Today was a designated cardio day. I’m to the point where I just can’t face another treadmill session. I’ve always been awful about cardio machines. I’m surprised that I’ve hung in this long doing my workouts. It was 90 degrees on the bank sign on the way home so going out to the trails wasn’t a great option either.
Then it dawned on me. Netflix Watch Instantly. If you have a netflix account there are lots of movies you can watch on the computer. I’ve been watching documentaries a lot. I checked out what cardio videos they had. I did three routines from the 10 minute dance blast video. I’m dripping sweat -way more than I would be on the treadmill with my wimpy workouts – and it was fun. They have three pages of video choices for variety. And if (when) I get bored with those options there is a video store nearby that gives out all their workout videos for free.
It may not be as great of a workout as hard intervals on the treadmill but I was getting to the point where I was trying to make excuses to not work out on cardio days. Hopefully this will get me over it.
I was just listening to a podcast interview with nutrition and fitness expert, John Berardi of Precision Nutrition, where he said that they found that no matter whether they did intervals, an hour of walking (with increased intensity over time) or whatever, that they all ended up in roughly the same shape, at the same level. That the KEY was to keep at it, whatever you choose.
He said they had an 80% drop out rate on those in the walking on a treadmill group and that he thought that it was from boredom and because they didn’t think that they were doing themselves any good by just walking.
_I_ say, that just like we enjoy variety in our diet and we can get that variety in healthy foods and not cakes (mmm, cake!), then we can also enjoy variety in our daily exercise. As long as we keep moving, does it matter if we dance, walk, run, swim or crawl?
I’m glad to hear that you are still warrior-ing on, it lights a fire under my spreading a$$!
if it gets you doing cardio its better than any workout that you avoid! 🙂
Great idea! I just got a jump rope and as soon as I figure out how to not land on my face, I expect I’ll find it pretty exciting.
I’ll have to check out those videos.. Brilliant.
It’s always important to find something you enjoy doing for exercise, or you’ll just not do it. I’m the same as you about treadmills and stationary bikes. Absolutely hate them. But I really do enjoy aerobics and dance routines and walking with the dogs, so that’s how I get most of my exercise.