Hitting the gym after work to sluggishly plug away on the treadmill is not most people's idea of having a good time. Some of us do cardio for the health related benefits, the calorie burning aspect or to improve athletic performance in competition. No matter what your reason is for doing cardiovascular training, at times it can get... boring. This does not mean you should ditch your cardio training all together! Instead, try some of the tips below that will help you make cardio an enjoyable part of your training routine.
New music: Try adding a new playlist or podcast to your music selection. There are several free podcasts for download that will mix songs together. Try moving to the beat of the music to make your routine more fun.
Train with a friend: Once a week try bringing along a friend who also works out. Sometimes it is not about "talking" with one another as much as it is about having someone who will help push you and hold you accountable.
Do a group cardio fitness class: If you are a cardio bunny, alone in your own world, try doing a group fitness class that will switch up your routine and have someone else in charge of the moves and intensity that you perform. The time spent in the class will fly by!
Train outside: Some days it is great to step outside and change your typical scenery. Find a local park and you can go for a walk, run, rollerblading or biking for a good calorie burning switch up.
Try new machines: When you first begin training, you will find there are some machines you like more than others. After a few months you may find that you continue using the same one over and over at the same speed and intensity. Next time you head to the gym, step out of your comfort zone and try out some of the other pieces of equipment that are available.
Increase intensity: If you are barely breaking a sweat anymore and feel like you are simply going through the motions with your routine -- kick it up a notch! Playing with the inclines and speed will take your mind off of counting down the minutes that pass. It will also make the workout more of a challenge, meaning more calories burned even faster!
Think about the why Just when you feel like hopping off the machine or throwing in the towel at minute seven, think about "why" you are doing cardiovascular training. Taking care of the body that you have now will help you with the aging process. You will be more fit and mobile from the cardiovascular training as well as maintain heart health. It is not always simple about trying to burn off calories or that last meal. Cardio has several health benefits that last beyond the workout session.
Try a few of these tips the next time you feel like calling it quits before a little sweat session. Remember that every little bit counts! If you have any tips on how you enjoy your cardio, please leave them in the comments section below so that others can try out your strategies too!