How do YOU get through 30 min on treadmill, eliptical, etc?

ctychick

(oops - that would be ELLIPTICAL.)

Normally, I absolutely must have some high energy music and it must be fresh music that hasn't been sitting on my playlist for months.

But... Today I decided to switch it up and watch a show on tv while I did my power walk on the tm. TV has never been motivating enough to keep me going for the full 30 min, but I had recorded Oprah's interview with Lady Gaga last week and hadn't yet had time to sit and watch it. So I turned it on while I worked out this morning. Well, the time just flew by and I was totally engrossed in the interview. I even decided to keep up the momentum and do crunches while I finished the first half of the show! Tomorrow I'll be back on the tm and watching the second half of Lady Gaga! I experienced the same thing while reading the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy - never one to read on the tm, but those books were just sooo distracting, LOL! (And this coming from a former HS English teacher - shhhh ... don't tell!)

I do think it will take something totally engaging and unique (ie, Lady Gaga, Christian Grey) for this to work for me, especially since in the case of TV, I don't watch much and don't "eagerly await" any particular show each week. I'll probably be back to my music in a few days, but it did get me thinking.

So I thought I would ask -- what motivates, distracts or occupies YOU while you get through that dreaded 30+ min??

ctychick

PS - Lady Gaga is not only talented but so very interesting. The interview really changed my perception of her!

Kellster30

I usually watch a show that I know will keep me entertained and interested - Big Bang Theory always makes me laugh! And during commercials, which definitely don't keep my focus, I think about how good it is for me to be on the treadmill and how the scale will be nicer to me on my weigh in day LOL

cekaai

I watch the morning news and on the weekends whatever Law & Order marathon is on. I used to listen to music but that was more distracting then helpful for me.

jody664

When I walk the treadmill at home, I usually have some movies taped (no commercials), and that can keep me going at least an hour. I have a "whole house" DVR, so I can start it in the basement while I walk on the treadmill, then switch it to the living room to finish watching later. I get too bored listening to music on the treadmill.

Hopelessbird

I watch netflix or hulu on my phone or ipad if I am planning to do cardio for more than 45 minutes.

csparon

I would read, and before you know it I was on it for 60 minutes

1finesheri1

the dvr in our basement is not set up yet, so when i am on the elliptical, i bring down the laptop and put a movie in - i usually pick something that my husband would not want to watch w/ me! the 30 min are up before you know it.

beckyinma

high energy fast count music, podcast specifically for running, like indie podcasts, or an iPad app I have treadmillVRmax with different running scenes that repeat... I can run on the beach, run in the clouds, through the woods, over a long bridge etc...

Angiesolomon

Play words with friends on my phone or read a book!!

GroupXZ

I get engrossed in my music and the time seems to fly by.

liveonlocation

I watch a show on Netflix on my iPad. Most shows are either 22 mins or 44 mins. So I pick an "hour" show and get a warm up and cool down in 44 mins. Works great.

firstnamekaren

I never understood how people could read while on the treadmill/elliptical.
I crank up my iPod and watch a tv at the same time. Bonus if the gym has closed captions, but mostly I just watch HGTV and guess what they're talking about.

kilbey1

Walk or run outside.

Ok, I realize this question is focused on gym equipment. I use apps on my iPhone that give me voice prompts, encouragement AND music to keep me going. Lolo makes a line of these that are easy and fun to use.

Dorianlg

I always try to get to the gym in time for Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert, when they replay them at 5 CT during the week. Otherwise, my gym has wifi and I bring my ipad and watch Netflix streaming. I was watching Biggest Loser for motivation, but I'm starting to get really angry the show for its unsustainable weight loss practices.

rlawrimore

Just good music and sometime what the TV while listening to my music.

marketdimlylit

Usually I just have my music, or text, or make it time to just think.

jfrankic

I have my two children (6mos and 3yrs) with me all day, so I never have any quiet time. So, I do 45 mins on the elliptical and read on my Kindle the entire time. I am able to block the gym noise out and the time flies by!! I make sure I have already started the book - and it is a good one - so I am instantly engrossed. I find that this works better for me than TV, as I am at the gym and have no control over what is playing.

abnerner

I listen to music or I recently started watching Golden Girls episodes on YouTube. Makes the minutes go by very fast (however, this is MY favorite show lol)

Mustangsally33

I always watch TV at the Gym and it helps me to keep going ! When I get tired I tell myself to just make it to commercial and by then I am usually over wanting to quit and just keep going ! Or like you, get lost in the program and finish no problem .........

LeggyKettleBabe

the best advice is...

do not look at the time. just focus on the burn and you will get there.

I start off at 15 minutes and then push for 5 minutes more each time . eventually you will hit your goal.

your goal should be intensity not minutes. 10 minutes at your highest intensity is way better than 30 minutes at mid/low intensity.

just push hard and fast as long as you can and your endurance will build.

Farmgirl67

I have the entire "Seinfeld" collection on DVD and watch 2 episodes while I'm on the elliptical. I love it and I've lost 10 pounds since I started doing it this way.

monkeypantz

I've recorded lots of Eastenders (very bad english soap, but its my guilty pleasure) and I made a vow that I'm not allowed to watch it unless I'm on the elliptical - so when the story line is really good I end up working out loads + it's on for 30mins 4 days a week and I'm about 3 weeks behind, which is enough to keep me going for a while.

If not I always make sure I have something recorded to fall back on!

Fubar_Bill

I do a full hour twice a day monday to friday and I always get through it 3 minutes at a time.

Good music helps.
At the gym they have several tvs on several channels, so I always find myself wandering between them.
I play little mind games to keep me going like calculating the calories for an hour if I have completed X number of calories in 21 minutes.
I used to the do "five more minutes" game. When I was near my limit I would convince myself to do 5 more minutes and keep doing that 4 or 5 times.

Really, what it comes down to for me is to simply not stop. Once you are on and moving you have to make the choice to leave. I choose not to, knowing that I am looking for a result down the road.

Cheers!

ksraider

I download audio books to my phone and listen to them as I walk on the treadmill.

carebear7951

Anything that takes my focus off of the timer on the elliptical. I usually watch Netflix...whatever show I'm into at the moment. Right now it's Intervention. Books on cd and music also help tremendously!!!!!!!

islandjumper

I always try to get to the gym in time for Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert, when they replay them at 5 CT during the week. Otherwise, my gym has wifi and I bring my ipad and watch Netflix streaming. I was watching Biggest Loser for motivation, but I'm starting to get really angry the show for its unsustainable weight loss practices.

I would be laughing through my workout if I tried watching Jon Steward/Stephen Colbert!

suaku

Up-tempo music. I have an iTunes Smart Playlist that automatically picks only those songs I haven't heard in the last two weeks, so it's always fresh. But I've also enjoyed listening to the same playlist day after day because when I would get to a certain song, I'd know I was over halfway done, etc.

As far as TV goes, I'm a DVR guy, too. I watch hour shows since after skipping the commercials they come out to be about 44 minutes or so -- Chopped and Amazing Race are two I watch regularly. I also like watching sporting events (a half of basketball works out to about an hour) -- I figure if the middle-aged referees can run up and down the court without a break, so can I. LOL!

healthycurves2012

My iPod is a MUST when I work out. The first 10-15 minutes are always the worst, but then once the endorphins start rushing, it actually feels good to work out. When I start to sweat, I know I'm working hard, and that motivates me to keep going.

jb852013

Recently I realized that I can pull up online sermons on my phone and listen to them while I excersize. It helps a lot. I used to just listen to audio books on my phone.

twistofcain

Dream Theater's Change of Seasons...song is exactly 33 minutes long.

Alicat59

I watch TV too. Recently it's been old episodes of Biggest Loser. But really any show that will keep my attention makes me forget that I'm on the elliptical.