Post-exercise high

SnifterPug

I always thought "runner's high" was a bit of a myth. At any rate, I've been exercising seriously since 2016 and never experienced it. OK, exercise generally makes me feel happier, and usually energetic rather than tired. Sometimes I've noticed being in a better mood than usual afterwards - but this has always been (I assumed) because the exercise is something I really love doing (e.g. boxing) or because I have achieved a goal during the session. The good feeling has been primarily mental.

I've just done my first week of a proper hypertrophy training block. The sessions are really tough, with lots of volume and minimal rest. And, without fail, immediately after every single one I have felt a real, physical rush. I'm really happy, totally energised, and if someone told me I had to do more exercise I'd probably have a go if my muscles would let me.

Who else gets this, and what will trigger it for you?

emailnumber308

I experience an after workout high after a really intense hiit or tabata workout, especially if I add weights or moves that require explosive jumping. I can get the same high from running as well.

SuzanneC1l9zz

I've gotten it lifting a couple of times, but usually it's doing cardio, generally about half an hour into a workout where I'm pushing my limits doing intervals.

yirara

Sometimes, but only when I'm at my fittest. Only after runs, and only after runs that are neither too long and neither too short. Mind you, I normally feel totally relaxed and chill, and don't have any hunger anymore for pretty much the rest of the day after exercising. Annoyingly I mainly exercise in the evening

AnnPT77

I don't know if it's the explanation, but I think endorphins are a real thing. Because I was a college student in the 1970s, I'll admit some personal experience with very inappropriate recreational drugs. On quite rare occasions, I've felt a very drug-like euphoric rush simply from exercise exertion.

It's plausible to me that someone might need a certain base level of fitness to achieve that feeling, i.e., that someone very unfit maybe couldn't go hard enough, long enough . . . but that might be individual.

Speakeasy76

I wouldn't say a get huge rush of endorphins after exercise, but I always feel better after than I did before I started. I get grumpy and anxious if I don't get some kind of exercise in during the day. That's why the exercise part of the weight-loss equation was always easier for me than the food part, which really was the more important part.

yirara

AnnPT77 wrote: »

I don't know if it's the explanation, but I think endorphins are a real thing. Because I was a college student in the 1970s, I'll admit some personal experience with very inappropriate recreational drugs. On quite rare occasions, I've felt a very drug-like euphoric rush simply from exercise exertion.

It's plausible to me that someone might need a certain base level of fitness to achieve that feeling, i.e., that someone very unfit maybe couldn't go hard enough, long enough . . . but that might be individual.

Nothing wrong with inappropriate. I'm glad though that I don't experience my drug experience after a workout - as I've totally greened out after just a tiny bit of.. well.. stuff...

jillybeansalad

My first half marathon was my first time experiencing the "runner's high." I become a giggley person (which is not typical :P )

GummiMundi

I usually feel good after exercising, even though I may be tired. Happier, stronger, in a better mood, more energized (again, even if I'm tired, which is a paradox but true nevertheless).

But the actual "high"? That kick that puts me at an almost euphoric state? I've only had it a couple of times, after running. And it's awesome!

MarttaHP

I run a lot, but never get a high during a run. Afterwards, though, I feel very good and relaxed. My HR is low and my whole body is loose. The tougher the workout, the better I feel after it. But I wouldn't describe it as a "high," more like how I feel after a nice glass of wine.

The only time I really experienced something like a high was after my first marathon. And it lasted for several days, too, those feel-good hormones surging through my system. Totally understood at that moment why some people get hooked on racing.

springlering62

Note to self: Try harder




Seriously, nothing like y’all describe, but have experienced “yoga high”. Don’t know what triggers it, and wish I did, but is a feeling of intense wel being, calm, peace, appreciation, and “hyper awareness” of birds, trees, beautiful sky after some practices.

It always sneaks up unexpectedly, and not nearly often enough.

litoria

Yeah how good is that runner's high?!?! I love it, struggling to breathe, can't wipe the stupid grin off my face

nossmf

I was a runner all through high school and college, enjoyed it quite a bit but never had sudden change of sensation, going from "tired/sore" to "energized/pain free". Not until I was serving active duty, and one day on a lark decided to not stop my run at my usual 5km/3mi distance but instead double it, just because. About the time I estimate I hit the 5 mile mark, suddenly my muscles were no longer sore, I didn't feel tired, my breathing eased...it was a gloriously welcome moment! lol Never had that mid-exercise feeling again, though admittedly I never ran that far again.

A couple times in the weight room I have come close, but invariably those times were attached to reaching personal milestones... the first time I hit 225# on the bench press, for example, I got stood up after the rep and was bouncing off the walls for several minutes in happiness.

heybales

I'll ditto it's only on the longer runs usually over 9 miles, when it's not terrible heat causing issues, that I'll finally slip into a mode of it feels like form improved because HR and breathing lower a tad, pace is the same, and just feel much better.

I had 1 instance as teenager running literal cross-country at grandparent's farm, went way longer than normal - where I got better than improved mode and actually felt like I could run forever, I counted that as the elusive runner's high.

Not sure if that's what I've gotten more recently, or that's more of a "2nd wind" type thing. Perhaps more skeptical that the feeling would really allow me to run forever.

Never gotten it on a bike I think, 2nd wind or a biker's high.
Had times I could feel the cantaloupe kick in though!