How to make strength training fun

NBabi91
NBabi91 Posts: 270 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey Everyone! So I have been on my journey for a while now but still have a hard time doing strength training for more than 20 mins. I find I get bored of it very quickly and am looking for ways to find more enjoyment in strength training. Any ideas?
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Replies

  • IveLanded
    IveLanded Posts: 797 Member
    Take classes.

    I am not a fan of stregnth training but I always enjoy my classes when I do them. If you belong to a gym, see if they offer a R.I.P.P.E.D. class...it's circuit training set to music. I just started it and it's pretty fun, definitely a good way to pass an hour. :)
  • _GlaDOS_
    _GlaDOS_ Posts: 1,520 Member
    What kind of strength training are you doing?
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Take progress photos. :wink:

    I still don't particularly enjoy lifting, but I love what it's done to my bum. That's all the motivation I need.

    And really 20-30 minutes a few times a week is probably enough.
  • Fit4Evolution
    Fit4Evolution Posts: 375 Member
    how about a workout partner?
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Lift heavier. If you are bored, my guess is you aren't lifting enough. You also don't need to do a million different things. I do 3.
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    check out eye candy in between sets
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Lift heavy.. and don't force yourself.

    Today I did a workout and my trainer had 3 sets written on there, but there was no way I was doing 3.. so I did what I could and called it a day. Next time, maybe I'll challenge myself to 3 sets of the 4 exercises.. but right now, I'll stick with 2.
  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    The only way I find strength training remotely fun is following a program and tracking my progress. The fun part is seeing myself lifting heavier weights and getting stronger as the weeks go on, just being able to do more. The fun is seeing and feeling the results. But you HAVE to track what you do, on paper, don't try to remember it all.
  • TexanThom
    TexanThom Posts: 778
    Lift open buckets of very cold water over your head....
  • iamMaLisa
    iamMaLisa Posts: 278 Member
    yep.. like the other person said, take classes... i take Body Pump three times a week and love it.
  • NBabi91
    NBabi91 Posts: 270 Member
    Classes aren't an option for me as I work at my apartments gym and can't really afford to join a gym that has classes. Though keeping track of what I do and progress pics makes sense.
  • marbit
    marbit Posts: 108
    I absolutely hate lifting, so I tried a bunch of things and nothing worked. I started doing kettlebells and I love it! They work you hard, take up a lot less time, and you get a great cardio work out as well. Just a word of warning, if you decide to go that route, bypass Jillian Michaels dvd, its not very good.
  • drmattski
    drmattski Posts: 124 Member
    In order of my preference:

    Trainer - if you can afford it
    Partner - if you are so lucky to have one who can work with you on a regualrt schedule
    Music - just get your best adrenaline pumping music and do it

    Cheers,
    Matt
  • Spanaval
    Spanaval Posts: 1,200 Member
    Make sure yor workout is hard enough you are more focused on how many ways your @ss is getting kicked instead of how boring it is. I find cardio to be boring, but when I'm busy cussing out the instructor on TV, it's hard to focus on the boring aspect.
  • GymAnJuice
    GymAnJuice Posts: 512 Member
    im thinking of getting a kettle ball dvd, any recommendations?
  • janeite1990
    janeite1990 Posts: 671 Member
    1. I don't spend tons of time on strength training. Just do a couple of muscle groups at a time. That shouldn't take too long.

    2. I work out at home, too, like you. I'm not at a gym. Do you take an iPod with you? I have a tv in my weight room, and having something decent on the telly helps the time go by.

    3. Two things motivate me.
    A. I like to see an increase to the weights. A few years ago I could cheat 25 lbs for biceps and lift 20 lbs respectfully. Now, I am back to 20 and 15. It makes me mad, which makes me want to hit those muscles and see an increase. I want to be strong. I want people to say, "Wow, she's little but she is strong. I can't believe she just did that."
    B. I like seeing the little changes to the shape of my body that strength training provides. It's amazing. About once a week, if I'm being faithful, I'll find some little cut that wasn't there before. When that happens, I'm psyched to do more.

    4. When you figure out what works for you leverage it. Whatever it is, play it up!
  • bhelmreich
    bhelmreich Posts: 254 Member
    Find workouts outline that map out the workout for you. I do Jamie Easons 12 week program and it takes me about 40 minutes to complete. I am like you and get bored super easy. I found it was more I didn't know what moves to do for the body part i was working out.
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Only do it for ~20 minutes and focus on the big, compound lifts. Add weight every time. It's a challenge!
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Lift heavier. If you are bored, my guess is you aren't lifting enough. You also don't need to do a million different things. I do 3.

    /thread
  • LeslieMDoyle
    LeslieMDoyle Posts: 162 Member
    set your workout to music. I don't know how many songs you want to get through. But pick songs that keep you pumped and go the speed of your reps. I also like the idea of tracking your progress with pictures.
  • sexforjaffacakes
    sexforjaffacakes Posts: 1,001 Member
    I'm a huge pokemon fan, so I think of weight lifting like training :P

    There are only 6 lifts I really do just now, so I choose my team, a pokemon for each lift :P
    The weight I do is a "level" and I work on "training up" my pokemon

    Eg, my shoulder press is charmander, and I use 6kg weights just now. So I made a little chart, the weight is it's level, as I go up in weights he goes up in level - and when he gets to the right levels he can evolve and learn new moves according to the Pokemon rules :p same works for my other "pokemons" (eg dead lift is level 20 dratini)

    nerdy I know, but it makes it a fun goal to work towards!

    exercise.png
  • Loko_Ino
    Loko_Ino Posts: 544 Member
    My vote is music...that always make the time fly by.
  • Kirsty_UK
    Kirsty_UK Posts: 964 Member
    there's a site called fitocracy that "nerds" might like - it gives you points for your work outs, and you earn quests and levels through it
  • Jeff92se
    Jeff92se Posts: 3,369 Member
    Double or triple set everything. You can get 27 sets of sets done in the time most do 9.
  • ktfitzgerald
    ktfitzgerald Posts: 369 Member
    I absolutely hate lifting, so I tried a bunch of things and nothing worked. I started doing kettlebells and I love it! They work you hard, take up a lot less time, and you get a great cardio work out as well. Just a word of warning, if you decide to go that route, bypass Jillian Michaels dvd, its not very good.

    Ditto! I hate traditional strength training, but I love working out with kettlebells.
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    Lift heavier. If you are bored, my guess is you aren't lifting enough. You also don't need to do a million different things. I do 3.

    yup. i do like 4-5 things if i'm doing straight lifting, not counting my warm up and cool down.

    you can try metabolic conditioning work outs.
  • unsound
    unsound Posts: 31 Member
    If you're into that kind of thing, join a social website like Fitocracy and post your workouts there. You'll get lots of encouragement, for one thing. Also, it turns workout tracking into a kind of game so you're competing against yourself and against others. It's pretty cool, and it's a great community of people who can provide lots of guidance and inspiration. Check it out.

    http://www.fitocracy.com
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    Strength training is fun because I realize holy crap I can add more weight.
  • Elen_Sia
    Elen_Sia Posts: 638 Member
    I'm a huge pokemon fan, so I think of weight lifting like training :P

    There are only 6 lifts I really do just now, so I choose my team, a pokemon for each lift :P
    The weight I do is a "level" and I work on "training up" my pokemon

    Eg, my shoulder press is charmander, and I use 6kg weights just now. So I made a little chart, the weight is it's level, as I go up in weights he goes up in level - and when he gets to the right levels he can evolve and learn new moves according to the Pokemon rules :p same works for my other "pokemons" (eg dead lift is level 20 dratini)

    nerdy I know, but it makes it a fun goal to work towards!

    exercise.png

    LOVE THIS! I pretty much see strength training as questing in an MMO. :flowerforyou:
  • kellabella83
    kellabella83 Posts: 48
    I have the kettleworx DVD's by Ryan Shanahan and I really like them. I would recommend those.
    Although I think the kettleball I have is too light, it's 5lbs. I should probably have started with 8 or 10lbs.

    Good Luck!

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