D'ya ever have one of those days?

[newgirl-chargeback]

The point of this thread this morning was not to complain about my day, by the way, but to muse on the mood-elevating properties of excercise.

More and more as I approach my "ideal" physique, I'm realizing that I work out for my mental health above all else. There is something enormously calming, centering, and almost meditative about doing early-morning cardio outdoors, surrounded by tall eucalyptus trees, breathing fresh dewy air, watching the occasional wild rabbit dart across your path, or hearing bats chittering in the air - it's just you, your breathing, and Nature. Physical power isn't the only kind of strength that comes from working out.

While on my journey to the body I long for -- no matter how that journey stalls or takes a veer off the path -- I never stop working out as the mental umphf and power I get knowing what I can push or pull, watching my body move, makes me stronger inside and out. It truly does something for my mind...so yes I understand.

Not only do I feel better knowing I got thru it and accomplished something...just the action of doing, lifting is therapy in of itself and has little to do with the physical appearance.

When getting down on myself, my husband commented to me that I need to love lifting for the intrinsic value of it -- I had to remind HIM, that if I did it just for the end result in what it did for my body -- I would have quit a long time ago -- just feeling my body be strong -- makes my mind strong -- and visa versa.

Good thread -- good posts.

 

[Friscochick]

working out rocks!

 

[c3bodybuilding]

Happens to me a lot lately. I haven't been able to go to the gym for a month due to an injury, and when I got back there today, I felt great. I wasn't having the best of days, and then after my workout, it was all of a sudden a great night.

 

[valerie]

Gotcha Ceebs-Those walks save my sanity. I've noticed how they pick my spirits up, always improve the day. I'm lucky in that I live in a very remote area and have no problem getting away from people and noise. Its so nice to go along and just zone out. Actually the weather makes no diff. I've gone out in rain and snow. Just moving and breathing. A difference from lifting is paying attention!!!!!! No zoning out there. I do need both. -valerie

Thanks Steel.

 

[slinky]

newgirl rather voiced what I wanted to say regardin the "intrinsic" value of training.

It should be something you WANT to do; rather than something you feel you need to do or HAVE to do.

But I certainly do feel revived after a training session. Not immediately after (I'm at a "oh my gawd...." at that point), but a bit later, I'm all revved up.

Oh, and Ceebs, it's like that line that's in the movie, "Legally Blonde": "exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't go murdering their husbands.." or something like that.

 

[JJFigure]

There's just something about escaping from life when you're lifting. Especially when you train with compound movements - your focus has to be on the lift and you just have to forget about life for a while. I think once you do that, post-lift you seem to have a better perspective on life. After all, once you've met the challenge of pulling off one more rep or a new PR, that major issue you may have been all hung up over just doesn't seem as bad.

I'm going through some job things right now - was really tense before I walked into the gym. Pulled off 4x3s with 225 on RDLs and feel much better now. I have more confidence I'll be able to work out my job issues for some reason. Or maybe I'm just less worried about it now those endorphins are kicking in.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

...Where you feel unappreciated, when you missed a meal and had to settle for something less than nutritious, when nothing's going right, when you can't seem to say the right thing, and you're in such a funk that you almost blow off excercising?

...But you go to the gym anyway, you have an awesome workout, and suddenly your world's turned on its head? Everything is not as bad as it seems, or even bad at all. Everything is fine.

I love the humbling reality check that a great workout preceeded by a lousy day brings. Anyone else in this same boat?

Pardon the post being that this is the womens boards and all but;

Ceebs that was some true to life shit and I am happy you posted it

 

[shanni]

The point of this thread this morning was not to complain about my day, by the way, but to muse on the mood-elevating properties of excercise.

More and more as I approach my "ideal" physique, I'm realizing that I work out for my mental health above all else. There is something enormously calming, centering, and almost meditative about doing early-morning cardio outdoors, surrounded by tall eucalyptus trees, breathing fresh dewy air, watching the occasional wild rabbit dart across your path, or hearing bats chittering in the air - it's just you, your breathing, and Nature. Physical power isn't the only kind of strength that comes from working out.

You are bang on Ceebs. There are days where I have zero desire to get to the gym... but I always remind myself how fantastic I feel after a great workout. No matter how down I feel after a workout my mood is always lifted.

Working out has also helped me make the huge step of over coming an eating disorder. Even if I am currently not pleased with my physique I stay positive knowing that I am getting stronger and stronger and soon I will have a healthy athletic looking body.

 

[anthrax]

I feel great after a good workout

... but even better after a 45+ minutes cardio session

endorphins + serotonin

certainly better than any SSRI

 

[Ceebs]

Bump. I needed a little reminder.