When does cardio get easier??

natboosh69

My PT says it's advisable to get in at least 3 hours of cardio a week, in between weight/strength sessions. BUT, I absolutely HATE cardio with all of my being. I enjoy the strength training side but I hate every second of cardio.

So, when does it get easier or more enjoyable? At the moment I can barely do 20-30 mins on a cross trainer, never mind running (which I've always hated too! ). I've been in the gym 3-4 times a week for about 6 weeks, and honestly I tend to do a 15-20 min warm up on cross trainer/rowing machine, and then just stick to weight machines. Is it just that I'm not pushing myself enough? Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier but I'm just not seeing it!

estherdragonbat

Walking is cardio, too. Maybe you'd enjoy that more?

rheddmobile

Fifteen to twenty minutes of moderate to intense activity a day is fine - there's no scientifically justifiable reason to become a cardio slave. Keep upping your intensity and do what makes you happy.

rybo

Easier in what way?
Easier as in your cardiovascular system is improving? This should be a few weeks of consistent sessions.
Or easier in that you can mentally tolerate doing something you hate? This is probably never. Which is why you should choose a "cardio" format that doesn't suck. Get outside and hike/walk. Push a sled, drag or carry something heavy, play a sport, go swimming, etc.

Machka9

You know that cardio includes a whole range of things, right?

Go for a bicycle ride outside ... a long brisk walk or hike up a mountain.
Go skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing.
Try swimming, kayaking, or running on the beach.
Dance classes can be cardio as well!
Or running around a court playing basketball or netball ... just as long as you keep moving.

Try different things and see what you might like.

natboosh69

rybo wrote: »

Easier in what way?
Easier as in your cardiovascular system is improving? This should be a few weeks of consistent sessions.
Or easier in that you can mentally tolerate doing something you hate? This is probably never. Which is why you should choose a "cardio" format that doesn't suck. Get outside and hike/walk. Push a sled, drag or carry something heavy, play a sport, go swimming, etc.

Easier as in not feeling like I'm going to keel over after 10 minutes I guess for that it's just a matter of sticking at it, I just thought after 6 weeks I would have felt a difference by now!

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I do enjoy walking outside. I guess I just feel that because I'm paying for the gym, I should take full advantage! I did try walking on an incline on the treadmill but I always feel a bit dizzy after the treadmill, which has put me off a bit.

msf74

How hard are you going? In other words when you are exercising is your breathing heavy and laboured or could you maintain a conversation while doing it?

Cardio tends to get more "enjoyable" once you get a base level of conditioning and then build in a sensible fashion from there (unless you get a kick out of the pain which some people do...)

NoExcusesFromNowOn

I'm lazy. I stArted using a rower at the gym. I bought the same model and have it in front of my tv in the living room. It's fun w the movement and you sit down!! Love it and it doesn't hurt my knees.

Witchdoctor58

Try circuit training/cardiosculpting with low weights. You can get your pulse going nicely, but you are still doing endurance strength training.

MyFreakingNameIsScott

Boxing is a winner for me. No gym. Simple bag work at home.

ladyhusker39

The problem is what you're doing for cardio. Expand your mind and consider activities beyond what you're doing now. For me, it was Zumba which I never expected to enjoy. I have 2 left feet, but I found it's actually a lot of fun and I do it several time a week now just for pleasure.

Find that kind of cardio for you and you'll be fine.

cwolfman13

Cardio is a lot more fun when you're not droning away on some stationary piece of cardio equipment...I ride a bike.

jenilla1

I despise gym cardio. It's like mental torture. I probably won't ever like it. So I do the vast majority of cardio outdoors on trails - running, hiking, mountain biking...I use the gym for weights and stuff like that. I LOVE cardio done outdoors. I get such a buzz from it.

californiagirl2012

natboosh69 wrote: »

My PT says it's advisable to get in at least 3 hours of cardio a week, in between weight/strength sessions. BUT, I absolutely HATE cardio with all of my being. I enjoy the strength training side but I hate every second of cardio.

So, when does it get easier or more enjoyable? At the moment I can barely do 20-30 mins on a cross trainer, never mind running (which I've always hated too! ). I've been in the gym 3-4 times a week for about 6 weeks, and honestly I tend to do a 15-20 min warm up on cross trainer/rowing machine, and then just stick to weight machines. Is it just that I'm not pushing myself enough? Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier but I'm just not seeing it!

I've learned to keep the intensity really low to keep it enjoyable. Having been a long time runner for years and pushing myself too hard all the time, I've learned that low intensity while watching a movie on my ipad or listening to a podcast, is a nice escape - in fact I'm stuck with only that right now as I'm recovering from hernia surgery. Also HIIT for just 15-12 minutes with some blasting upbeat music can be fun. Getting outside for a walk, run, or bike ride is of course nice to when you get a chance.

It never really gets easy, but the more you become conditioned by doing it some days can feel good. I don't believe in dreadful workouts. Workouts don't provide much for fat burning anyway, the work is in the diet for that. Have fun!

Wolfger

natboosh69 wrote: »

Easier as in not feeling like I'm going to keel over after 10 minutes I guess for that it's just a matter of sticking at it, I just thought after 6 weeks I would have felt a difference by now!

Maybe you need a more structured approach? I'm not sure what your workouts are like, but I do know that if anybody would have told me 6 months ago that I'd look forward to hopping on a treadmill, I'd have had them committed to a mental ward. I'm now 3 weeks into the C25K program and enjoying Rock My Run for good music mixes, and maybe I need to have myself committed.

lawsonsaysread

The not feeling like you are going to die after 10 minutes will get better with time. From my experience, the "hating every minute" only gets better by choosing a format that you enjoy. I hate running and want to save my knees. I do not object (in a mental sense) to a stationary bike. So I ride a stationary bike everyday. I love almost every thing I do outdoors (except running). So I hike, walk at a very fast pace, and road bike a lot. Conditioning fixes the oh-I'm-going-to-die-after-10-minutes thing. Format address the I-hate-this-activity thing. Don't get hung up on the gym because you are paying for it. If you hate the format, you'll quit using the gym anyway. Be hung up on the getting fit thing not the $ thing.

smc92079

natboosh69 wrote: »

I guess I just feel that because I'm paying for the gym, I should take full advantage! I did try walking on an incline on the treadmill but I always feel a bit dizzy after the treadmill, which has put me off a bit.

I have a gym membership just so I can use the treadmill when the weather is bad or it's too dark, etc. I hate walking on the treadmill, but it's the only other option. I usually just walk outside. But, I don't mind the price just so that I have a backup when I need it.

tcunbeliever

Totally going to agree with finding cardio you like and not forcing yourself to do something you hate as well as listening to your body and not letting your ego get in the way of doing what is right for you, slow it down if you are getting dizzy, cardio doesn't need to make you feel terrible to be effective.

Walking, dancing, swimming, punching/kicking, anything that raises your heart rate is cardio - including your weights if you are doing them with intensity.

JeromeBarry1

Variety is the spice of cardio. I couldn't resist. Everything from sex on top to Wii tennis and 'gardening, general' is going to burn some calories. There are many mfp users who'd be content to burn as much in a brief gym session as I burn simply standing at my desk through my work day.

rybo

JeromeBarry1 wrote: »

Variety is the spice of cardio. I couldn't resist. Everything from sex on top to Wii tennis and 'gardening, general' is going to burn some calories. There are many mfp users who'd be content to burn as much in a brief gym session as I burn simply standing at my desk through my work day.

Hate to break it to ya,but unless you are dancing and shaking and bouncing around, you don't burn many calories simply standing at your desk.

RunningBuryBlue

It never gets easier, you just get quicker

natboosh69

Thank you for all your comments I guess I just need to keep going and try mix it up a bit. I've signed up to play netball which should start in a few weeks, so looking forward to that!

MostlyWater

What about Zumba or a spin class? At the Equinox we also have a cardio class called Firestarter.

DX2JX2

Cardio doesn't have to be hard. Ease up your pace and you'll be able to go for longer. From a CV benefit standpoint, going easier for longer is at least as good as going harder for shorter, if not even better. Also, there's a good chance that by pushing too hard you're actually turning your cardio into an anaerobic activity.

Try going at something like 75% of your max HR. You should be barely breathing hard, fully conversational, and able to sustain that pace for as long as you like. You can throw in some up-tempo workouts to mix things up, but overall there's nothing wrong with doing the bulk of your cardio at a relatively easy pace.

WilmaValley

Great ideas, thanks!!!!

kcjchang

RunningBuryBlue wrote: »

It never gets easier, you just get quicker

Life's finer moments when combined with rule #5, HTFU.

Machka9

natboosh69 wrote: »

I did try walking on an incline on the treadmill but I always feel a bit dizzy after the treadmill, which has put me off a bit.

Yes, that's normal.

When I finish my run, I take a few minutes to walk slowly ... that helps.

Then I stop the treadmill, and just stand still looking at my stats for a moment ... that helps too.

Then I slowly step off the treadmill and walk to the papertowels and spray bottles ... and by the time I get there and get back to the treadmill to clean it, I'm fine.

stickersticker

I'm 36. I've put aside running and biking and swim 2 hours a day instead

ClovisMan

Pick something you like and then put as much or as little effort into it as you need to. I use a treadmill -- you wouldn't think walking would be hard, would you? -- but I've had my heart rate up to around 147 while walking. I'm 63, so that 147 is getting awfully close to as hard as I can go. Use the machine to help you get where you want to be, not punish you. Those numbers can be an awfully hard slave driver.

naomi8888

MostlyWater wrote: »

What about Zumba or a spin class? At the Equinox we also have a cardio class called Firestarter.

Totally agree with the idea of a class. It makes it much more enjoyable. Why not try a few until you find one you like?

JeromeBarry1

rybo wrote: »

JeromeBarry1 wrote: »

Variety is the spice of cardio. I couldn't resist. Everything from sex on top to Wii tennis and 'gardening, general' is going to burn some calories. There are many mfp users who'd be content to burn as much in a brief gym session as I burn simply standing at my desk through my work day.

Hate to break it to ya,but unless you are dancing and shaking and bouncing around, you don't burn many calories simply standing at your desk.

That's quite true. It's a MET 2.0 exercise. Not many at all. 480 minutes in a work day and about 0.75 kcal/minute. That no more than a lot of folks burn in 30 minutes. It takes me all day and I get paid to do it.