Work Out Rage

Flixie00
Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I am normally quite a laid back person who rarely loses their temper, but 4 times in the last week I have snapped at people when I have been working out. Once in the weights room, twice out running when I swore twice (why do guys have to shout stuff at women runners), and again in the pool today (a lane hogger tried to drown me).

This behaviour only occurs when I have been working out, and I feel ashamed about it later. There are no real stressers in my life at present, so its not behaviour I can justify.

Has anyone else found themselves having a short fuse when working out? Any ideas on what could be causing it?

Replies

  • sapalee
    sapalee Posts: 409 Member
    My husband has commented that I can be more aggressive now. I think it's more that I'm being more confidant and he's used to super laid back me. You are tapping into the fight response.... pretty common for sggressiveness to go up from what I understand. How to control it... I don't know, try to channel it into the workout? And I don't know that you should feel too bad about yelling back at catcalls.
  • liftingbro
    liftingbro Posts: 2,029 Member
    I think for me, I get in a state of mind to workout and that state of mind is more aggresive than my normal state of mind.

    Granted, the energy is almost 100% focused on the weights but there's a difference in temperment for sure.

    There is the is guy at my gym that is a major a-hole when he lifts but not outside the gym. I think some people just have not learned how to channel the energy in the right direction.
  • cjv428
    cjv428 Posts: 124
    My husband has commented that I can be more aggressive now. I think it's more that I'm being more confidant and he's used to super laid back me. You are tapping into the fight response.... pretty common for sggressiveness to go up from what I understand. How to control it... I don't know, try to channel it into the workout? And I don't know that you should feel too bad about yelling back at catcalls.

    I agree that I feel much more confident and empowered now that I am working out regularly.
  • mtread13
    mtread13 Posts: 31 Member
    I killed a treadmiller in Reno just to watch him die...

    Sorry for the weak Johhny Cash reference.

    I do find that when I'm hurting/struggling, I get irritated by weird things like having to change lanes on the track at the Y - I don't act on my frustration, but as a normally laid back person, it's odd to even feel that strong frustration with no one at fault but me.
  • mabernier
    mabernier Posts: 62 Member
    The flight response or fight response can gear up pretty quickly....all that adrenaline kicking in...so first, keep in mind that this truly is a chemical response in your body...not saying you can just say "it's not my fault, it's chemical"...you still have to control yourself....what I have done recently when frustrated by something out of my control is try to give the person the benefit of the doubt in a funny way....like when someone is tailing me too closely and then swerves around me on the highway, I jokingly tell my husband "they are probably racing to the hospital to see their dying Mother before she is gone"....or I look at the person and say "how terrible that they are so challenged with being socially inept or inconsiderate...it must be terrible to be them"...By showing some compassion for these sad, pathetic people with no social skills I am able to have pity on them rather than let my rage kick in.
  • missikay1970
    missikay1970 Posts: 588 Member
    testosterone is high when working-out. i get the same way, and get angry about things that earlier in the day didn't bother me. i find running to be a great stressor relief! :smile: i actually like feeling that way, makes me feel powerful and in control!

    *edited to say that i feel powerful and in control as compared to being weak and a door mat like i was before!!!
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
    Glad I am not the only one.

    I get the adrenalin / testosterone link, but am surprised its only started recently to kick in as I have been exercising constantly for the last 10 months. When I tell male friends and my PT about my newly found work out rage they just laugh at me.

    Anyway, no one's hit me yet :happy:
  • DGK12
    DGK12 Posts: 117
    I tend to be a tad aggressive anyway. I mean, I'm not like She-Hulk or anything, but I'm defintely not as laid back as many of the other women I know. But, here's a theory (and it's JUST a theory. I have no scientific proof whatsoever, and I'm probably just blowing smoke). Maybe, when all those other chemicals, and sweat, and fat cells are being affected when you work out, your aggressive chemicals are too? :). Like I said, probably just BS, but there's my humble theory!
  • SalishSea
    SalishSea Posts: 373 Member
    I love that term, "work out rage". I'm going to use that today during my workout!
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