Gym cardio is so boring!

2

Replies

  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    Recommendations vary but most agree a combination of steady state and high intensity cardio is optimal. For the most part I do both outside and that keeps me from getting bored. I vary exercises and routines a lot.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 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.

    or a nice long run!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 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.

    So go outside. I don't set foot on gym cardio equipment unless I absolutely am forced to due to inclimate weather...very inclimate weather.

    I ride a good 60 or so miles per week (when I'm training it's more) and I love it...nothing like watching the city go by on a bicycle. Then I hit the weight room a few nights per week.
  • Geloza
    Geloza Posts: 315 Member
    I haven't been in a gym in 15 years or something for mainly that reason! Boring!!!

    I do my cardio in the early mornings outside and it's so nice. :smile:
  • XxCaz89xX
    XxCaz89xX Posts: 29
    Get outside into the fresh air for your cardio! Lovely first thing In the morning... get yourself a dog if you don't already have one :-)
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    Pick something you don't find boring.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Exercise does not have to be done in a gym. You can do things that are not 'traditional' cardio if you want. Martial Arts, playing a sport, going for a bike ride, dancing etc all increase energy expenditure and are good for your cardiovascular system - so is lifting weights. If you want to increase your energy expenditure, just going for a walk and taking the stairs more for example will help with that also.

    I hate cardio so I do not do it so rely in calorie restriction and lifting for body composition (and lifting weights is also good for your cardiovascular system, among other things).

    Find something you enjoy - it will give you longer term benefits.
  • Geloza
    Geloza Posts: 315 Member
    get yourself a dog if you don't already have one :-)

    This ^^^

    Love dogs! I have 3 German Shepherds. :love:
  • Riffraft1960
    Riffraft1960 Posts: 1,984 Member
    My gym has 8 different TVs going with ear phone connections on the treadmills, so I just keep changing from station to station to keep from getting to bored and to feed into my ADD
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    Get outside

    Run or bike with a friend

    Find something else that keeps your attention
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Yes. Go for a real bike ride. Or if you HAVE to do gym cardio bring a book (I sometimes do because of the daycare).
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    cardio is a valuable part of any well rounded fitness program.

    Some people are training for endurance events- so the long hours are NEEDED.

    Some people just don't know any better.

    I personaly dislike doing hours of cardio- but I have- when I know I have a big food weekend coming- or long food days- or I had an 'expensive" calorie meal that week- or I just have nothing better to do than go home and sit around on a friday night- so yeah- I've done it.

    I watch a TV show and just kind of do the damn thing. But mostly I just do 15-30 minutes and that is sufficient.
  • EuphonyChloeH
    EuphonyChloeH Posts: 107 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.

    THIS! don't do cardio for an hour, go 30-40 minutes at a time, tops. HIIT is a great way to have shorter workouts with variety. I'm also a big fan of interval cardio - few minutes of walking with a minute of running. Playing with your heart rate is great.
  • Thinn2Winn
    Thinn2Winn Posts: 22 Member
    I agree that cardio can be boring at the gym on a piece of equipment. If you have a tablet and netflix or hulu I recommend finding a good TV show and watching an episode while working out. Then you'll do at least 42mins of cardio and the time will fly by as you'll be distracted by the show. Good luck.
  • endermako
    endermako Posts: 785 Member
    What is the point of hours of cardio a day? I do 10 minutes of cardio before my weights and an easy peasy 10 minute cool down after words. And then on my off strength days I'll do 20 minutes of cardio and thats it
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I walk 7 miles every day, except rest day and lift 5 days a week, but I enjoy it and I do everything at home, walking outside and my garage is my gym and I love it!! :smile:

    Find something that works for you. :flowerforyou:
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 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.

    or a nice long run!

    It's hard for me to imagine more boring voluntary activities than the two detailed above.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    Cardio in the gym
    bl10-gym-treadmills-525x347.jpg


    Cardio outside
    sunrise_runners.jpg

    Any questions?
  • octomancer
    octomancer Posts: 7
    Agree with everyone who says cardio outside is much less boring. I cycle to and from work and it never gets old, from overtaking the traffic to not getting knocked off my bike, from trying to beat my best time to enjoying catching all the lights on green, from a slight sense of superiority as I go past the bus queue to overtaking as many other cyclists as possible, from enjoying my thighs getting better and better to playing with my aerobic threshhold ... ;-)

    I run in the gym and I make it less boring by trying to increase with my stride length, by doing mental arithmetic with the time/calorie/distance counters and by mixing SMIT and LISS. It is difficult to keep it fresh though.
  • GallifreyanGirl396
    GallifreyanGirl396 Posts: 76 Member
    Music gets old after like 4 songs. I can't watch tv for too long,unless I am feeling lazy. I just go outside and jog...not on a track or any particular distance. I go to a hiking trail and run, jump, duck, dodge, and weave my way through some trees and boulders. At the bottom of said trail, there's a place to swim. Whenever I lived in a more wooded area, I would randomly wander off. If that's an option for you, you could have your walk/jog in no time. Pick up some outdoor sports. Go kayaking or hit up some people for a game of some sort: soccer, two hand touch, softball,paintball, laser tag. haha
  • lildynarider
    lildynarider Posts: 78 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.

    I second this. Never sweated so much during cardio as I did when I found Tabata!! Plus it isn't boring.
  • sc003ro
    sc003ro Posts: 227 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.

    Do a HIIT ....its to hard to be boring....

    500 meter Row as fast as you can
    100 Mountain climbers or Burpees(50)
    400yard run on the treadmill....(.25 of a mile)
    2 min rest...repeat 6 times


    I will mix up different workouts like this....keeps it fresh
  • MissHolidayGolightly
    MissHolidayGolightly Posts: 857 Member
    If hell were a real place it would be filled with treadmills.

    LOL! Here it is:

    611841_Planet_Fitness__292.jpg
  • lildynarider
    lildynarider Posts: 78 Member
    MissHoliday you are fantastic LOL:laugh:
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 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.

    OMG I knooowwww. But I disagree on one point; outdoor biking is much better. Now I know why chicks do cardio classes cuz the elliptical is boring as 'ell.

    When I was at Planet fitness, they would have Law & order and other stuff on tv's. I mean, at least it grabbed me for 45 minutes. My new gym has BORING stupid sports on the tv's. ALL OF THEM!
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    When I was doing a hour on the elliptical on second attempt I would just jam out on some tunes for six days a week.

    I also did not mind the view in front of me sometimes.
  • lelyke
    lelyke Posts: 47
    Your gym should have WiFi, just save your favorite tv show for your cardio workouts or listen to music. I enjoy cardio a lot because I'm in my own world just thinking and working out.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    The problematic approach is that the majority of people in the gym think cardio is for fat loss, when in truth it's just a cardiovascular exercise.
    Weight loss is ALWAYS going to be more about how much one consumes rather than how much cardio one is doing each day.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    If hell were a real place it would be filled with treadmills.

    LOL! Here it is:

    611841_Planet_Fitness__292.jpg

    *shiver*
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 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

    T nation articles LOL. I thought these were like taboo in MFP.

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