OK, I know a LOT of people feel energized by exercise. They feel better afterwards and it makes the rest of their day easier to get through.
I have *never* felt that. Usually, when I exercise, I just feel tired afterwards. if I am lucky, I can rebound a bit and manage to get through the rest of my day. If I am not lucky, I feel down, sore, cranky, and unable to think until I sleep.
I have tried eating protein, drinking juice, etc and NOTHING seems to help. I have never come anywhere close to a 'runner's high' or even feeling better after a workout than I did before.
I have also never found an exercise that I like for its own sake. I can *tolerate* hiking and bike riding because of the change of scenery, but the exercise itself just sucks. I have tried a variety of different types of exercise: from swimming (I sink and don't like the feeling) to working out in a gym (creeps me out, frankly), to having a personal trainer (I get through the workout, but feel crappy), etc.
I know exercise is 'good for you' which is why I do it at all. But it is hard to keep motivated when there seems to be no real payoff. I don't really care about weight loss per se (I care more about clothes fitting and having some endurance) and the changes, even over the course of a month just don't seem to be worth the misery.
Anyone else have this issue?
Any recommendations?
Perhaps one has to go through a probation period for some things. I'm sure I didn't enjoy being wet, cold, dirty, and exhausted when I first went caving, but when one accepts such as just a normal day at the office, so to speak, and mostly expected, then the whole experience takes on a different vibe.
Most of my former activities that I would recommend involve the acquisition of some skills, less so with caving and perhaps a more niche interest, but would still recommend it as being one that tends to stretch one physically more than most others. Activities like rock-climbing and mountaineering involve a lot of skill and hence the rewards come from achievements whilst doing such, and mountaineering perhaps being the better of the two because of the greater exercise involved. Of course it depends upon one location as to how feasible any of these are.
I've never really enjoyed running or even hiking unless there was some challenge attached, or some spectacular scenery, and the latter is often the case even if just hiking in mountainous terrain - like walking up to a hut before climbing a mountain.
And of course all the above is made more enjoyable because mostly they are done with a group of one's friends. The other thing that I have done a lot of is cycling, but given the traffic and attitudes of some other road users perhaps not so enjoyable now - depending upon where one lives I suppose. But you will probably know this.
Of course most of this stuff is really only holiday or weekend occasions, so can't assist with any daily stuff, but they might help with feelings of satisfaction and fulfilment. I'll never forget the sense of achievement and complete contentment resulting from some mountaineering or caving trips. One can also get flow experiences during rock-climbing - my only one probably.
Considering your age - ignore all the above.
Take up a martial art or something similar - like Tai Chi?
