]

does exercising actually make anyone "euphoric" or is that just bullshit and not applicable to everyone?

It's bullshit. I work out and don't feel "euphoric" I just feel healthy.

 

[cherrysquick]

yeah it's hard to start but i usually feel really euphoric after!! especially after running. not sure if it's my brain or just my ed being happy i'm burning calories though :') i recommend walking and listening to favourite music, podcasts or audiobooks! very relaxing and not that tiring, but still good exercise. you don't have to be a gym rat who spends their whole day at the gym right away ♡

 

[oneeyed]

How intense the positive effects are will vary with everyone but the general consensus of numerous studies show that it can provide significant relief of depression symptoms and of course being fit is never a bad thing.

 

[Shirokuma]

Personally, I really enjoy exercising. I couldn't live without it. It's just the moments before I'm supposed to start I hate, but yet I every time I'm in the middle of it or I just finish, I almost always never regret doing it.
Weirdly enough, the sensation is almost kind of euphoric. I feel better in every way from doing it.
My worst habit though, is my all or nothing mentality towards it. If i stop doing it regularly, it eats into my self worth and lose the motivation to start being consistent again. This creates a downward spiral that can eat into other aspects of my life. It kind of reminds me how much I am of a creature of momentum. Once I get going I don't stop, once I finish I can't start.
The best thing I can think of when it comes to approaching it is consistency and sustainability, not extremity. It's more important to try and just do it, even if it were just a little bit.
The more I overthink it, the more I trap myself into thinking, well I missed yesterday so now I have to do double today. Then, I end up not wanting to overwork myself to do double and I self-sabotage and do nothing again.
If I just manage to get a grip of myself and remind myself, don't overthink it, just do it. You'll feel way better after. I can go and end up having a great time.

 

[Linda]

does exercising actually make anyone "euphoric" or is that just bullshit and not applicable to everyone?

trying to eat normally for the first time ever but it's going badly. I've been restricting for months and every time I eat past like 1200 calories my stomach bloats and it makes me look like a fat fuck. It's disgusting. The only way I'll feel comfortable in this body is if I have some definition whether it be bones or muscle and if I can't be skeletal I have to have the mental fortitude to exercise. Which I don't.

Is getting big at the gym even fucking sustainable if you have brain damage, is being healthy even a reasonable thing to want as someone who just rots all day?

"Euphoric" is puting it a bit too strongly, but your brain does release certain chemicals in response to exercise and they do give you a good feeling. (If you want to get a bit technical, they are called endorphins. They are opioids, i.e. they are related to things like heroin, morphine, etc., so it's no wonder they give you a bit of a high. But the quantities are too small to do you any harm, and you certainly won't get addicted.)

Whenever anyone who has not been getting regular exercise starts to exercise, it is very important that you do only a little to begin with and build up gradually. If you try to do too much too quickly you are much more likely to injure yourself. That is particularly important in your case, as you will be physically quite weak and fragile after prolonged calorie restriction. Going to a gym is one method of getting exercise, but so is running, hiking in the outdoors if that's an option for you, almost any kind of sport, or even doing regular physical work. You have lots of options. The important thing is that it is regular. That doesn't need to mean every day, but it does mean that its's best to set some kind of pattern (e.g.2 days a week) and try to stick to it. If exercising results in too much discomfort (e.g sore joints) then take a break for a few days; don't try to "exercise through" injury. Good luck.

 

[chloramine]

Personally going to the gym is hit or miss. Sometimes it's nice and sometimes it's a chore. The euphoria of exercise only really happens to me with sports. I play box lacrosse and it's one of the few things in life that feels good. Obviously sports aren't for everyone but I'd recommend that over just going to the gym.

 

[Lost Magic]

I have started training again (used to train a lot in my 20's so a lot of muscle memory). Now, I mostly do bands, isometrics, speed bag training and I use a power plate. I feel amazing for about 2 to 3 hours afterward and then I crash again sometimes later. I do it mostly to keep my body supple and my brain less depressed. It definitely works, to an extent.

 

[アホペンギン]

I never felt a rush of endorphin from exercising but I assume now that I didn't do it correctly, maybe. Either way, I don't feel anything from exercise. I only feel very exhausted by the end of it and want to stop immediately.

But this is from someone who sits in bed and drinks all day to deal with negative emotions so….

 

[Lost Magic]

I never felt a rush of endorphin from exercising but I assume now that I didn't do it correctly, maybe. Either way, I don't feel anything from exercise. I only feel very exhausted by the end of it and want to stop immediately.

But this is from someone who sits in bed and drinks all day to deal with negative emotions so….

Look into maybe a vibration plate. I got mines for less than £100 and it gave me back motivation and it is easy for a beginner because it does a lot of the work for you. It contracts and stretches your muscles depending on the speed you put the machine on and you feel great after even 15 mins on it. Just a thought.

 

[Grav]

I don't feel euphoric but my mood is better. I'm lifting weights and playing music I like along with knowing I got off my ass and did it. Clothes are fitting better so that's good, but I don't float around the house high on life.