Do you get miserable if you can't exercise?

mpatts

I have (worryingly) found that I get really very low if I don't get out for a few days for a ride or a run. I can't see this as a good thing. I feel miserable until I go out, then I feel almost euphoric. It worryingly sounds like addiction to me!

Gizmodo

mpatts wrote:

I have (worryingly) found that I get really very low if I don't get out for a few days for a ride or a run. I can't see this as a good thing. I feel miserable until I go out, then I feel almost euphoric. It worryingly sounds like addiction to me!

I wasn't going to bring my bike on holiday to Dorset this week, but my wife insisted that I did because "you will go stir crazy if you don't". I don't see it as a problem though

markhewitt1978

Yes, although probably without realising it.

The last week I haven't been able to do any cycling because of various illness related issues. I felt really down all weekend.

But it's abated just enough to allow me to get a 20 and 10 mile ride in and this morning I was bouncing!

trek_dan

Yes really miserable, had 2 weeks off the bike recently with flu/illness and was unbelievably miserable. In fact got so down I almost relapsed after 3 years clean

BigLee1

It is a fact that you get addicted to the endorphins that excercise produces even if you`re not a high level athlete better than some other addictions out there

Monty Dog

My wife sends me out intentionally as she knows that after 24 years, I'll be a grumpy-sod if I don't get a ride in...

choldy

Yes I get grumpy....but to be fair I'm pretty grumpy most of the time

Flâneur

I have on good authority (numerous ex partners, friends and parents) that I am a miserable, depressed and grumpy b*****d if I fail to do some form of exercise beyond walking the dogs and riding the horses once a week. Just needs to be a run, cycle, weights, anything that gets the heart going and a sweat on.

I don't think it is about addiction,just an attitude to life combined with the way the body reacts when change occurs (chemical and mental). I can also eat some rubbish (I mean chocolate or cup cakes) with certain friends around and I know if I don't get out this plays on my mind as I am fairly body conscious (not to the extent where I need to be buff)

Bozman

I've cycled for 20 years and I've done some form of exercise for the last 30, If I don't do something I go nuts as the adrenaline builds up. The wife knows how bad I get so she even insists that I take my bike away with us on holiday, I don't abuse the situation and just fit in a couple of hours here and there, but it is required.

edhornby

me too - I get antsy, thankfully the daily commuting provides a minor respite but if I've been off the bike for whatever reason or the commutes are congested and slow the hackles start to rise

thefd

I don't get grumpy or miserable but I do miss it if I don't go for a ride for a couple of days. I love it when out but I wouldn't class it as euphoric!!

wavefront

Yup!

I use cycling as a way to unwind and cope with stress at work/life, and if I'm not on the bike every day, or every other day, it starts to show. Even 1/2 hour a day keeps me sane!

iPete

Day 5 without exercise and I've started clucking!!

15+ hours a week to 0, my body must be missing some kind of self induced drug doses. Feel agitated and not quite with it.

Pross

choldy wrote:

Yes I get grumpy....but to be fair I'm pretty grumpy most of the time

This

wishitwasallflat

endogenous endorphins are addictive

diy

Yes - just snapped at the wife for going to the gym on a riding night leaving me stuck with the monsters.

Mikey23

Yup an endorphin addiction here to for many years through running and cycling. Have to really force myself like yesterday not to go out and have a rest day... Which I needed. And at other times I just can't be arsed..

Then there's that niggling thought that all my strava buds will be out and getting ahead in the challenges and beating my times

pease

Yep ! Had a family holiday in mallorca last week ( cala marsal near portocolm ) no bike, views of the hills inland and only shoddy mtbs avaliable to hire so thought better of it, not just to keep peace with swmbo. In all fairness it was okay being busy with the kids until we got back to the hot humid palma departures lounge and got stuck there for a 7hour delay on our flight.

An hour ride this morning was slow/stiff but hopefully I haven't lost too much in 10days...

mrbrightside

Work gets in the way of my riding, 5am starts. got home at 9pm tonight and will now be away for a couple of days getting back circa 10:00pm thurs. however with two kids, youngest 3 I try not to let it show and the wife excepts that the free time when possible is a great release. However I won't sulk if family plans get in the way of a ride, just make the most of it knowing she'll 'endorse' future rides.

markhewitt1978

MrBrightside wrote:

Work gets in the way of my riding, 5am starts. got home at 9pm tonight and will now be away for a couple of days getting back circa 10:00pm thurs. however with two kids, youngest 3 I try not to let it show and the wife excepts that the free time when possible is a great release. However I won't sulk if family plans get in the way of a ride, just make the most of it knowing she'll 'endorse' future rides.

Same here really. With work life and family life I find that cycling on my own is a great release as I don't have to think about anything except the ride. Certainly with a 2 year old, doing a 20% climb is more relaxing than being at home

teisetrotter

yes ........... I get lethargic, down and moody. Exercise any exercise and I need it at least every other day and it has to be over an hour very hard exercise.

I can take a respite by getting wonderfully drunk ........ but that is not good as I struggle to exercise the next day!

Loretta Damage

BigLee1 wrote:

It is a fact that you get addicted to the endorphins that excercise produces even if you`re not a high level athlete better than some other addictions out there

I agree, I can go about 48hrs max without starting to get some sort of exercise cold turkey symptoms. Like just about every other potentially miserable bugger on the forum my brilliant wife knows that the only way I will chill out on any holiday is to pack the bike. I try and get up early and get in a couple of hours, get back to the campsite mid-morning so my addiction doesn't have too much impact on family activities. Even better this year we are going away with another family, so I will have a ride buddy as well!

tlw1

Yes (that about covers it)

overlord2

I dont believe there are addiction issues. I think its just a case of the body and mind saying I need some exercise.

I think pretty much all of us here are pretty fit as a consequence the body starts doing strange things when it gets idle.

richardacdc

I definitely do that's how I got into cycling, the off season from rugby is the grumpiest couple on months of my wife's life

verylonglegs

Even though I'll have an elevated heart rate, will be sweating and my muscles will be burning in some way...excerise has often been the only way I felt calm in life.

skinnypunter

I get ill if I don't exercise... can be quite unpleasant.

First noticed it happening years ago when I suddenly stopped rowing immediately after a series of national level regattas, and all the hours of training that went with that. Took a bright doctor to spot the cause, which was essentially endorphin withdrawal. I'd spent 6 weeks of a late '80s summer worrying that I'd contracted something properly horrible!

Greer_

Brilliant, I now have a name for what I suffer from! I despise not being able to get out at least a few times a week - certainly getting my fix now with the daily commuting! Glad I'm not the only one!

ednino

Agreed, im the same. But I feel a short fast ride puts me in a better mood than a long slow ride.
Been doing 60-100 mile rides every Sunday but now im mixing it up with some 10 mile TTs and feel better for it

mrfpb

I got back into cycling when I was told by my GP to get some exercise in green spaces when I was sick with stress three years ago. It certainly helped, though I still ended up leaving my job.

I'm now in a home based, mostly desk based job and my wife regularly orders me out on a ride when I'm getting irate - cabin fever as she calls it. As a father of four I tend to feel guilty heading off on my own for several hours, so don't get out nearly as much as I'd like.

angry_bird

I'm a bastard to be around if I can't/don't ride bikes for some reason.

If for some reason I can't ride I try and get on and fettle though, or buy things