Im starting to hate cardio!

[leanmom]

I'm having a really hard time doing my cardio. I love running...moderatly for long periods of time that is. This High Intensity stuff is killing me. I DREAD cardio days. I do it, but i hate it...any suggestions on how to make it more enjoyable? If thats possible I think i need to switch it up but the only other options are the elliptical or stationary bike.

Maybe i should try running outside? UGH.....I wish i didn't have to do it!

[Chris]

What is it that you don't like about it? Think about this one for a minute... Is it too hard? Are you pushing too hard? Does it hurt? Does it make you feel ill? Do you simply just hate it?

There are certainly options... and you've hit on a few of them. I'm curious your answer to the first part though before I offer any suggestions.

[leanmom]

Probably because its hard my shins hurt really bad after but i'm ok during.

I guess i'm still struggling with the mental part of this all, i haven't had to work hard for anything in my life. Before i had kids i could eat, whatever i wanted and not gain a pound. I really didin't have to do anything do get straight A's in school etc....

I don't know if thats my problem or not, i actually enjoyed cardio the first 2 wks, looked forward to it actually.

Thanks alot now i guess i've got to do some soul searching!

[Chris]

Well if you're hurting from it, then it's time to change the exercise. You could try the bike or the eliptical for a while. Swimming works too. These are all low impact exercises and should help with the discomfort/pain of it. Try running only 1 or 2 days per week.

The other thing, if your shins are hurting you may be over striding. Try shortening your stride length to minimize the pounding to your heel. A lot of time over striding leads to a flopping down of the foot in response to the heel impact. This leads to shin pain. Make sure you're landing on the middle of the foot. Push from the back foot and land with ease, the power comes from the pushoff, landings should be soft.

But continue with the soul searching. It's good for you...

[yakubu]

Originally Posted by leanmom

I'm having a really hard time doing my cardio. I love running...moderatly for long periods of time that is. This High Intensity stuff is killing me. I DREAD cardio days. I do it, but i hate it...any suggestions on how to make it more enjoyable? If thats possible I think i need to switch it up but the only other options are the elliptical or stationary bike.

Maybe i should try running outside? UGH.....I wish i didn't have to do it!

use an exercise bike and watch tv at the same time. the fact that you are sitting down makes it easier than running and the fact that you are watching tv distracts you from the discomfort that u feel

[sshultz]

I hate cardio, too, with the exception of cycling. I hate running but I do it some days cause it works. I would prefer to be out on my bike but I switch it up. Keep trying till you find something you like. My wife and I play racquetball for cardio on some days.

[donalson]

i just ride my bike ... elipticals are nice but i don't have one... but i'd rather be outside for a real ride... unfortuantly that also means that days like today (rainy ones) i'm kinda SOL ... but i find actualy going somewhere is much better then sitting/standing/running still...

thankfuly having previously owned a carpet cleaning biz i spent some time cleaning the carpets which in itself is a nice workout...

[GregCP]

No pain no gain.

obviously you want protect yourself from injury, otherwise, lets face it- getting fit and staying fit takes hard work no matter who you are. It hurts, its gruelling, physically/mentally exhausting....but you know what, when you start noticing the difference how you look and feel...you'll start to actually look forward to these workouts because, as weird as it sounds, it becomes fun.

I might be sick in the head but....I gotta have that "pain", in other words, I gotta feel "the bite" when i workout. If i dont hit my high points, i dont care if my times up or i've done more sets/reps than i should....I gotta feel the bite....I wanna feel the bite....I look forward to it! Maybe its because i know im going to feel great afterwards...and proud of what I've accomplished. If you wanna find something to help motivate you through the workout, try listening to "workout appropriate" music. I say "workout appropriate" because if you're listening to Beathoven that might be counterproductive. I like listening to heavy band stuff to get me in the mood. Also, if you like to shop, go out and buy yourself a new wardrobe..maybe some new running shoes...or some hip workout clothes...when you dress good, you feel good, then you feel motivated to workout.

[Chris]

Nice Post Greg!
For me, it's therapeutic... It's something about approaching a personal challenge, like wanting to quit just shy of my high point, but powering through into uncharted territory. I love this feeling. It's what keeps me going.

[voivod]

Here's my suggestion - Do what you enjoy!!!!
If you enjoy running moderately than do that, and maybe plan to do a few sprints while you run to get your heart rate up higher.
Today I ran on the treadmill for the first time. I would walk for 1 minute and run for 30 seconds. I could only go for 15 minutes because I was in so much burning pain (shins and calves) and I could barely walk to my car, but now, 2 hours later, I can't wait to do it again. I dread cardio days to because I still have the stigma in my mind that you have to do cardio for 45-60 minutes or it doesn't count, so I feel really akward walking out of the gym after 20 minutes. But I try to change it up each time (keeps it interesting) and I also do about 15 minutes of low impact cardio after my workouts to keep my demons at ease.
Voivod

[Kmo]

I am now hating cardio too.. I use to love it when I didnt hit my 10's but now its torture...I use to do the elyptical for 2 hours at a time and had no problems just working away while watching tv but now these 20 min are the longest minutes ever....

my advice is to program 20 min of the best workout music you ever heard and focus on on anything except the time. It is only 20 minutes.... ugh