Gym cardio is so boring!

mindofarevolution
mindofarevolution Posts: 2
in Fitness and Exercise
I don't understand how some people on this site do cardio for 1-2 hours! About once a week I can do an hour session on the stationary bike, but it's usually 30 minutes and I'm dying of boredom. I've tried music playlists, audiobooks, playing on my phone, and reading. I think it's slightly due to the fact that I have mild ADD but any helpful hints? Even walking outside or biking outside bores me.

I do lift weights routinely and this is definitely better for me, however, I really need to burn off calories and hit the cardio.
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Replies

  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    That's why I just lift and only do cardio for 20-30 minutes once or twice a week. When I do it's a minute run, minute walk. Watching the clock keeps me from getting bored.

    You can just make sure you are tracking your food accurately to ensure you have a calorie deficit.
  • FrankiesSaysRelax
    FrankiesSaysRelax Posts: 403 Member
    I agree, that's why I don't do an hour of cardio. I stick to lifting and HIIT workouts of 20 minutes or less.
  • nikkihk
    nikkihk Posts: 487 Member
    Do your cardio outdoors as a natural activity. Boredom = fixed.
  • redheadmommy
    redheadmommy Posts: 908 Member
    Totally agree. I wish I would have more patience to do those, but they bore me to death. Going on the cardio machine in the gym feels like a hamster spinning its wheel's.
    I do not even attempt it anymore. I go to the gym to do my heavy lifting that is all. Occasionally if I find a partner I play squash or badminton in the gym. Other than that I commute by my bike often pulling my kids behind me in a trailer that is plenty of cardio for the summer. I live on a cold climate with plenty of snow , so snow shovelling,tobogganing, skying and skating es ensures my winter cardio. Plus we have a dog we need to walk multiple times a day.
  • Artosas
    Artosas Posts: 6 Member
    I'm in the same boat as you, I start to get the Hamster in a Wheel feeling if I'm on a treadmill or bike for more than 30 minutes. That's why I love that I found out about HIIT, 30 minutes max and your outta there! Plus can't beat that afterburn effect :)
  • codycsweet
    codycsweet Posts: 1,019 Member
    Zumba group fitness is all the cardio I do at the gym anymore.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    word...

    try these
    http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance/screw_cardio_four_complexes_for_a_shredded_physique


    i particularly like the tuminello and the cosgrove complexes
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    I agree its boring at the gym. I would want to shoot myself if I had to be stuck on a treadmill for more than the five mins between my sets of circuit training. I get my hours in by walking from my house to the bridge and into the next town then back. Its about 5 1/2 miles round trip. Its so beautiful and I see something new everytime I go so its doesn't seem as long as it is. Plus the kicker about my walks is that even when you feel like quitting, you cant because you aren't home yet.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Correction: Cardio is boring


    Fixed it for you
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    I find 10 minute warm up on bike or rower boring. I definitely have a low attention threshold. What about some interval training, eg alternating 1 min cardio with burpees, pushups, sit ups etc. Keeps it a bit more interesting.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    Correction: Cardio is boring


    Fixed it for you

    different strokes for different folks. for me, there is nothing like a 60 mile bike ride to take in the scenery.
  • parkscs
    parkscs Posts: 1,639 Member
    Correction: Cardio is boring


    Fixed it for you

    :heart:
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    Fortunately, my gym has wifi and I have Netflix. I pull out my phone and watch something to occupy my brain while I run intervals on the treadmill. If the thing I'm watching is really good, I can put in a solid hour or more.
  • margannmks
    margannmks Posts: 424 Member
    I also cant do the machines, i make up a mini bootcamp type workout, high knees,jumping jacks with 10 lb dumbells, burpees with a box jump, mountain climbers, squat and press with dumbells, crouch and shoot, skip and punch with weights, skaters, etc repeat 3 times doing a minute of each and youve got a 25-30 min hiit
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    I don't understand how some people on this site do cardio for 1-2 hours! About once a week I can do an hour session on the stationary bike, but it's usually 30 minutes and I'm dying of boredom. I've tried music playlists, audiobooks, playing on my phone, and reading. I think it's slightly due to the fact that I have mild ADD but any helpful hints? Even walking outside or biking outside bores me.
    I do lift weights routinely and this is definitely better for me, however, I really need to burn off calories and hit the cardio.
    I'm glad you realize that cardio is the most efficient way to burn calories. But 30 min 5 x a week is sufficient to maintain your weight & get health benefits. You only need to do more than that if you want to lose weight.
    "Most weight loss occurs because of decreased caloric intake. However, evidence shows the only way to maintain weight loss is to be engaged in regular physical activity. To maintain your weight: work your way up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or an equivalent mix of the two each week."
    (The page explains moderate & vigorous.)
    http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/physical_activity/index.html

    As for boredom, I go to Planet Fitness, and they have machines where I can plug in my headphones & listen to / watch any of 15 TV channels. That's quite a distraction, and there have been times when I went longer than I intended because I wanted to see the end of a program.

    But for me, music, audiobooks, or reading would also be a distraction (though I'm not sure I could read while bouncing up & down on the elliptical), and I enjoy walking outside.

    Have you tried using different machines?
    How about trying to figure what fraction of your workout you've accomplished at any given time?
    How many calories will you burn in 30 min if you keep going at your current rate?
    If you do that much every day, how long before you've burned off a pound?
    How many minutes will it take at your current burn rate before you reach your goal weight?
    Mentally compose a poem, book, letter, song.
    How about a puzzle instead of a book? Especially if you like the grid puzzles where you have to figure out each person's name, what color hat they wore, what drink they ordered, and what pet they have that would really keep your mind busy. Even a crossword would be good in that direction.

    Or gee, use exercise as a meditation & learn to calm your mind so you don't have to be entertained all the time. Pay attention to how you feel, your breathing, heartbeat, feel the sweat running down your back (or face), feel your muscles moving, etc. Imagine the fat breaking down, see it leaving your body every time you exhale. (Which is a biologically & chemically correct visualization.)
  • mayfrayy
    mayfrayy Posts: 198 Member
    I don't understand how some people on this site do cardio for 1-2 hours! About once a week I can do an hour session on the stationary bike, but it's usually 30 minutes and I'm dying of boredom. I've tried music playlists, audiobooks, playing on my phone, and reading. I think it's slightly due to the fact that I have mild ADD but any helpful hints? Even walking outside or biking outside bores me.
    I do lift weights routinely and this is definitely better for me, however, I really need to burn off calories and hit the cardio.
    I'm glad you realize that cardio is the most efficient way to burn calories. But 30 min 5 x a week is sufficient to maintain your weight & get health benefits. You only need to do more than that if you want to lose weight.
    ....

    well this is just wrong. you can do any amount of cardio but the only thing that will make you lose weight is a deficit.
  • SinCityFit
    SinCityFit Posts: 96
    Then you're not doing the right thing. Have you tried the group classes (Zumba, kickboxing, etc.) at the gym? Running, walking, biking, swimming, dancing, aqua aerobics? Workout videos at home? Indoor boot camps? There's something fun that involves moving out there for everybody.
  • FitnSassy
    FitnSassy Posts: 263 Member
    I love spinning and biking, and I like boxing. I also hope to start running one day. You have to find something that you like to do, and do that. A lot of people enjoy Zumba, and it can be a great, fun workout. Maybe take up tennis, running or swimming. Your local Y should have group classes, too. There are lots of other things to do.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I don't understand how some people on this site do cardio for 1-2 hours!

    Do it outside. Go for a run, or a ride.

    Running outside gives you a fuller range of stimulation on the system, so the risks of injury are reduced cf the dreadmill.
  • fitness_faeiry
    fitness_faeiry Posts: 354 Member
    Two words:

    JUMP. ROPE.

    15- 20 mins is all you need.
  • mathandcats
    mathandcats Posts: 786 Member
    This is why I prefer jogging outside, even if the impact is worse (jogging on sidewalks). I jog in a pretty part of town and go with my father, so the scenery and the conversation keep me entertained.

    I'd suggest trying a different form of cardio, or find a partner to talk to while you work out, if that's feasible.
  • steve0820
    steve0820 Posts: 510 Member
    Created yourself some Tabata workouts. You can be creative, mix and match different exercises, lower & upper body.

    And it's 8 mins!!

    You're welcome.
  • cincysweetheart
    cincysweetheart Posts: 892 Member
    I plug my headphones into one of the TV channels…. the only time I get bored is during the commercials. As far as the boredom factor goes… I can go for hours on a treadmill. Honestly… it's the bikes that bore me. But that's just me.
  • thursby2
    thursby2 Posts: 15 Member
    I hate just walking in to gym and trying to get a great work out without direction so i do classes spin,circuits, Hiit and body pump. This for me takes the boredom out of it and its prob reason im still going to gym for 7 months :)
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    Lindy Hop.

    mentally stimulating, plenty of movement to get your heart rate up, plenty to laugh at, all round good exercise and social too.

    why pound away on a treadmill if you aren't enjoying it?
  • misschoppo
    misschoppo Posts: 463 Member
    For cardio I either do short HIIT dvds at home or I do group classes at the gym. I get incredibly bored if I try to do gym cardio on the treadmill etc.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    Me too! This is why I don't do traditional cardio, heavy squats and Deadlifts have me sweating and burning calories like crazy. Also lifting weights burns more after a workout even when you're just sitting around than cardio does. So my opinion is if you don't like it, don't do it. There are ways to get good heart health and cardiovascular fitness through non traditional methods. If you still want to do cardio, hiit is quite good since you only need a fraction of the time that you'd need if you were just pedalling away on a stationary bike for an hour!
  • DR2501
    DR2501 Posts: 661 Member
    Try doing a session of tabata burpees or HIIT sprints then come back and tell us you get too bored...lol

    ETA I do these outside not in the gym so win/win.
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    If hell were a real place it would be filled with treadmills.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    I don't understand how some people on this site do cardio for 1-2 hours! About once a week I can do an hour session on the stationary bike, but it's usually 30 minutes and I'm dying of boredom. I've tried music playlists, audiobooks, playing on my phone, and reading. I think it's slightly due to the fact that I have mild ADD but any helpful hints? Even walking outside or biking outside bores me.
    I do lift weights routinely and this is definitely better for me, however, I really need to burn off calories and hit the cardio.
    I'm glad you realize that cardio is the most efficient way to burn calories. But 30 min 5 x a week is sufficient to maintain your weight & get health benefits. You only need to do more than that if you want to lose weight.
    "Most weight loss occurs because of decreased caloric intake. However, evidence shows the only way to maintain weight loss is to be engaged in regular physical activity. To maintain your weight: work your way up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or an equivalent mix of the two each week."
    (The page explains moderate & vigorous.)
    http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/physical_activity/index.html
    [/quote]

    I don't think you understand cardio. You keep posting those recommendations, but you fail to address what they really mean.

    Moderate: While performing the physical activity, if your breathing and heart rate is noticeably faster but you can still carry on a conversation — it's probably moderately intense. Examples include—
    -Walking briskly (a 15-minute mile).
    -Light yard work (raking/bagging leaves or using a lawn mower).
    -Light snow shoveling.
    -Actively playing with children.
    -Biking at a casual pace.
    Vigorous: Your heart rate is increased substantially and you are breathing too hard and fast to have a conversation, it's probably vigorously intense. Examples include—
    -Jogging/running.
    -Swimming laps.
    -Rollerblading/inline skating at a brisk pace.
    -Cross-country skiing.
    -Most competitive sports (football, basketball, or soccer).
    -Jumping rope.

    Someone can fill almost all their needs by jogging or running twice a week for 30 minutes. Calorie deficit is vital for weight loss, not exercise. Cardiovascular activity is important for heart and lung efficiency. Strength training is important for body composition and bone health. You keep telling people to do lots of cardio and when most people say cardio it means vigorous activity of which the guidelines you post say 75 minutes worth. If you're just telling people to go for a brisk walk 5x a week that's a totally different story. Running covers the suggestion in fewer days leaving more time for strength training (which is also suggested by the same site you keep posting, yet you leave those suggestions out).

    http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html
    1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., jogging or running) every week and
    muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).

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