Anonymous wrote:Maybe try team or group exercise? A class where you can see the more fit people and aim for that. And see others who are struggling more than you and silently feel better that you are exercising better than them. Those are not my reasons to take group classes but it does feel a bit better to be around people.

Horrible.

This is such an interesting thread! I can't do strength training on my own; I always thought I was literally bored to tears, but now I wonder if it was something else. Body Pump is the only strength training that keeps me engaged.

Anonymous wrote:I am a personal trainer and yoga teacher. It’s not uncommon at all. You can hold trauma, emotion, and tension in your muscle. Releasing that is a good thing. Bring your attention back to your breath. That will help.

Thank you! Do you think I should keep going? I’ve been pausing my workout, trying to let the waves come while I breathe until it abates, and then getting back into it. Maybe I should try to “work” through it instead so to speak?

I am a personal trainer and yoga teacher. It’s not uncommon at all. You can hold trauma, emotion, and tension in your muscle. Releasing that is a good thing. Bring your attention back to your breath. That will help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you too hard on yourself in general?

Is this just another thing you're pushing yourself to do?

Well, I am hard on myself, but not in a Type A “must accomplish all the things” way. By DCUM standards I am a lazy undisciplined layabout! I am pushing myself to make exercise and now strength training a regular part of my life and hopefully a habit. For the health benefits, not aesthetics.

You're talking to yourself in a really tough way. I've heard the saying "you can't shame yourself thin"

Look up CBT

I said by DCUM standards, not my standards. I’m very much a fat positive, health at every size believer and don’t believe I can “shame myself thin” nor do I want to be thin. I said that to illustrate I am not the type of person that holds myself to high standards or pushes myself just for the sake of pushing myself.

I've heard that the book The Body Keeps The Score talks about this (haven't read it myself). Maybe check it out?

I cry when I run and certain songs come up on my playlist. For some reason the zone I am in on long runs makes me emotionally fragile, like PMS.

I'd suggest different strength workout. Try resistance bands, or kettlebells. You can create "flows" with kettlebells and keep your mind occupied and engaged. Sometimes adding another dimension to working out helps to get out of a rut.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you too hard on yourself in general?

Is this just another thing you're pushing yourself to do?

Well, I am hard on myself, but not in a Type A “must accomplish all the things” way. By DCUM standards I am a lazy undisciplined layabout! I am pushing myself to make exercise and now strength training a regular part of my life and hopefully a habit. For the health benefits, not aesthetics.

You're talking to yourself in a really tough way. I've heard the saying "you can't shame yourself thin"

Look up CBT

I am ashamed to admit I regularly cry during peloton bike workouts. I don't know what it is - I feel an emotional overwhelm. It also used to happen to me during yoga. I would feel so embarrassed. I trained for and ran distance runs at respectable paces and have done crossfit workouts, OTF. I lift weights. It only happens during yoga and peloton. I don't know if it's the spiritual instructor talk or what. I'm kind of closed off and cynical so maybe it gets to me.

Out of context if you showed me the end of a Peloton ride and Kendall saying "they can knock you down but baby, never let them knock you out" I would LOL. Real life in the privacy of my basement: bawling and snot.

Anonymous wrote:Are you too hard on yourself in general?

Is this just another thing you're pushing yourself to do?

Well, I am hard on myself, but not in a Type A “must accomplish all the things” way. By DCUM standards I am a lazy undisciplined layabout! I am pushing myself to make exercise and now strength training a regular part of my life and hopefully a habit. For the health benefits, not aesthetics.

Are you too hard on yourself in general?

Is this just another thing you're pushing yourself to do?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe try team or group exercise? A class where you can see the more fit people and aim for that. And see others who are struggling more than you and silently feel better that you are exercising better than them. Those are not my reasons to take group classes but it does feel a bit better to be around people.

As I said, it’s not about feeling negative about my performance. And I would never use someone else to silently feel superior (!!!). I don’t want to aim for what anyone else can do, I don’t care if I can only lift 5 pounds or 50, or how good my squat form is. I just want to be a stronger and keep my bones strong. I don’t get this feeling when I run because I struggle to run a 13 minute mile pace.

There are no group strength classes available to me anyway, I wish!

I mean is it the feeling of getting stronger? For me, I used to cry during heavy deadlifts or out of frustration when I was having a bad lift. The latter was more frequent but I definitely had some good crying sessions after lifting a normal prep day because I felt so GodDmn accomplished and strong. And it could be an overwhelming feeling when I didnt feel that way in other areas. Lifting also focuses your body and can let your mind be "empty" which means ideas can start floating. Akin to how some people think great ideas in the shower or while using the bathroom. I would lean into it and see if you can do it solo- if you are worried about people judging you.

Anonymous wrote:OP, may I ask what weight videos you are doing?

I do apple fitness plus. I started with the walking treadmill workouts which I love and now doing the strength videos.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe try team or group exercise? A class where you can see the more fit people and aim for that. And see others who are struggling more than you and silently feel better that you are exercising better than them. Those are not my reasons to take group classes but it does feel a bit better to be around people.

As I said, it’s not about feeling negative about my performance. And I would never use someone else to silently feel superior (!!!). I don’t want to aim for what anyone else can do, I don’t care if I can only lift 5 pounds or 50, or how good my squat form is. I just want to be a stronger and keep my bones strong. I don’t get this feeling when I run because I struggle to run a 13 minute mile pace.

There are no group strength classes available to me anyway, I wish!