How does everyone cope with the stress of exercising?
Replies
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I think finding something you love is important- for me its TRX. The workouts are difficult- as difficult as I want or make them to be (there are easier ones of course). I get so lost focusing on the moves I dont have time to think- which is something as I normally am awake hours with my wandering mind every night.
Other things that work for me- practicing CBT therapy - utilize the headspace app
White noise machine
Bed yoga- listing to one of the above
I hope you find some relief.1 -
Oh my word your post is so horrible! I can't imagine doing something I hated for years and years!
Well, I'm guessing your desire to NOT be overweight is stronger than your hatred of exercise otherwise you wouldn't be doing it. Maybe that's the problem though? You are exercising to AVOID something, not because you are working towards a goal and trying to GAIN something, such as health or fitness improvements? Exercise is a chore you have to check off each day, like taking out the trash or scrubbing a toilet. Obviously the vertigo is putting a serious damper on expanding into different areas though.
I'm sure that you are bringing that hate into your exercise and that's what's causing the stress. But after 20 years I wouldn't even begin to understand how to change your mindset towards exercise. I'm still a few credits shy of my psychology doctorate
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Maybe try to find SOMETHING even to mix it up? Bike one day, weight training another, yoga another? Anything to break the cycle?
The other thing might be to add goals to your workouts so you are moving TOWARDS something instead of AWAY from a negative consequence? So maybe add miles, or try to increase speed each week, anything to change the focus of your training?
I wish I had something insightful or helpful to make this better for you, but you seem to be doing the right things, working with doctors and trainers, and trying to do what's right. All I can say is to not give up, keep trying to find the right mix of diet, exercise, and motivations to keep you strong and healthy, both physically AND mentally/emotionally!
Good luck!1 -
I get a lot of my exercise by walking my dogs so they give me something else to focus on with whatever antics they're up to on a given day. If it's a workout I really dread, like running, I find an audiobook I'm interested in (free through the Overdrive app) and listen to that.1
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Just wondering if you've gone to a balance center/physical therapy for the vertigo. My wife had it for a while and then we found a Balance Center that specialized in the Italian techniques for basically restoring the crystals in the inner ear to where they belong. She had a nasty softball accident years ago that likely caused the issue in the first place. But medicine certainly didn't work (what several conventional docs prescribed).
A good Balance specialist would be able to roll/manipulate your neck and watch your eye movement. From that, they know exactly how to manipulate your neck and body to restore the crystals in the inner ear that cause vertigo. She had it so bad for six months that the first time I thought she was having a stroke and called the ambulance. After one visit, she was better. One visit. I wish I knew about balance centers for the months she lived in agony with vertigo.4 -
springlering62 wrote: »Podcasts. Only drawback is, I’m addicted to the true crime ones and my neck is getting an extra workout spinning back and forth to make sure no ones following me!
Which ones do you listen to?
Sorry to hijack the thread momentarily. I like Crime Junkie, Casefiles, Dateline, and have started listening to some of the Wondery series. They are good, but crazy over -dramatic. My husband likens them to an old time radio serial.
I’ve tried a few others but either find them too comedic (these were, after all, people’s lives) or one poor gal has an absolute monotone.
Randomly found the Ballard Designs (interior design) podcast and it is unexpectedly entertaining.
Would love suggestions for any other series.0 -
MikePfirrman wrote: »Just wondering if you've gone to a balance center/physical therapy for the vertigo. My wife had it for a while and then we found a Balance Center that specialized in the Italian techniques for basically restoring the crystals in the inner ear to where they belong. She had a nasty softball accident years ago that likely caused the issue in the first place. But medicine certainly didn't work (what several conventional docs prescribed).
A good Balance specialist would be able to roll/manipulate your neck and watch your eye movement. From that, they know exactly how to manipulate your neck and body to restore the crystals in the inner ear that cause vertigo. She had it so bad for six months that the first time I thought she was having a stroke and called the ambulance. After one visit, she was better. One visit. I wish I knew about balance centers for the months she lived in agony with vertigo.
Unfortunately, my vertigo and balance issues stem from a congenital vascular insufficiency, not any inner ear problems. I do still attend balance classes every few years and do my balance exercises every day. I still fall often, but the classes have helped me learn to fall "better", if that makes any sense. I still fall, but it's been a few years now since I have broken any bones.2 -
Oh my word your post is so horrible! I can't imagine doing something I hated for years and years!
Well, I'm guessing your desire to NOT be overweight is stronger than your hatred of exercise otherwise you wouldn't be doing it. Maybe that's the problem though? You are exercising to AVOID something, not because you are working towards a goal and trying to GAIN something, such as health or fitness improvements? Exercise is a chore you have to check off each day, like taking out the trash or scrubbing a toilet. Obviously the vertigo is putting a serious damper on expanding into different areas though.
I'm sure that you are bringing that hate into your exercise and that's what's causing the stress. But after 20 years I wouldn't even begin to understand how to change your mindset towards exercise. I'm still a few credits shy of my psychology doctorate.
Maybe try to find SOMETHING even to mix it up? Bike one day, weight training another, yoga another? Anything to break the cycle?
The other thing might be to add goals to your workouts so you are moving TOWARDS something instead of AWAY from a negative consequence? So maybe add miles, or try to increase speed each week, anything to change the focus of your training?
I wish I had something insightful or helpful to make this better for you, but you seem to be doing the right things, working with doctors and trainers, and trying to do what's right. All I can say is to not give up, keep trying to find the right mix of diet, exercise, and motivations to keep you strong and healthy, both physically AND mentally/emotionally!
Good luck!
I try to give myself goals. Every year, I increase my miles, and I'll probably have 5000 to 6000 this year. I also try "coloring" in the map by riding every road; I have now ridden 75% of my county. I try to find interesting and unique things to photograph along my rides. But you can only increase so much or the unrealistic goals just add even more stress.
But you right, I hate fat even more than I hate exercise. I thought fat was gross back when I was thin and I still think it's gross now that it's on me, so I'll keep trying my best to fix that.2 -
I try to give myself goals. Every year, I increase my miles, and I'll probably have 5000 to 6000 this year. I also try "coloring" in the map by riding every road; I have now ridden 75% of my county. I try to find interesting and unique things to photograph along my rides. But you can only increase so much or the unrealistic goals just add even more stress.Oh my word your post is so horrible! I can't imagine doing something I hated for years and years!
Well, I'm guessing your desire to NOT be overweight is stronger than your hatred of exercise otherwise you wouldn't be doing it. Maybe that's the problem though? You are exercising to AVOID something, not because you are working towards a goal and trying to GAIN something, such as health or fitness improvements? Exercise is a chore you have to check off each day, like taking out the trash or scrubbing a toilet. Obviously the vertigo is putting a serious damper on expanding into different areas though.
I'm sure that you are bringing that hate into your exercise and that's what's causing the stress. But after 20 years I wouldn't even begin to understand how to change your mindset towards exercise. I'm still a few credits shy of my psychology doctorate.
Maybe try to find SOMETHING even to mix it up? Bike one day, weight training another, yoga another? Anything to break the cycle?
The other thing might be to add goals to your workouts so you are moving TOWARDS something instead of AWAY from a negative consequence? So maybe add miles, or try to increase speed each week, anything to change the focus of your training?
I wish I had something insightful or helpful to make this better for you, but you seem to be doing the right things, working with doctors and trainers, and trying to do what's right. All I can say is to not give up, keep trying to find the right mix of diet, exercise, and motivations to keep you strong and healthy, both physically AND mentally/emotionally!
Good luck!
But you right, I hate fat even more than I hate exercise. I thought fat was gross back when I was thin and I still think it's gross now that it's on me, so I'll keep trying my best to fix that.
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Do everything on your own terms. Doing things you don't want to do all in the name of weight loss is the recipe for eating it all back. I know people who live for the gym. It's their life and I know people who don't spend a single minute in a gym @betsycech
Are you still here. I hope you can find a form of exercise that you can enjoy for the rest of your life. My outdoor chores are work and exercise. I can't say I enjoy them on the daily but I hike in the mountains with a backpack. Simply take it back outside. Start going for a walk and hike some hills. Let your mind wonder wherever you may wander. Don't overthink it. Take your music and earphones. You'll get lost in your thoughts but learn to really look forward to momentum and movement. All movement counts.0 -
The most important thing for me to keep exercising is music. I listen to 60s rock (the music of my youth) a lot of the time because it has rhythms that change with each song enabling me to change my pace. I don't notice the time going by if I have my headphones in. I use the phone and Amazon Music streaming much of the time but I also have a waterproof MP3 player I use for pool walking. To me, music is as important a tool as good shoes.
Lately, in addition to rock, I've also been enjoying the rhythms of a Gerschwin piano rolls album and Yo Yo Ma's Goat Rodeo albums. Both great for walking at a good pace.2 -
I just... like walking, I guess. Especially in nature.
I actually let my mind wander and get calmer than I am most of the rest of the day. - If I get bored I have my phone and headphones with me to listen to music. Listening to music is also wat I do at the gym when rowing or using the cross trainer. Because THERE I have no fun scenery to look at and I have to drown out th gym-wide music I am not a an off. - Ven Teresa, though, the repetitive movements, t feeling that I am doing something, and all that lead to m not getting stressed but less stressed.0 -
Exercise can be a great stress reliever. Maybe you need to change up your routine? I always recommend strength training. It gets hard for your brain to wander off when you risk being crushed by weights lol 1
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springlering62 wrote: »Podcasts. Only drawback is, I’m addicted to the true crime ones and my neck is getting an extra workout spinning back and forth to make sure no ones following me!
Yoga. You cannot get through a yoga class without giving it your utmost attention. There is little room for random thoughts. (Unless it’s a Yin, relaxation, or meditative class.)
I came to say exactly this. Sometimes I walk on trails near my house and I am constantly checking my surroundings for creeps as I'm listening to a story about missing persons or murder..0 -
What sort of things do you stress about while exercising?
I find when I’m exercising I’m only thinking about the exercise. My mind and body are focused on form, counting and tracking reps. And overall exercise has reduced the stress in my life because it gives me an outlet and more energy.
Perhaps you need to change up your exercise routine?
I use BeachBody on demand workout videos. The lead trainer often has inspiring, motivational things to say. Obviously it is recorded and when you do the same workout over again, it gets repetitive. But there are 100s of programs, so, before it gets boring, I change to a new program.
It also sounds like you could benefits from some mindfulness/meditation. There are lots of resources online. I’m reading a book called meditation for fidgety sceptics.
Hope you are able to find some calm in your life.
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I hope you find something you like and can enjoy for fitness
I personally enjoy the challenge exercise affords me. I am not an ambitious person but for some reason taxing my body gives me this fulfillment. I think the harder I work the more my brain can focus on other stuff. Right now I've decided to walk the equivalent of a marathon from Monday to Friday. It's hard work, especially when i stop and chat with friends, but it makes me feel good to accomplish these things0 -
The time to think and the non-stop brain chatter during my workouts are driving my stress levels sky high. How does everyone calm their minds while working out? This added stress cannot be good for me.
I really hope you can find something you enjoy and don't find stressful. There is a plethora of options (you tube is amazing for this), so if one thing is stressful for you, maybe try something else?
For me, exercising is a way of de-stressing. I don't want, or try, to push myself to my limits, but just to keep moving. I have discovered the Bodyfit by Amy workouts this spring and love Amy's mantra of "if you turned up you are successful" and "just keep moving". I do her low impact options and find that through these I have gained a lot more flexibility as well as muscle, and that has relaxed me. She also talks all the way through the workouts so that rules out brain chatter. Another thing I do is Scottish Ballet beginners barre which has Preston talking too (and has done wonders for the strength of my feet). The non-accomapnied thing I do is rowing (on a rowing machine), which has me watching either time or distance, so not much time for brain chatter.
Before I discovered you-tube workouts I used to workout/do stretching on my own and tended to put the radio on. On balance I prefer the guidance through the workouts. You might also try a short guided meditation/relaxation before exercise to help switch off that brain chatter? (They often make me go to sleep though...).1 -
'stress of exercising' - for me any stress I have is relieved by exercising. I would feel more stressed NOT to have got my morning workout in, because I always feel so much more ready to take on whatever the day may bring after that.2
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When I do strength training, I"m very focused on my movements (and everyone should be, really) so I'm not really too distracted by my own thoughts. I do cardio at home, and if I'm using an exercise machine I usually watch TV at the same time to distract me (but still pretty focused on what I'm doing) or do dance aerobics where I have to think about what I'm doing (I vary it quite a bit). Listening to music I really like has helped if I'm going for a walk, or when I used to cardio in a gym.1
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My stress from NOT working out is so much worse than any stress that comes from just the thought of working out. I literally am hitting the door running first chance I get and it works amazing wonders for me. My suggestion, find exercise you love love love!1
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How does everyone cope with the stress of daily exercise? The time to think and the non-stop brain chatter during my workouts are driving my stress levels sky high. How does everyone calm their minds while working out? This added stress cannot be good for me.
For me, it’s the opposite. Exercise clears my head. The things that bother me always seem better after I run or lift or do some yoga. Music is key for me.
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If any exercise is causing you stress it's NOT a good exercise for you. You need to find a physical activity that you enjoy that you can perform without hating it. I absolutely HATE the gym but I love to walk so that's what I do as exercise. I love to walk my dog so that's what I do as exercise. It becomes less stressful when you enjoy the activity you are doing.0
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@betsycech , have you done a RMR calorimetry or V02 max or Lactate threshold tests? If yes, what do they show?0
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Exercise is stress. It's physical stress and cortisol is raised regardless if one is mentally stressed or not. So there's no real difference in hormonal response. But one SHOULD do exercise they enjoy for adherence.If any exercise is causing you stress it's NOT a good exercise for you. You need to find a physical activity that you enjoy that you can perform without hating it. I absolutely HATE the gym but I love to walk so that's what I do as exercise. I love to walk my dog so that's what I do as exercise. It becomes less stressful when you enjoy the activity you are doing.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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A lot of people here are suggesting changing up your exercise routine in some way but it seems like the thing that really needs some attention is your mind and your mental health.
You say you have a lot of cortisol and you are very stressed, especially when exercising. I'm not surprised as it sounds like exercise and weight are a source of many difficult issues for you, including genes and things that affect your whole family. Things that have been going on for a really long time. A lot of bad associations and maybe fears around weight and your health.
I wonder if doing some research about mindfulness techniques, meditating, maybe even a bit of counselling or CBT could be the way to go, to help your mind relax a bit. Take that intense focus away from the exercise and see if you can work on improving your mood and mental health? I'm not saying stop exercising as it sounds like you need to do it, but outside of the time you spend exercising, try to spend some time on relaxation techniques and your mental health.4 -
Walk to the weights area of the gym. When you are at the heiest point of exercion you have no time or streangth to think about anything else, just muscle burn and body exhustion. If you think about some outside the scoope of exercise, it means your exercise was too easy. When you exercise, just give it all you have, devote at least 20 min and then go about your daily routine. If you don 't think about particular move and concentrate completely on the move it may be even doesn't worth to begine.0
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How does everyone cope with the stress of daily exercise? The time to think and the non-stop brain chatter during my workouts are driving my stress levels sky high. How does everyone calm their minds while working out? This added stress cannot be good for me.
Exercise doesn't cause me stress or anxiety, but NOT exercising does.
When I was going to the gym, I got involved in the movements, the workout, repetitions, weight load, what I was going to do next, etc. I don't listen to music, unless it is playing in the gym, or podcasts. I don't like to be hooked to electronics. I just tuned things out and enjoyed my "me" time. I miss that!
I have more stress now that I do home workouts
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My workouts don't allow me time to think of anything but what I'm doing. Exercising helps me to manage my stress.1
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claireychn074 wrote: »I tend to either do sports which require my full attention so that I can’t think of other stuff, or I listen to music / podcast if I’m doing something boring. Maybe you need to set aside some time for your brain to whirr separately? Sounds like you’re really busy and maybe need to give yourself a break?
Excellent! And I'd like to add on that one can treat this as a form of meditation by reminding themself through the motions of the bodyweight exercises that life is always in motion. Even when we are still, we are still in motion internally, and to practice bodyweight exercises ritually is to perfect the art of graceful motion of the body, so that every part of your body moves more fully with life.1 -
Wow. Working out is the one time my brain chatter fades and my stress dissipates!0
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