Do you know anyone who doesn’t get the endorphin rush, feel good sensation from exercising?

Studies have shown that endorphins don’t necessarily lead to the post-workout high due to the brain blood barrier, which serves as a filter, controlling which molecules pass into the brain. ’ ‘This means that the endorphins created in the brain don’t always pass into the bloodstream.

It could be many things. Here is an article from USC about it being genetic

I have congestive heart failure and anemia, so no, I don’t get an endorphin rush. I get really out of breath and feel like I might pass out.

I always feel miserable anytime I exercise, including walking in the neighborhood.

I don’t. I’ve had arthritis since I was 25, so it just hurts. I used to work out regularly, but damn, never had a good rush.

Exercise definitely does not give me an endorphin rush. Seeing the positive result on my fitness watch does.
I’m semi-semi retired and have intentionally decided not to pick up any projects from my customer. I have made working on my body and health my main project. I’ve been eating right, and working out quite a bit by walking, running, with and without weights, etc. (I’m an engineer and like to measure everything. “Without data, all you have is an opinion.” I am slowly but surely building up my VO2 Max reading. Every time I see that gauge click up another point I am elated. In 4 months it has gone up 4 points almost linearly. 15%! ) That improved reading is the only part of exercise that gives me a rush.

Listening to music helps. “Happy” by Pharrell Williams is 160 beats per minute and lines up perfectly with my running cadence. That makes me feel good for 4 minutes.

@Forever_Free Thanks for that link! I’ve hunted for an explanation for years, but I have never found a decent answer- or any answer! I guess it’s not very popular.

Good idea @LuckyGuy

Probably. I don’t ask everyone I meet about this. I have experienced it, myself.

I certainly feel what can be described as an endorphin rush. Particularly with bicycling. I think getting your heart rate up, sweating hard and getting your muscles moving just make you feel good. “relaxed and clean” is the best way I can describe it. I may be covered with mud and sweat, but I feel clean and awesome inside if that makes sense.

I don’t. I walk a lot and do aquacise and I enjoy each but no rush.

I don’t think I get it. I try to do exercise I enjoy. It’s different than some sort of rush though. It’s more like happiness or feels good. Zumba and dancing are both happy enjoyment of the songs and the dancing. Swimming is enjoying the feel of the water.

@all I exercised like this in high school and as an early adult. I certainly have gotten covered with sweat. Sweating makes my clothes stick to me, and it’s most uncomfortable, but I did it anyway. My heart rate was up enough, but I have never found exercise to “feel good”, whatever that means. However I exercised to enjoy the view, hanging out with friends, accomplishing a goal, etc. It was a means to an end.

I notice that some people who do enjoy the endorphin rush seem to think that if you’ve never experienced it, then you’re not exercising enough or the right way. That’s the way it seems anyway.

No usually after hard exercise the only rush I feel is the vomit coming up my esophagus that I have to clamp down.

I never got an endorphin rush from exercising.

Ok wow. Close to none of us get any sort of endorphin rush. Maybe that explains why so many people don’t stick with exercise routines.

I think a lot of people feel bad if they don’t exercise if they are accustomed to exercising regularly. Maybe it’s more avoiding the bad feeling than chasing the good. Plus, add in what I said for myself above that I enjoy what I mainly do for exercise, which is dancing.

I could be that most here are not crossing that threshold where they will feel it? I know I have fast twitch muscle. From both experience and genetic testing. I’m faster and stronger than most people my size but I completely suck at anything requiring endurance. Endurance sports and exercise like running and bicycling is difficult for me but I love bicycling. I’ll never be competitive, but I still do it. I don’t get an endorphin rush doing strength training, but I get a big one doing cardio which is very hard for me.

I use to but no so much any more. What I found is the more you exercise in a day then the more likely you are to feel the endorphins. When I use to work out 3 times a day, I had ton of energy. But eventually, that would lead to me overdoing it and hurting myself. Then I would have to bring it down to once a day or none in the day. Now that I’m older and have arthritis its really difficult to achieve that rush from my work outs being they are slower and less. Its easy to hurt for 2 days after working out if I just overdo a little. Walking is best and easiest but I can’t do it at a fast pace like I use too.

I remember in the book Real Age too much exercise shortened lives. There is some sort of sweet spot, and too little or too much isn’t good when they look at statistics.

You’re releasing adrenaline when you exercise, which blocks pain, increases heart rate, increases blood pressure, and that can make you feel strong and vital, and also can wear on the body overall when in excess.

I always point out as an observation that the Chinese do morning exercises that tend to not push the body very hard like Tai Chi or line dancing, and they live to be 100. They also eat a lot less than Americans.

@JLeslie Right? I mean you only have a limited number of heartbeats for this world. Why waste any of them on exercise? :-)

@Caravanfan LOL. Oy, I know some people believe that. I certainly am not discouraging people from exercising, but pushing too hard can leave people in a place where they can barely exercise at all eventually. I try to avoid injury in my old age, but I should push harder than I do.

I’m thinking about starting some weight lifting after many years of not doing it. Dr. Gabe Mirkin (you might know him from his radio show or books) lives where I Ilive and he has me convinced I need to do it.