So, my doctor has limited me to exercise by swimming or using the recumbent bike due to various health problems. I don't have access to a pool, so recumbent bike it is! However, IMO the recumbent bike is the most boring machine in my whole gym! Anyone have tips for getting a good, fun workout from a recumbent bike?

Poor Jessica! I hear ya -- there have been times that's all I was allowed to do too (and I'm an elliptical junkie, so ) But you still can get a good workout on the recumbent bike ... two suggestions to help with the boredom factor.

The first is music! Load up your iPod with great cardio songs and make it as fun as possible. Also, some people swear by audio books as a music alternative.

Second, try some HIIT (high intensity interval training). You'll get a better workout and the time seems to go by faster because you're changing what you're doing every two minutes or so. I saw one HIIT plan for a bike that was sprinting as fast as you can for ten seconds, recovering for 20 seconds, sprinting again for ten, recovering for 20 etc etc. Or you could do more traditional intervals of 60 seconds sprinting and two to four minutes recovering. Anything is better than just mindlessly chugging along at the same speed for the whole workout!

Good luck and hopefully you'll be cleared for more kinds of exercise soon.

I agree, the best way to keep yourself from being bored is to keep switching it up, riding at the same speed on a bike thats not moving is monotonous!

I often try to beat myself too when I use a machine of any kind, like if I have been riding for 4 minutes and I went a mile, when the clock hits 8 minutes I want to be at something more than 2 miles. Basically always trying to top what I just did, or at least meet it. It definitely doesn't always happen, I get gassed, but it feels good when my latest distance for a 30 minute ride or whatever has gone up, and it keeps me always working to get better, I think if I just got on and spun the pedals around with no real goal I wouldn't get as good a workout. I have become my own competition, I guess!

Thanks for the tips! Meg, for HIIT do you keep the resistance setting the same and just change your speed?

Jessica, I do HIIT on the elliptical and keep my strides the same but increase the resistance. But I don't think it matters how you do it (more resistance vs. faster) so long as you increase your heart rate. Either one should do it!