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2004/07/29, 06:00 AM
Hello,
My first post!:)
I just turned 40 in Feb. WhooHoo. :(
I have had a membership to my local Bally's for about two years... or more, and can say I have been there less than two dozen times.
I will usually get a desire to hit the gym, watch my diet and make muscle mass every few months or so.... I study my workout routine... plan some decent meals... and go to it! THEN, after a few visits I get bored and start missing days at the gym... then the diet watching goes out the window... and I am back to my rut!:angry:
This is VERY discouraging!
I am kinda the solo type of guy. I don't like trying to workout with others... plus my night shift work makes my work out schedule difficult for most. So a workout partner is not for me.
I get so damn bored on the Treadmill and Bikes... it drives me nutz! I guess its my ADD?!!:big_smile: So , getting a good 30 minute cardio in is very mentally challenging.
If I could only get into the "groove"... so that going to the gym would be second nature!!! My worries would be over.
Oh how I wish I could be one of the people that HAVE to get to the gym 3 to 4 days a week... and have to fit in 30 minutes of cardio a day! I envy those folks!!! It's funny because working out is a "selfish" desire, true? And usually I am a selfish sorta guy... I mean working out would be benefiting me, more than any one else! (Course, my wife would benifit having a leaner and meaner looking husband!)
So, what words of advice, wisdom or recommendation can you lend me.... before I get burnt out at the gym this next go around? I guess the first step was logging on here, right?
Thanks!
Darren in KC
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2004/07/29, 07:49 AM
welcome!
1. Write down your goals and go for smart goals:
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time limited
eg. I want to lose 10lbs in 10weeks
or I want to increase my bench press from 100 to 125 in 8 weeks.
2. break the big goals down into little goals e.g. I will lose 1lb this week
3. write down your progress, this will help keep you focused.
There are lots of other things you can do, like have a mental picture of how you want to look, and think of that every time your wondering whether to go to the gym or not.
As for breaking up the monotony of cardio, you could do 15mins on the bike then 15 on the treadmill, or you could try interval training (interspersing intense training with recovery) - I find the time passes much quicker doing interval training and it also has the benefits of getting you fitter quicker, and also raises your metabolic rate, burning extra calories after you've finished your workout.
good luck , you can do it
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2004/07/29, 12:43 PM
yep. like what princess said. Oh...and you gotta learn to love it. the more you learn about how your body works in respect to what you put it under, the more you'll understand..the more you'll love it.
If you love it enough, you'll find ways to fit the workouts in. :)
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The best victories are won not by adversity and brute force. Learn the enemy and overcome it. Now for the love of god...put the donut...DOWN!!!
-cupcake-
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2004/07/29, 02:19 PM
You could also try subscribing to a body building magazine and looking over it every chance you get. This usually gets me pumped up to go to the gym. Change your exercise routine often to help with the boredom. The goals princess mentioned above will help a lot with motivation by showing you the results you are achieving. Remember, seek results first and you'll soon have the motivation (read my signature). I do not consider myself to have ADD although I was diagnosed with it as a child. I had the same problem you mention and those steps above are what I used to make it a "have to" mentality. Now I have to go to the gym if I want to continue seeing results. I itch to go, and I change my routine constantly. Even minor changes like the order. Good luck!
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Seeking out motivation does not motivate you to seek out results.
- Paul
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2004/07/29, 03:37 PM
Try head phones and a cd player, small potable tv and head phones,
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I will get to it as soon as I am done lifting.
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2004/07/29, 04:35 PM
if you can read on the bike (in college i also learned to read on the eliptical cross trainers) it's a good place to catch up on books or magazines- just pay attention that you don't go too slow. i guess even if you catch yourself slowing down some times it is still better than not doing cardio at all...
i also used to use it to catch up on gossip with my friends...oh my what the people next to me heard :) i wouldn't recommend bothering new people that you haven't met while on the machines though cause if you are boring they won't have anywhere to go :big_smile:
another good one is to daydream...about your new body or sex mmm sex you can find lots of good eye candy at the gym too
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2004/07/29, 08:00 PM
I would start by remembering that what you have been doing in the past did not get you what you wanted.
Positive mindset and realistic framework are always present in success. It sounds like you know what you need to do, but you have trouble doing it- I am exactly the same. For me, I always thought I was too fat to be at the gym, and that people were staring at me.... But I realized that was an easy excuse to back out and quit going... When I decided to change my patterns, that is when I have been successful.
Easier said than done. Check into the message boards daily; set freetrainers.com as your home page. Post reminders/old pictures of yourself all over, work and home. Be addiment about doing what you know is right!
Good luck!
Michele
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Use today like you know you should...
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2004/07/30, 10:48 AM
posting daily is a great help! I did e-diets for a while and found when I posted I worked out and if I didn't work out I wouldn't post. By staying on the message boards and hearing of other's successes I wanted to work out more!
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2004/07/30, 11:16 AM
Princesslodgey nailed it. Goals are the key. I think one of the biggest contributors to boredom is one starts wondering why they are there.
It is important to keep some type of training diary of each workout. It doesn't have to be overly detailed, but should indicate the weight & # of reps you did on each set for each exercise per workout. This will provide you with a base point from which to set realistic goals for each subsequent workout. Not only should you have goals for each workout, but a specific goal for each exercise within that work out.
While resting between sets focus on what you need (not want, but NEED) to do for the next set. As for the cardio, having something read/watch (eg. TV) if possible can be very helpful.
Good Luck.
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2004/07/30, 11:21 AM
Be careful with the TV thing. I got hooked on Little House on the Prairie. Just had to keep up with Laura. I ended up doing way too much cardio till I realized I could just sit there too. Michael Landon once told Mellisa Gilbert that she was so bucktoothed that she could eat an apple through a picket fence.
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Waterskis with buffalos
Charlie
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2004/07/30, 10:16 PM
The princess gave you the best advice!
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS!
Never- mind putting a time on the cardio, since you do the bike and treadmill set a goal for HR and distance.
Good luck
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"A will finds a way, failure is not an option"
Ivan
carivan@freetrainers.com
Montreal Canada
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2004/07/31, 04:58 PM
Thanks for the positive advice, folks!
I have reviewed the freetrainers.com workout schedule for next week. I will start it tomorrow.... looks fun, since there are some excerises I haven't tried before. I like the idea of only being able to have the next weeks routine revealed to me... this will keep me curious and interested!
My main goal is to lose the flab and build some muscle. As a kid, and til about 30 I was always the skinny one... standing at about 6'1" and weighing about 175lbs. Now, at 40 I am pushing 207lbs. Not a bad weight, I kno. But too much flab on my belly and starting them love-handles.
I picked up a new MP3 player a month ago, so that will be my musical motivation during workouts!
I will start a workout progress chart... that is easy since I can log all my progress online at Bally's or here.
I also took some "before" photos of myself recently... so I can see the progress first hand.
As for fitness mags I let my script to Men's Fitness lapse last year... but I will stop by Border's Books on the way to work tonight and pick up a couple mags for inspiration.
This is all great advice, and just being able to check this forum daily will be great inspiration and motivation! I am happy I fumbled upon this site!
Thanks again,
Darren in KC
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