How do you stay motivated during cardio?

strive2behealthy
strive2behealthy Posts: 74 Member
in Motivation and Support
I have no problem with weight lifting, but when it comes to cardio, sometimes it's a huge struggle for me. I'll do it, no problem, but I'm bored out of my mind. I can't motivate myself to push harder or keep going. Music helps, but it's still hard. I've thought about what my perfect bikini body will look like, I've thought about what good it will bring to my health, and I'm still stuck there bored out of my mind!

What helps you guys pump through your work out? I'm thinking caffeine would help me..
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Replies

  • spicy618
    spicy618 Posts: 2,114 Member
    Without my music, it's a No go. :laugh:

    Knowing i can eat a little more really helps too. :wink:
  • _MG_
    _MG_ Posts: 453 Member
    What kind of cardio?

    When on the stationary bike I'll oft watch music videos or a movie/tv show. It makes the time go faster.

    Everything else is music pumping at the BPM I need to move at.
  • Tizia93
    Tizia93 Posts: 3
    I'm watching movies / tv shows. At the moment it's an episode of Breaking Bad while I'm doing my cardio. I don't watch this without training, so training becomes even a treat ^^
  • xRay85Rayx
    xRay85Rayx Posts: 369
    On the elliptical/treadmill/bike it's definitely music and tv at the gym. During my walks and jogs, my music. I just try to clear my head and keep pushing until i reach the end of my workout.
  • MrsH1987
    MrsH1987 Posts: 53 Member
    Music! Without my music I wouldn't last 5 seconds. My favourite tracks for cardio are : Limp Bizkit- Break Stuff and Pantera- Walk. I think they must put me in the right mood ;-)
  • demonsheep
    demonsheep Posts: 69 Member
    This sounds really silly, but I daydream as I listen to music and do cardio. I just make up some scenario and play it while I run, go on the elliptical, walk, and so on. I suppose you could daydream about anything you wanted to, lol. Mine usually just involve traveling, meeting new people, and me being super cool and badass.
    It helps I promise hahaha
  • meltedsno
    meltedsno Posts: 208 Member
    I find a series on Netflix that "sucks me in"....won't allow myself to watch an episode unless I am walking on my treadmill... once walked a total of 7 hours on a Saturday (not all at one time) because I got so into watching Mad Men.. :-) I cover up the digital area that shows how far I've walked, how long I've walked, etc.. with my ipad so I don't keep watching the time.

    If it isn't netflix, then I am watching HBO GO or Showtime.... whatever it is that keeps you wanting to see more.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
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GqEERdlUYBZgBnlknG/pQevf/j9xNEmeNtiylEwjnLFlcnIBAGBgk45R887dr2/7W8RsLqNorQXFqwIIXUxJXBJJWPML+LrrBC7YOarfCzsclqrSlpXn0I6wEMiRh1cxBmPhaUgksMkKWG2ytXY8VTv4EiuUlheTn3ErDu33C6Z/ACSeQPPO6mg8x7X/ABFull19+1jbkL3dv3EUl5ICF1tJHLtEuSwBYjIGQHG9eS9peFm3lAzkSxxzLlBGwWUagGjBIQjfYEjGD1rb7Q/D+7imuVVWm7lUlfIxL3UgLCQrkh8EMrFGbBU9N65KaZnJZ2LMebMSSem5NAkkYciR7EiosetKnIoEKlURUloHFTqIqQoCxmmpLSoL93DkDHMAfpWbMnUcj/JFasrkZzuvXzHriqNyuBtyO4NABBuBzxn9Kt2tvu49F/jVS2bxDPt962lTBPrigo38YUKcHHiH3wR+lUZXUjyNbHEV/oz9P1rPuLRQdunPyoM+up7N8Ot1gN1dDUgmVETXpLKqEzkDSdRVpLbAOx1HIxkjnUjHizvgZHvtUO/bRo1No1BtGTp1AEBtPLOCRn1oO6l7e3ZJSJu4U/tBmeXSf2e8b5F2HhiEa/3aDbcZuVzpubkZOTiaUZPUnDc65lJsqp/a5fQcq6ngPZy8uFDw20roeT6dKn/CzYDD2oNSTtvxDRgXcmACBkRk7jB8RXVnHXNezfD617jhloreHEIc52wZCZMHP+KvG+zPZaS6vfwrgpoLd+RpJRV2YZGVLE4Uc+fXBr2HjvYi2uIZUdDJI6MFklZnKvpwrIGOmPBxsgUc9qAd92v4bYRaBPFtnTDE4kkZmJY5AJOWYklm6kkmqnYXtVFJZo0jhpmkuXaKINK667mZ1BSMFgMMMEgbYNfP3YrhTScTtYCviFwmtT0EbapAfYK32r6q4rLJHETbxCR9SBY9QRcM6hmJ6BVLN/loOb7Xdp7qCB5YrJ9ABzK8kalM7B+6UsxGT1xjG4xR+D2l5JBCwuoYI2ijKRxW2SilQVXXLKwbA2zprQ7ZXaRWN08mNPcyDB6llKqvuSQPrV3goAt4B/wov/QtBxA+F/dv30F5KlwGZxIyRka2zqJAA56jvvzrybtL214vbzTWs90+VLI66YsFSPMJuCpznyNfRvB4ZkjYXEiyP3kpUgYAiLkxKdhkhcDOPvzPgHbK3XinHxHDgpI8cetTzSNF75wfQK+D1CjzoPQvhV2MaGxgl/E3UMky94yI6d3hiTH/AEckbDOjSSee9Y/xigvIZrForm4fWzpGSY0KXLYQeKJF+ZXI/wAredeuT3EcIQEhFLJEg/vNhUUfz0rmvijwlrjh0pjJE0GLiJlJDB4vEdJG4YrrAPmRQa9p2btoyjd0skiDAllzLJ6nvJMsM+9D7b2pl4deRjrbygeWQhI/MCuX+B1y8nD3eSR5GNxJ4ndnONEXViTiuR+OV9JHfQrHJImqBBhXZQdUsg3AOCPeg9aveytlM2ZbS2c5+Zooy3PzxmvOfg/2Vsrrh/eT2sMjGeYamXJ0jTgZ8hXrx51S4XwuG2Tu4I0iTJbSgwNR5nFB4T8bOJz2t6kFvcXEURt42MazTac6pF6t5KBjltXlLNkkk5J3JO5J65r0H48XWvizr/2cUKfde8/+SvPcUG5Y9rLmNVQv30anUsc3jCnoY2PjhPI5jZTtzrR7SrDPai8iQRMbgqyAMBpeJSqhj87K8UrMef8ATr7DkqQoHp6anzQSFODTVIUEhT06rUiu1A6mlSUUqDTuMEZ2NZsoxkbY9D+41fmyvzYYeYHL3qnc/SgprzrQgvdgM5+m/wCtDktvArLuQN/1qucZyCRvyweWN/z2oNeR9W2Rv6Gs9ZcltSg77887UonY5xn86rRtjO++/wDrQGVl1rpGAcjr1GKqEUbV4lOCcEH86V8hDEkYyfp64oOg+G/Clu+I2sEm8Zcsy+axo0hU+h0YPoTX0v2q48thbGYxs6qVUBAMAtsmdwFXOB9RXzX8LzOvEYJYIXmMbqXCgnEUh7lyfLaQ79OfIGvpvtNarLZ3MbHwtDICfLwkg/Q4P0oOU+D3Ditq90+8tzIzFuulWYfm/eN9RXdRzK2oA50nS3o2AcfYj71k8PeKysYe9dYo4oolZmOBqwq/Uljy6k1W4B2msJY5HgljRO9fUX/oi0hAdmxJgnOob+npQef9ieDhO03ECV/qxLIvoZzGwP8A4ZG+9eo8d4utrGJHVmBkijwuM5kcIDgkZGSPWuYPFLGLijXP4y1AmtTG576LAeKRCuTq5lWx/wB3W2e2fD+X460z/wA6M/voG7a9n4721kjceIKzRtv4ZAp0n1HQg9Ca1eFriGIeUaD7KK88+InxLgS1kis376aRSgZAdCBhgtqI8RwTgDO/OrN98XLGEKFW4k5AFYwq8uutgR9qDteE3ckqMZYTCRJKgUnOpFYqj8hgMBnB/PnXO9nuyUEPEru7jUKCqRIoyFVyA1wUHLBPdjbkQ4rgu1PxjuDGwtoUhJGBIzd4w9QNIUH31Vwy/FLiaoscdwI1VQMLHGST1ZndSzMSSSSdySaD6L43x+xhdVup7dHUh1WRl1qdwrqp3U88H3rZQqyg7MrD3BUj8wRXxtxbiUtzI0s8jSSMBqduZ0gKo+wFdhY9ueIxoqJeSqFUBQVjYBVGFHiU8hQe2/C3hf4aw7rfa4uhvzwk7xA/ZBXmnxP/AOkdobaFd9JtI2HPBL9423+GQGuWHb/iKYxdygZJZRoAJYlmYDT1JJx61jTdprhbz8YJS1wDkSlUbxadAOkrpPh25UH1dx287m2uJTt3cUr53/ZQn91YHwpkmbhVq87vJI6yMWdizFTK+jLEknw6a8J4l8TeJXUD28sqFJBpbEcasRtkZUDGcb+5rd4P8RuJQxJEpt9KKqopi+VFGAMKRnYCgxPjSv8A/Zuva3/9vFXI8Qi0lefyjmMfl511vFrhrmeS4nCNLIQWIGBsAqhQScAKAOfSsTjsGdJyBjOfY8qDDpUe5ttABzkHkaBQOKeoipCglmpLURV7h9iX35L5/wAKCNrCWOAN+vl9a0p+HZG3Py6fTO4q3bqoGF5Dr6+/U0WgwNGNiN6VaHFIxgN15UqBpHwvn6VlzDB5g+36UUyq2NRxjbrj8qr3Kqpxz9uVAENjkcexNOsp9fvUcUxU+R+xoDYJ3yfvUYEz1xvTpnBqML4oHm2bY/WmuMncg4PInO+NjiotzohkyACTgZx6UHrXwL4/YWcFw1xOkU0kijD6v6pFyuDjHzM/rsPSuq7U/FG2ZO7tB+JDHTIx1ImgHxoCwy2oZGQMYJIPKvnM86vWN0Y0Yjrt7EdfzoO47Rdrbq9Y9/L4AQREgCxqcbbDcnnuxJ3rmb7h5kxggYzufXFNwglhqbHkOhz1z51p0HMXPD2RsbH1HL86tcIiUN4hljyB6Ab5p+IWDq2pcspOceRznf0otmFhGpubn7Dp7UGxVe+bwNvjbnUlkB5EH23qjex6vPC7n9/2oM6ec90FIIOce6jcVTZOXrW1xSz/AKMFf2d/p1rFVc0ElTIq8ZnwNODnp1GKDa7KzbHHn51btZ/DscEfY0AS5fZkbPmKpzxEHHl9K1O/8RPQAk1nwb6idz+/NBasrQDDSDY8uo+uOVWrecmVVznmcg9MftVRaAqpKkjzH+lAt7koxOMnBA9M9aDprmcIpY8q51+IMzZbcYIx6Hp+lQvL1pDvsPKq1AmYnGelNSp6BCnpCnoJx8xtnfl5+ldAzbZkwi9EB/IkfoK55GwQRzqx37E6yckedBuiXbJ8K9B1P06CkbxRuxx5DmawTMxOSST50WWIrz9DnpvQWbm71kbbClVZKVAZM48CAnzPL/WqlxCR8xH7/tUopcHkf1+wqw0YIOrCDmSTqc0GaDSDnzP3ok8WMEZweWdsjzoWKCfeHG9Mo28ue/tUcUeCLbNAA1OOLIY5AxjY8znyp3XxH3NNqxyoBMKs2hHJhkHr1HtQnNRxj3oNFLoxnT06HzFa8ExI6H1/nlWNLD/RqTuM/Yb9aBKWXKAnTtt67E/nQat5xADcFgRnYrsT71iyzM/M5xU1j8yPqahI3ltQMjsvIkVu8Iuda4PzLz9R0NYGaNaXBjcMPqPMdaDplXw4Pt9P9q5VwVYjHIkV1cThgGG4IrL47abaxzGx9uhoM0HEXu36VCGfSD68qIY8x8+R5epoRTFAVrolCCBnkD1x1FDgn0nlmnlQBVOTny/U1XNBdfiJJBxy6VTZiSSetNT4oFTU9KganpqcGgcCpVOGHV1A96m9qQCcqceR3+1AKppUBUxQWLbAcZ5Z9P31tsEdcZ29K5+jQZyMeeaCRTBp6u8Sj3B9KVBjZo0UgGMDJHLOyj6daAaYNQaDHvN22Uc2/coqtd2hGCBz6eXUD7U8VyeeBtyzyHsPOrtvcA4Bx5n3NBj1atwBzq9c2audtvUefTNZ00LJsR9f4GgipJOBuSeQo0nDpBzAH1FFhvcZ0ooIHqarTXbtklv4fagnmNSPmYjG2wGoH74q/Z8PWQa3OSxJwNuvWgcJde8IK5J5Hy8/96ucLDa5MjADcvI9cfTFBK6sVCNgsMA48RxtvyrGEgJ1EDf+dq0uM3JOI13zzx+grOt1xQM5zyX70F1xV5hQJl2oK4qTCmWp0F7g15pOg8idvRv9a3JVBUg8iDn2rkK014v4QGGo8m9Vxz96AUG6kelQvV3+3571KybFRvm8X0WgDcn5R6VYa3AiLdSQB996AqamUc6u3/yAetBl4p8UsVZsLbW2nOOe9BWxSroW4ShG2eX59TWNd2rRnDdaCtT4pU4oCD5f8w/SpxHwv7D9ahHIRyNEackY2x6DFAJamBSRakKBxWhwxtO+knyIBP0qgK1Vfu4h5t16Z/2oG4njIOd8cqVUgaVBTaoNSpUDx8xVh0wAff8AID+NKlQa9pGABjO+596O1srnLDOOQ6b+lKlQRvYR3bDGMDIx5igX9qrJqIwQM5G33pUqChwtsSY81Pv51oSXBKE9c4p6VBjxcQflt9qjDT0qC3igzDc0qVBTWpnlSpUATSalSoNG02Cn6UKb5voP0pqVANGw222+PoaJdnfFKlQA01o8DTxk+Q/WmpUG7XM8RmLOc9CQPbJpUqCsKdRSpUDinFKlQSFTWnpUCFFVzjGdvKlSoDW4BO4H50qVKg//2Q==[/img]
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    I love cardio so I don't have a problem as long as I have my music. Why do you feel the need to do cardio if you don't like it that much? You should stick to the exercises that motivate you? Couldn't you get to your goal weight by sticking to weight lifting?
  • chankanaab07
    chankanaab07 Posts: 48 Member
    If it's truly that boring, I'd try something else more interesting. :)

    If you are just looking for ways to spice us elliptical and treadmill time, I like making up little games. For example, "I'm going to go as hard as I can for 15s, then I am going to take it easier for 45s, repeat, and see how long I can keep it up." Or I'll make fun little patterns on the screen by varying the incline to change the bar height. Little things like that keep my brain thinking.
  • MagnumBurrito
    MagnumBurrito Posts: 1,070 Member
    I suggest trying sprints instead. They make your body naturally release HGH, promote muscle growth, and fat loss. They're also a lot less mentally taxing.

    When it's nice out, I like to go to a school, that has a open field and jungle gym, put on some cleats, and do 10 sprints. Follow it up with pull ups, push ups, dips, and lunges. Takes 45 minutes and it's a good all body workout.
  • jenmom2myboys
    jenmom2myboys Posts: 311 Member
    tv
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,008 Member
    I'm watching movies / tv shows. At the moment it's an episode of Breaking Bad while I'm doing my cardio. I don't watch this without training, so training becomes even a treat ^^

    Same here. I don't watch TV except while on the elliptical, so it is a bit of a treat. Currently following Nashville and Masterchef on my phone.
  • lavendy17
    lavendy17 Posts: 309 Member
    I know this is nerdy but I found Jeopardy to be the most distracting while running on the treadmill. Trying to answer the questions really sucked me in so before I knew it, the time was up. So, look into game shows :) Maybe family feud or Lingo :)
  • PJPrimrose
    PJPrimrose Posts: 916 Member
    My sport, kick boxing (contact) is cardio. I stay motivated weight lifting by reminding myself how much it will help my sport!

    Cardio helps weight lifting efforts. It will help your "game". I hope this helps!
  • celtbell3
    celtbell3 Posts: 738 Member
    It depends on the workout, definitely. On the days I am having difficulty, it is truly a mind over matter scenario. I concentrate on my lifting my knees if I'm running and keeping my hands relaxed simultaneously - a difficult feat at times. If I'm biking, it is concentrating on the booty and ab in-tandem working. Regardless, IMO cardio is an important workout that should not be ignored. It is good for the heart..not just the body.
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    I watch shows on Netflix and play on PInterest while on the elliptical (although recently I knocked my phone down trying to pin something while sprinting, so maybe just Netflix from here on out). I mostly watch shows that I've seen already in case I zone out/sprint/have to stop watching to chug water.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    I watch Netflix on a tablet on the treadmill. That helps. For me listening to music isn't enough of a distraction - my mind wanders to other things I could/should be doing.

    Its easier when I'm outside. I guess actual scenery is more interesting than the wall of my basement.
  • nineteentwenty
    nineteentwenty Posts: 469 Member
    I pretend I am training to be a superhero >.>
  • Isakizza
    Isakizza Posts: 754 Member
    Cardio outside when I can. At my gym they have a cardio theater... a big dark cool room with movies playing.

    Otherwise what I do is a cardio circuit... 15-20 mins on each machine (stairs/run/elliptical) moving it along every 15-20 mins also helps a bunch. Doing HIIT on each machine (high/low intervals). Always with music!

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  • kelly_e_montana
    kelly_e_montana Posts: 1,999 Member
    I can't really stay motivated well on a machine.

    Thus, I do CrossFit where I can turn calisthenics into cardio conditioning. I also take classes at my regular gym. I swim there as well.

    I try to do a lot of outside activities like hiking and trail running so that I do cardio but don't really notice the time going by. For instance, there is a hill/mountain near my home that's so I climb up that for about 1.75 miles and then run down the other side for another 1.75 miles and soon I've gotten a great workout. I also do trail runs with a friend. In the winter, I go cross country skiing with friends. I plan to do some kayaking and try stand up paddle boarding this summer. Even just walking is great.
  • Steff46
    Steff46 Posts: 516 Member
    If you are doing your cardio on a machine try out the different levels and options it has to offer. The machines at my gym have options like 'personal trainer', or 'intervals', 'fat buring' and 'cardio blast'......etc. Oh and lots of hard rocking music!
  • jason_adams
    jason_adams Posts: 187 Member
    Steady state running - I MUST do this outside or I drag myself through it and hate most moments.

    So when on a treadmill, elliptical or stationary bike I do intervals that force me to change something every 1 to 2 minutes. I'm generally so focused on getting through the hard stuff or calming my heart on the recovery that the workout disappears.
    Plus they only last for 30mins at most (for me).

    I also really like the hill and random programs - same effect but I just have to roll with the punches. And it give me something to swear at.
  • nolabone
    nolabone Posts: 117 Member
    What I listen to drastically changes my enjoyment of my workout. Tried a workout podcast with upbeat music, and was bored out of my mind. But if I listen to the Grateful Dead while working out, even the slow songs, I don't notice the time passing nearly as much.

    If I don't feel I can do much more cardio, but want to, I use a stationary bike so I can read at the same time.
  • mikes99mail
    mikes99mail Posts: 318 Member
    I dont watch movies, use music as a tool or read a damn book. When I'm doing cardio *indoors* I stare at the numbers on the machine and make sure I'm doing what I should be doing in terms of effort, time & heart rate. I can normally manage 40 minutes, sometimes an hour.

    Outdoors I look at the birds, bees, trees and cars, as well as the heart rate and effort numbers. I can go for 12 hours+ some days...

    For me, I've got to be outdoors!!
  • kandell
    kandell Posts: 473 Member
    Netflix on my tablet :] I prefer to watch action-y things, because they make me work harder.
  • andyluvv
    andyluvv Posts: 281 Member
    I used to HATE cardio. With a passion.

    I started a new fitness regime this week so I stretch, do 10 minutes of cardio and 10 when I'm done with my lifting. I find that running on the treadmill gives me more of a push and it's a lot more fun. It also helps me burn about 300 calories just in between these two runs which means I can eat a bit more!

    I do it whilst listening to music and at times I play silly games with myself - I just think of running until the last minute of a film or something. My flatmate does something similar and she uses "Epic film songs" (like the lord of the Rings soundtrack) for similar effect. Try it! I find that if I can find an element of "play" in my workout, it makes it less torturing and more fun! :D
  • Ilikelamps
    Ilikelamps Posts: 482 Member
    you see that dude in your profile pic? Whenever I work out, cardio or weights, I stay motivated by thinking about how much I will be able to kick dude's that look like that's *kitten*.
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    I can't stand being on the elliptical or treadmill for very long. I do all sorts of different things for cardio. Circuts of things that include 1 minute of things like jumping rope, burpees, mountain climbers, etc. Sometimes I will throw 5 minutes of the elliptical or treadmill and do that 5 times or something along those lines. Even add sit ups and pushups in.
  • thomaszabel
    thomaszabel Posts: 203 Member
    I ride a gym bike that has a big video screen that shows me biking along the course against other computerized bikers, so it's like a big video game, so I don't have a problem there. If I'm biking outdoors, also not a problem, because I love to look around and enjoy the scenery. Finally, if I'm biking indoors in my basement, I turn on a youtube video, and that passes the time.

    As far as the treadmill, my gym uses LifeFitness treadmills that have a screen at each one. You can watch videos, or even set it to a scenic jaunt through quaint German towns or national parks in the US, or trails in Australia or New Zealand.

    But I remember the days when we didn't have cool technology with 3D glasses and surround sound. Basically your goal is to try to get through the cardio without thinking about it too much. Basically this is a mental challenge, and each person is different. Here are some fun mind games that occupied my demented mind as I ran on a treadmill.

    1) I like math. I would break the run into tenths of a mile. At each tenth, I would think "3 tenths of a mile down, 37 tenths to go". Then if I could simplify the fraction, I would do it. For example, 15/10 of a mile = 3/2, which comes out to 1/4 of my total run completed. Sometimes by the time I simplified and calculated what percentage of my run was left, I had already hit the next tenth of a mile. I know. That's pathetically nerdy.
    2) I would think about the things I had done that day, and analyze what things went well, what things didn't, and what I should have done to make it better. Sometimes I would come up with a to do list or a grocery list mentally. Maybe I would forget it all at the end of the run, but once again, it helped the time fly.
    3) I break the run into quarter miles. I used to run track when I was in high school, so I would figure out which lap I was on, and even which section of the track. Every 100 yards, I would think "okay, I'm on the back 100 yards straightaway of the 6th lap. When I got to the 4th 100 yards of each lap, I'd imagine running in front of the cheering home spectators up on the bleachers.
    4) I pick a political problem that I think the country could use some help on. I start to imagine "If I was king or dictator of the US for a day, this is what I would do to fix that problem once and for all."

    Bottom line is you can tell I'm a nerd, but the point is to keep your mind occupied on anything EXCEPT the running or biking that you are doing. If you have to imagine yourself as superman fighting villains or a Disney princess or think about that last book you read or movie you watched or simply ponder the meaning of life and why people drive on parkways, yet park on driveways, it's all good. Keep your brain occupied, and your miles will fly by.

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