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!
