What do you think about when you workout?

jen47778

I do exercise videos at home and workout in front of a full length mirror so can see what I'm doing. As I've lost weight I keep thinking about how good I look in the mirror while doing the moves and that my abs are coming along really good LOL

EatAllTheCake

I do videos at home right now as well, and all I can think about is "Is almost over yet?" Or "Wooo it's almost done!"

maasha81

Depends ...if I am lifting ...I ensure my form is correct and focus on the muscle being worked ...for cardio / HIIT workouts it varies from pushing through to that very last second to being happy it's over. Lol

AudioJen

I have been walking to Zombies, Run...between that and the music I am pretty entertained while I walk.

jenncornelsen

if im lifting then im in front of a huge mirror and try to imagine how much bigger my muscles are going to get. if im on the treadmill then im looking at the wall and basically staring at the time counting down. i really need a tv in my basement

usmcmp

I lift. When I'm working out I focus on muscle contraction and counting reps. I also mentally gauge rate of perceived exertion as well as form.

When I do some cardio it's usually HIIT. I'm watching the clock and trying to sprint for as long as I can, then watching my end of sprint time so that my rest is only 60 seconds. Despite watching the clock the time goes quickly.

SueInAz

While lifting I'm either chatting with my lifting partner or concentrating on what I'm doing. While running I usually listen to Zombies, Run! but while my music is playing my mind wanders. Since I'm attending school online while working full time my mind often wanders around my school subject. This past Sunday I was composing the opening paragraph for my 20 page final paper.

SonyaCele

i play candy crush between sets

lilRicki

When I'm walking, I try not to think. I try and be present in the moment, take deep breaths and focus on the nature around me. When I'm in the gym, I focus on the task at hand, and my thoughts are usually "come on girl, you've got this" or "5 more minutes and you're done, keep pushing". I work out alone, so I have to be my own motivator lol

sy8s

How good I'm gonna look in a few months

bigorangemichael

I've got my playlists on my .mp3 player to keep me going while running. Swimming, it's often a song that gets stuck in my head that plays on an endless loop.

Group fitness, it's either the music playing or paying attention to the instructor and making sure I'm doing the exercise correctly or so I won't cause injury to myself.

shadowfax_c11

I think about either trying to perform the technique properly without getting myself hit or else taking good ukemi so that my partner can learn and to keep myself safe while being thrown.

wizzybeth

I keep thinking ... soon it won't be torture anymore and then I'll have to crank it up to make it torturous again. Lol

snowflake954

While I'm swimming I'm usually planning what I'm going to make for lunch for the whole family--5 people total. My leftovers run through my mind, if there isn't enough there I have to figure out what to cook. I use it as my planning time.

DawnEmbers

Music, novel ideas, things for my blog, wanderings of things that could happen, sleep, food (especially when ending up using the cardio machines cause yay food network), random noticing of others in the gym, what I'm doing, novels, and maybe food some more. It varies.

wizzybeth

I keep thinking ... soon it won't be torture anymore and then I'll have to crank it up to make it torturous again. Lol

ninerbuff

I focus on form, muscle contraction, stable midsection and breathing. Unless I'm kickboxing. Then I think of Congress.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

arditarose

If I'm doing cardio I'm usually thinking "Man...maybe I'll only do 10 minutes", or I day dream about being the singer of whatever song I'm listening to and everyone at the gym comes out to my concert and they're like "wow, I didn't know she was so talented".

When I'm lifting I'm completely focused on form.

peterjens

Strength training thoughts are on form, focusing on muscles targeted and safety.

kzzr

When I'm doing cardio I think about what I would do if there was a Zombie Apocalypse, it keeps me moving lol

nossmf

My brain never shuts up, so one of the reasons I workout is to concentrate only on physical sensations of my body, not mental challenges or problems. It helps quiet my mind.

Shanairah1991

The gym TVs always have on a show about morbidly obese people (like 600lbs +) during the time of day I go so I always end up thinking Nope, not today, not if I can help it! And keep pushing.

Blazing_Brunette

I try and block everything out and workout my frustrations ,..

Laughter_Girl

I would like to say that when I'm doing strength training I'm focused on form, but in reality, that is not generally the case. No matter if I'm doing strength training or cardio, I'm usually thinking, "How much longer until this is over?"

TheVirgoddess

When I'm lifting it's form, breathing and muscles.

Cardio I'm usually trying not to sing whatever I'm listening to out loud and trying not to fall off the treadmill or bike.

Willbenchforcupcakes

I focus on form and body feel.

mwyvr

Beer.

justfenix

When I am lifting I joke with my trainer, lots of laughing, not a lot of thinking. When I am swimming (my cardio) I just imagine him pushing me to get through the set and his "if you were really a bad *kitten*, you would do a X more" taunts. If I'm working on a design project sometimes I"ll try to run through different ideas on that. I've never the perfect idea hit me, but I've def seen where some ideas don't work. Saves me lots of time when I'm back in front of the computer.

chicasmommy

I think of people I don't like and resolve to be in better shape than them. Is that awful?

splashtree5

When i weight lift i try to do good the exercise and to feel if the muscles make a good effort, in cardio to keep up !

LacednLace

chicasmommy wrote: »

I think of people I don't like and resolve to be in better shape than them. Is that awful?

I don't think so. I think of all the people that used to make fun of me or make me jealous when they'd have a hot body and flirt with my boyfriend and all I want is to show off in a bikini next summer and be hotter than they are. (Most of them don't workout so I know it's at least possible if I keep pushing)

My response to original question: during strength training I usually focus on getting through my set effectively and w/ as few pauses as possible. And during cardio I think "omg is this over yet" probably every 2 seconds as I look at the clock. I plug my headphones into the jack and listen to the news but it usually doesn't help too much. Watching people helps sometimes, I'll watch the trainers or people that I know compete and I envision getting to their level 1-3years from now (obviously depending on how fit they are)