What do you do on the elliptical/treadmill/bike?

Hello there! This is a FUN question!

Everyone tends to have their own style to make workouts more fun and less boring. I really like to customize music Playlists depending on my "objective" for that day.

So for example, on a Recovery day I'll maybe listen to more slow easy going music. On a Harder day I'll listen to music that's gets me pumped, motivated, inspired or excited!

Having said that, it's important to have some quiet sessions when you can just listen to your rythm. For example, when you are running on a treadmill. Take a moment to unplug, listen to your footstrikes, now listen to your breathing, feel the muscles working together and enjoy

Sometimes my music cuts out and it's silent and I notice that my breathing is too heavy so I refocus and relax

Often on the Cardio Bike if it's a super long easy session you can watch a funny movie/video from your phone. Or if you start doing more cardio bike maybe find a youtube "Spin class" and follow along from your tablet/phone etc...

Outdoor cycling - no other stimulus required as I'm in beautiful countryside or dodging errant homicidal maniacs in cars.

Indoors - TV, radio, music playlists (including one from my daughter called "dance like a Dad").

Long steady state cardio is an opportunity to watch some TV.

Interval training is generally more mentally stimulating as you have to think the whole time - currently doing six minute low/high intervals for over an hour but building up to twelve minute intervals (eek!).

I just love my music. I find I pick up the pace on the elliptical with a fast song. I don't watch TV while on it, I stare at the dots on the screen where it shows my program, best for my concentration. Yesterday I did 45 minutes on it going backwards the entire time. My calf muscles feel it this morning!

99% of the time when I'm on the elliptical, all I'm thinking about is when I can get off the damn thing. I play music in the background and sometimes watch tv/youtube.

When I walk/run outside, I just listen to music. I don't think I could listen to a podcast as I use the beat to guide my pacing.

I very seldom use these machines, during early spring I'll do some intervals on the dreadmill to rebase myself for outdoor runs. I take Krav Mags classes & find that gives me enough cardio. I also like skipping or using rhe rowing machine or doing bodyweight &/or using weights in a circuit as cardio.

As little as possible...I cycle in the great wide open whenever possible. When the weather is *kitten* or I cant otherwise get in a good ride, I will opt for some piece of cardio equipment just to get in some cardiovascular work...generally I just have to push through every boring and unsatisfactory minute of whatever I'm doing.

On the treadmill I listen to music (Pandora Classic Rock Power Workout channel) and the Zombies Run app. Recently, my gym got some fancy new treadmills that will show scenic running videos on the console, so instead of staring at the timer (makes time go slower, I swear) or the tv news (boring and/or depressing), I can distract myself with lovely scenery from Germany and Northern California and New Zealand, etc.

emilycat214 wrote: »

On the treadmill I listen to music (Pandora Classic Rock Power Workout channel) and the Zombies Run app. Recently, my gym got some fancy new treadmills that will show scenic running videos on the console, so instead of staring at the timer (makes time go slower, I swear) or the tv news (boring and/or depressing), I can distract myself with lovely scenery from Germany and Northern California and New Zealand, etc.

I love those scenery courses. Probably the only way I'll ever see them. Think that was a guy wandering through with a gopro on his head?

debsdoingthis wrote: »

emilycat214 wrote: »

On the treadmill I listen to music (Pandora Classic Rock Power Workout channel) and the Zombies Run app. Recently, my gym got some fancy new treadmills that will show scenic running videos on the console, so instead of staring at the timer (makes time go slower, I swear) or the tv news (boring and/or depressing), I can distract myself with lovely scenery from Germany and Northern California and New Zealand, etc.

I love those scenery courses. Probably the only way I'll ever see them. Think that was a guy wandering through with a gopro on his head?

I was curious, so I looked it up. They use something called a steadicam, which is attached to a runner with a special vest. Apparently, it doesn't give the shaky effect that you can get with a GoPro. There's an explanation here, with a link to a video showing how they film.

Elliptical--I alternate 1 min forward & 1 min backward. I do various short intervals, for ex 15-20 seconds all out each minute. I listen to music & think. No way could I read.