Monday, March 26, 2012

Endorphines

   Starting back out on a positive note: endorphines. For the past 9 months I've been getting back in to exercise. Jogging at first, building endurance, then I started Taekwondo, and have recently started weight training.  For years I had been slowly putting weight on.  It's been over 10 years since I worked out regularly.  I was getting to the point I felt tired as soon as I got home from work most days.  I had told myself if I ever reached 200 lbs I would not be happy with myself.  One day last summer I weighed myself: 205.  That was enough to jumpstart me.  What I hadn't realized is how unhappy I was before 205 lbs.  Not with life or my kids or my wife or my job...  Just how I felt.
   The other thing I had forgotten about: how great I feel after an intense workout.  After talking with others, I guess not everyone feels this.  I don't know if it's the lack of intesity or some just can't feel it.  From what I've read, you have to reach an anarobic stage in exercise to get it, which I can see.  I have to run hard (to the point that it's hard to breath) or lift heavy (less than 10 reps max in 3 sets) to fully feel it.  The other benefit I've newly discovered?  It has mostly taken care of my allergies.  They have gotten worse over the years.  Sometimes during the spring and fall I would have to take Allegra daily (nothing else worked).  Since exercising, my sinuses mostly stay clear.  If I do feel like I'm getting stuffy, the cure is a quick 1 mile jog.
  Oh, and I'm also looking forward to this summer at the lake.  :)
  Does anyone else get this "runner's high"?  I'd like to hear your experiences in comments below!