Cardio (only swimming or only running) is soo boring... :S

veramazing
veramazing Posts: 27
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey everyone!

When I am having a walk in the park with my boyfriend, I see all those people running by and they look like they are having so much fun. I have running shoes and everything but whenever I start running I get sooooo bored. It is this repetitive motion that makes me almost fall asleep. I get restless and just.. I don't know. It is just boring. The same thing with cardio in fitness centers like the steppers and all that. You just do the same thing for like 45 minutes? Waaah. It feels like such a waste of time...

HELP!

Do you know what sport would be good for me?

Thanks for your support!!!

-veramazing-

Replies

  • MelMoly
    MelMoly Posts: 1,303 Member
    running and swimming is my me time...i can jam to music when i run and it gives me time to clear my head and think!!! try working on breathing when you do "boring" workouts :wink: and try and enjoy the free time :smile:
  • ♥ChUbByCoyLe♥
    ♥ChUbByCoyLe♥ Posts: 267 Member
    I've got an app for my ipod called couch to 5k. Its a great wee app and helps you build your fitness by listening to music and alternating between walking and running. It keeps the boredom at bay. :bigsmile:
  • hooma
    hooma Posts: 124 Member
    I like to do the elliptical in front of the tv, I can go for an hour that way!
  • Dinob661
    Dinob661 Posts: 251 Member
    well, Basketball is always a good cardio sport.

    As for running and the machines. I put my music on and close my eyes (when i am on the machines not free running lol!) and just go until I hit a certain number of songs. (usually I go until like the 12-13th song then I check the time. By then an hour to over an hour has passed. and it doesn't even feel like an hour!
  • camille97
    camille97 Posts: 91
    Haha, I think running is super boring too!
    I do like the treadmill and swimming though, but I think you may be like me in the sense that you need more stimulating activities.
    If you can find a buddy that would be willing to play with you, try games instead, like soccer, badminton, feild hockey, etc. You don't even need to be very good at them to play, it's exercise all the same, and it's fun and competitive!
    Otherwise you can bring something to occupy yourself while you run or do machines, like putting a magazine on the dashboard of the stepper, or listening to an interesting podcast on your ipod while you run.
    Good luck!
  • bluemist248
    bluemist248 Posts: 207 Member
    You could try Zumba! I have yet to go to a class but I have the game on the Wii. It would come under 'cardio dance' I guess, since it's dancing and really gets your heart rate up! It's hard to get bored of because it's not repetitive and the music is very catchy!
  • RayGuthrie
    RayGuthrie Posts: 1
    Any of the racquet sports work well (tennis, racquet ball, squash) but then you have the problem of scheduling and finding someone who is evenly matched enough to provide a good workout. If that doesn't work, get a book or musci or tv and go for it on the treadmill. There just aren't any easy cardio options. Sometimes doing cardio in a group at a gym works.
  • appleskye
    appleskye Posts: 54
    Why not try playing a sport? If there's a court near you, something like tennis would be a really fun way to burn lots of calories. Or maybe go for a hike; that way you get to look at the scenery while you work out! Good luck!
  • sharonsjones
    sharonsjones Posts: 574 Member
    Have you tried biking? I'm runner at heart, love to run, but I also like to bike. Try listening to music maybe that will help distract you.
  • veramazing
    veramazing Posts: 27
    Thanks!

    Yeah, I used to play volleyball which was a lot of fun but it seems like I am not good enough anymore to play in a real team.
    I played tennis a couple of times and I really liked it, maybe I should try it again. The only thing is that I am a poor musician/student so it can't be too expensive :S

    I'll find a sport pal! YEAH!!

    :D:D
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I have done the running thing and I TOTALLY agree. The cure for me was Zumba!! Wow, it's so much fun I actually look forward to doing it. My husband calls me "Zumba head" and says I'm obsessed with it. I'm not really, but I am SO happy to finally have found exercise that I enjoy. I've been doing it for 60 min a day, 6 days a week since January and still love it. And I reached my goal of getting back into my size 8 jeans and still continue to lose slowly. I'm not really trying to lose any more, but I will see where I end up.

    You can take a class, buy the DVDs or get one of the video games (available for all popular systems).
  • vineas
    vineas Posts: 84
    How long have you been running? When you start it can be that way, but once you've done it for a while you get into kind of a groove and it's not like that anymore - it was that way for me at least. Lots of people find it almost like meditation - you let yourself clear your mind and think of nothing except the running. This really helps to relieve a lot of stress.

    It also may help to try finding someone to run with, or listen to a podcast or audio book while doing it. Or maybe running just isn't your thing ... my wife can't stand it, but loves doing Zumba, 30 day shred and things like that (which I would find boring!)
  • shydaisi
    shydaisi Posts: 788 Member
    You could try Zumba! I have yet to go to a class but I have the game on the Wii. It would come under 'cardio dance' I guess, since it's dancing and really gets your heart rate up! It's hard to get bored of because it's not repetitive and the music is very catchy!

    This is what I was going to suggest - zumba! I go to a zumba class 3 to 4 times per week and absolutely love it! I am never bored in class...
  • 27strange
    27strange Posts: 837 Member
    I like to run. Its my time to be alone and listen to good music. And to unwind from the day. I think about everything while running.
    We have an elliptical at home that I enjoy doing as well, while either listening to music or watching television. I think ya just have to get into it and figure out ways to tolerate it. Sure it seems monotonous but ya do it routinely time and time again ya start to enjoy it and look forward to it. Figure out a way to make it "your time". As you see results this provides more motivation to keep going, to push harder, to go further, etc.

    Step 1: Find the desire to do it, what do you want to change about yourself?
    Step 2: Figure out ways to make it tolerable... listen to music, run with a buddy, watch television, read a book, etc.
    Step 3: Make it your time. Set goals for the workout - distance, pace, time, etc. Then as you see improvements in your ability and stamina push yourself and set new goals.
    Step 4: Take pride in and enjoy the results of your hard work and determination.
  • Gilbrod
    Gilbrod Posts: 1,216 Member
    My wife says this about running on the treadmill. I don't understand how can you be bored?! Just like I'm never bored eating, I'm never bored with cardio. Swimming, I can see. But running, the scenery is constantly changing. You gotta control your breathing so you don't pass out. It's up hills, down hills. Or like someone else says, you can think up recepies as well.
  • kjjm08
    kjjm08 Posts: 217 Member
    Running is not a waste of tiime, trust me LOL. I lose weight/inches like crazy. Anyhow - try some different classes at your gym. Kick boxking, Zumba, Bootcamp etc.
  • veramazing
    veramazing Posts: 27
    Maybe I just need some more good music to run to. I am so obsessed with rhythm that I cannot run with music that is "off beat", that doesn't have the "running beat" if you know what I mean.
    It takes a while to find music that matches every step :P

    Maybe i should give it another shot. I'll move to a different town next week and it has more parks and trails. Would be nice to find some new surroundings while jogging.

    Thanks for all your replies!!
  • Fochizzy
    Fochizzy Posts: 505 Member
    I like to do the elliptical in front of the tv, I can go for an hour that way!

    I do this. The only way I find true cardio not boring is to use the TV.
  • appleskye
    appleskye Posts: 54
    If you want to find music that matches your stride pattern, you can work out the beats per minute of your music. I use this site to find out the BPM of songs, you just tap your keyboard along to the music: http://web.forret.com/tools/bpm_count.asp - it's a bit clunky but it works! This site is also good: http://jogtunes.com/ - you can find songs based on their BPM, it's got quite a wide range of music on there.

    As you can tell I'm also a bit obsessed with running rhythm...!
  • theba2il
    theba2il Posts: 548 Member
    I'm enjoying fitness dvd's, especially the dance cardio. I have Zumba. I also streamed some via NetFlix. You can read reviews on Amazon for most fitness dvd's.
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