Journey Updates
Workout Momentum ... Gymentum?
April 6, 2010 @ 07:55 am
Yummy Endorphins
When we feel pain, stress, or sense danger, our bodies release endorphins to mask or minimize that pain. Exercise is pain. Therefore about 30 minutes after we get our tired, cramped legs movin' and groovin' on the elliptical, our bodies release endorphins to help the physical ailment it senses ... and damn does that feel good! This endorphin release is often associated with a sense of euphoria just well-being. The cause of which may be the endorphins themselves (they bind to the same receptors as morphine or opium), or the fact that since they mask pain we are more sensitive to other chemicals being released as a result of exercise like serotonin.Either way, after a while, it actually does feel good to exercise. This isn't always the case, sure. It usually starts to kick in for me about a week or two after starting or restarting a regimen. And even then, since it can take upwards of 30 minutes for the endorphin release to hit, I find I actually need to be exercising a bit longer than that to feel it. 40 minutes on the elliptical is about right (10 minutes of pain triggers the release 30 minutes later and by the time I'm in Cool-Down mode I suddenly feel good again).
Go Go Go!
So all that to say, the gym is somewhat starting to feel good again! After a nearly two week break due to work, schedule and vacation, I got back into the gym two weeks ago today. Within 10 days I was feeling the happy little endorphins by the end of my cardio and I was ready for more. Same goes when it comes to strength training. I get off the equipment or I wrap up my set and I stand there and think to myself "I could do more ... I should just stick around for another hour or so."Of course there's a line between feeling good and working hard, and working so hard that I collapse as soon as I get home. I have to balance a good workout with having a life, and some sometimes that means not necessarily using every last shred of energy on the equipment. But it still feels good. And since the endorphins are like opiates, one can get addicted to them, driving me back to the gym. It still takes willpower, it still takes planning and dedication, and it still hurts, but somewhere in there it feels good, too, and keeps me going back for more.
1 Comment So Far
Darnfitness — Apr 7, 2010 @ 12:01 am
I have been running this late days and I got to agree with you on endorphins, the strange thing is that I never got the "high" on ellipticals or treadmills... but real running, yeah, it does works for mne (and weight training, and body combat also)