So, I like to excercise. I like to run. I've done a couple of 5k's, I've run a half marathon. It's not like I'm a punk when it comes to excercise. But when I go to the gym, I cannot make myself stay on a machine for more than 5 minutes. Even the treadmill. I just get so bored!

My work has a brand new fitness room they've put in, and I went to use it today during lunch. I couldn't make myself do it! I did 5 minutes on the treadmill, and then let myself quit. Then I did 5 minutes on the eleptical and again let myself quit.

I don't know what it is! I'll run for an hour outside and be able to push through, but at the gym I turn into a little wimp.

Anyone else do this?

I find when I listen to good fast music, or watch tv that is interesting makes the time go by faster. I don't like to quit when I'm doing my cardio, but thought I'd just give out a few suggestions.

I'd much rather workout outside as yourself. I've been speed walking outside, and haven't got to the gym yet just because it has been such a lovely fall.

Cherbear I hear you, I would rather jab my eyes out than run on a treadmill, well not really but you know what I mean... My suggestion would be to weight train in the fitness room and run outside, this is what I do... I call the treadmill the DREADMILL, I never last more than 5 minutes either.... One thing I do do when I must stay inside is to to intervals and with intervals and a few mind games I can stay on the dreadmill for 30 minutes...

Hope this helps

I listen to my music. I do intervals. For some reason, intervals make it pass faster - maybe b/c I am only focusing on a minute or two at a time. If I don't feel like running - sometimes I take a class. Do you have access to classes? They are fun b/c you are doing them with other people.

My best bet is a class. I hate, hate, hate the stationary bike and see no point in it whatsoever and can not tolerate more than TWO minutes on it. But I live to spin.

For me, no matter what I'm doing, it's all about changing it up and frequently. Spin class goes by the fastest when we're doing anything interval related. She'll often shout out "four more like that" and I find the minutes just fly by as the hard intensity takes forever but the recovery minutes flit by like they never happened.

So when I DO attempt a machine (never the stationary bike!), I do best when I play number games. I like to run for 8 minutes, walk for 2, do the elliptical at high intensity for four minutes, lower intensity for one minute or pick a machine and increase the intensity and/or speed a little bit more every minute for five minutes and then take a minute to recover. Anything to keep the mind active!

Speaking of the mind, that's key for me too. I've got to let it wander. If I have something good to mull over in my head, time goes by faster. Sometimes I can get lost in the music and that helps too.

i signed up for my first half marathon last year at about this time and the race was in early feb. so running outside was great in the fall but come winter i had to move to the treadmill and i couldnt do it. i couldnt run a mile on the treadmill. it was all mental and i built into it. the first time i ran a half mile, then a mile, etc etc. i felt lame but i really just had to ease myself into the mental issue with running and going no where. i eventually got up to running 6 miles on the mill but anything longer than that i layered up and went outside. good luck!