This also works, at least for men. Idk what it is, almost meditative rest between the sets, higher T, or making routine physical exertion easier due to being stronger. It does take some willpower though, which severely depressed/burned out people might not have.
Yes it takes some willpower, however I did not find it to be that big an issue and I say that as someone who was never athletic and has never been able to stick with an exercise program for more than a few weeks. But everything I tried in the past was cardio -- running, biking, swimming -- it all sucked. Weightlifting for some reason kind of stuck and I've been doing it regularly for a few years now. And specifically barbell lifting/powerlifting -- machines are OK for accessory work but they are boring.
My experience mirrors yours. I feel like this would depend on how quickly you make gains. When I started lifting I was so physically decrepit I’d sometimes have to lie down on the floor due to pain in my lower back. I literally started with just a bar, and within a year progressed to a 525 lb deadlift. That was fun. But if the gains were slower idk if I’d be able to keep my motivation
