People who say cardio is "too boring" are full of crap
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Cardio just means cardiovascular exercise. Sex can be cardio if you do it right. Kayaking, definitely. Treadmills are the most boring kind of cardio but not the only. Competitive Nordic skiers are the fittest people on earth (highest VO2max) because skiing is great cardio.1
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What's truly boring is going to the gym to lift a barbell and put it down. I detest the idea and scoff at those who insist you should do it, as if it's the only way to get strong and build muscle.
Same with treadmills. Different strokes for different folks. There are many ways to skin a cat.0 -
You need to a body attack class which is a great cardio workout not boring at all just great fun as for running and cycling much more fun when done out doors0
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The sheer BORINGNESS of exercise drove me to avoid it at any cost (coupled with the unpleasantness of physical discomfort and a certain amount of embarrassment over my own ineptitude compared to others), to my detriment I now realize, but understandably so . I found I could tolerate swimming laps in an Olympic-length pool because the concentration-requiring turns were far enough apart I could string together significant thoughts between them and the sound deadened outside interruptions. Everything else though, dull and painful. But the common distractions people use (tv, movies, reading, music) don't work very well for me to simply take some of the edge of boredom away.
I think television is boring. I don't watch very much of it on my own accord. I didn't even own a television for years and years. I don't particularly enjoy going to see movies very often (I average 1 / year).
I am not a casual listener of music, I let it take over my mind, I analyze and experience it fully, so the things I really enjoy listening to aren't good candidates for taking my mind off exactly how utterly mind-numbingly BORING most exercise is to me.
I absolutely cannot read and perform any real cardio simultaneously. I wind up tripping, walking into things, or falling off equipment. Never mid being unable to actually focus on the words because of the bobbing motion of my body, and the impending motion sickness.
How I made exercise tolerable:
I discovered belly dancing, that was a good social experience that just happened to burn calories.
I started walking with my retriever and a Frisbee - he's pretty engaging, to a degree. I still get bored, but its not as bad and I also feel guilty if I don't walk him several miles a day regardless.
I engage in photography, typically with a set theme in mind for each walk. At least then I'm actively looking for.
I hike with my dad, and we have some great conversations.
None of this is to say I don't find exercise horribly boring. It is. Awful. But given the right selection it isn't akin to torture. And I appreciate the benefits, aside from physical fitness; I've noticed when I walk outside or go hiking, I am calmer and more focused for many hours. That's a payoff that is well worth the time spent.
On the other hand, I really enjoy solving linear equations and analyzing thousands of data points. I think reading scientific journals is engrossing. I love rehearsing and performing music. But time exercising is time I can't do any of these things that I love. So it's worse than boring, it's taking away time from things I enjoy.
It is, however, something that I see and understand the necessity of doing so that I can continue to enjoy my life as much as possible in all other areas. And for that reason, and that reason alone, I slog through the complete misery of exercise and try to tell myself I really like it, when honestly I am clinging to a few seconds of joy over an hour workout.
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I'm having a giggle over the idea of me watching one of my favourite tv shows (something serious like Broadchurch) whilst pounding on a treadmill, panting and thundering along whilst they discuss child murder.
Cardio is fun... for me... because I like dancing and so forth. Jogging is boring.1 -
mburgess458 wrote: »[soapbox] It drives me nuts when people claim they don't do cardio because it's just too boring. If sitting on a couch watching TV/movies isn't too boring for you then how can running on a treadmill/riding a stationary bike/etc. while watching the exact same TV/movies be too boring?
You aren't doing cardio because it's too hard or you don't enjoy sweating or whatever, not because it's too boring. If you don't want to do cardio then don't, just be honest with yourself. [/soapbox]
Pretty provocative post title and narrow-minded view of what constitutes cardio, IMO.
I rarely watch TV (except sporting events), have never had a Netflix account, and generally hate movies. It all bores me to death. I also find running on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike about as entertaining as watching paint dry regardless of what else I do in an effort to make it more entertaining. So if I combined the two and watched TV/movies while on a treadmill, the synergy of my hatred and boredom could possibly cause me to self-immolate.
I can handle about 30 minutes on a tread, rower, elliptical or stationary bike before I'm ready to gouge my eyes out with a dull fork just to make it more interesting. If those were my only cardio options, I'd consider speed knitting while listening to Mantovani as a viable alternative. And don't even get me started on exercise videos. Dancing around in front of my TV spraying sweat all over my living room carpet like a lawn sprinkler while listening to some cheesy instructor in tight clothes (NTTAWT) shout inane encouragement through the screen doesn't rank anywhere on my scale of having a good time. Not to even mention the abject humiliation I'd endure if somebody happened to come to the front door and catch me prancing around like Richard Simmons. I'd rather hand-feed raw meat to hungry sharks while swimming in a wetsuit made of sausages like one of Lady Gaga's dresses. If I'm working out indoors, you can usually find me over there in the weights section of the gym. I actually like that stuff.
I regard indoor cardio of any kind as a necessary evil when the weather prohibits me from being outside. Whenever possible, I prefer to get my cardio in by running, bicycling, kayaking, or just about anything else outdoors. My phone gets stowed in my pocket or Camelbak (to help track workouts and/or in case of emergency) and I'm enjoying being outdoors, feeling the breeze, hearing the sounds, seeing the sights and letting my sweat stink up something other than the floor beneath whatever stationary implement of drudgery I'd find in the gym or at home. Getting my daily vitamin D dosage from the warm sun and simultaneously working on my tan so I don't look like a pasty mole. Giving "the nod" to other runners/cyclists rather than staring slack-eyed at a glowing screen. Admiring the boats passing by in the water alongside the route of my favorite running spot.
Enjoy your Netflix. I'll pass, thanks.7 -
lolakraven wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »Cardio is boring. I also don't sit on the couch for hours watching TV/movies (except football season. All bets are off during football season).
Everyone has different things they find "fun," OP. Your way isn't the only right way.
...wait, how are you able to sit down during football season? Everyone in my family who is into football watches standing up and/or jumping around in celebration or frustration
Great calorie burner
I concede to your point. Maybe I'm not sitting that much then, either.
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Hysterically I spend literally hours in front of my TV.
Beading.
Hand beading.
And almost every single person I know cannot and will not take on such a project. it's too time consuming and too "boring". But honestly I love it. I really love it- I love making my own costumes- and part of that is the incredibly tedious and monotonous aspect of beading. Whatever.
Literally different strokes for different folks. It's like when people tell me I should be banned from NJ because I don't like Bruce Springsteen.
Fine- whatever. Enjoy your mediocre music. I'll take five finger death punch any day.
it's what makes the world go around.2 -
Strength training to me is boring. I love cardio. And I don't do it at the gym...because people are right, there isn't anything to look at. But I do some strength training and yuk. But if you like it then good for you, I guess.
Side note: I thought MFP was supposed to be a a loving, supportive place...I feel like we should just be encouraging others to work out, regardless of their preferences.0 -
Hysterically I spend literally hours in front of my TV.
Beading.
Hand beading.
And almost every single person I know cannot and will not take on such a project. it's too time consuming and too "boring". But honestly I love it. I really love it- I love making my own costumes- and part of that is the incredibly tedious and monotonous aspect of beading. Whatever.
Literally different strokes for different folks. It's like when people tell me I should be banned from NJ because I don't like Bruce Springsteen.
Fine- whatever. Enjoy your mediocre music. I'll take five finger death punch any day.
it's what makes the world go around.
I'm glad you chimed in. What Would Jo Say. Yay!2 -
This is a subjective topic. What one person enjoys, another can't stand. And there are so many different forms of cardio - it would be hard to say that every single person finds every single method of cardio boring.1
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Hysterically I spend literally hours in front of my TV.
Beading.
Hand beading.
And almost every single person I know cannot and will not take on such a project. it's too time consuming and too "boring". But honestly I love it. I really love it- I love making my own costumes- and part of that is the incredibly tedious and monotonous aspect of beading. Whatever.
Literally different strokes for different folks. It's like when people tell me I should be banned from NJ because I don't like Bruce Springsteen.
Fine- whatever. Enjoy your mediocre music. I'll take five finger death punch any day.
it's what makes the world go around.
sounds like a nice form of meditation.0 -
I'm not entirely sure what this post is getting at. Shaming people into doing more gym based cardio? Even though it's boring. Why not encourage people to find a type of cardio they enjoy? If the treadmill was the only option for cardio I'd never do it either and I'd probably still be fat. Instead, I thought outside of the box and joined a kickboxing gym. Cardio + punching and kicking people = winner.
Get off your high horse before you fall off, yeah?1 -
Unless it's -40 out you won't catch me dead on a treadmill. It is SO BORING. If I'm in a gym it's solely to use equipment I don't have at home. I don't have room or cash for a squat rack and bench so I get in and out and my cardio is walking outdoors. Cba to do more2
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mburgess458 wrote: »[soapbox] It drives me nuts when people claim they don't do cardio because it's just too boring. If sitting on a couch watching TV/movies isn't too boring for you then how can running on a treadmill/riding a stationary bike/etc. while watching the exact same TV/movies be too boring?
You aren't doing cardio because it's too hard or you don't enjoy sweating or whatever, not because it's too boring. If you don't want to do cardio then don't, just be honest with yourself. [/soapbox]
Um I don't enjoy cardio. I don't like to stand in the same place while staring at randoms walking around and lifting. It's a very boring form of exercise for me. I however love doing heavy *kitten* weights. Lifting to the point where my legs are going to give out of where I have so much lactic acid build up that I can barely stand the burn. The whole time pouring sweat and being out of breathe. So how exactly isn't that considered to be "hard"? Ever have your core give out when you're going for a max effort lift and dropping to the ground only to be saved by the spotter bars? That whole moment every motor unit in your body is firing doing everything it can to keep that weight moving up. Now THAT IS HARD
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Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.2
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Why do you care what other people like or don't like? If you love the treadmill, then go for it! It's definitely not my thing, but that doesn't mean it's wrong for everybody else!0
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NorthCascades wrote: »Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Stand a little taller...0 -
If someone finds 'cardio' too boring for them then they're not doing the right cardio for them.
I really like doing 5k/10k/half marathon events. I love the energy, the people-watching, the atmosphere. I'd do them 4-5x a week if I could. But for many reasons I cannot. So I need to do other things so that I can accomplish what I want (being able to run the entire event) when I do those events. Running outside is not always possible due to weather, logistics, etc. so I'm often on my treadmill in the evenings. I can't just walk/run on the treadmill. That is boring. As in there is nothing to entertain my mind. So I read (Kindle for running, real book for walking) or listen to music.
Walking/running outside is more entertaining, especially if I have someone with me...mburgess458 wrote: »[soapbox] It drives me nuts when people claim they don't do cardio because it's just too boring. If sitting on a couch watching TV/movies isn't too boring for you then how can running on a treadmill/riding a stationary bike/etc. while watching the exact same TV/movies be too boring?
You aren't doing cardio because it's too hard or you don't enjoy sweating or whatever, not because it's too boring. If you don't want to do cardio then don't, just be honest with yourself. [/soapbox]
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Curious if OP is going to come back or not. Thread backfire?2
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