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Gym, What keeps you going during a cardio workout?

I'm not really good at staying focused working out in gyms. So instead I've started biking (both on the streets of Los Angeles and in the surrounding mountains on weekends). Like srf4real said, nothing keeps you more focused than fear of severe bodily harm and/or death. :D


Lethal
 
I only use the iPod for cardio-jogging. My playlist is timed to my workout speed, i.e., the last fast part is breakneck, flat out sprint, then a cool down. I like the adrenaline high.
Pilates and weights I take off the iPod. Rather concentrate than drift off.
Motivation. I didn't work out last week and I'm feeling sluggish. After 3 yrs of 2-4 days a week, my body misses it even tho by brain still has a hard time getting out of bed.
 
I will post a few pics once i find the damn key, i really need to get me a key finder.
 
Here you go (key was in my pocket :S)

Here is view of the multi gym, some wights in the back and a small fridge under a stereo .




In this pic you can see were i do the most of the workout, i spend around 30 mins on these sometimes i mix it up and do 10 mins on each one.

 
crazycat said:
Here you go (key was in my pocket :S)

Here is view of the multi gym, some wights in the back and a small fridge under a stereo .



In this pic you can see were i do the most of the workout, i spend around 30 mins on these sometimes i mix it up and do 10 mins on each one.

Click to expand...

That's your personal home gym? :eek: :eek: Can I come live with you? :D
 
Nice gym crazycat!

What keeps me going?

TV - usually a Sox game or a movie. Something that entices you. You won't even notice 30 minutes if your brain is preoccupied.

iPod - yeah, upbeat songs usually good. THe problem is my eyes wander. I usu. go for window treadmills to watch people out in the square and traffic. If there's no TV attached, I listen to music and read a magazine.

Water.
 
The desire to look good/better for the ladies.

Energetic dance music.

Not wanting to feel the personal shame of letting myself down and failing to meet my goals.

Competition with others at the gym.
 
The display on the treadmill and elliptical that tells me how many calories I've already burned/how far I've run/how many floors I have ascended. I try to get better by the week, so beating my own previous score keeps me going...

I also watch TV while working out, mostly news or documentaries, true crime shows, whatever.

I don't listen to music since I find it too distracting -- I really try to focus on my breathing, muscle movements, etc.

Also the way my body looks when I look in the mirror -- especially my hard abs -- keeps me going.
 
true777 said:
Also the way my body looks when I look in the mirror -- especially my hard abs -- keeps me going.
Click to expand...

That's why I run naked on the treadmill. I turn off all the televisions in the gym, so no one has anything else to look at. It totally helps everyone out. Most are inspired to not settle for just running on the treadmills, but to also run outside.
 
Not running on a treadmill. God those things are mind numbing lab rat exercise torture devices.

It's much easier to run farther (even with hills) when you're outside, passing by things, seeing people, running places you haven't been before. Then you can see how far you went later by tracing your route in google earth.

Much more stimulating, interesting and it gives you a sense of accomplishment on top of that. Run five miles in the gym and what have you accomplished? Run five miles outside and you've seen the world around you! :D

4 of my friends run NCAA track/cross country...none of them use treadmills, ever.
 
true777 said:
The display on the treadmill and elliptical that tells me how many calories I've already burned/how far I've run/how many floors I have ascended. I try to get better by the week, so beating my own previous score keeps me going...
Click to expand...

Those calorie counters are extremely inaccurate btw. Don't rely on them. If you're just using the numbers for comparison, that's fine. But don't think you really burned x calories.
 
And now, when I flex in front of the mirror and start kissing my biceps, other people want to do the same thing to my body. Then I scream "THIS IS SPARTA!!!" and walk towards the exit, but not before looking over the shoulder and giving one last pose. I call that pose "The Superman". People dig it, but also fear it.
 
With the weights, it's pure desire and not wanting to let myself down, that and the fact my two training buddies are there ready to rip it out of me for wimping out! A lot of the time its mindless stuff on tv that gets me through the cardio or fat burn workouts, though for the final couple of miles a hot bird on MTV or better still on the machine infront of me in tight lycra is always a motivator! Time for my cold shower.....
 
i like music. hard rock/metal and electronica do the trick. a tv would be neat too b/c you could watch movies at the same time.

Also, if you really want to burn calories fast. skip. jumping rope for 10 minutes at a good pace is like a 30 minute jog
 
No to TV, our local gym tried them out but found it didn't help. Cardio? I just walk and hike with either a friend or iPod.
Never been much a fan of doing cardio indoors.
 
I cant do cardio on a treadmill it bores me and i get tired so quickly for some reason, instead i bike to school,gym,home and i run 2.5 miles at least every night no questions asked. Also lift weights aswell you will see results much faster.
 
OutThere said:
Not running on a treadmill. God those things are mind numbing lab rat exercise torture devices.

It's much easier to run farther (even with hills) when you're outside, passing by things, seeing people, running places you haven't been before. Then you can see how far you went later by tracing your route in google earth.

Much more stimulating, interesting and it gives you a sense of accomplishment on top of that. Run five miles in the gym and what have you accomplished? Run five miles outside and you've seen the world around you! :D

4 of my friends run NCAA track/cross country...none of them use treadmills, ever.
Click to expand...

Thats a matter of opinion. I manage better on a treadmill. Sometimes I can run for a longer period of time outside, but I can go farther on a treadmill. When I'm outside its easier to tire and lower your pace without even realizing you are doing that. On a treadmill you have to make the concious decision to lower your pace.

I've always just watched T.V., once I got into better shape I didn't have a problem with getting bored or watching the clock on my treadmill. :rolleyes:

I can jog 5 miles on a treadmill and feel fine, there isn't much to see where I live within jogging distance. :p

Abstract said:
And now, when I flex in front of the mirror and start kissing my biceps, other people want to do the same thing to my body. Then I scream "THIS IS SPARTA!!!" and walk towards the exit, but not before looking over the shoulder and giving one last pose. I call that pose "The Superman". People dig it, but also fear it.
Click to expand...

That is awesome, hahahaha.
 
I usually put TV shows on my iPhone and watch those while I'm doing cardio. Usually shows are about 20-30 minutes long so they're perfect for watching start to finish during a workout. I find that works much better for me than the TV screens in the gym itself as you can't control what you watch and if there's nothing good on then my attention starts to drop...
 
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