Sad after exercise?

lauar13

Does anyone else feel worse after a workout? I feel like people always say working out will make you feel happier, but I always feel sad.

Any thoughts on why this is or how to overcome it?

knittnponder

For me it depends. If I haven't had enough carbs to fuel me then I am wiped out and not in a good frame of mind. Also, I have noticed that if I just do weights and don't at least stretch after I am wiped out but if I do intervals or even just walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes then I am in an upbeat, energetic mood. Make sure you're eating in such a way that you have the energy to work out, eat a snack after if necessary and try different things.

You don't say what kind of exercise you're doing, how intense it is and your diary is closed so I'm just guessing based on my own experience. I know for me personally, my endorphins kick in around 18 minutes into my workout. Before that I usually want to die.

MagnumBurrito

Hmmm, that is odd. Exercise releases dopamine which is creates feelings of well being. How are you working out and what are listening to or watching?

zyxst

The only time I feel happy after exercising is when I walk to get something to eat.

DogLoverLiz

I feel the same way. I think it has to do with self-esteem. I always seem to feel worse about myself right after a workout for some reason. Maybe because it reminds me of how much more work I have to do!

IamMCM

I generally feel good afterward unless I didn't eat something or drink enough beforehand. Then the lack of energy or proper hydration makes me feel exhausted. Otherwise, I always feel happy and accomplished, even when I'm sore and dripping with sweat.

dakotababy

Maybe your just so packed full of sadness that it comes out more after you workout? I know sometimes I start to tear up during a workout for no particular reason...but that is different. Typically after a workout - I feel either okay or better. Never in a bad mood. UNLESS if someone interrupts my workout! Then I just get pissed after a workout.

LiveLoveLift67

I cant say that this has happened to me but, once i did about ten miles on the stationary bike and the song " The Climb" came on and i just lost it and started crying. I think i realized how hard i worked to get where i was at that point.

Could it be that you are not enjoying the exercise you are doing? Maybe you need to find some new things to do....zumba or something up beat and fun for a change?

Be proud of yourself that you are there and doing something. You are making yourself fitter and healthier one day at a time.

deluxmary2000

I don't know if this is the case with you, but I feel terrible during and after workouts now because I used to be in better shape. Then I had a somewhat difficult pregnancy where I was put on restricted activity for 7 months. Now when I workout I feel like I want to cry because I can't stop thinking of how much stronger/faster I used to be.
It could also be that you haven't found the right kind of exercise yet. I HATE running solo on the treadmill but love running outside. I'm also a big fan of group classes (boot camp, cross fit, etc). You should try switching up your routine until you find something you love, or at least like.

sweetnsassy1491

When my week has been super stressful, and I do a lot of cardio, I start to tear up and almost cry. I think it's the release of stress and actually letting those stresses go.

rosebette

I found that I am overly fatigued and irritable if I didn't eat enough.

I used to feel sad sometimes during yoga because sometimes I became open to feelings that I was too busy to deal with or that I had suppressed.

JaimieAG

Dehydration changes everything. It makes you feel like crud, especially after a workout. If you're calorie restricting you're also decreasing your water intake. Since you're exercising you're losing more water than normal. Those two factors mean you'll need to increase your water intake substantially. Use the water portion of the app to help you keep tabs.



"There is evidence of impairments of cognitive function at moderate levels of hypohydration, but even short periods of fluid restriction, leading to a loss of body mass of 1–2%, lead to reductions in the subjective perception of alertness and ability to concentrate and to increases in self-reported tiredness and headache. (...)

In exercise tests lasting more than a few minutes, reductions in performance are apparent at modest levels of body water loss amounting to 1–2% of the pre-exercise body mass (Armstrong et al, 1985). For the average young male (most of the subjects in these studies have been male, but the responses of female subjects do not appear to be different), body water accounts for about 60% of total body mass, so these levels of hypohydration amount to about 2–3% of total body water. It was reported by Adolph et al (1947) that subjects do not report a sensation of thirst until they have incurred a water deficit of about 2% of body mass. This suggests that athletes living and training in the heat may not be aware that they have become dehydrated to a level sufficient to affect performance adversely. Athletes living and training in warm environments, especially those used to living in cool climates, will often fail to consume sufficient fluid to maintain hydration status and may need encouragement to do so (Shirreffs & Maughan, 1998).

- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition "Impact of mild dehydration on wellness and on exercise performance"

Adc7225

I don't know that I every really felt bad after working out, I know I felt icky . . . until I discovered wicking clothing and I can say that when I think I look good/cute I tend to workout harder and have a better workout in general Being in smelly wet clothing that is sticking to you cannot be good for your mood.

Also, drinking water definitely makes a difference, I workout with a friend that doesn't drink any water during our workouts and he always seems to be dragging himself out of the gym in not the happiest of moods :laugh:

kait_marie24

Yeah, sometimes actually. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I feel depressed sometimes and I'm not sure why.

RaggedyPond

Sad because its over?

lauar13

I've been doing the 30 day shred videos and a spin class 1x a week. I definitely think part of is the self esteem issue and feeling like I have sooooo far to go, but I never considered dehydration. I think I'll focus on more water this week and see if that helps. Thanks everyone!

Terraforcejenny

Some people actually don't get as much of a "high" from working out than others; I've had a fitness instructor say that until you're 'healthy' (vs 'fit'), exercise can often feel like a draining process and the mood boost comes more from satisfaction at completing your goal and getting it over with, with a small side of endorphins. I know I've never personally had a runner's high!

I will say that I feel the happiest after light cardio and normal yoga; I feel the most wiped/depressed after exercise routines where I push myself until I feel like collapsing, or hot house yoga. I tend to save those for night-time since I can do a cooldown and plop myself into bed.

On a side note, do you listen to music when you're working out? I know I had a big metal/house music obsession for a bit while working out, and when I mixed it up to include more lighter, peppy sounding stuff I felt perkier too. It's underrated ,but the atmosphere you surround yourself with can affect the feels you get while working out.

leahraskie

I get sad a while afterwards, like a couple hours because I feel like I didn't exercise enough, but right afterwards you should feel good.

Exercise might not be a good route for you, if it doesn't make you feel good then do less maybe.