Lifting is great for stress beating. For me it's that feeling when you're right at the end of a set, you don't think you can possibly do the last rep, and you grit your teeth and just.. do.. one.. more. Nothing else matters at that moment, actually you're incapable of thinking of anything else. Then when you do it, the release and sense of accomplishment is fantastic.

I get the same from full out, pumping-every-last-muscle-fiber sprinting too. It's something about the all-encompassing physicality of it - the brain almost goes into an instinct mode and all you can focus on is going as fast as possible, there's no room for anything else. Talk about a perfect way to get your mind off something!

I think though, for me, the best thing to do is a reasonable distance run (5k +) with a full-out sprint finish. During the distance part you get to really chew over whatever it is that you have to think about or that's stressing you out - then the sprint finish gives you a kind of catharsis at the end where, as above, you forget all about everything else for a minute or so and just, push!

Afterwards you feel so great that everyday stresses just fall away. Very few things feel nicer than being able to just stop, breathe, and walk slowly after a 5k with a sprint finish!

Try riding a bike if you're too heavy to run. I am naturally built for sprinting but I get huge satisfaction out of middle distance running. Over 5k and I start to feel as you described. I also enjoy lifting but it requires a partner, costs money to do and is inside, usually in a brightly lit artificial environment, so I only do it in the winter if at all. The bike on the other hand I can do for 6-8 hours no problem as long as I have enough food on board. I usually only do about 1-2 hours but I could really go for ever and always feel great afterwards. It just takes a little while to get used to sitting in the saddle. The first few rides might result in saddle soreness but after you get used it and buy a good set of shorts you'll never look back.

Why does lifting require a partner? I've been lifting for ages now, and aside from requesting spots for bench (which most people are happy to do) I've always lifted alone.

Of course, it's different if you're constantly doing 1RMs, but I doubt your workout consists solely of that.

The most benefit comes from pushing the last almost impossible rep regardless of how many reps you are doing. I just don't feel safe without a spotter.

Just switch to bench press using dumbbells. It's safer, doesn't require a spotter, and encompasses a wider range of motion making it, arguably, a better all around exercise than bar bench press.

Off the top of my head I can't think of any other major exercises that require a spotter. Squats maybe? But for those you can just use a smith machine.

I used to only go to the gym when I had a friend to go with (this was back in college so it wasn't a huge pain). Starting to go by myself was the best change I ever made. Not being beholden to another's schedule for your own wellbeing is a glorious thing indeed.

Don't use a smith machine. Find a gym with (or buy) a proper squat rack with safety bars that you can adjust to the proper height if you do have to bail out of a squat.

With a smith machine, you don't get the full range of motion you have with real barbell squats - it's straight-line up and down. I also am not a fan of the twisting motion you need to perform to get the bar locked in.

I was a competitive swimmer growing up so I usually hit the pool when I feel like cardio.

Have also done a good amount of biking but haven't lived in an area that's safe for it in a while.

Putting your head beneath water also has a calming effect. And just listening to air bubbles while you're focusing in swimming technique is a great stress reliever (for me).

Lifting in a gym is not necessary. I get a fantastic workout by doing body weight training and lifting weighted sacks that I made with materials costing ~5$.

Hm, try racing. I race to the local track with our sports car, the rush (and fear) when from 180km/h in 100m I have to go down to 80 km/h and make the turn, then try to make the same turn at 85 km/h with my hands trembling and adrenaline sky-rocketing.

Or when you snowboard instead of a slalom you go just straight reaching 50-60 km/h with the board... Or after a big jump... (or when you understand that there's no place to go and you're gonna crash no matter what :-P ).

There are really, very few things that can be compared with a pure adrenaline rush.

I'm a huge fan of adrenaline too but as I get older self preservation has become a more prominent concern. There have been too many moments in my life that were too close to call and a few where the payoff didn't happen. After those failed gambles I had to spend the next years trying to regain my mobility and get back in shape again. Though only anecdotal runners/lifters high is a much more sustainable lifestyle choice.

Tip: If you do strength training, stay away from the bar. Yes, the traditional "big 3" all involve a bar, but there are safer alternatives using dumbbells. While dangerous technique is probably possible in any exercise, my personal experience is that it's easier to fuck up and hurt yourself using a bar.

I have the impression that there's' a trade-off between effectiveness and safety though, and this advice is pretty far towards the safe side of the spectrum.

I can only recommened the opposite: if you are doing strength training by all means use mostly barbells and stick to the big 3 (some sort of press, a squat and a deadlift variations). I hurt my back, shoulder and knees doing various machines and dumbbell variations over the last 15 years, the fear in regards to lifting heavy with barbells usually stems from horrible technique, most people do not realize that lifting is a sport that needs to be learned, it's not enough to just "push the weight".

How did you hurt yourself on machines/dumbbells? Not rhetorical - I would like to avoid doing the same mistakes.

And yes, I do have horrible technique. And since I don't have a personal trainer, no one is ever going to tell me when my technique slips, so I'd rather not rely on it.

You can improve your technique a lot by carefully watching Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength DVD. Ask someone to record video of you lifting every now and then and get a feel for your body in space or upload it to youtube for advice if you're unsure.

Mostly by overstretching particular joints under load, eg. behind the neck presses and pulldowns & pushing myself on dumbbell presses with weights I could move but barely control, at one point I lost control but did not drop the weights.

The others where loading up machines with weights I could not have moved if it weren't for the fixed movement plane of the machine, that ultimately meant trouble for my lower back (leg press) and grinding in my knees (leg extensions).

btw, most personal trainers are horrible at teaching proper technique. I'd recommened the books written by Marc Rippetoe and Bill Starr and watching videos by powerlifting coaches and lifters (that do not focus on lifting in gear). I could 'fix' (read: strengthen and work around) my back troubles with deadlifting, but would not recommened that to someone without a guide or knowledgeable help at hand.

I definitely recommend the opposite. I've found that machines often force me into a pattern of movement that may not jibe with my body mechanics or build.

I'd recommend doing the big 3, but starting off light. Focus on improving the movement. Record yourself, fix your form, develop awareness of your body position (for example - what does "butt tucked in" feel like?) and learn how to dump the bar if something goes wrong.

Above all: don't let your ego get in the way. There's a fine line between "just one more" and "one too many".

For what it's worth, I've had the opposite experience and never fail to tweak my back when using dumbbells.

Barbell training is quite safe if you learn proper technique.

Also, if strength is a goal, it's very difficult to work with heavier weights without a bar.

> Could have something to do with the hormones and neurotransmitters that the body gets flooded with after lifting, could just be light-headed, could be something to do with all the tiny muscle tears...not entirely sure.

Endorphins are often given as a reason for why exercise makes people feel better. But when you give people an endorphin blocker (so the endorphins can't have any effect) you still get reports that exercise helped those people.

There are about 12 possible plausible mechanisms of action for why exercise may help improve mood. Thermo-regulation is another that seems promising.