cardio indoors - why?
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I see all these posts about people doing various at home cardio DVDs (Jillian, insanity, whatever), or spending all this time on machines at the gym. I work at a gym and watch people line up for the cardio equipment on days when if FREAKING BEAUTIFUL outside.
Why?
If you're one of those people, why would you rather be inside in front of a TV or on an eliptical rather than being outside, getting some sun and fresh air? Why would you rather be on a treadmill than out running? Why would you rather be on an eliptical or a stepper rather than hiking? Why would you rather be on an exercise bike rather than an actual bike?
I'm not criticizing, just something I have never understood. I live in upstate NY where we have a pretty cold/snowy winter (yes, not as cold and snowy as some of you, but...) and I'd rather be outside running or biking in February than be inside on a treadmill or my trainer.
I do a healthy mix of outside cardio and inside workouts. The reason is that sometimes, you want that structured inside cardio, rather than just running, you want the jumping and stuff that Insanity offers. Other days though, it's just a nice day and I'll go for a hike, play tennis, run, bike, or go sailing. My new thing is running on the beach. It's really nice.
I agree with you, I don't don't think people think about it much. Some people have told me that if they go home after work, that's it. They won't do it. So, instead, they stop at the gym. I knew one guy for a gym I used to go to, that would stop at the gym after work and then go for a run outside, then come back to the gym afterwards and shower and all that and then go home. I know a woman that does that at our gym at work. Before going home, she goes to the gym, changes, goes for a run, showers, then goes home.
Idk, different strokes.
Sometimes I wish I lived Ina more rural hilly area so I could really get great outside workouts. It's very flat where I live. So, running is easy. But, I wish there was more challenging terrain. The hiking trains are at least an hour away.
But, when the time changes back, I can no longer run at night. I live in a very nice area, but it neighbors slums. And, when it gets dark, a long run away from my home can be fatal.0 -
I have a lovely new bike so I do love riding it outside rather than the bike at the gym.
We have a dreadmill...errr treadmill at home and I run on it because, well frankly, I can trip over ANYTHING. My feet and my brain are on some sort of disconnect. When hubby and I are walking and I just stumble, he looks back and I just say "invisible dead person" because there is no other explanation! So once I tripped over where the dreadmill belt seam a few times, my feet made the connection and I manage to avoid it now! :happy:0 -
It's hot as Hades, so why take a chance on heat stroke?0
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im lucky i live in a village that as some beautifull walks and i feel safe doing them and i love getting out there wether i feel like running or walking i do what ever. was out 2 hours yesterday did a great burn people pass me and say hello dog walkers cyclists nobody ever bothers me i wear my mp3 its great and im 40 odd pounds overweight :happy:0
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I live in Scotland. Its either wet, cold, cold and wet, dark, snowing, snowing cold and dark, or really darm busy because its the Festival season in Edinburgh and the pavements are slammed with tourists.
Also, my thighs (tops of, and *kitten*) are a bit large so move around alot and im a bit concious of it.0 -
Answer. It was 119 degrees yesterday where I live, Owasso Oklahoma.0
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Well not everyone lives in an area where it is sunny and 75 every day all year round. I personally have a hard time running in high heat and humidity and get in a much better workout on a treadmill. The other half of the year there is snow and ice on the ground because only half of the people around me feel the need to shovel their sidewalks, I don't mind a little cold but I don't want to crack my head open. Also, I lift weights so I'm at the gym anyway.
But trust me, during the five days out of the year when it's actually nice out, you can bet I'm outside running.0 -
My preferred method of cardio, jumping rope, is not ideally done on concrete (which is all you have to work with outdoors, except for grass which doesn't work as it catches the rope). I do it in my garage. I hate running with a passion, as well as any long-duration endurance activity (of course I have been known to jump rope for nearly an hour straight). So I'll stick with doing my jump rope in place.
I don't do well when outdoors for extended periods of time, anyway. The sun does not agree with me.0 -
Allergies and severe ones at that... I work out at home.
But before I became fluffy (I was unfluffy at one point) I used to always work out outside.0 -
1. I don't like being outside
2. Elliptical is better for my knees than running
3. The sidewalks are not maintained where I live so it's more of an obstacle course from all the tree roots. I'm super clumsy and learned really fast I can't go walking on them.0 -
It's 110 degrees F where I live! Sorry, but this is a pretty rude question. what's it to you what other people do!!!???0
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I have my daughter 90% of the time and she's too young to leave at home alone
Plus, I live in the city where most ppl are @sshats and I'm not comfortable going running outside
I like the privacy and the push from a DvD0 -
Have you seen what I look like when I workout?? Enough said! :laugh:0
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Great question! I think if I lived where you do, I'd do more outdoor cardio! Instead, I live in the downtown of a somewhat rough-and-tumble New England mill town. For a while, I deluded myself that going out for a walk during daylight was safe, until a woman was raped at 10 AM on the same route that I take.
I still go for daytime walks, but you will not catch me going out for walks at dusk or when it is dark out. That definitely leaves out outdoor exercise 5 of 7 days in the winter time!
Fortunately, I have options: I belong to a gym, and I also own an Xbox Kinect with various exercisey games/ options. Add in a few workout videos and a range of kettlebells, and I have a good number of SAFE options at my disposal!0 -
toddler napping. cant leave the house. good enough?0
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cornfields=scary as hell.. I avoid.
^^^^
OMG, yes! When we were house hunting, I told the realtor that the house could not be near any cornfields, not could the be any cornnfields between my house and place of employment. She thought I was crazy. I've always had a fear of cornfields, and several years ago I found out I'm allergic to corn smut (apparently a type of mold or something that grows on the corn in the field). I think it was my body's subconscious warning me that cornfields are bad for me. My mother, on the other hand, thinks it's the effect of too many scary movies.0 -
Sometimes I use the treadmill because it's a lot easier to do interval sessions on it. I can see exactly how fast I am going so I don't just think I am sprinting and giving my all when I'm not. Also I have asthma and the humidity is killer.
As far as the DVDs go, some people just don't like running or repetitive motion. It changes things up and incorporates a variety of moves in to target different muscles while keeping your HR up. I don't see anything wrong with it.0 -
Same as a lot of other women, the fact that I have kids and they're too old for a pram but too little to walk at a reasonable pace without stopping for every feather on the ground.
And I hate winter and the cold. I worked today and I didn't finish until late so by the time I got home it was after dinner, dark and already a freezing 6 degrees (your 42 I think) seriously I will go out for a walk when its middle of summer crazy hot but not when its that cold. Much prefer to be in my warm little house on my exercise bike!!
Counting down the days until summer again!!0 -
Sometimes I use the treadmill because it's a lot easier to do interval sessions on it. I can see exactly how fast I am going so I don't just think I am sprinting and giving my all when I'm not. Also I have asthma and the humidity is killer.
FWIW, *real* intervals are harder on treadmills because of the time it takes to speed up and slow down the belt. True intervals should have no delay between the 2 intensities. Speaking of intensity, that's what intervals are about, so technically speed doesn't matter, effort does.0 -
hahaha. Seriously???It's 110 degrees F where I live! Sorry, but this is a pretty rude question. what's it to you what other people do!!!???0 -
My first thought was the OP obviously doesn't have kids....
I do, single parent of 2 actually.
Thanks for playing.0 -
Sometimes I use the treadmill because it's a lot easier to do interval sessions on it. I can see exactly how fast I am going so I don't just think I am sprinting and giving my all when I'm not. Also I have asthma and the humidity is killer.
FWIW, *real* intervals are harder on treadmills because of the time it takes to speed up and slow down the belt. True intervals should have no delay between the 2 intensities. Speaking of intensity, that's what intervals are about, so technically speed doesn't matter, effort does.
Oh I guess what I've been doing is fake intervals, damn!
I also can't adjust the incline of the pavement.
"FWIW" I run outside about 3x a week0 -
105 here yesterday, and we have this thing called a heat index that put it at 112. They actually tell people to stay inside when it's like that. I know it's hard for northerners to understand, but people in the US actually die from the heat sometimes.0
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Sometimes I use the treadmill because it's a lot easier to do interval sessions on it. I can see exactly how fast I am going so I don't just think I am sprinting and giving my all when I'm not. Also I have asthma and the humidity is killer.
FWIW, *real* intervals are harder on treadmills because of the time it takes to speed up and slow down the belt. True intervals should have no delay between the 2 intensities. Speaking of intensity, that's what intervals are about, so technically speed doesn't matter, effort does.
Oh I guess what I've been doing is fake intervals, damn!
I also can't adjust the incline of the pavement.
"FWIW" I run outside about 3x a week
Sorry, bad choice of wording... didn't mean to imply that you weren't working, only that interval workouts are designed to be high/low intensity repetitions with no rest/hesitation between. So a treadmill is not only not necessary, it makes for a less efficient interval workout.0 -
Sometimes I use the treadmill because it's a lot easier to do interval sessions on it. I can see exactly how fast I am going so I don't just think I am sprinting and giving my all when I'm not. Also I have asthma and the humidity is killer.
FWIW, *real* intervals are harder on treadmills because of the time it takes to speed up and slow down the belt. True intervals should have no delay between the 2 intensities. Speaking of intensity, that's what intervals are about, so technically speed doesn't matter, effort does.
Oh I guess what I've been doing is fake intervals, damn!
I also can't adjust the incline of the pavement.
"FWIW" I run outside about 3x a week
Sorry, bad choice of wording... didn't mean to imply that you weren't working, only that interval workouts are designed to be high/low intensity repetitions with no rest/hesitation between. So a treadmill is not only not necessary, it makes for a less efficient interval workout.
The time on my treadmill to switch intensities is virtually nothing. I mean it's really almost instant if I adjust the incline before switching speeds. But let's not confuse interval with HIIT - that I do a completely different way. This is just interval, I go from low/mid/high (not in that progression) and repeat for a good long while. If it's not as efficient as it could be I would never know because the results have been pretty mindblowing enough for me0 -
I stay at home all day with my 3 kids while my husband works and he doesn't come home until the evening.. I have no money for a babysitter or a gym. My closest family lives an hour away. I do workout DVDs because it's pretty much the only option I have at this point.0
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Yes, I think it was a bit rude too. Don't judge others when you know nothing about them or why they're doing what they're doing.0
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I'm not criticizing, just something I have never understood.Yes, I think it was a bit rude too. Don't judge others when you know nothing about them or why they're doing what they're doing.
Do I need to stop judging, or do you need to be less sensitive?
I don't care what people do or don't do, I was just curious why people would rather be indoors when they could be outside. Simple question, simple curiosity. I hope you've got some tweezers or something to get your panties unbunched.0 -
At the moment it is because the humidity is so thick it feels like you are drinking the air not breathing it. Not to mention the issue of a safe place outside to do this. I'm hoping that fall and spring bring some good, get outside weather.
Same here!!! Virginia has disgusting humidity on top of 100+ temperatures... and lately it has been known to begin raining at any moment... not great outside conditions to be running in... Richmond is the worst for weather, because of its location.
In the fall will be a different story, but for now, I would much rather be inside the gym.0 -
Because apparently DHS frowns upon leaving a 3 year old and a 1 year old alone in the house while mommy goes for a run. Who knew?0
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