exercise trouble

llvernonmom

I have been exercising for a couple weeks. I seem to have tons of trouble getting through even 15 minutes. I set a goal each day of 30 minutes. I rarely meet it. I want an hour. Any ideas of how to reach a goal that can actually make a difference. I'd love to hear from anyone with ideas. Currently I've been using my stationary bike.

farsteve

You could maybe try some variety with your stationary bike. If your present benchmark is 15 minutes at X revolutions per minute (RPM) then you could could try 10 minutes of intensity training, say 2 minutes faster than X RPM and then 2 minutes slower than X RPM for 10 or more minutes. Next day try for 20 minute at less than X RPM, next day go back to X RPM and see if you can do more than 15 minutes. Work your arms some to try to get a little additional "upper body cardio" (curls, overhead press, bench press moves, etc). If you have access to other equipment try some cross training, walking on a treadmill with or without an incline. Do some body weight training before/after/during your bike ride, split your bike ride into 5 minutes on the bike, 2 minutes body weight training, 5 minutes on the bike, 2 minutes body weight training, back on the bike, repeat as desired.

And it takes some time. Try your best to enjoy your exercise time and make it a happy experience not a chore.

cielbee

Is it because you find it boring, you're tired after 15 minutes or something else. If you're bored, try some different exercises. You could go for a fast walk, try an exercise DVD, dance around your living room, try out a gym (a lot will let you try them out for free), find some workouts online to try, etc. I find certain machines at the gym much more tedious than others so I just use them sparingly to mix things up.

wannatangle

Are you listening to music or something while you are exercising? That helps me. An hour is gone in a flash!

Gunsentry

Try HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) training:-

You can manage 15 mins so try this -

Warm up for 2 mins at steady cadence say on level 2

Just before the time reaches 3 minutes Up the resistance to say level 5 and increase your cadence as fast as you can for 30 seconds.

Reduce to level 2, slow down and rest for 1 minute 30 seconds.

Repeat till you 15 minutes is up.

Cool down for 5 minutes at mid level of 3 or 4.

This will burn more calories than a long slower session and will condition you faster, (you will get used to the exercise) and can then increase the fast burst times and or reduce the rest period.

This can be applied to any Cardio exercise.

Good luck.

Fatandfifty3

All the above is sound advice (hear hear chaps!). Can I add ' Baby Steps' - Set your goal as being a couple of minutes extra every session.

NaomiJFoster

I like exercise videos specifically for that reason. If I want to work out for 30 minutes, I find a 30 minute video. Then, I'm sort of locked into it. And since I'm following along *with* someone and everything is spelled out for me, it just feels natural to keep on going with it to the end. I don't even look at the clock at all while I'm doing a video. It really makes the time go faster, you don't notice it at all.

There are millions of exercise videos all over you tube. Maybe try something like that?

nanainkent

I do the stationary bike, are you going too fast too soon. I know i had to just slow down and go for the amount of time on it rather than speed until I built up a stamina for 30 minutes. Once I did this I worked on increasing the speed up until I got tired and then slowed back down, it always felt like I was cheating and resting when I did this. Then I spent an extra 5 minutes at a slow speed. Increasing myself to an hour (and could do more) at the same time I was increasing my speed as well.

Also I found that I could get the same benefits if I kept my heart rate in my target range for an extended period of time. I also did the HIT and loved it, it was a good way for me to build my stamina. And the music made time pass so much quicker. I loaded in my laptop all the music I knew made me want to get up and dance and put on my headphones. Fast song, slow song, fast song, etc.

I also put in a good movie but only allowed myself to watch the movie while I was biking. I found myself going longer to get past a good part and getting on it more during my day so I could see more of the movie.

For $8000 you can buy the new stationary bike that has a screen on it where you ride through various scenes. But I assume you are like me and not crazy.

You can do this!!!!!