Motivation at the gym

[KillerCharlie]

I'm struggling to stay interested at the gym. Lately I've been leaving early because I just get so bored doing cardio. What do you guys do? I listen to music but that isn't helping. I've been thinking about getting something like an ipod touch to watch movies but I dont think they have wireless service. I don't have a smartphone or want to pay for one.

I try to do stuff outside but that's really hard in Seattle. I do mountain climbing and hiking on the weekends when the weather's decent, but I need motivation during the week.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Don't do cardio...? Do you just run on a treadmill or something?

You could try weights or something. Gyms also have aerobic classes on bikes and stuff, and these may be worth trying out for the company, if nothing else.

 

[illusion88]

Meet someone with the same work out schedule? It's nice to have someone to talk to, or at least be a little competitive against.

 

[Powermoloch]

I watch youtube vids during cardio. It works for me

 

[Lazarus52980]

I have had really good luck with audio books rather than music. I tend to get lost in the story and forget that I am running at all.

 

[pcunite]

Like Lazsarus* says ... get involved in a story ... video works or story audio.

 

[Goosemaster]

1. Switch to a gym with hotter women (or men, depending on your preference)
2. Whether audio book, music, or video, find something engaging and pair it up with challenging cardio. I find that once I get in the 'zone' during cardio, the exercise allows me to get even more into my music, and the music keeps me there.

 

[Howard]

You won't get bored doing resistance training.

 

[spamsk8r]

I would kill myself if I ever had to use a treadmill or elliptical again. Do more HIIT-style conditioning workouts instead. Push a prowler, pull a weighted-sled, do barbell complexes, do Crossfit-style circuits (with or without external load), do sprints (on the track, treadmill, or rower), do Tabata-style intervals. There are literally thousands of different ways to get conditioned without having to bound along slowly on a treadmill. And if you're looking to just burn a few extra calories without impacting your recovery try walking for 30-45 minutes before breakfast in the morning, or going for a bike ride around the neighborhood. I don't see any reason why anyone should have to endure the mind-numbing boredom of globo-gym "cardio."

 

[Koing]

Go join
weightlifting club and learn to Snatch and Clean and Jerk
crossfit club

Koing

 

[brad310]

get an ipod touch and find a podcast or seven you enjoy. I prefer comedy - Joe Rogan and Adam Corolla do great shows just about every day. There's more content in free podcasts for you to listen to now than you'll ever need.

 

[Nebor]

Run outdoors. It's more interesting. If you need motivation, run in Honey Badger territory after slathering your legs with honey.

 

[killster1]

Run outdoors. It's more interesting. If you need motivation, run in Honey Badger territory after slathering your legs with honey.

umm no offense but running is rather boring to me as well.. thats why i do it in front the big screen on a treadmill watching episodes of good tv shows with no commercials.. right now im watching chicago code. almost done with season1 tho and will have to watch some movies while i find another new season to watch. bring laptop or something with wireless headphone? book on tape sounds more interesting then music to me id be bored out of my mind running if not for tv hehehe.. Outdoors sure running diff trail everyday might be sorta fun but not near enough for me.

 

[Nebor]

umm no offense but running is rather boring to me as well.. thats why i do it in front the big screen on a treadmill watching episodes of good tv shows with no commercials.. right now im watching chicago code. almost done with season1 tho and will have to watch some movies while i find another new season to watch. bring laptop or something with wireless headphone? book on tape sounds more interesting then music to me id be bored out of my mind running if not for tv hehehe.. Outdoors sure running diff trail everyday might be sorta fun but not near enough for me.

I promise there's nothing boring about running from a honey badger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg

 

[tedrodai]

The best motivation for me is the desire to continuously improve upon my previous performance limitations. Sometimes in distance run, sometimes in time run, sometimes in speed, or a combination. Though I definitely mix in different sorts of exercises during the week...circuits of pushups/abs/{whatever}, jump rope, punching bag, weights...tons of options out there.

Can't think of other suggestions than those already posed, but most of them are good.

 

[MrEgo]

Have someone drop you off 5 miles outside of town. You have no choice but to run (or walk) back home. If you get bored, it doesn't matter, because you still need to get back.

On a more serious note, just lay off the treadmill and start resistance training. It's much more enjoyable in my opinion, and it isn't so monotone.

 

[nanaki333]

get a gym buddy. on days that i do cardio, i like to go with somebody and just chat with them. i had spinal fusion surgery done, so my options for cardio are quite limited to basically just the bike. sometimes it feels like 20 minutes passes in no time when you have good company.

 

[JayBlay77]

get a gym buddy. on days that i do cardio, i like to go with somebody and just chat with them. i had spinal fusion surgery done, so my options for cardio are quite limited to basically just the bike. sometimes it feels like 20 minutes passes in no time when you have good company.

Seconded. I hate cardio and I'm not a huge lifting nut either. But if I have someone to go with I do a lot better and the workout usually flies by.

 

[datalink7]

I can't stand to do cardio in a gym (treadmill or any other machine). I can get about a mile on a treadmill and I get bored out of my mind and have to stop.

Case in point. I just got done with my daily run. It was 98 degrees when I started it. Ran 3.5 miles. It sucked, but going to run on a treadmill in air conditioning didn't even cross my mind, even though I have free access to one.

My point is, perhaps you are the same way, and just need to do your cardio outside. Find an interesting running trail and do that instead.

 

[nanaki333]

I can't stand to do cardio in a gym (treadmill or any other machine). I can get about a mile on a treadmill and I get bored out of my mind and have to stop.

Case in point. I just got done with my daily run. It was 98 degrees when I started it. Ran 3.5 miles. It sucked, but going to run on a treadmill in air conditioning didn't even cross my mind, even though I have free access to one.

My point is, perhaps you are the same way, and just need to do your cardio outside. Find an interesting running trail and do that instead.

i'm the same way, even with lifting. doing too many reps i get bored and want to stop. not because i'm tired, but because i'm just sick of doing it. i don't like doing more than 10 reps on anything! cardio is even worse like you said. if i have a friend on a bike next to me, it's not so bad.