cardio = boredom

i hate cardio. what do you guys do to cure your boredom? the tv doesn't work for me. ipod doesnt drown out the clock ticking away. i try to read but that doesn't help much either.

I exercise outdoors.

UD

How about finding something you enjoy doing?

As opposed to running on a treadmil, go for a jog outside and enjoy the spring/summer scenery. Find a sport you enjoy, tend to a garden, go for a nice walk (or do a few laps at your local mall)... Not everything has to be done at a gym or has to be an intense workout. c:

HIIT is perfect for you. It is the most beneficial cardio because it spares muscle and attacks bodyfat. More importantly, it is actually fun, challenging, and it takes less than 30 minutes to do, 2-3 times a week. It is fun because you are constantly changing speeds and never letting your body adapt. Regular cardio is boring because you are stuck going at the same pace for an extended period of time.

You can read more about it here in my thread - http://caloriecount.about.com/hiit-high-inten sity-interval-training-best-ft140800

I don't know why but I feel like I'm not sweating enough when I go jogging outdoors. I do it both though. Gym and outdoor.

I avoid the mall because well shopping if often involved ;)

Purchase an IPOD or something like it and download some Metallica/Velvet Revolver/Ohio Players/Rihanna/Nickelback. If this doesn't get you in the mood to run your ass off then I would suggest making funeral arrangements. Just kidding. I had the same problem,  but ever since I was a kid I've loved loud funky music. It excites me. Hopefully it does the same for you and others.

I lift weights.

I love to run outside. I hate an ipod shuffle and I just clip it to my shorts. I run quite a distance from my house, and then I take a different way home in order to not get bored of seeing the same roads again. It is quite fun to enjoy the scenery.

It is 1000x better than running on the treadmill!

Original Post by amethystgirl:

I lift weights.

 This.

Weights is good cardio.

I was in the same situation...I love running outside but im temporarily in an apt in a city im unfamiliar with for a co-op job, so i use the gym. Running gets dull on the treadmill for me until i started the hiit, or kind of hiit, i dont follow it exactly, i do like 2 minutes jog, 2 minutes intense running, back and forth. the shorter intervals seems to make the time fly! also combined with a cheap mp3 player (nope...no ipod, i tend to lose/break things. just the other day i dropped my mp3 play on the treadmill and it went flying off and hit the elliptical behind me. it survived. lol,sorry random.)

Original Post by vyperman7:

HIIT is perfect for you. It is the most beneficial cardio because it spares muscle and attacks bodyfat. More importantly, it is actually fun, challenging, and it takes less than 30 minutes to do, 2-3 times a week. It is fun because you are constantly changing speeds and never letting your body adapt. Regular cardio is boring because you are stuck going at the same pace for an extended period of time.

You can read more about it here in my thread - http://caloriecount.about.com/hiit-high-inten sity-interval-training-best-ft140800

 viperman I love your hiit posts.  I've been reading them the last couple days.

I agree. This what I do.  Your so focused on the shorter spurts of exercise (then switching to the next) that it does not allow time for boredom.  I do normally have the tv on for background noise...or actuallyI use the clock on the morning news to help time my intervals (I set a timer for my entire workout because I can only alot so much time for the entire workout)

HIIT or jogging outside or invest in a bike and find trails. Thats mine and my b'fs fave thing to do on the weekend. We want to find trails down at the beach so we're not just sitting on the beach for hours. But i dont mind that he usually gets bored.

Original Post by vyperman7:

Regular cardio is boring because you are stuck going at the same pace for an extended period of time.

This is like the butterfly who has not yet emerged from the cocoon.   The benefits of the long slow run/ride/whatever goes beyond the physical.

My central workout is weights 3x week but I'm just now getting back to the elliptical and stairmaster. Where I used to go 50-60 minutes (ho-hum) at a comfortable pace (usually with reading material), I'm now going 20-30 minutes working with intervals.  It's FUN and I can tell I'm getting a much better work out in less time.  This last time I went 10 minutes at the 6 setting, then 10 minutes at the 4 setting.  Then 1 minute at 8, 1 minute at 4 -- 5 times.  There went another 10 minutes and I felt charged up to do more but had to leave.  I'm going to experiment with doing all 2 and 1 minute intervals for the whole session and I'm going to kick up the intensity a notch or two.  It's really a charge and I feel "metabolic" --  like my metabolism is really kicking in at a higher pace during the other hours of the day.  I sweat and pant and it feels more like my weight work out.  Very doable.

I think you need to find a workout that is more enjoyable.  If you are dreading the time you are doing you won't be doing it for long.  And I also think getting out side and enjoying the weather is key.

Swimming is a wonderful option this time of year.  Hiking, go to a lake and rent a paddle boat - kayak, canoe or something like that.  Take up softball or volleyball.  gosh the list goes on ....

HIIT is also a very good option short time needed and fast results

I also do weights and when lifting heavy can get a better heart rate than my step aerobics class.

Something I've started noticing at my gym: the people who do cardio only do not necessarily have sculpted or firm parts.  The step aerobics instructor, for example, is in fabulous cardio shape, but everthing on her, arms, thighs, butt, is loose and jiggly.  And she leads this killer workout 5x/week at least.

At age 46, weights are giving me a truly youthful, firm bod.  My plan is to look killer great in my 70s without a bunch of cosmetic surgeries. I've already given myself a natural breast lift with push ups and dumbbell incline presses.  With another year of dips and rows, I bet the tricep arm dangles will be all firmed up.  I've got these great shoulders and a cut little waist.  And I still weigh 178! I'm going to go from awesome to more awesome with weights and HIIT.

I know.  I'm crowing.  I'm having a good day after 6 weeks of not so great days.  Got over a lengthy hump of overwork and non-motivation.  Survived it with no weight gain and now am re-motivated.  I'm shutting up now.  Promise.

Hey, crow away - we're all due a little brag time now and then. ( Which reminds me, I should change out the runner recruitment drive with something new, so if anyone want to have a brag thread up top, make one ;) )

 The thing about exercise is that over the long term you'll only keep doing it if it's either fun in its own right or you've got a strong enough "why" for doing it. Cardio on a treadmill or elliptical is generally dead boring for - well, everyone, but if you have an answer to "why am I doing this again?" that motivates you boredom can be overcome.

 If your "Why" isn't strong enough to overcome the ups and downs that comes along with any training, you're going to have a tough time keeping it going.

 Well, unless you turn pro and make it your job, that is.

 The rest of us who're training for health and general well-being tend to do better when we feel that what we're doing answers some "why" - training for summer running season, earning the room in your calorie budget for a beer, aiming for the Runner's High of the terminal endorphin junkie, beating the guy on the next dreadmill. Some of these work better than others, but if one particular activity doesn't work for you, find something else.

I don't think anyone loves doing it. You just have to make the commitment and stick with it. Change up the music on your iPod. Put upbeat music on it or something educational or a book. Think about things or make lists of things that need to be done. I do 40 minutes a day. I listen to music and watch the weather channel. Not fun but I get it done. If you can read while doing cardio you are not getting your heart rate up! Try a few days a week of HIIT. That will take your mind off of the boredom. It kicks your ass so you don't have time to think about anything else except getting through it.

Original Post by littleshellys:

 If you can read while doing cardio you are not getting your heart rate up!

I beg to differ.  This past spring at school I had a class that had a whole lot of required reading.  I took my textbooks to the school's gym with me and read it on a treadmill cuz that's the only way I could focus on doing the reading (too many temptations--tv, computer) at home.  I put myself on an incline (5deg first, then 10 after I got used to 5) at 3.5 miles per hour and read for an hour.  I broke a sweat...it ran down the sides of my face and my shirt was soggy afterwards.  My heart rate was in the upper 140's...that might not be high for you but it felt high to me.

Well, after sitting aimlessly behind a desk ALL DAY on my butt, allowing my poor brains to FALL OUT, allowing what is left of my brain cells to deteriorate (i.e. four walls, floressant lighting, severe quietness, etc), I actually look forward to being on the cardio-machines.   ha ha

Original Post by prinzessin_naseimbuch:

Original Post by littleshellys:

 If you can read while doing cardio you are not getting your heart rate up!

I beg to differ.  This past spring at school I had a class that had a whole lot of required reading.  I took my textbooks to the school's gym with me and read it on a treadmill cuz that's the only way I could focus on doing the reading (too many temptations--tv, computer) at home.  I put myself on an incline (5deg first, then 10 after I got used to 5) at 3.5 miles per hour and read for an hour.  I broke a sweat...it ran down the sides of my face and my shirt was soggy afterwards.  My heart rate was in the upper 140's...that might not be high for you but it felt high to me.

 I agree, I always read a book while on a stationary bike. I do my running outside, which is fun enough to not need a book (though I've seen a neighbor walking/running outside while reading...)

I probably could not read while running on a treadmill though... Treadmill running is pretty boring. I used to run backwards in intervals, but I think any type of interval would help relieve the boredom.