[Ronin]

Everyone:

From a news story in today's NY Times there is now proof positive that the "Runner's High" does, in fact, exist and the people who do high levels of exercise do have an Endorphine induced "High."

Perhaps those of us who exercise and tout the values of exercise talk too much about the benefits to our health and not enough about the fact that we're out there getting BUZZED! Maybe we have to promote the High to our non-exercising friends.

[Scratch]

Exercise can have some mind-altering effects all right.

Especially when you start getting to levels where you have to push your body to places it has never been before.

[morrisma]

I know that when I exercise I can sometimes get in a groove that allows me to work harder & longer without feeling the 'wall' that usually causes me to stop or fight the effort mentally as well as physically. Mind AND body altering
Mike

[HelenM]

I'm convinced.
I normally hate starting to run, getting out the door is really hard, I prevaricate, finding all sorts of reasons to delay starting. For 20 minutes its often difficult but then suddenly it gets easier. When I've finished I might feel tired but almost always feel so much better than before I started.

What I can't understand is why after all these years I still find it so difficult to start. I know I'll feel good and as a bonus it will have done me good

[jen_slc]

I believe it! I am most happy after exercising and when I don't workout, I feel absolutely awful. When I've done some hard cardio, some weight training and then intense yoga all in one night, my muscles are exhausted, I've got that "high" going on but my mind finally relaxes and I have some pretty interesting aura-type experiences as I fall into a deep meditative state. I've even "woken up" out of that state to find my face wet with tears. It's not a sad, sobbing experience at all; it's very cathartic and feels wonderful combined with that exercise high.

I also find that a lame workout where I really haven't worked as hard puts me in a right awful mood! Like tonight.

[notme]

I need to start getting high again!

Seriously, I am glad it is Spring. I always get more motivated.

[Keezheekoni]

Heh, Spring... it's *snowing* here. I'm moving back to California, that's it!

That being said, I went to my first personal training session and got my butt kicked. I didn't feel a high, but that's probably because I was getting low, bg wise. I came home and napped for 3 hours... Then I got to wake up with sore upper body muscles. I'm scared for tomorrow! LOL

So, about how long after you start a fitness program do you actually feel this "high" you all speak of?!?

[paulT2]

... all this time I just thought I was feeling smug and self satisfied after I exercised.

- turns out that I was getting high!

It's all starting to make sense now ;-)

I love running, it gives me a real sense of 'being healthy', it helps me control my weight and manage my BGL. The endorphin high is just a bonus!

[Lulika]

I agree! I am now exercising every day, which is an amazing turn around for me. It was excruciating at first and I had to drag myself the the gym each time but now....I really do feel great after my work out..it must be that HIGH!

[DarthDiabetes]

had better hurry before the DEA decides to get involved, can't have a bunch of people using something natural to get high like that.

back to 2.5 miles a day here, working towards my pre-D 25 miles a week.

[Emm]

I don't run... but I do get high on exercise, and it's a good feeling that lasts for hours, if not days. There's a clarity of mind that comes from it too. I find it easier to think, and to do anything that needs to be done, if I've spent some time getting active.

And yet it's still so hard to motivate myself to get started! I still put it off, avoid it, make excuses... even though I KNOW I'm going to feel great and be healthier for it. How weird is that?!