Treadmills are boring :(
 

I've been using a treadmill for a while, and actually got off track recently, and hopefully I can get back on track, but i've found that when I'm bored, my endurance goes way down and exercise is far more torturous.

And I can't keep distracting myself in the same way, because my brain is a tricky little devil. So I'm hoping to stockpile methods of distraction that I can cycle through.

So far, I've got:
Listening to music (works, but as I don't own any cd's involves commercials EVERY FIVE MINUTES)

Singing while walking/jogging (very entertaining, although the actual quality of the singing goes way down when you're trying to jog at the same time ;) )

Watching TV (Visually as well as aurally distracting, but my TV is screwy and can't change channels, and the 5 am news is just not very interesting)


Let the suggesting of distraction mechanisms begin!:D

Any way you could prop a book on the handlebar-like thing and read?

Eek! If at all possible, get off that DREADmill and jog/walk outside! I haven't been on a treadmill in months. I like them because they're easier on your knees, but only for a short run of 3 miles or less. Otherwise, I'd be pretty bored! The only thing I use to assuage the boredom is an iPod, so I don't have good suggestions other than -- get outside if you can!!

I love love LOVE my treadmill :lol:
I have an ipod loaded with just the right mix of music to make walking fun. The music I choose for the treadmill is reserved just for it, lol, so I don't get bored of the songs while walking. Plus I have a fan to blow so I feel more comfortable.

:lol: Lisa. It's not that bad! I quite like the treadmill!

For me, music is the way to go (although if I could watch tv or movies, I probably would). It might be time to give in and buy a cd or two, or to download some good workout songs from the web. The music helps to keep you moving, moving, moving, and also, it's distracting.

Me too. I have a special folder of songs that I ONLY listen to while I'm doing cardio. Mainly because the songs are atrocious (Britney, Beyonce, et al) and I don't think I could bear them if I wasn't in a high state of cardio vascular exertion. :)

I throw a movie in and watch the first hour while I run one day, and the rest the next time. I love my treadmill, but there's no way I could stand to watch TV running - too irritating! - and I cannot read while I run - just not coordinated enough! :lol3:

I always wear my iPod when I run outside, but if you can throw in a film, why not try that?

Good luck!
Heather :D

Books on tape from your library, or - if feasible, an Audible subscription - download books on your mp3 player. I discipline myself to listen ONLY while exercising or cleaning. I get so much more done that way!!!

I have mine next to my computer and TV. I do the "watch it now" on Netflix. I find a TV series that I like and watch while I walk. A dvd is good too. I also like the idea of watching part now and part later.

I'm addicted to audio books. I listen to them while I'm walking, cleaning, cooking, driving, shopping, putting on make up... Basically all the time that my body is engaged but my mind isn't. I only don't listen while I'm running--I need the music to help me to stay energized.

Don't get me wrong...I "like" treadmills. I just would NEVER choose a treadmill over running outside. That's partly because my runs are much longer now than they used to be. If you're doing a 10-mile run, you're certainly not going to do that on a treadmill unless you're a true glutton for punishment!!

I too listen to music but I also download podcasts to listen to. There are podcast on all sorts of topics. I mostly get mine through the iTunes store (free) but there are others around if you look.

Change something every few minutes. If you break your workout into smaller intervals, instead of just running/walking for one long time at one pace, it will be more interesting, the time will pass faster, and you'll get a better workout.

Run intervals for 15 minutes. Run fast for 1 minute, walk for 1 minute, run fast for 1 minute, walk for 1 minute, etc. etc. The 15 minutes will fly by and you'll burn as many calories, if not more, than if you were running at a steady pace. I've read about several studies that showed that people running intervals lost more fat than people running at a steady pace. I've been doing this two or three days a week for months and it never seems like it takes 15 minutes. I run 8 one-minute sprints in the 15 minutes and I count them down as I go (1 sprint down, seven to go; two sprints down, 6 to go).

Change the incline. Start at 0 and increase it by one every two minutes until you are at the highest incline (at some point you'll have to slow the pace to a walk). Then drop it by one every two minutes until you are back to 0. Incline work is great for your butt.

Do things other than running or walking. My trainer has had me shuffle sideways and bear-crawl on the treadmill. Bear crawling must be really good for you because it is one of his favorite exercises. He has me do it during almost every workout (although not usually on the treadmill). If you try these, start at a very slow pace (1 mph) until you get the hang of it.

Try walking with light hand weights. Do curls, shoulder presses, or lateral raises while walking.

Or try this treadmill workout from Health.com.

I can't read books on my treadmill (too jumpy), but I can do magazines. My mom always gives me stacks of magazines so there's never a shortage of things to read.

podcasts and music on my ipod. i have tried to read but it makes me almost seasick because I'm bobbling up and down and the words seem to fly off the page. I haven't tried a movie yet but I have done the occasional tv show. When I run at the gym they have 4 tvs for me to choose from lol.

If I run outside, which rarely happens, I use my ipod for music and the scenery keeps my mind from being bored as quickly!

I completly agree with bluetoblue, I love the treadmill and I don't think i could live without the Mp3 player BUT sometimes I still get bored lol So to make it more interesting I almost break up my treadmill time in intervels Ill warm up 5-10 min at a easy pace then slowly up the speed and the incline, every 2 - 5 minutes, then slowly go back down every 2- 5 minutes, then the last 5 minutes I totally go all out and run my butt off (At least Im hoping thats what happens lol) then I do the good ol cool down....a trainer seen me one day doing that and asked me who told me to do that and I said "no one, is it wrong?" ...he told me that It wasn't wrong infact it was great and a really good way to burn more fat

I also can't read on the treadmill, its like trying to read in the car, the words jump around and i start feeling dizzy lol AND My Gyms has Tvs usually I don't listen but one day a funny show was on "my wife and kids" and I decided to tune in and listen...BIG mistake I started laughin so hard (luckily so were other people lol) thaaaat yea I almost fell off the treadmill lol

i think there's some great help for you. i personally dont' have any suggestion because i, like you, don't like the treadmill. but i'm a big outdoor fan so i preferr running/walking outdoors. It gives me energy. but hope you find something that helps you

The only way I can suffer through a dreadmill workout is if I do intervals or speedwork. and no preprogrammed either, I have to manually make the changes that way I have an excuse to clock watch. My favorite is start a bit slower than steady state and every 3 minutes or so (depending on how long you want to go) bump up the speed 0.1. I set it up so the middle interval is my normal steady state.

Or every 3 minutes change elevation

And now I see that is exactly what bluetoblue said! that is what I get for posting without reading!

But I will do anything and I mean ANYTHING to avoid running on a treadmill and run outside instead. 4:45 am? ok. Dark..no problem. Cold no problem. Rainy no problem. Glare ice....ok thats a problem! I havent run on a treadmill since last winter.

I meet a buddy at the gym in the mornings, and having someone to talk to makes all the difference in the world in my ability to tolerate "dreadmill" time.

Just for starters, I HATE the treadmill. I also am not a fan of Steady-State cardio in general. When I was doing a lot of SS Cardio, last year, I listened to Audiobooks on my iPod to stay entertained--I rarely listened to music. I think, though, that if you can read while you're on the treadmill/elliptical/bike/whatever, that you're not moving fast enough to get much of a workout (no offense meant). I guess there's the idea that "something's better than nothing", but if you're gonna get on a blasted machine, you might as well WORK it, y'know? Personally, I think I'd get queasy trying to read a magazine/book on a cardio machine, even if I was taking it really easy.

Have you looked into classes at your gym (if you're a member of one) or looked into ones at a local gym if you're not a member? Often the classes are free or reasonably priced for members, and a little pricier for non-members. I think classes are a GREAT way to get cardio in without being bored to tears.

At my University gym, they offer several classes. I love the Cardio Kickboxing class they offer and I go two nights a week for an hour. It's never boring because the instructor is constantly changing directions, keeping you moving, teaching you new moves... My heart rate stays HIGH (I have a HRM, so I know!) and I stay interested.

Outside of that class, I'm doing HIIT three days a week. 5 minute warm-up, then sprints for 10 minutes (Sprint from x to x, then walk back and repeat).

Angie hates the treadmill! She says why would I do "that' when I have the entire outdoors.

I love the treadmill...I have my TV....my stereo....my fan....my shelf I can reach with water, my cell and home phone, tissues for my tears and I can work-out in my boxers! The last time I did that outdoors I was laughed at...not a pretty picture.

:o And it is really a mental image I could have done without:p

Hey! I'm almost in shape ;)....well...not really!

I don't have access to a treadmill anymore...wish I did. But when I did the treadmill, I would either pop in a video/dvd to watch, listen to music (I'd highly suggest getting an iPod or some CDs...anything but being relegated to the eek! radio LOL), or I'd read. I got a steno stand that attaches to a desk but attached it to the back of the treadmill instead and got a page marker that holds your book open. It never got boring.

I am with the treadmill haters...okay, I don't hate the treadmill...the treadmill is my friend. It just bores the heck out of me. No amount of music, or t.v helps with the boredom but I walk on it anyway, lol. I miss up my routines so it doesn't become monotonous. I walk at the park 3-4 days a week, walk the neighborhood, and do videos. If I didn't do this I would not be able to walk on the treadmill. I do it in between, or when the weather is too bad outdoors to walk, or when I've had a busy day and couldn't get outdoors to walk. I would rather be outside for sure.

While I don't *love* the treadmill, I have found ways to make it less boring for me. I try out all the different workout settings, which keeps me from getting bored. I also love audiobooks (ones that I only allow myself to listen to while treadmilling), grammar girl podcasts and CarTalk. I use peppy, silly music and find if work out in 20 minute intervals I'm less apt to get bored.

Nevertheless, there are still times when the treadmill is so boring I want to cry and usually I get off it and get on the elliptical. 20 minutes on the elliptical and I'm grateful to get back on the "boring" treadmill.