Staying Entertained While On Treadmill

HealthyMakeover
HealthyMakeover Posts: 142 Member
edited November 5 in Fitness and Exercise
During the harsh Iowan winter, I don't find myself running outside much, if at all. I have a treadmill, and that's my main way of exercising other than working out at a gym three times a week.

How do you stay entertained while walking/jogging on a treadmill? I tend to get super bored.
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Replies

  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    I entertain myself by moaning how bored I am on the dreadmill, by looking intensely at each darn seconds passing and by wishing I was lifting instead :wink:

    Music, movies or tv shows , audiobooks might do the trick :happy:
  • nasska16
    nasska16 Posts: 8 Member
    I don't have a treadmill, but I have a bike trainer for my bike, because I'm clearly not getting to bike outside in this Wisconsin winter. I got some of the wireless headphones for my tv so that I can actually hear what I'm watching over the racket the equipment makes, which helps a lot if you are trying to watch a movie. But, if you are like me, you spend more time watching how many minutes you have left than actually watching a show, so I found a fun new solution that makes me feel more like I'm outdoors...

    I got some DVDs off Amazon, Fitness Cycling Journeys, ambient collection. Titles like "Cycle through nature" or "Cycle through Tropical Scenery." They each have several different tracks of varying length that show you traveling down the road or trail at a running/cycling pace including the ambient sounds. I find it great and motivating, because when it shows me going uphill, I'm more likely to click up a few gears on my bike to simulate the climbing experience. There are a TON of running/walking/cycling DVDs available on amazon, but some really suck, so watch out! You can find a lot of them on youtube and check them out before you order them, but I definitely recommend the two I mentioned :)

    Happy indoor excerise!
  • lighteningjeanne855
    lighteningjeanne855 Posts: 566 Member
    I find a TV series I've never watched before on Hulu.com or Netflix,
    and take in an episode on my computer screen while working out.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Murder mysteries on audiobook downloaded from the library (on my iPhone).
  • Will_Thrust_For_Candy
    Will_Thrust_For_Candy Posts: 6,109 Member
    I mess around with my speeds.....basically interval training so that every minute something is changing and I tailor it to what I want to train that day....speed, endurance, etc. And great music....that is a must :)
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    I run hard enough that I'm not bored. Focus on breathing and stride.
  • broox80
    broox80 Posts: 1,195 Member
    Masticate!!! You know....chew on gum!!
  • vanguardfitness
    vanguardfitness Posts: 720 Member
    I space out and think about weird **** and random what-if scenarios about life
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I run hard enough that I'm not bored. Focus on breathing and stride.
    LOL. I could do a full on sprint and get bored.
  • Sreneesa
    Sreneesa Posts: 1,170 Member
    Music, Netflix, Youtube, TV, etc...
  • pikutis
    pikutis Posts: 2 Member
    I recommend the Zombies, Run! app.
  • dukeoden
    dukeoden Posts: 10
    I cut the tunes on and go into another zone when I'm on the treadmill.
  • tturley
    tturley Posts: 73 Member
    I still run outside even on the cold days but I've learned to value my treadmill time by doing intervals. 2 minutes easy/recovery and 1 minute as hard as you can take. The only thing you think about is how much time you have left on this interval.
  • MinimalistShoeAddict
    MinimalistShoeAddict Posts: 1,946 Member
    Run backwards while eating doughnuts and listening to music
  • missbp
    missbp Posts: 601 Member
    I read. On my Kindle.
  • bjdw_1977
    bjdw_1977 Posts: 442 Member
    I think I might try to learn another language next winter (it's the middle summer down here now). Get some instructional DVDs and watch 'em while I'm on the treadmill. Dunno how the enunciation will go when I'm breathless, but might be interesting anyway.
  • Summersadiva
    Summersadiva Posts: 111 Member
    Music - either my playlist or some station on iHeart radio where I can get distracted by DJs; Netflix/Hulu - a new series I've never seen; or an ebook on my Kindle app.
  • annie61702
    annie61702 Posts: 120 Member
    I have to have music while on the treadmill or elliptical! Sometimes I read on my iPad, too. I use the time to think about various things. I really don't get bored while doing cardio.
  • 19TaraLynn84
    19TaraLynn84 Posts: 739 Member
    I space out and think about weird **** and random what-if scenarios about life

    I actually do this, too.
  • truetarot1988
    truetarot1988 Posts: 56 Member
    I listen to Pandora on the ipod. I just fumble through the stations. I'm usually on there for about 15 minutes before I know it, just trying to find something I want to listen to.
  • cmasonrock
    cmasonrock Posts: 50 Member
    http://www.audible.com + Smartphone using Endomondo = Happy workouts!
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    DVR and Phone and tablet, I go between the 3
  • chezjuan
    chezjuan Posts: 747 Member
    I mess around with my speeds.....basically interval training so that every minute something is changing and I tailor it to what I want to train that day....speed, endurance, etc. And great music....that is a must :)

    This is what I do a lot of the time. Other times I'll do the zone out to good tunes (generally when I am going for distance and endurance training).
  • jenbob555
    jenbob555 Posts: 36 Member
    Yup, Netflix on my iPad. I can't do the treadmill any other way, I swear I have the shortest attention span
  • takumaku
    takumaku Posts: 352 Member
    I watch the cardio bunnies in front of me. ^_^ If none are available, I'll watch a show, do a HIIT program, practice some cadence, mediate to my breathing, thank about a work-related problem and how to solve it, listen to music, or just suck it up.
  • Haili73
    Haili73 Posts: 8
    I finally started using a treadmill, but I have several playlists of music I like - that I try singing with while working out when no one else is there.

    Otherwise, I watch TV shows or read. Or study.
  • thatismesammyg
    thatismesammyg Posts: 71 Member
    I listen to music and watch tv (with closed captioning) at the same time. Sometimes I do all that and flip through a magazine like Us Weekly.
  • jessvaughn74
    jessvaughn74 Posts: 164 Member
    Netflix on my Kindle. I tried reading and it didn't work for me. But I found if I find a series on Netflix to watch, I can sometimes watch two 45 minute episodes before I realize how long I have been on there. I watched the entire 6 seasons of Lost this way..lol
  • Colorfan
    Colorfan Posts: 230 Member
    I dont use the treadmill at all. I like the elliptical, to warm up for lifting, but same situation as you. Its boring!


    Ill usually watch netflix while on the treadmill. In particular, Breaking Bad. If an episode is really good, Ill wind up staying on there longer. Basically any video will keep me well entertained and Ill forget Im even grinding away.

    Ive tried music, but my eyes get bored and start to wander. Music can only keep me focused for so long, especially if its a lot of songs Im not into at the moment.
  • QueenBishOTUniverse
    QueenBishOTUniverse Posts: 14,121 Member
    Kindle books with the text supersized so that I can read it easily while running. When I'm doing HIIT training though I usually set it aside because I'm working to hard to think about anything else.
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