Exercise makes me ANGRY at the world

funkyspunky872

I always hear/read about people getting 'high' off exercise. They feel great all day long and so happy and pleased with themselves. Well..

I just started strength training again, and I feel pissed as Hell. That's 'I want to break somebody's neck' pissed and irritable. I have the absolute WORST mood swings on days that I exercise heavily (2 hours today). It's usually a 3 mile walk and an hour of strength training and stretching that does it, but I often feel this way on 6-mile walks (which also take about 2 hours at my pace). The anger and irritability and rage stays with me all day long. I can't talk to anybody without wanting to scream my head off. I get so easily frustrated with the simplest things like making dinner or washing dishes. I literally want to rip my hair out, because I cannot function!

Am I the only one? Is it hormone induced or what? I don't feel like this on rest days or light cardio days. Is it just a coincidence and I've got bottled-up anger issues? Is it an increase in adrenaline?

I'm pissed right now just typing about it.

anemoneprose

Are you at a deficit on workout days? Are you cutting carbs?

I do notice I'm more active & energized on days I work out. Sometimes it does come out as irritability. I rarely spend more than ~1 hour at a time doing anything other than walking.

girish_ph

It happens to me too - only its a lot worse than what you described. I got my micros checked and found LOTS of deficits.

You mentioned "walk". Walking is a fairly boring exercize. You can easily walk and think. What thoughts do you think when you walk? In my case, my thoughts usually turn to past losses and ungrieved pains. That is why I get angry. Just sharing my experience. It may or may not apply to you.

DopeItUp

It happens to me sometimes too. Must be a testosterone boost from the heavy workout or something.

Nerdy_Rose

I always hear/read about people getting 'high' off exercise. They feel great all day long and so happy and pleased with themselves. Well..

I just started strength training again, and I feel pissed as Hell. That's 'I want to break somebody's neck' pissed and irritable. I have the absolute WORST mood swings on days that I exercise heavily (2 hours today). It's usually a 3 mile walk and an hour of strength training and stretching that does it, but I often feel this way on 6-mile walks (which also take about 2 hours at my pace). The anger and irritability and rage stays with me all day long. I can't talk to anybody without wanting to scream my head off. I get so easily frustrated with the simplest things like making dinner or washing dishes. I literally want to rip my hair out, because I cannot function!

Am I the only one? Is it hormone induced or what? I don't feel like this on rest days or light cardio days. Is it just a coincidence and I've got bottled-up anger issues? Is it an increase in adrenaline?

I'm pissed right now just typing about it.

These moods happen to me when I don't eat enough.

annabellj

maybe go get your blood checked or talk to your dr. this doesnt sound right. if i got angry everytime i exercised more than an hr i wouldnt ever do it again! i hope it gets better for you.

ChapinaGrande

Me too. I hate exercising. Like, HATE. It's supposed to make koalas crap rainbows in your brain and unfortunately, I haven't had this experience. I just get crabby, tired, sweaty, and all other adjectives and I can't enjoy my rare time with my family, and it's all for nothing because I don't even lose weight when I go. I ONLY lose weight when I'm in screw it mode and stay home for a week, screwing it. Screw it.

funkyspunky872

Are you at a deficit on workout days? Are you cutting carbs?

I do notice I'm more active & energized on days I work out. Sometimes it does come out as irritability. I rarely spend more than ~1 hour at a time doing anything other than walking.

I am at deficit but only 350-500 calories. I usually eat 1800-2000 calories. I 'should' be feeling great. I don't get it. And once the frustration wears off, I go to bed depressed! Exercise is supposed to be this magical anti-depressant, but it's never had those effects with me.

ETA: No, I'm not cutting carbs.... And even the shorter, less intense workouts leave me feeling awful too... just not for as long.

Lift_hard_eat_big

Roid rage?

Nerdy_Rose

Have you considered exploring different exercise options that might make you happier? Be more enjoyable? Rock climbing? Dancing? Kayaking? Jump rope? Bicycling?

zrmac804

I'm curious, where do you walk?

I've read a few articles that suggest spending time in a green space, like a park or forest, is a natural mood-lifter. I can't say I've ever been put in a bad mood by walking (well, except a for few times when I missed the school bus or locked myself out of my house :blushing: )

Maybe you could try changing the location of your walk? Or adding/removing headphone music, or walking with/without companions. It might take some trial and error to figure out what is bothering you.

anemoneprose

Are you at a deficit on workout days? Are you cutting carbs?

I do notice I'm more active & energized on days I work out. Sometimes it does come out as irritability. I rarely spend more than ~1 hour at a time doing anything other than walking.

I am at deficit but only 350-500 calories. I usually eat 1800-2000 calories. I 'should' be feeling great. I don't get it. And once the frustration wears off, I go to bed depressed! Exercise is supposed to be this magical anti-depressant, but it's never had those effects with me.

ETA: No, I'm not cutting carbs.... And even the shorter, less intense workouts leave me feeling awful too... just not for as long.

Maybe experiment a bit with calories... would you try eating a bit more on lifting days, maybe maintenance?

Also: I read some study or other that said gym environments are stressful (apparently cortisol levels go up around cardio machines, go figure). Could you do any of your cardio outside? edit: someone else mentioned that already, lol.

funkyspunky872

It happens to me too - only its a lot worse than what you described. I got my micros checked and found LOTS of deficits.

You mentioned "walk". Walking is a fairly boring exercize. You can easily walk and think. What thoughts do you think when you walk? In my case, my thoughts usually turn to past losses and ungrieved pains. That is why I get angry. Just sharing my experience. It may or may not apply to you.

Probably am low in some vitamin or another... Who even knows? Occasionally I can tell when I'm making myself angry with old thoughts during walking, but not all the time. I try my best not to think about anything.

Me too. I hate exercising. Like, HATE. It's supposed to make koalas crap rainbows in your brain and unfortunately, I haven't had this experience. I just get crabby, tired, sweaty, and all other adjectives and I can't enjoy my rare time with my family, and it's all for nothing because I don't even lose weight when I go. I ONLY lose weight when I'm in screw it mode and stay home for a week, screwing it. Screw it.

Screw it just about sums up everything at the moment.

Roid rage?

Perhaps so.

Have you considered exploring different exercise options that might make you happier? Be more enjoyable? Rock climbing? Dancing? Kayaking? Jump rope? Bicycling?

Thanks. I'll look into changing things up, I guess.

funkyspunky872

I'm curious, where do you walk?

I've read a few articles that suggest spending time in a green space, like a park or forest, is a natural mood-lifter. I can't say I've ever been put in a bad mood by walking (well, except a for few times when I missed the school bus or locked myself out of my house :blushing: )

Maybe you could try changing the location of your walk? Or adding/removing headphone music, or walking with/without companions. It might take some trial and error to figure out what is bothering you.

Worth looking into. I didn't think about that. Thanks.

Maybe experiment a bit with calories... would you try eating a bit more on lifting days, maybe maintenance?

Also: I read some study or other that said gym environments are stressful (apparently cortisol levels go up around cardio machines, go figure). Could you do any of your cardio outside? edit: someone else mentioned that already, lol.

Thank you too. I'll keep experimenting with calories, but by the looks of it, if I raise my calories any more, I won't lose an ounce.

Nerdy_Rose

Have you considered exploring different exercise options that might make you happier? Be more enjoyable? Rock climbing? Dancing? Kayaking? Jump rope? Bicycling?

Thanks. I'll look into changing things up, I guess.

Well, for a little background, my boyfriend hated exercise with a passion until he discovered rock climbing... now he's happy exercising for 4 hours and it doesn't even feel like exercise, so it might make a big difference.

lilpoindexter

Im a 40yo man...I frequently go on 2 hr bike rides where I burn 3000 calories...I also work out somethimes for a little more than 2 hours...an hour of weight training, and an hour of cardio...I never feel angry after ward. I frequently work out on an empty stomach, or eat very little to try to burn off fat, and i don't ever feel angry.