Ladies Weight Lifting- How do you not get bored?

unicornpoop

Hi Ladies!

I am new to myfitnesspal.com and this is my first post. I am currently in a boot camp and they want us to start lifting weights. I know what I should be doing but I get through round 1 of a circuit and I'm done. Weight lifting is so boring! Even with the best songs cranked up on my ipod I cant seem to get into it.

How do you keep yourself motivated to do weights and weight circuits?

-unicornpoop

Clew

I have been using kettlebells for over 2 years now and I find them to be really fun and challenging, plus they work multiple muscle groups at once. I haven't gotten bored at all with kettlebell routines - maybe try looking into adding kettlebells to your routine - Best wishes!

taso42

Lift heavier so that it feels brutal rather than boring

Crystal_Pistol

I lift heavy. The physical and mental challenge of it keeps me pumped. I also play aggressive music. I feel like a BEAST when I am lifting. Instead of doing a circuit and repeating, I do 2 sets of the same exercise with a min of rest between each set. When you are done, you're really done.

I'm newer to lifting but I LOVE IT!!

dolfn1972

by knowing that Im gonna look great and that all the hard work is worth it. Yeah it leaves me sore afterwards..and for a day or two.....but I also feel great afterwards. Annnddddd of course its always nice if there are some good looking men working out as the same time I do. No...I dont feel silly.....I just do my thing..and watch them do theirs

fguillory

I personally love weights! Lol I just imagine myself as some big female body builder. It is also fun if you make a friend there to motivate you ^^

Maybe set mini goals? Like Alrighty, this week I did four reps, next week I am going to do five!

I personally see myself as she hulk. xD but I am a bit of a comic book nerd :">

Crystal_Pistol

Lift heavier so that it feels brutal rather than boring

^^Read my mind

sjohnny

Lift heavier so that it feels brutal rather than boring

Things are usually less boring when they present a true challenge. If you're going through the motions with 2 pound dumbbells I would imagine it would get boring really fast. Not so if you're moving weights that are nearer your physical limits.

deekaydee

Lift heavier so that it feels brutal rather than boring

Agree.

mamitosami

Oh man!!! I LOVE lifting!! I get a similar high from it that I do from a really long run!!! Lift to maximum, it's a challenge, lift hard, lift long and you WILL NOT be bored!!! Stand in front of the mirrors while lifting and watch the muscles you are working, that really helps me focus. And raise your weights each week. Keep track, it's an amazing journey.

Sighhh, I lifting....

leeeska

I started doing Tabata training for both cardio and strength training! It has really helped me like exercise again!

3dogsrunning

I lift heavy. The physical and mental challenge of it keeps me pumped. I also play aggressive music. I feel like a BEAST when I am lifting. Instead of doing a circuit and repeating, I do 2 sets of the same exercise with a min of rest between each set. When you are done, you're really done.

I'm newer to lifting but I LOVE IT!!

Same thing. Concentrating on finished the set because it is challenging keeps me occupied. I do work out a little different but I get through it the same way.

PS- crystal - I your avatar.

Priincess_Natalie

I focus on one exercise at a time. I get my cardio out of the way. Then I pick my starting point. I lift 10 reps for 4 sets and write everything down. When I finish my 4 sets I move on to my next exercise. I work my arms and chest on the same day. When I finish those exercises I'm done for the day. I log everything. I always look to see how much I lifted the previous session and challenge myself by adding a pound or two and sometimes 5 .

Challenge yourself. Watch yourself lift in in a mirror so you can see those muscles working. It looks great and makes you want to push through that set .

Soon I plan to up the amount I lift while lowering my reps and upping my sets. So soon it will be 5 sets of 8 at a heavier weight.

I goals.

Becks20vt

To echo everyone else, lift heavy, do compound movements like squats, deadlifts,overhead press and up the weight a little every time. It is amazing the difference it makes!

badgerbadger1

I keep my eye on the prize. Mostly I'm thinking oh *kitten* this is heavy!!

janiecaron

eww

fguillory

I personally die of boredom doing cardio. xD

kensky

I find cardio excruciatingly boring. I have to set mini-goals to do it at all. I also hate to give up on something just because it's hard so that drives me during my (beloved!) lifting sessions.

You may want to check out the strength standards here ---> http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.htm and make some goals to work toward. If you lift primarily on machines, you can aim to up your weights, say, 5 lbs. or so each session. If you aren't charting your progress, then that is a mistake on a bunch of different levels but certainly not knowing how much progress you are making just by showing up and doing it will stoke the flames of boredom. It is incredibly motivating to see your gains creep up! And when they creep up enough you will have concrete evidence of what a badass you now are! Becoming a badass is rarely boring, in my experience.

carrie_eggo

I personally die of boredom doing cardio. xD

^^

+1 On the heavy lifting.

paulcer

I find cardio terrifically boring and weight lifting almost meditative. I use it as an opportunity to relax and pay attention to my breathing and the symmetry of my body. I enjoy isolating muscle groups and individual muscles. I do lift free weights so I think I spend more time paying attention to form ect.

If I'm still getting bored with all that going on, I just watch the good looking guys.

mamitosami

Becoming a badass is rarely boring, in my experience.

All I saw was this!!!!!! LOL!!! LOVE IT!! :laugh:

Crystal_Pistol

I find cardio excruciatingly boring. I have to set mini-goals to do it at all. I also hate to give up on something just because it's hard so that drives me during my (beloved!) lifting sessions.

You may want to check out the strength standards here ---> http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.htm and make some goals to work toward. If you lift primarily on machines, you can aim to up your weights, say, 5 lbs. or so each session. If you aren't charting your progress, then that is a mistake on a bunch of different levels but certainly not knowing how much progress you are making just by showing up and doing it will stoke the flames of boredom. It is incredibly motivating to see your gains creep up! And when they creep up enough you will have concrete evidence of what a badass you now are! Becoming a badass is rarely boring, in my experience.

Yes! I go on a screaming franzy at my house and a posting frenzy on MFP everytime I up my weight. I benched 75lbs and went APE**** because my left arm is a punk.

fteale

I do boot camp in a class with about 14 other people, and we have weights and cardio alternate stations, between 60 and 90 seconds per station. It's not boring when there are other people around.

ZombieSlayer

Lift heavier so that it feels brutal rather than boring

Agree.

Absolutely this. And every time you can increase your weight you feel like a Goddess!

Tdk4685

I started at the gym 7 months ago. I have a routine I lift weights 2 to 3 times a week and do cardio the other days. What keeps me lifting weights is the results. I am starting to see the giggle areas firm up and that is really satisfying. I also used to have alot of back pain and since working out with weighs the pain is gone so it is worth the effort and time spent in doing weights.

TourThePast

Lift heavier so that it feels brutal rather than boring

Yup, if it's not a challenge, it's not interesting and it's not doing you any good.

Having said that, not everything in life has to be fun.
Certainly, if you can find a way to enjoy doing something, that's a bonus, but if you can't make it fun, well just do it anyway.

onesillygirl

I work out w/ a trainer two times a week. It has been a huge help for me in learning different workouts, correct form, etc. I write down all the workouts in a notebook so I can go back to them. I also have found it helpful to workout with a friend.

HeidiMightyRawr

I feel this way about cardio!

Lifting heavy for me is like a challenge every time. You aim to do better next time, even by just one rep. You feel stronger, more powerful, what is not to love?! It's when you push yourself to the limits that it becomes fun. Also, when you see changes to your body in a way you can never get through diet / cardio alone, it feels awesome!!

Boot camp to me sounds a little like circuit training, would that be right? That would bore me, as it seems like less focus is on what weight you lift / how many reps you do, but more just getting the burn and sweating like mad?

katya73

Lift heavier so that it feels brutal rather than boring

This ^^^^^

I also think with exersise we are all individual .. Soo there is going to be parts we prefare doing more than others.. With weights you can change it around .. ..body pump classes ...( that makes it fun ) my PT makes me lift random things like rope ..beer kegs lol ... I defo don't get bored ..

it_be_asin

Wow! It's cardio that bores the crap out of me, not weights! But classes make anything more interesting, so if you can get to a body pump or weight circuit class, try that.

dad106

I use to find weights boring until I had a proper lifting program.. and now that i do, I can't get enough.

There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that I am making my body stronger/leaner... and knowing that boys are watching me like damn, that chick lifts some heavy weights