1) Feeling like shit: I found out that when I felt like shit it was a sign that I was going too hard. After falling off the wagon a few times because my workouts were so unpleasant, I decided that instead of quitting, this time I would keep going to the gym but just exercise like a pussy. Turns out light to moderate exercise is dramatically better than no exercise. Exercising like a pussy has eliminated all the aches and pains I used to have, fixed a wrist that was developing carpal tunnel, fixed a bad knee, lowered my blood pressure by 12 points, etc.
2) For me cardio is mind numbing, but weight training isn't bad. I mean weight training is basically doing a set, then sitting around for a few minutes messing with your phone or listening to a podcast or reading a book or whatever, then repeating. This is why most of my exercise is weight training, and my cardio sessions are 20min max. It works just fine, you get a ton of cardio from doing compound lifts. Also my gym has a jacuzzi where I can zone out after my workout and listen to podcasts, this turns the gym into the highlight of my day tbh.
As fascia stabilizes joints it explains your joints getting better. Focus on soft, bouncing movements if you want to regain, enhance or simply conserve fascia tissue.
Also, with time, it enables you to do with heavier weights and plainly brings back joy to moving. All the best.