How do you keep from getting bored?

So I am FINALLY going to start working out everyday... my husband goes to the gym every morning so I am just going to tag along with him and do an hour on the eliptical or treadmill while he does his thing....

my question is how do you keep from getting bored?? I have always gotten so bored after 15 or 20 minutes of cardio... I can't seem to read (dont know how others do it because I bob up and down and can't keep my focus! haha) and music doesn't keep me entertained... do you watch movies?? tv shows?? tell me your secrets!!!

Try picking up some heavy weights with your husband. I'm sure he would be thrilled if you joined him.

I agree with dzarello. Go with your hubby to the gym and lift.

I recommend alternating lifting and running for 5 days week. Running 5 days a week sounds very boring and by your original post, you wont be motivated to keep it up for very long. Either run for 3 days and lift for 2 or lift 3 days a week and run for 2. For me, I alternate running and lifting 6 days a week (I find that my weight loss seems to come more from the cardio days than the lifting days but that could just be water weight).

As for your original question, I walk/run on the treadmill 3 days/week. For my 3 mile distance, I walk fast for a 1/4 mile, then run for a 1/4 mile, and alternate until 3 miles are completed (takes about 30-33 minutes). When I originally began exercising, I would only be able to complete a mile (took 12-15 minutes). Over time, I gradually increased my distance by 1/4 mile until stopping at 3 miles. After that, I worked on increasing how fast I walked and ran.

For entertainment, I keep the treadmill's monitor to a tv show (closed caption) or to a sports event to help pass the time. One can either wear headphones if you wish to hear what is being said on tv, or without and listen to the music playing in the gym. I find that watching tv helps pass the half hour.

On a side note, you dont need to be on the treadmill for 45 min to an hour in order to lose weight. As long as you push yourself on the treadmill (and dont hang on to the machine), you can get a nice workout in 20-30 minutes. The key is to keep pushing yourself either in intensity (how fast the treadmill is set at) or duration (1 mile, then a month later increase it gradually to 2 miles, etc).

If a treadmill is not to your liking, most gyms have ellipticals and stationary bikes. If none of those three interest you, the larger gyms have numerous cardio classes. Also, larger gyms have swimming pools, basketball, tennis and racketball courts. Please don't think that cardio must mean endless hours on the treadmill.

Well, I prevent boredom by not going to a gym and using boring machines. I do a variety of exercises because I get bored if I do the same thing all the time, and I exercise at home or outside.

Hiking, calisthenics, a variety of DVDs and video games, jump rope, walk, run, etc.

Concentrate on the exercise and you shouldn't get bored. Also think about your objectives.

Go outside. The weather changes, the scenery can change, and it's a good way to come up with creative ways to strength train.

Split the workout up...lifting weights is great and you get good results!

Make a certain playlist that only included music that you can jam out to. Also, check your gym to see if there are any classes offered to change up your routine. Do you change up your pace within your workouts as well such as jogging 5 min at 5.0 and 10 min at 6.0 continued on for however long you want to work out. I would get bored myself staying on the same machine for so long as my fitness isn't to that level and either is my attention span. Good luck.

music, changing up your routine or just taking that time to think about what you want. hey, it's you time!!! It's like being at the spa! What what...

1. Try a class they offer. Spin, kickboxing, yoga, zumba, weight lifting.
2. Get outside when the weather is nice. I find it much easier to run 10 mi outside than half a mi on treadmill.
3. Watch netflix! I once watched an episode of Grey's Anatomy on stairmaster. You are more stationary on stairmaster than treadmill or eliptical, and trust me u can burn a LOT on stairs.

Once you find a class or something in the gym you like to do, you won't get bored. Time flies for me in the gym. That's when the fun starts!!!