Starting an endless cycle (sort of long...sorry).

[pseudo_vegan]

So I've read on studies that show exercise/physical activity can relieve, if not prevent some types of depression...or just overall "ho-hum"ness...which I believe is true because I've often times used exercise as a time to think and clear my head and I generally feel "better" or at least calmer than before I started...

At any rate, the past month or so I've really kind of crapped-out. Last week, I didn't do any of my leg-work; yesterday I didn't go do arm-work because a.) my boss was gone and so I couldn't leave work and b.) I thought I was going to a concert last night so I went home to take a cat-nap and 20 minutes turned into an hour so I didn't "have time" before the concert (that I didn't end up going to anyway...another story on it's own :wall: )

Anyway...and then since late last week I've been feeling kind of depressed...I don't think it's hormones, b/c I'm done with that time of the month...but I know something's not right. And thus begins this cycle...that I know I should exercise or do SOMETHING to get the ol' endorphins going...but b/c I'm so grey I just don't feel like doing anything but sleeping or staring off into space. I have a 5K in two weeks...and again, not the issue of "winning" or going super-fast but I still need to keep my miles up until I get down there to do it...

I've enlisted the company of my Omni on an evening run this evening; if we were running together more often I'd probably not be slacking off so much but he moved farther away and it's like a pain b/c I prefer just to get the exercise done with early in the day...I haven't done a 5 A.M. run in like a month now because I just can't force myself to get up for whatever reason.

Gah. :sick: I don't even know where I'm going with this whiny rambling. Have any of you experienced anything like this? For the past week it's been grey and rainy, so maybe that could be affecting me somehow as well...but if you went through this, how did you handle it? Do you know what brought on your downward spiral? And what got you over the hump? :help:

Thanks to any responses.

:nigel: Cheers.

ETA: I've already taken my "week off" about a month or a month and a half ago, so I don't think I'm "due" for another one...especially when I've a race two weeks out.

[zoebird]

sometimes, having someone go with you is good motivation. i hope it works out for you!

[remilard]

Have you tried the good old sports psychology techniques?

Visualize yourself running and the good feelings you get from running every night before you fall asleep.

Write down your short/medium/long term fitness/athletic goals and read them each day.

Tape a picture of a runner or other athlete you admire on your bathroom mirror or somewhere else where you have to see it each day.

[SeaSiren]

I am not sure I am much of a help.

But I will say I do not feel like going to the gym today. I have been dragging all day, haven't slept well the last few days, and all I want to do is take a nap!

BUT, I am going anyway.....because if I don't it is a downward spiral, and I know it. I work out 5-6 x's per week, I generally try to take off Fri, or Sat. However, I have missed up to 3 days in a week, and thet is OK as long as I force myself to get back in there. I have 3 good weeks and then a couple bad ones which is a cycle I know I have.

Just get back in there! Good Luck!

[CaptainSwab]

Yes. I have felt this way. I feel this way right now.

As you know, I have trained for and ran a couple of marathons. Sure training can get boring after awhile but I still managed to make myself do it.

This year I am starting to hate my job more and more everyday. In fact today, I almost quit. I have really seen the effects of my job on my running. I don't train nearly as much as what I used to. Even when I go out I just feel depressed and I just find myself slowing down until eventually I am walking.

It sucks. :(

[pseudo_vegan]

Yes. I have felt this way. I feel this way right now.

As you know, I have trained for and ran a couple of marathons. Sure training can get boring after awhile but I still managed to make myself do it.

This year I am starting to hate my job more and more everyday. In fact today, I almost quit. I have really seen the effects of my job on my running. I don't train nearly as much as what I used to. Even when I go out I just feel depressed and I just find myself slowing down until eventually I am walking.

It sucks. :(

:hug:

Interesting how seemingly not-so-related things really do affect one another. And yes, it does suck :gun:

:nigel: Cheers, everyone.

[bethanie]

Oh yes, gray and rainy never helps. I always feel sleepy and like doing exactly NOTHING when it's rainy. However, I also find that with the end of the rain, and the influx of sunshine, my willingness to exercise generally returns. I depend on exercise to keep myself balanced...I KNOW this, so I try to never get myself in a place where I am this down. But when I end up in this place I just keep reminding myself that I'll feel better if I start doing what I'm supposed to do. And then I do the hardest part, which is forcing myself out the door in the morning.

I've also found that incorperating working out as naturally as possible into daily routine is critical for me. If I feel I'm doing something 'unnatural' like going to the gym or running laps at a track, I won't keep doing it. But if I can bike to work, or to the store (we got a bike basket), or go on a jog that ends in breakfast or lunch at your local cafe or coffee shop, it's much easier psychologically to talk myself into doing it.

Anyway, good luck.

B

[Starblossom]

Yeah, I'm experiencing that right now too and it's not even grey and dreary, although that type of weather always makes things even worse for me.

I've been really unhappy about plans that keep falling through (mainly living arrangements and jobs), things I've been really looking forward to that don't work out and everything in my life is just so uncertain I can't stand it. I'd been looking forward to spring so I could take out my bike, but it just sits outside and I can't find the energy to use it.

I find that fitness buddies really help for motivation. Also, I tell myself that I'll exercise for "just 5 minutes." If I write down my goals, that helps too, and then the night before I plan to exercise, I lay out exercise clothes. Except I don't feel like following any of my own advice right now so who knows when I'll exercise next. Anyways hope that helps ya out.

[missyD]

Give yourself permisssion to take afew days off and its likely you will feel a whole lot better. You need to not have the "I need to work out" thoughts hanging over your head as if its a chore. If you let yourself take abreak you will be a lot more enthusiastic about starting again.