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Thread: Feeling “sad” after big workouts
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10-11-2022, 02:20 PM #1Registered User
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Feeling “sad” after big workouts
I know this doesn’t make sense for most people, but I’ve had it for as long as I can remember. Directly after the big workout I feel great and get those post-exercise endorphins, but the next day after a long workout I feel like my emotions are in the dumps, general sad feeling, kinda anxious, melancholy. It doesn’t matter what it is, doing a backcountry trip with a lot of vert, a long run, hot yoga, or weights, I almost always feel like that. It’s like I’m overexerting/training but I’m in pretty good shape, 28 and not pushing myself that hard.
I’ve done some googling and my best explanation is I’m overproducing cortisol, haven’t read about any remedies though.
I’ve got depression and anxiety in my family so maybe I’m sensitive to overtraining and this is the reaction.
Thought about getting a full blood panel to make sure my hormones are in line, seems like if hormones aren’t balanced out weird things can happen.
Anyone else experience this? Any remedies? Thoughts on what it might be?
Edit: Something to add. I used a whoop strap for a while and it said my recovery was good, which makes me think its a mental thing and not a physical thingLast edited by PeachesNCream; 10-11-2022 at 03:40 PM.
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10-11-2022, 02:22 PM #2
Weed, man... weed.
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10-11-2022, 03:02 PM #3
I highly doubt your hormones are out of whack. This is an oversimplification of a complex systemic neuroendocrine response, but it's correct at the macro level: all of the physical activities you described will raise the level of dopamine in your brain and that's why you feel great after. There are other hormones and neuromodulators involved, but it's mostly about dopamine. When your dopamine levels fall back to baseline it's perfectly natural to feel down emotionally, especially if you're physically tired. You may be extra sensitive to the reduced dopamine if there's a history of depression and anxiety in your family, but ultimately it's a perfectly natural, temporary response.
These Huberman episodes have some great info about dopamine and pain/pleasure balance:
https://hubermanlab.com/controlling-...-satisfaction/
https://hubermanlab.com/how-to-contr...-and-pleasure/
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10-11-2022, 03:02 PM #4
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10-11-2022, 03:07 PM #5Registered User
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Get a blood panel done sooner than later. Could be a simple lack of proper nutrition both before and especially after. After heavy physical exertion/workout, my body wants mad calories, esp carbs and protein.
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10-11-2022, 03:20 PM #6Registered User
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what do you consider a big workout? Have you considered doing big workouts more (ie. if your always drunk, you cant be hungover?).
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10-11-2022, 03:29 PM #7Registered User
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That's what it feels like, it has a depleted feeling. In general my diet is really good but I'll try and be more aware of refueling afterwards and look into getting a blood panel. Is there a certain blood panel you're referencing? Seems like there's a huge variety of them.
Yeah, very manageable right now.
It definitely doesn't feel like "baseline" very noticeably melancholy/anxious for the next day or 2 and then when I stop working out for a week my mood and energy is much better, seems backwards. But I have read a few articles talking about dopamine so what you're saying makes sense. Thanks for the huberman references, I'll give those a listen, I'm a fan of his
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10-11-2022, 03:35 PM #8Registered User
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I mean its all relative right. So for example, right now I've been running. Say a normal week would be 3x 3 miles, if I go do 6 miles, I'll be in the dumps for a day or 2.
And yeah I've tried that methodology of just keep working out and it works for a while and then I crash and start experiencing the same stuff
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10-11-2022, 03:37 PM #9
Do you cry after sex?
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10-11-2022, 03:42 PM #10Registered User
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Cocaine on off days if you are an adrenaline junkie.
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10-11-2022, 04:20 PM #11Registered User
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10-11-2022, 05:14 PM #12
Feeling “sad” after big workouts
Stop working out.
Do you take any supplements? Some of those energy / creatine powders make me feel like shit up to 6-10 hours after a workout.
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10-11-2022, 05:28 PM #13
Are you generally low carb? Shot in the dark but try eating a bunch of carbs before during and after.
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10-11-2022, 05:36 PM #14
It’s like an acid trip hangover. You pay a price for the elation of a workout. Borrowing emotions you have to pay back.
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10-11-2022, 05:42 PM #15User
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I’m going with Dan’s theory. I feel it after big type 2 events and vacations.
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10-12-2022, 06:46 AM #16Registered User
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I have on and off, but have always gone with super clean options. Either way I haven't noticed a difference
Yeah, lowish carb. I'll give the carbo-loading approach a shot
Yeah basically Dan's theory. It just seems weird that exercise would put someone in the dumps, but I guess makes sense with the dopamine
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10-12-2022, 09:46 AM #17Daniel Ortega eats here.
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10-12-2022, 09:57 AM #18
I don’t want to press anyone on their mental health, but I will say that I started taking meds (citalopram) about 8 years ago for depression and anxiety, and it’s certainly helped me. Wish I had of started taking it much earlier.
I was never severely depressed/suicidal or anything, just kind of low level depression/anxiety that was affecting me more than I realized now that I look back. Tipping point for me was having the second kid and being really sleep deprived. Simple tasks at that point seemed like an overwhelming burden.
If you have a family history and aren’t doing anything to manage it, and are seeing some sign in yourself, I’d certainly recommend talking to a doctor.
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10-12-2022, 10:09 AM #19
Low-carb diets are great for sedentary people, but even in that demographic it's mostly because it means they stop drinking soda and eating Cheetos. For athletes they're terrible, full stop.* All whole food carbs are healthy and you should be eating them in copious quantities.
Also, how much do you sleep? Combining undereating with undersleeping will fuck you right up.
* - The exception that proves the rule is elite ultra-endurance athletes, which I'm guessing you are not.
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10-12-2022, 10:14 AM #20Registered User
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All of this!
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10-12-2022, 10:21 AM #21yelgatgab
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Sup Peaches!
I had a very similar issue a few years ago about the time I started eating lower carb. Ultimately, my problem was that I wasn't eating enough. Not carbs, just in general. Try tracking your calories for a few days and make sure you're taking enough in. In the absence of carbs, you should be increasing fat intake.Remind me. We'll send him a red cap and a Speedo.
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10-12-2022, 10:35 AM #22
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10-12-2022, 10:41 AM #23
I don't aim to derail this thread, but I'm watching it with great interest. I suffer from the same. Though with me, it's less about a big workout and more about following an awesome weekend or trip.
For example, after two really hard days of dirt biking; I'll come into the week stoked and feeling great. Or maybe a great ski trip with friends. Then, by about Tuesday or Wednesday, I crash hard and the Black Dog is unleashed.
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10-12-2022, 11:35 AM #24Registered User
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yeah man
had a great little bike ride after work yesterday made everything ok
I've been in front of the computer since 7am hating life hating on all the people and their stupid demands and unrealistic expectations need to make a phone call and chew someone out
I now have a choice roll a doobie and roll on the bike or leave the house and deal with all the morans I deal with all day it is depressing in so many ways
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10-12-2022, 01:08 PM #25Registered User
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Appreciate all the responses. This got a a lot more attention and help than I expected.
I tried an SSRI and didn't like it, just felt numb. I've gotten a pretty good handle on the anxiety through looking at things through a different lens, counseling, diet, less alcohol, no caffeine, more sun in the winter, and honestly I think just growing up.
I'm glad that's worked for you. Yeah looked back as well and realized how much its affected me. Probably took me 5 years to realize I had it and another few years before I started to find things that worked. It's a complicated thing.
Yeah sleep has a pretty big effect on it for me as well. It'll be interesting to see what happens when I have kids
Huh, multiple people have been saying this, definitely going to try a higher carb diet. So if I'm is trying to lose a little weight, lets say 5-10lbs, what do you cut back? I guess just scale back the proteins and fats and up the carbs while keeping the same calories
All good on the sleep. I'm a good sleeper, have a regular schedule, and get about 8 hrs a night, my body rarely wants to sleep past 8 hrs
I did start listening to that huberman you recommended. I get more now what you're talking about with the baseline. Going to keep listening, he's a wealth of knowledge.
Like I said earlier, I'd like to lose 5-10lbs while still taking in a good amount of carbs. But maybe I'm running at too low a deficit especially if I'm training for a marathon and running 10 miles in a day.
Huh, interesting. Well definitely could be the same thing if its the dopamine that's the culprit. Those podcasts Dan recommended are very good so far
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