My problem in gym!

[lisabrown]

Hello everyone,
I have absolutely no problem going to the gym to lift weights. I go to the gym, and I take my time on the weights and I get my work out done right, but when it comes to Cardio, I cant keep myself on the treadmill. Like 10 to 15 minutes into it, I just want to get the hell off. I also rarely can get myself into the frame of mind to actually go to the Cardio area and start doing Cardio. How can I make it so I'm just as motivated to do Cardio as I am to lift weights? I've been lifting weights for 9 years now, and I never have a problem sticking to it.
Thank you.
BROWN

[MortalKombat]

Hello everyone,
I have absolutely no problem going to the gym to lift weights. I go to the gym, and I take my time on the weights and I get my work out done right, but when it comes to Cardio, I cant keep myself on the treadmill. Like 10 to 15 minutes into it, I just want to get the hell off. I also rarely can get myself into the frame of mind to actually go to the Cardio area and start doing Cardio. How can I make it so I'm just as motivated to do Cardio as I am to lift weights? I've been lifting weights for 9 years now, and I never have a problem sticking to it.
Thank you.
BROWN

You obviously have something in your head which makes you think that Cardio isnt worth doing compared to weights...because you are clearly good at motivating yourself to do weights. What is it about cardio you dont like or dont see the value in? Do you listen to music when you train? If so, what sort?? I find that heavy metal is very good for cardio sessions. Last but not least, its mind over matter, so pull yourself together get on the running machine, begin a 20 minute programme...when you finish, take 2 minutes rest, then get on the cross trainer, do another 20 minute programme, take 2 minutes rest, and now row for 20 minutes. Thats your hour cardio done without it getting boring good luck!

[GQchris]

I hate treadmills, I feel like a freakin hamster, lol.

I prefer to hit the road for 5, 6, 7 miles and more.

[nguyet]

just tart out slow, alittle at a time and keep increasing alittle at a time. but stay with it, it WILL get easier.

[MortalKombat]

I hate treadmills, I feel like a freakin hamster, lol.

I prefer to hit the road for 5, 6, 7 miles and more.

"Every step you take is 1 step closer to becoming who you want to be!"

[blackmoon]

I hate treadmills, I feel like a freakin hamster, lol.

I prefer to hit the road for 5, 6, 7 miles and more.

I prefer to save my money and train at home...

But running through town has had me nearlly hit by cars... and stopping to cross the road feels counter-productive.


Btw, lisabrown, I hate cardio too. When I did go to the gym, I found that on the bikes/treadmills there was normally a "hill" mode or something? Try those out, they're a bit more interesting, and they force you to do some heavy intervals/light intervals, which is also good for your cardio.

On this topic, can anyone give me some good, gym-free ideas for cardio training?

[MortalKombat]

I would always recommend that your cardio sessions consist of interval training...this is a little harder if you are running on the streets etc...especially without a watch, if you dont have one, buy one!

Check this out:

The second key "ingredient" in fat loss programming is high intensity interval training (HIIT). I think readers of T-Nation will be well aware of the benefits of interval work. It burns more calories than steady state and elevates metabolism significantly more than other forms of cardio. The downside is that it flat-out sucks to do it!

The landmark study in interval training was from Tremblay:

Tremblay A, Simoneau JA, Bouchard C.

Impact of exercise intensity on body fatness and skeletal muscle metabolism.
Metabolism. 1994 Jul;43(7):814-8

This study pitted 20 weeks of endurance training against 15 weeks of interval training:

Energy cost of endurance training = 28661 calories.
Energy cost of interval training = 13614 calories (less than half)

The interval training group showed a nine times greater loss in subcutaneous fat than the endurance group (when corrected for energy cost).

Read that again. Calorie for calorie, the interval training group lost nine times more fat overall. Why? Maybe it's EPOC, an upregulation of fat burning enzyme activity, or straight up G-Flux. I don't care. I'm a real world guy. If the interval training group had lost the same fat as the endurance group, we'd get the same results in less time. That means interval training is a better tool in your fat loss arsenal.

Source : TMUSCLE.com | Hierarchy of Fat Loss

[MortalKombat]

Not only will you loose more fat per calorie lost...but you will also spend less time doing repetitive movements and particularly impact movements which will eventually damage your joints...i.e. running on concrete for an hour vs running on concrete for 20 minutes...you can imagine which is better for your body!

[GQchris]

But running through town has had me nearlly hit by cars...

Take off the blindfold first. lol

[blackmoon]

Take off the blindfold first. lol

Sorry, forgot to mention that it was part of my secret Super Saiyan training. I have to run with blindfolds to make me get better at sensing the power levels of other people. Problem is, can't figure out a way to sense those damn cars! =P

[shane90]

how much cardio you should do, you should not less than understand why it's so important. Cardiovascular workout easily means that you're engaged in an undertaking that raises your heart rate to a grade where you're employed, but can still converse