I'M GETTING BORED DOING CARDIO!
Dateline: 03/23/98
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I'm Getting Bored Doing Cardio!
Many people complain that cardio (aerobic work - walking, jogging, running, stairmaster, bicycle, aerobic class, etc) has become boring. They find it hard to stay motivated to keep up their cardio work out. Boredom comes mostly from doing the same thing all the time and/or adapting to your current program.
Anything in life can become routine and boring. There is no best cardio exercise. Do the exercises that you like the best. If you like the treadmill and the stairmaster, do the treadmill one day and the stairmaster the next. Switch it up. You can do both if you like. Try doing the treadmill for twenty minutes and then jump on the stairmaster for twenty minutes. Do your favorite aerobics class Monday, Wednesday, Friday and the treadmill on Tuesday and Thursday. If you get bored even when you do the exercise you like the best, try a walkman. Listening to your favorite music is a great way to enjoy cardio more. It makes the time go by really fast too. You can bring your favorite magazine or book as well.
Whether it is working out with weights or doing cardio, your body will adapt to the workload. What seemed to drain all your energy at first will become easy. You can make your work out harder by either doing it longer, faster, or both. Any increases in length and intensity should be gradual and in small increments. Here are some examples of changing your cardio program.
| Week | Monday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
1-3 treadmill/stairmaster/nordic trac for 20-30min at 150bpm |
||||
| 4-6 walking/jogging/rowing for 27-37min at 155bpm | ||||
| 7-9 aerobics class/jump rope/swimming for 35-45min at 160bpm | ||||
*This is a generic sample. Always consult your physician before starting an exercise program. For more information on heart rate and cardio in general, check out this previous feature.
For more advanced people, interval training is great. After you warm up for a good period of time, go moderate to hard for thirty seconds. Slow down for one minute. Now go moderate to hard again for thirty seconds, and so on. Make sure you slow down for five minutes at the end to cool down.
Working out with a friend always helps. Try incorporating these ideas if you feel bored with your current work out and stick with it.
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