Exercise and Stimming

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I have become a bit of a gym rat in recent years and have even taken my love of working out to the point where my friends and family separately staged interventions (I was spending 4 hours a day between running and weights). Basically, "stimming is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner" and I wonder if exercise has become my primary form of stimming and if there are others who feel that way. I've always been really good at sports and even made it to a semi-professional level before deciding to focus on broader things but even though I'm not training towards an athletic goal anymore I still feel an urge to exercise daily and if I don't I feel like I let myself down and failed somehow. The reason I'm curious is because it seems to be rare for aspies to enjoy athletic endeavours to such an extent, in part because they are more often than not found to be fairly clumsy and uncoordinated (from what I've read - please don't take offence) and also because many sports involve teams and therefore include a social element.

My questions are:
Are there many of you who like exercising regularly for more than just health reasons?
If so, why do you like exercising... What do you gain from it and how obsessively do you exercise?
Also, would you say you're good at sports or have you never really played them (particularly as a child)?

I enjoy the sense of control and power I feel when exercising and I also enjoy the feeling of overcoming pain.

"This pain that you hold is yours. There is not a single pain quite like it. Nobody else on God's green earth can feel this pain, or have the indescribable feeling of pride you will have when you overcome it. This pain is not your curse; this pain is your privilege."
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Sometimes I fall into
Anything worth doing is worth doing to excess.

From 5 reps on jump rope to 2,000 and blistered toes.

Cardio helps me wail on rock, blues harp.

Other random thoughts I can't think of here
And here
And here

There's definitely a connection for me. I have never been into the gym or swimming pools, but all my life I have enjoyed walking. As long as I have time, I prefer walking a few miles there and back to visit friends or get to an appointment. And I'll go for a walk in the countryside in weather that most people wouldn't dream of going out in.

My most comforting stim is to pace circles on tip-toe, and I find that a brisk walk, especially with a couple of good hills to climb, is the perfect substitute. I engage in exactly the same kind of thought processes as I'm doing it too - as well as walking giving me the same sensory stimulus as the stim, it is also incredibly therapeutic for my mind.

I keep getting Generalized Anxiety Disorder thrown at me, and if that is really the case, it'd explain why my body feels stiff and in pain all the time. I've found my body responds best to cycling, weights, and yoga. Although if I stop yoga for a bit I get a ton of rebound muscle tension. I also have Sciatica flares, and if they flare up too much, I can be off my feet for a few days. The best way to counter-act Sciatica is to exercise.

Also I like setting goals for myself. I feel like it is easier to set goals in the external world after I've done a goal that helps my well-being.

I like the stretches like
Cat or
Dog
&
Ice.

When I was younger I really enjoyed soccer, because of all the running and kicking. As I got older, the coach cared more about winning than having fun and noticably favored specific players. Being benched really sucked, since I didn't really have friends on the team, and it felt lonelier being there than at home.

Pacing has been my favorite stim for as long as I can remember. Usually circles, preferably counter clockwise. I prefer walking very quickly to jogging or running, because having both feet off the ground with a lot of forward momentum has become strangely frightening for me (it's a lot like falling, exhiliariting, but I'm always a little afraid that it's going to come to an abrupt and painful end). Probably for that reason, I really like my dad's elliptical, because I can move very quickly while still having a strong sense of stability.

In high school, I took a strength and conditioning class, and that got me into a variety of physical activities. Lifting weights makes me feel powerful. In control. Different styles of crunches and planking to strengthen the core give me the most thrill, because I think it helps my overall sense of balance (plus, a flat, well defined tummy is so hot). Oh, I also love squats, high knees and butt-kickers! It just feels good. I've often compared exercising to masturbation, because they both manage to be both exciting and relaxing.

I also get into the 'zone' when walking. I'm not coordinated enough for actual sports, but I walk everywhere. I love being outside exploring. I had to move back to the city for work and although I still walk for several hours a day it doesn't quite compare with being able to hike around in the countryside. I like the feeling of being on the move and walking doesn't require the same physical or social skills as other activities so it's ideal for me.

Exercising is a great and healthy way to destress xD I've been at it for over 10 years now (:

I used to stay on a bike through the whole spin class.

Lately I've gotten off the bike and stretched (dog/cat and other yoga poses)
At first I worried about standing out, but it really helps my back from hurting so much.

Stretching at the end of the class helps.

I also like watching my hands in Wave hands like clouds.
Anyone do Tai Chi?

I really enjoy cycling, I've moved to a new town so feeling a bit shy to ride much, but i still enjoy a good ride with my friends.

I'm about 3+ years in the cycle room.
My plan is to get back to lap swims (even though I don't like getting wet, I love the feeling while in the pool. It's just getting in and out, that isn't fun. )

I was never much into sports but I loved jumping as kid and swimming as teenager. I believe it must be some kind of stim - both jumping and swimming involve the feeling of floating. It's probably the sensation I am seeking for.

Recently I discovered trampoline jumping and yoga ball bouncing, which seems to be related to what I was doing as a kid. I can't afford trampoline (so I can only use the trampoline when I am visiting someone who owns one) but I bought a yoga ball 3 weeks ago. And I already bounced it to it's death. I nearly cried when it popped, despite not being hurt. Such a lost! I ordered new one right away. An expensive, well made one - I hope it won't pop so soon. As for now I am anxious and irritable - because I can't bounce a ball till the new ball comes. I am addicted to ball bouncing now!
I guess it officially become my stim. Both trampoline jumping and ball bouncing proved to be able to stop incoming meltdown and improve my overall mood with jus a few minutes of the repeatable up and down movement.


(about 2:00)

It has been said that one of the reasons why I started to speak at age 5 1/2 was because I enjoyed jumping on the trampoline so much.

Nice seeing you again, Kiriae!

I went through a bad bout of depression a few years back; the only thing that got me out of the funk was physical exertion. One day I just jumped on my bike and went as far as I could...about a km and a half uphill, lol...and just kept at it. I've been off the anti depressants since September and refuse to go back on them!