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

shelbysmom08

Praybthat I can be done soon! I hate to exercise but I do it!

iceqieen

Audio books (currently the Dresden books)
Metal music and telling myself "only a few more songs"

if I dont have my iPod - then planning the next day/week/month/decade and try to convince myself that I'm almost halfway already and only a few more minutes... :sad:

stephyy4632

I normaly run on the treadmill and can`t really focus on the tv or reading while running so I have loud 80`s hair music going on in background to keep me moving works well for me

watchandsee

I catch up on my DVR!! Gotta have a show on to get through it

JoolieW68

Must have music, and it has to be something that gets me motivated to run. Doesn't matter what it is as long as it motivates me (and, sadly, there are a couple Justin Beiber songs that actually do motivate me).

I also have the TV on for something to look at. I can usually 'watch' any Law & Order show since I've pretty much seen them all and know what's going on. Bonus if there is a hockey game on, since those don't require any talking at all (in fact most of the announcers are *kitten* anyway, so I'd rather not hear them).

FrecklesMo

I just turn on my favorite show and once its over i know ive done 30 minutes and never thought about the time!!!

wickedcricket

I listen to old-time radio plays. Preferably with bette davis or other high profile stars and the time flies by BUT no matter what, I still can't do 30 mins straight on the elliptical yet. up to about 20 mins, then I have to rest (I lift) then go back to it. After 30 mins on the elliptical & some lifting, I am weak & rubbery

misscristie

Usually when I'm on a machine, my daughter is on the one next to me, so I listen to really obnoxious music and sing and move my arms around to embarrass her. It's fantastic

ctychick

That sounds interesting! I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

betzeross

I use the elliptical in the early morning so I use that time to pray. It's a g reat way to start the day!

kidakiwi04

Tik Tok station on Pandora. If that bored me then I watch Once Upon a Time or Lost on my phone but since I've seen most of the episodes They are more like background noise to my cardio. I never understood how people could text/read while doing elliptical/treadmill. :sick:

brittanierrin

I save a show I REALLY want to watch for my cardio time! I usually get so into the show I sort of "zone out" about how hard I am working on the eliptical.

getfitblondie21

I love the stair-master at my gym but there is no tv attached makes it almost impossible to last the full 45mins. thinking about bringing my ipad with me but then I would just feel silly.

Anyone bring their tablets to the gym?

ctychick

That's so funny! So true - that's pretty easy to do w/ HGTV or Food Network. I don't love the shows they've come up with recently (especially FoodTV - ridiculous), but I could see HGTV + being a good distraction for me.

AlayshaJ

Rap music. I also HAVE to mouth the words. It keeps me concentrated. People always look at me weird because I am a small brown girl mouthing rap music while running. LOL.


Nothing can keep me on an elliptical though, that **** is just SOOO boring.

bcattoes

I much prefer to hike or run outdoors or do something fun like a Zumba DVD to machines, but when I do them I have to have high energy music that I like to get through it. I've tried TV but the problem for me is that I get too involved in the shows and find keeping a good pace difficult. Plus I don't have headphones for the TV and the machines are pretty loud. I do free step aerobics in front of the TV sometimes though.

OpenHeaven

I personally am not able to concentrate on a book or magazine when I am working out. If I slowed down my pace - maybe, but I'm not sure.

GREAT music usually, but I too enjoy having the TV on when I'm on a treadmill. Whatever distracts me from watching the seconds tic by, or looking at the distance thinking, "Oh, I'm never going to get there"!!!!

I know a lot of people who will go to the gym during their fav show (if the gym has the machines where you have your own TV) because they know they will be engrossed, and they will stay for the entire show (AND they ramp it up and go into turbo mode during commercials!)

jlt1968

Netfix, to many commercials on regular tv. I put on a show or movie that is longer than my work out time. I have to be intrested in the show or the time just drags. I have not tryed listening to music.

froeschli

I don't. The idea of stationary cardio exercise is quite frankly frustrating. I may do wii step along to a tv show, but that's only if I feel really guilty about dinner...

lilRicki

I love yapping my face off with my work out partner...she makes the time fly. Or I watch tv.

BAMFMeredith

If I'm inside on a treadmill or whatever, I HAVE to do intervals. I crank my ipod up and do intervals or make a game out of it, otherwise I'm bored to death and want to stop before I've finished a decent workout. I'll make it a game, like "Ok I'm gonna do 2 minutes as fast as I possible can, then 2 minutes to cool down, then 2 minutes on as high of as incline as I can..." etc. It breaks up the monotony. Oh, and Wheel of Fortune is usually on by the time I get to the gym, so if I'm on the stairmaster or treadmill, I seriously play the entire game. I occasionally catch myself yelling out answers at the gym...it gets awkward.

When I'm outside running on the trail, man I can just go forever (well, until I'm out of breath and exhausted anyway). I put on my headphones (not very loud outside, gotta be aware of my surroundings) and I just lose myself. We have this beautiful running trail that goes through the middle of the city around a section of the river and it's just so serene and peaceful, I seriously just lose track of time.

Navotc

I take my Kindle and plop it down in front of the display of the elliptical. I set the amount of time I want to work out, and then just work out and read my book until it beeps that the time is finished.
I find that I feel more tired and worn out if I am watching the display...you have burned x number of calories, and you have x minutes to go, etc.

gipperakh

I use the treadmills at the Y and they have TVs on them, there's also a tv monitor of the daycare center so I can look up and see my kids during commercial breaks. Otherwise I look around at everyone else and see if they're struggling to keep up a good pace like me lol.

knollmma

That is exactly what I do haha!

ctychick

Re: Reading on the treadmill -

I never understood it either and definitely don't see it becoming a regular thing for me. However, the ability to jack up the font size on ereaders these days, it's easier for me to read in less than ideal places, like on the treadmill. In fact, for my entire life just the thought of reading in the car made me nauseous. Not a problem anymore since getting the Kindle. If I increase the font size a couple of notches, I'm good to go. It's one of my favorite perks of Kindle ownership!

SurfinBird1981

Music, music and more music! I got the live365 app on my iPhone for a huuuge variety of tunes :-)

SoDamnHungry

I listen to upbeat music and daydream...

BAMFMeredith

Re: Reading on the treadmill -

I never understood it either and definitely don't see it becoming a regular thing for me. However, the ability to jack up the font size on ereaders these days, it's easier for me to read in less than ideal places, like on the treadmill. In fact, for my entire life just the thought of reading in the car made me nauseous. Not a problem anymore since getting the Kindle. If I increase the font size a couple of notches, I'm good to go. It's one of my favorite perks of Kindle ownership!

I can't do it on the treadmill, but I for sure bring my Kindle on the stairmaster with me. It's the ONLY way I can get through a long session on that devil machine!

WhittRak

I love the burn!! And the results I am seeing are fantastic! I usually think about a thinner me..and it helps me get through. Eventually I zone out....LOL. Love the Elliptical!

mommanurse33

Music baby!! Loud music!!! I open a window and let myself fade into the music!