I need help at the gym!!

Skittle_BoomBoom
Skittle_BoomBoom Posts: 72
in Fitness and Exercise
Good evening MyFitnessPals! I recently joined the gym and I love it. I am an avid biker, in nice weather (and sometimes in not so nice) I ride my bike everywhere. Including the gym! With all of their machines, it seems plausible to get in an awesome cardio workout before doing abs and back, like I plan to do. Thing is, when I am on the elliptical or treadmill and things of that sort I get EXTREMELY bored. I tend to lose focus, even as I am sweating and end up getting off in 15-20 minutes instead of staying on for an hour like I had hoped. I have an exercise bike that I get on at home, I can stay on for hours because while I bike, I play videogames as well. But of course I can't bring my Xbox to the gym and whoop *kitten* in Battlefield. Do you guys have any types for the wandering mind at the gym?
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Replies

  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Do a progressive lifting routine instead.
  • 3laine75
    3laine75 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Do a progressive lifting routine instead.

    This :)
  • niclsarios
    niclsarios Posts: 4 Member
    Do a progressive lifting routine instead.

    I agree with this. It can get to be monotonous, but the constant challenge and results help with that.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Do a progressive lifting routine instead.

    This :)

    double this
  • dmike03
    dmike03 Posts: 14 Member
    If you don't already, try listening to music. That's what I do. I put in my ear buds, close my eyes and just get lost in the music. Also try not looking at it like "man, I gotta do an hour of this" I look at it in 20 minute blocks. So I'll tell myself. ok I've done 20min I can do 20 more and so on.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Do a progressive lifting routine instead.

    This :)

    double this

    triple this.
  • Int3rceptor
    Int3rceptor Posts: 45 Member
    An hour on elliptical or treadmill is a long time. I would look at doing around 50 minutes cardio per session but break it up. For example 20 mins elliptical - 20 mins treadmill and 10 mins on a rower.

    That should help with the boredom and give you a good
    full body workout. This method has worked for me so far.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Do a progressive lifting routine instead.

    This :)

    double this

    triple this.

    quadruple it
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    Do a progressive lifting routine instead.

    This :)

    double this

    triple this.

    quadruple it

    fif.jpg
  • beaches222
    beaches222 Posts: 437 Member
    Same here I get bored as well and end up getting off. Hopefully I can get some ideas too on the responses.
  • autovatic
    autovatic Posts: 99 Member
    Try searching online for "treadmill interval routines" - the changing pace & incline of these routines help keep it interesting. There are also interval podcasts if you'd rather listen. :)
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    I am on cardio machines for no more than 10 mins. Basically...a warm up for lifts. I wouldnt pay to go to a gym for cardio workouts.
  • grandmothercharlie
    grandmothercharlie Posts: 887 Member
    I watch Hulu on my cellphone. I'll take a series I've never seen. Only allow myself to watch it when I am on the cardio machines. That way I actually look forward to doing the machine the next day!
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Lift heavy things instead - count your bike ride to the gym as your cardio.
  • LoveMyLife_NYC
    LoveMyLife_NYC Posts: 230 Member
    Definitely look into lifting! It'll help your body look lean and firm, and you can switch up exercises so you don't get bored. Plus, strong muscles help prevent injuries while doing cardio.

    As far as cardio goes, an hour is a really long time! Try shortening the time, but increasing your intensity. Do some intervals where you sprint as hard as you can on the elliptical for 2 minutes, then ease up for one minute. Repeat for 20 minutes... you should be exhausted and you'll burn more in the long run.

    Also, is there a tv at the gym? Can you listen to music on an iPod or read a book on a Kindle?
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Another one for 'progressive lifting' at the gym :).

    If you enjoy riding your bike for cardio, I'd just do more of that when you want cardio.
  • missomgitsica
    missomgitsica Posts: 496 Member
    Try either listening to music, or, if you have a smart phone or iPad or something like that, download TV shows to watch while you're at the gym.
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
    I always listen to music when I do cardio. Make sure you have a good playlist to listen to. You can Google or Youtube suggestions for music or do a search here. There have been many discussions about what music people like to listen to when they work out.

    Second suggestion is break up the cardio sessions. Don't spend all 50 minutes or whatever on the elliptical. Do 20 minutes on it. Do the next 30 minutes (or whatever interval you want to do) on a treadmill or bike. If you break it up the monotony won't get to you and the time seems to go by faster.
  • Jessintherain
    Jessintherain Posts: 67 Member
    I have the same problem! I do 10 minutes cardio machine / 40 minutes weight lifting / 10 minutes cardio machine then stretch when at the gym.

    If you enjoy doing your cardio outside, I would use the gym to fulfill other fitness needs.
  • Rayman79
    Rayman79 Posts: 2,009 Member
    Do a progressive lifting routine instead.

    This :)

    double this

    triple this.

    quadruple it

    fif.jpg

    Quoting for further emphasis.

    For the life of me I cant understand why you would ride your bike to the gym... then go inside and work on an elliptical!

    Get a good beginner lifting routine. Outside is for cardio (unless the weather really sucks), inside is for getting strong and shapely with the iron!
  • kdillson70
    kdillson70 Posts: 63
    You might want to try a group class, toning, sculpting, pump, zumba? It helps fight the boredom and gives you an all over body workout. Not to say that biking is bad, but if you can do it at home, spread your wings while at the gym. You might find something you love more than biking. ;-)

    Good Luck!
  • jyvonne27
    jyvonne27 Posts: 91 Member
    I like to switch my cardio up so I won't get bored, alternating between elliptical, stairmaster and treadmill. Treadmill is the worst to me though. I have started watching episodes on Netflix on the elliptical and I love the distraction. On the treadmill that doesn't work so well so I put on a special playlist. My favorite forms of cardio are group classes though. Zumba is the bomb and its great exercise!
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    avoid the machines http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/02/15/how-to-build-your-own-workout-routine/

    lift weights http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2013/02/28/strength-training-101/

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2014/03/03/strength-training-101-how-to-squat-properly/

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2014/01/14/strength-training-101-where-do-i-start/

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2014/02/06/strength-training-101-how-much-weight-should-i-be-lifting/

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2013/03/05/101-equipment/

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2013/09/11/7-strength-training-myths-every-woman-should-know/
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    i also advocate to go run outside. and if you are a gamer, the app "zombies, run!" might appeal to you.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Do a progressive lifting routine instead.

    This :)

    double this

    triple this.

    quadruple it

    fif.jpg

    six4b46d.jpg
  • truebrew
    truebrew Posts: 33
    Get a tablet with a micro card slot and start downloading your favorite movie and TV shows. Turn the gym into your own theater. Today I watched "And the Band Played On" which is an award winning movie about the AIDS crisis in the early 80s. It was compelling, it was riveting and I forgot I was running 6.5 miles and on the elliptical for another 1.5 miles (80 minutes total cardio today)

    I have everything from Columbo TV shows in the 70s to The Godfather, Casino, Rock Hudson and Doris Day in "Send me no flowers"......I have World War 2 documentaries, I have Groucho Marx comedies , their great movies, I have Everybody Loves Raymond episodes, I have Wall St with Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen.......I think I have over 100 shows, movies, etc. And I am always adding.

    I am never bored on the machines and I look forward to going to the gym to watch what I have planned. Next week it's columbo and then Real World San Francisco , the one from the 90s with that jerk Puck. I have all 20 episodes........those were great days back then......lots of memories. Make the gym a place you want to go do instead of dreading to go to.....well, that's how I see it.......good luck. By the way, Apple Ipads don't have micro slots. So I wanted to make sure my tablet had a micro slot to hold all these movies. Amazing technology.....the card as small as your fingernail can now hold 64 gb of data....that's more than a few movies and i hear there's new micro card with 128 gbs! Good luck.
  • Skittle_BoomBoom
    Skittle_BoomBoom Posts: 72
    I'm not really a weight lifting kinda gal, I am trying to lose lovehandles and do my abs a lot, but I like the cardio part of my workout because I like the way it makes me feel! I think the movie idea is a great idea and different series on hulu would definitely appeal to me. Thank you guys so much for the tips!
  • 12by311
    12by311 Posts: 1,716 Member
    I'm not really a weight lifting kinda gal, I am trying to lose lovehandles and do my abs a lot, but I like the cardio part of my workout because I like the way it makes me feel! I think the movie idea is a great idea and different series on hulu would definitely appeal to me. Thank you guys so much for the tips!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/977538-halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky
  • RomulanWarbird
    RomulanWarbird Posts: 230
    I love ellipticals for some reason so no problem for me there, BUT, something that was a lot more fun to me was to incorporate lifts and cardio. Like do a circuit then do five minutes on the elliptical or ten, then another circuit. Don't do anything you get bored with.

    But you need to lift some weights and build muscle because it will help with the burning fat thing, even if you don't like lifting weights. You can do fun stuff like workouts from Jillian Michaels that have weights and cardio but are still hard (and they're free on the youtubes). Just keep testing out a variety of different workouts so you don't get bored and don't cardio yourself to death. You can get all flabby like that. :c
  • TrailNurse
    TrailNurse Posts: 359 Member
    Do a progressive lifting routine instead.

    This :)

    double this

    triple this.

    Quadruple this.....if you bike you don't need more cardio. You need to lift weights.

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