The opposite of exercise endorphins

Hiiii 😀 How are you? LOVED reading your comments this morning. As always, thank you so much for your wise words- lots of great advice in there <3

Head’s up: SUN WARRIOR PROMO tomorrow!

sun warrior

Follow me on OpenSky if you’d like to try my all-time fave protein at an insane price. We always run out of stock, so check your email in the am if you’d like the deal 🙂

You’ll never believe it: I made a real dinner last night!

With vegetables and everything 🙂

mushrooms

Goat cheese stuffed mushrooms for uno.

All I did was mix 2 goat cheese medallions from Trader Joe’s with 1/2 T Veganaise, some chives, garlic, sea salt and pepper

goat cheese

Stuffed 8 organic mushrooms with the mixture, and baked for 20 minutes at 375.

mushrooms

+ salad:

mushrooms (2)

So good 🙂

This morning was my first time teaching YogaTone at a studio here in Tucson –let me know if you want the deets- and I was 100% positive I’d have no people, since it was early and the very first class. I had 4!!! Three cheers for that, and four cheers for the playlist I used:

1. “Hello” Martin Solveig & Dragonette

2. “King Without a Crown” Matisyahu

3. “Someone Like You” Adele

4. “I’ll Be in the Sky” B.o.B

5. “Glitter in the Air” Pink

6. “Cosmic Love” Florence + the Machine

7. “Neutron Star Collision” Muse

8. “The Show Goes On” Lupe Fiasco

9. “Come Home” Yael Naim

10. “Don’t Let Me Fall” B.o.B

11. “All My Heart” Sleeping with Sirens

12."What Part of Forever” Cee Lo Green

13. “Gayatri Mantra” Deva Premal (holler to Averie for the suggestion- LOVE)

I was pretty proud of that playlist- it was a good one 🙂 Class was fun. Think of it as a traditional yoga class with WAY more emphasis on strength- lots of lunges, leg lifts and extensions, ab work and push-ups mixed into the sequence. A glorious burn 😉

After teaching, I had to go to the resort to take a class that I’m supposed to teach on Saturday. It was a good cardio/strength workout, but after I left and got to my car, the weirdest thing happened: I started sobbing. I drove to the bank and am pretty sure anyone who saw me driving wanted to check me into the looney bin.

photo (14)

I was pretty positive that I’d lost my marbles for good, so I tweeted asking if anyone else had experienced that after a workout. I was BLOWN away by how many people said they’ve cried after a workout.

What in the what?

Exercise is supposed to fill you up with beautiful endorphins, not make you show up at the bank with eyeliner all over your face.

So I did a little research and came across *this article*. It’s worth a read- very interesting stuff.

Apparently exercise can release emotions and crank on the waterworks. Who knew? There’s definitely a lot going on right now, but sheesh.

Bella kisses,

pink lilies

flowers

and carbs made it better.

toast

(brown rice toast w/ 2 egg whites, salsa and goat cream cheese)

Have you ever cried after a workout?

Hope you have a great night and I’ll see ya in the morning!

xoxo

Gina

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90 Comments

  1. Laura on May 16, 2011 at 11:48 pm

    I’ve never cried after a workout…but I have cried DURING. If there is a movie on while I’m on the elliptical, I will probably cry during it, no matter how stupid it is. I almost NEVER cry at movies normally. The first time it happened it was the end of the movie ‘Just Married’, which I had only seen once years before. The sound wasn’t on and there were no captions. Just watching it made me cry. SO WEIRD.

  2. Alice on May 16, 2011 at 11:49 pm

    I used to run in response to crying – it was my way of feeling back in control. Sometimes if I’m listening to an audiobook or podcast and running tired, I lose my perspective or filter or something – I get teary more easily than I would otherwise when a moving moment comes up.

    The other end of that is when you fall over running (this happened to me on sat) and you do that shocked sobbing thing – like being a kid and falling over. All the social norms of self-control are kind of suspended..

  3. caronae on May 17, 2011 at 12:03 am

    I LOVE the lilies Gina. Gorgeous. I often buy myself flowers to cheer myself up a bit when I’m down. 🙂 Hope things are better in Gina-land now!

  4. Melissa on May 17, 2011 at 1:05 am

    I have cried more than a few times in savasana. My yoga teacher said it a stress release.

  5. Amelia on May 17, 2011 at 1:06 am

    Wow! This same thing happened to me last night after body pump, but I’m pretty sure it’s a combo of stress from school (finals), life, moving, and being away from my husband. The waterworks opened and I had the biggest meltdown. I can’t recall the last time that happened! Thank goodness for amazing and understanding friends.

  6. babs on May 17, 2011 at 3:29 am

    Interesting topic. I’ve never cried after a workout, but at least now I won’t be worried if I do 🙂

  7. Allison on May 17, 2011 at 6:08 am

    I cry at anything remotely emotional (and EVERYTHING military related even though the bf was only in for 5 months before being forced into a medical discharge) but thankfully i have never cried after a workout…yet haha.

    I LOVE the flowers! I am not a rose girl, i like creative and unique combos and eucalyptus + pink daises is an awesome and gorgeous combo! Good job pilot:)

  8. Susanne on May 17, 2011 at 7:21 am

    The only time I’ve cried after kept workout was when I kept exercising on my injured foot. Not smart, I made it worse and it took forever to heal.

    Dinner looks soooo delicious.
    The flowers are gorgeous.
    The YogaTone class sounds awesome and I love the playlist. I wish you taught classes at my gym!

  9. Jackie on May 17, 2011 at 7:30 am

    I really only have one comment: I love the music playlist. 🙂

  10. Kim @ girlevolving on May 17, 2011 at 8:24 am

    During marathon training I would often cry at some point after my 20ish mile runs. Most of the time it was in the afternoon, but it happened almost every time!

  11. Jayme @ runner and spice on May 17, 2011 at 8:25 am

    Ive not cried after a regular workout….but I cried after finishing the NYC marathon (which was definitely a big workout…) !! Great post 🙂

  12. Katie on May 17, 2011 at 8:27 am

    I have definitely cried after a workout. It’s a weird feeling because I feel really good that I have just pushed myself hard, but at the same time I have also felt mentally exhausted and weepy?? Usually for me, it is an indicator that I have a lot on my mind (even if I don’t realize it) and just need a good cry 🙂

  13. Katie on May 17, 2011 at 8:33 am

    I’m so glad you posted this! I’ve had many tear-fests after working out and I never understood the phenomenon. Great article, too. Thanks so much for sharing.

  14. Errign on May 17, 2011 at 8:41 am

    I just started (a few weeks ago) doing vinyasa yoga & last Thursday, I ended up being the only person in class. The instructor really spent the whole class adjusting my poses and giving me tips etc. I never actually cried, but I got that weird ache in my throat that meant I totally could’ve cried. Checking out that article now 🙂

  15. Claire @ Live and Love to Eat on May 17, 2011 at 9:01 am

    That article is so interesting – I’ve never had this experience though. I definitely had a good crying session this weekend, but it was not exercise induced.

    Those mushrooms look divine!

  16. Katherine on May 17, 2011 at 9:05 am

    Wow Gina, that article is so interesting! The story about the woman who broke down after releasing tension in her shoulders is amazing to me! The human body/mind is so amazing.

    I would absolutely love to take one of your classes!! Too bad I’m in NY. I just went to a new studio this weekend and I was so disappointed in the class 🙁 I am a yoga beginner, but this class I took was basically the same as the stretching I do after a run. I am WAY more physically and emotionally challenged by the free classes my gym offers

    • Katherine on May 17, 2011 at 9:09 am

      I also meant to tell you that you that I am loving the blog lately. I have been reading for about a year and a half now and The Fitnessista has been on the top of my list for a while. You are so inspiring/interesting/funny/entertaining/etc, girl! Keep it up!

      • Fitnessista on May 17, 2011 at 9:18 am

        thank you! :)))

  17. Mel on May 17, 2011 at 9:18 am

    I mostly stumbled across crying in spin class. I think we cry during exercise for different reasons. It can be from grief, or a sense of loss or an emotional stress that we really do not have the time or take the time to deal with and it surfaces to our surprise. I am one that when someone dies you would think I was queen of the ball because I do not grieve at the time of the event I see everyone together and go into party mode only to find myself later in some random location overcome with emotion and everyone around me is asking “what’s up with her?”. In exercise, especially intense classes or meditative ones( spin is both!)
    the hard work is humbling, breaking down the “oo I’ve got it together attitude” , getting rid of pretense and
    helping us to get down to the emotional quick or relieving stress that we have not owned up to. So glad that you brought this up on your blog.

  18. acd on May 17, 2011 at 11:18 am

    THANK you for this post, it just made my day! Totally spilled into a fit of tears for basically no reason last night after hitting the gym. Moon, gah! This is so helpful though, thanks Gina!

  19. tasha on May 17, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    I’ve ried during exercise before, and after — mostly from a hard cardio session. I just assumed it was stress and pent-up emotion leaving my body. I’m not an emotional person by nature, so I just figured that it was a needed release at the time.
    I’ve only just started doing yoga/pilates type exercises, but I have felt different emotions with these as times, escpecially at the end of class during the relaxing meditation. I avoided those classes for years figuring it wasn’t worth my time bc for the low calorie burn (when compared to bootcamp style workouts), but I am quickly developing a love for the mental clarity they provide.

  20. Heather on May 17, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    I cried after I finished my half-marathon on Sunday. It was my 7th one, but I PR’d, so it was an emotional finish for me.

  21. Taylor @ Delish World on May 17, 2011 at 4:41 pm

    I loooove Matisyahu! Awesome play list. I would love to take one of your classes!.Too bad I live in Northern VA!

  22. Haley Q on May 17, 2011 at 6:37 pm

    Ah SO glad I found your blog! I used your playlist for my yoga practice at home tonight and it was so perfect, thanks!

    • Fitnessista on May 17, 2011 at 8:05 pm

      yay! i’m glad you liked it 🙂

  23. Sarah on May 18, 2011 at 12:48 am

    When I was training for my first marathon I was told several times about “marathon tears” – where you get so emotional during the race that you start to cry. I hadn’t ever felt that way during a run, so I thought it wouldn’t happen to me. But after my first 20 mile run during training, I stumbled into the apartment and collapsed on the floor. My boyfriend looked like he had no idea what to do with me and started asking if I was alright. When I opened my mouth to tell him that I couldn’t move my legs, I discovered that I couldn’t talk either! I just started bawling! I think it was a combination of being physically and mentally tired and never having felt that much lactic acid buildup after stopping.

    But as it would happen, I didn’t cry at the actual race 🙂

  24. Andreea@ Journey To USA on May 18, 2011 at 3:36 am

    Hi, there! I’m new around here, so I realy don’t want to draw much attention, but while I never cried during a workout , I did felt some sort of pleasure down there. Especially when doing donkey kick. I told that to my husband and he laugh like it was a joke.

    Thank God, these days I’m doing much more intense workouts that don’t include donkey kicks!

  25. Orla on May 18, 2011 at 7:11 am

    I have cried during and after a marathon but that was just a “get me out of here” cry. I have however cried after physical therapy after a particular manipulation that involved abdo muscles and tension all the way down my leg. My therapist told me that patients either had an emotional reaction or not. I did. But it was very positive and was almost like my body was releasing all the tension that my injury had caused and was letting me move on.
    I have also cried at not being able to get a work out in due to stress. But that is a whole other story!

  26. Darlynn @The Little Blog Dress on July 19, 2012 at 8:08 am

    Thank you for this! I was googling why the heck I start crying after I run and found an article from you, who I already adore!! YAY!

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