FORUMS > Cardio Training Forum Rules

Well, I don't totally hate cardio activities - love doing outdoor stuff like hiking, biking, running, etc - but I just can't stand doing cardio training at the gym. Any tips or helpful advice to get me motivated or break the monotony of it? This is more of a winter problem because the summer offers so many opportunities to get outside, but still, I'm a man who sets plans and goals and those take planning and time.

You don´t need to do gym cardio to stay healthy or in shape as long as you are active (walk up stairs, walk around town) and design your lifting to take account. Super set or circuits a few times a week is enough. I´ve not even touched a gym cardio machine since December 2009 and haven´t done any devoted sessions that were not part of a warm up since April of 2009. I am fitter and looking far better now than I did then.


If you want to get very lean than some gym machine HIIT is fine, if you have a TOTALLY sedantary lifestyle (drive EVERYWHERE) then doing intentional cardio is necessary but it doesn´t have to be in a gym.

Get some sexy new gym clothes and show them off on the cardio masheen! Sometimes I try and look sexier than the girls next to me who are like trying to score a man, I'm so competitive.

you need to use them as a tool to reach a goal.
with a treadmill for instance, you train yourself to keep up the tempo.
i find the machine excellent for intervals.
I don't love them, i also much prefer being outdoor, but a treadmill is a great tool.

and if you find it hard to sustain a longer session, at first you can change machine every 15 minutes , going from a bike, to a treadmill, to stair master or whatever there's available. Then you'll get used to it and eventually can stay on the same for 45 minutes. I've done that at the beginning.

have something pleasant to drink, an energy drink that you like .
i suppose you got your iPod with you... everyone seems to .( i don't ).

It's a love/hate relationship you have to develop it (if ever you do, it's not necessary and not everyone does), usually happens when you can do sessions of over an hour. The trance you get into is quite special, and you loathe it as much as you love it.

I do too because it hurts my knees and ankles. i love using the bikes

I hate it because it makes my right knee hurt like crazy and I cant ride a bike because I have a balance problem from Epilepsy.

Invest in better toys.

Polar Heart Rate Monitor
Larger iPod
Beter music mashup.

Thanks for the tips. My goals are to burn some fat and give the old heart muscle a little attention.

F'ing don't!
It is boring. Fuck it.
What good is being healthy if you spend your healthy life being bored?
Find a high intensity sport.
I like combat sports, especially grappling, but whatever floats your boat.
Rock climbing is good.
Just find something you like that you can throw yourself into. It's good time management to get your playtime and your exercisetime on at once.!

I have the same winter problem, so I can sympathize!

But you need cardio for the benefit of your heart and circulation, so at times, it's necessary just to do it. An Erg (rowing machine) gives good cardio, as does a bike or treadmill. Do one one day, and another the next - that will break the monotony.

And you live in Vancouver? You're near some great cross-country skiing, and in a city where the walking is wonderful. Unless it's too dreadful out - get out the door!

nat

Just do it? You answered your own question in the topic... the forums are pretty disappointing today.

Tip: grab a BSN grape rush and run a few miles, works everytime. And listen to music you really enjoy, if you don't have enough taste to know what that is.. hit the books because music is very crucial for the best workout, for most people.

Like some others said, you need to set a goal if you're bored with just running. Don't just do cardio because you know you think you need to.Try looking into some local 5ks, set yourself a desired finish time and work towards that. If you are stuck indoors during the winter, run on the treadmill with a friend. Just like you'd go with a buddy on weight days, go with them on cardio too. Talking while running will take your mind of the actual act & if conversation is good, time usually feels like it flies by.

Try doing indoor sports, like racquetball (an AWESOME cardio workout), basketball, indoor soccer/tennis, swimming, etc., to get you through the winter.

Doing a "circuit workout" (and this has nothing to do with "circuit parties") with little rest time between exercises can give you a cardio boost.

I also like doing a variety of cable pull exercises in fast succession in lieu of cardio some days.

Yeah--don't do it in the gym--run, hike, swim, bike outdoors ;) I never do cardio in the gym. Way too boring.

Music makes the people come together...

Load your iPod with awesome music and you'll never want to stop running on a threadmill.

I share your sentiment. Gym cardio fucking sucks ass.
I gotta be outside actually doing something.

gym cardio is just a matter of focusing.
you have to decide that you are going to do it and be present with your workout.

Yes it's uncomfortable and unpleasant but once you resign to the discomfort as an inconvenience and not a life threat the hour passes remarkably fast and can yield great results.

I love cycling and running outdoors but am fond of conditioning focused kickboxing and boxing and of course spin classes.

As someone who, until recently, hated running like a passion, I definitely sympathize with your situation.

Over the past month, I decided to start running because I was growing bored with cycling, elliptical, stair climbing, etc. I've managed to keep it interesting by running interval sessions in order to break the monotony. Occasionally, I'll run the same interval back to back, but I try to keep things different in order to keep my mind engaged with my set for the day. It's getting to the point that, when I take my break days from cardio (I'll take 2 days off a week), I actually miss running.

Bottom line: I'd suggest changing your running patterns by performing modified interval training. By varying your pace at specified intervals, it breaks up the monotony and makes things more interesting.

Haha I kind of hate doing it in the gym too, mostly because I keep looking at how much time left I have and get really restless. They have TV:s over the cardiomachines in my gym but watching "My Sweet Sixteen" on MTV about some rich kid really isn't that motivating.

I did realize that although I think football is something I find kind of boring usually, I really enjoyed watching football and running on the treadmill. Something about all that dynamic and aggression was inspiring ^^

Another tip could be to get an iPod or whatever cellphone-device that can play video. THen you can just download your favourite shows and watch them while you do them. I tried doing this for iPod but there was a hassle with fileformat so in the end I didn't bother but I mean, it's TECHNICALLY possible.

Preach!

It's a bitch getting started...but once you're into "the zone"....it's so sexy.....

I hate cardio too. I get really bored, so what I try to do is, if I say want to do 20mins or more of cardio, I pick two or three different machines, like the rowing machine, elliptical trainer and a bike and do 7 or 8 mins on each one.

Keeps it a bit more interesting.

cardio is most of what i do. My mainstay is rollerskating (not blading) in the park for at least an hour six days a week. When it rains and i can't skate, i will either jog/run or go use my aunt's spinning bike.