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> Going to the gym is exhausting, running a marathon is exhausting,

Those don't make me feel great afterwards either. I'd just feel I spend half a day just to end up where I already was.

> spending a day weeding your garden or laying a new carpet could be exhausting.

These would give me a good feeling. The result is what gives me the dopamine hit.

The result is the only thing about exercise that I enjoy. It's the data, not the feelings. I don't like going to the gym. I don't like doing my exercises. I don't feel better afterwards (usually the opposite: I'm tired and sore). I don't compete or compare myself to anyone else. But I do like seeing that e.g. my bench press is 5 lbs better this week. That's the entire reward for me.

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