What to do when weight lifting gets boring

mzbek24

Ugh. I don't know what it is, I just cannot seem to make myself do weights lately. I was/am doing Stronglifts 5x5 since May. All of this time, I have stuck with it religiously three times a week, and I enjoyed it a lot as I improved and have seen some improvements in my strength and look.

A couple of weeks ago I dropped a barbell on my laptop and broke it's screen. Enjoyment seemed to wane a lot since then, or maybe it just got too routine, dunno. It just seems to take sooo long and it's boring the heck out of me!
Even less motivating is the fact that when I don't do it as regularly, it is harder the next time and I can't do as much. When I do make myself do a session, like Tuesday night, because I am making myself, I don't enjoy it. And I don't even seem to finish workouts.

The reason I never used to workout when I was overweight was that almost all exercise bored me. I hate gyms. I hate running or cycling inside and staring at walls. I am not a group class person. I need to be outside, free-range chicken stylez and exploring new places as much as possible, different terrains, distances, and having some sort of mental stimulation.
For most of the year I have been cycling outdoors rain hail or shine, because it was the only exercise I enjoyed years ago when I was more fit...I can do it all day or for hours and get lost in it. It has been so much fun, I have seen so many interesting things and challenged myself a lot and improved my fitness massively. My motivation for that never misses a beat. In addition to that I have been running for the last few months, and working towards my next goal of half marathon. Again, motivation for that seems to be getting greater all the time, they both make me feel amazing.

I know strength training is important to my health, running performance as well as improving my body composition and how it looks when I get to my goal weight, so what can I do to get back into it/make it more fun so I will be motivated again?

shmerek

I am sorry about your laptop that sucks hard out. Maybe find a different program/routine something that is challenging and a bit more interesting? Maybe a lifting partner to keep you motivated?

3laine75

Is that even possible?!

Haha maybe try a new programme - I moved on to wendlers, I like it a lot.

SezxyStef

Is that even possible?!

Haha maybe try a new programme - I moved on to wendlers, I like it a lot.

That's what I was wondering...I have been doing SL for almost a year...at the start of the summer I did switch to 3x5 as I found my failures were always on set 4/5 and time is scant in the summer....loving it even more so now as the weights (after a few deloads for form) are heading up again...

I will be moving to Wendler in Sept I think just for a switch up...

To the OP perhaps schedule a day off every couple of weeks...??? Switch to 3x5 maybe....and add in some accessory work

Stage14

I'm honestly really confused as to how you were using a laptop while lifting to entertain yourself.

I agree with changing up your program. Maybe try Wendlers (sp?) Or NROLFW.

mzbek24

Yeah, I was a doofus and had it nearby to check which weights to do for each exercise based on my records of what I did for each last time and how it felt. Didn't think it was actually close enough to be risky. Too pov to fix it yet.

I think 3x5 might help a little bit with feeling like it's dragging on... maybe I'd get back into the routine. But I think it's the same old moves in the same order every week that get to me. Would it matter if I mixed the order up?

Leadfoot_Lewis

I'm honestly really confused as to how you were using a laptop while lifting to entertain yourself.

I have my tablet nearby when I'm lifting so I can track my #s & reps. Not unusual at all but you need to keep it out of the way of the weights!

OP - Stronglifts IS boring. Don't give up - find a new lifting program with some variety.

_lyndseybrooke_

I got bored with 5x5 after 12 weeks and moved on to Wendler's 5/3/1. Nothing boring about it. Yeah, I probably switched "too early," but you have to enjoy your workouts or you're not likely to continue doing them.

bugaboo_sue

Switch up your program.

I lift every day but to make it NOT boring every week I do something different. One week I'll use dumbbells for all my exercise. The next week it's a mix of cables and dumbbells. keeps it from getting boring.

No_Finish_Line

idk, there is few exercises that i'd really say i enjoy.

I honestly do enjoy jumping rope to music. and now and then i'll get an extream runners high during HIIT.

other then that... its really just something i gotta do.

I mean i was all excited about lifting weights in highschool... much of that has worn off. so while its not that exciting, its also not objectionable either, like many things in life.

astronomicals

how long is "forever"... i superset everything and try and get in and out fast.... its not for everyone, but, it works for me... I can still keep moving heavy weights...leg work takes a bit longer, but, i still knock out over 100 reps (~20-30 heavy reps and ~80 accessory reps or metabolic work) and 20K in volume in under an hour... mix push and pull movements and throw in some isolation work and it typically wont hinder the heavy lifts.

im definitely sweating when I lift... it can be grueling

531 BBB program if you wondered

rick_po

You didn't say how much running and cycling you're doing, but I wonder if maybe you're doing a little too much. One symptom of over-training is lack of motivation.

While I think it's a good idea to do novices to 3 strength workouts a week, once you've reached a certain level, if you have other fitness goals that strength training is interfering with, it's OK to scale back a little. Stronglifts is a high volume program, so doing it 3x5 is one way to cut back. Or you can do 2 workouts a week instead of 3.

Continue with all the running and cycling you can. If that's what you really enjoy, strength training is a great way to make them even more enjoyable.

CipherZero

SS and SL aren't designed to be exciting - they're designed to take advantage of fast progression and the new trainee's ability to add weight the bar every workout.

Hell, most lifting session I don't look forward to, but I love the results, so I'll keep going on.

JoRocka

Lift more and or switch programs (but don't be a program hopper)

I've been doing the same lifts for years and years.

There are always details to work on- and always new goals to hit. I am not always EXCITED about lifting- but I love it and I need it in my life (not even going to lie)

I think the bigger take away is stop looking to be entertained and excited and warm and fuzzy about what you do. It's not always going to be that way- it's not always going to be like that and most often you're going to feel luke warm about it- but the over arching goal needs to be the driving force.

If you do not have one- perhaps that's the bigger issue- find a competition- commit to a goal- that should push you and keep you more focused other than just "going to lift"

I'd say also- check your media usage- how often are you on the phone/tv/computer. Learning how to "unplug" is important. we are so often "entertained" all the time- we forget how to be alone with ourselves.

jimmmer

Just switch to another routine.

Getting stronger doesn't have to be mental torture. It's ok to change routines every so often to keep yourself fresh and enthusiastic.

Switching over to SS will drop the volume down a bit (3x5) and change up the lifts a touch. Or you could do something a bit higher rep like All Pro. Or something with a bit of freedom and variety like NROL4 Life.

Or, you could change to something totally different like Dan John's Easy Strength where you can rotate lifts on a two weekly basis and lift sub-maximally 5 days a week.

Or you could go for something more intermediate and 4+ days a week like WS4SB or 5/3/1 or PHAT or ...?

Hundreds of options out there. Some rigid, some customisable. Some higher rep, some lower rep. Lots of differing lift combos.

You've done some lifting of a particular variety. Go out and see what else is about. Explore. Enjoy.

mzbek24

You didn't say how much running and cycling you're doing, but I wonder if maybe you're doing a little too much. One symptom of over-training is lack of motivation.

While I think it's a good idea to do novices to 3 strength workouts a week, once you've reached a certain level, if you have other fitness goals that strength training is interfering with, it's OK to scale back a little. Stronglifts is a high volume program, so doing it 3x5 is one way to cut back. Or you can do 2 workouts a week instead of 3.

Continue with all the running and cycling you can. If that's what you really enjoy, strength training is a great way to make them even more enjoyable.

I'm running 3x a week, increasing distances per week with my longer runs usually on the weekends, but it's easy paced running. And cycling about 1 or 2x a week, have had to scale that back and use it for cross training, so the rides aren't as big, but very occasionally I do ride 40kms and stuff for fun on a weekend, or hike 20km and don't run then.
I also walk an hour a few mornings on rest/cross training days. Sometimes power walking, depends how I feel.

I've got to do my weights on the run days so I'm not on my rest days, but yeah it's sometimes too time consuming and I tell myself "ok i'll lift later/ tonight" but get comfy, eat some dinner and don't feel like it lol.

Walter__

Switch your routine.

You've been at it for a while so I'm sure you've made some decent strength gains. Stronglifts is a very boring program IMO. Try something with more variety. Go for something hypertrophy-oriented as well.

Calisthenics is another idea. I got bored of lifting in the gym so I decided to do calisthenics. It made exercising enjoyable again - I had a lot of fun working out outdoors.

Serah87

Agree with everyone else. Switch routine.