Comments on Cranky Fitness: How I Fixed a Depressing Workout

Exercise is like pushing yourself off a cliff. Har...

2009-07-04T09:52:53.082-04:00

Exercise is like pushing yourself off a cliff. Hard to start, but once you get going you're sailing!
Happy 4th of July,
Steven
http://comcblog.com

For people who don't want to click on the link, RA...

2009-07-04T01:53:07.492-04:00

For people who don't want to click on the link, RAGBRAI is the Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. Lots of bike riding (about 70 miles each day for a week) and celebrating.

Oh, AmyLou, I have no doubt that the stops are gre...

2009-07-04T01:45:46.260-04:00

Oh, AmyLou, I have no doubt that the stops are great. I've seen pictures and heard stories about the wonderful fun people have during RAGBRAI... when they stop pedaling for the day :)

ooooh, Merry, nothing is more interesting than RAG...

2009-07-04T01:05:18.337-04:00

ooooh, Merry, nothing is more interesting than RAGBRAI!!! My town is actually an overnight stop this year. Trust me-- there's plenty to do and see during the RAGBRAI. Each town goes ALL OUT with food and events (street dances, bands, etc), and you meet so many interesting people (from all over the world).

I've only recently started back at the gym and my ...

2009-07-02T21:17:42.192-04:00

I've only recently started back at the gym and my duh! moment was that for me working out first thing in the morning is SO much more enjoyable. I had been trying to fit in a workout after a long day and pretty much had that sense of dread I imagine you did with the commute. This post is making me miss bike riding---after years of living in the city (and not being keen on sucking up bus exhaust) I really do miss it.

Hey Meg! I do like that term better (and I never t...

2009-07-02T20:34:36.849-04:00

Hey Meg! I do like that term better (and I never thought of it that way)...for some reason training sounds better. I guess it's because it doesn't have the work connotation like 'work'ing out does. :)

My small change was more in thinking than in actin...

2009-07-02T17:17:31.449-04:00

My small change was more in thinking than in acting...although it's spilled over into the acting as well...I changed from "working out" to "training".

Now, instead of just tallying up one more day in an endless stream of "workouts", I complete a day of training. Somehow that wording helps...

Working out with friends is my boredom fix. Havin...

2009-07-02T15:56:16.254-04:00

Working out with friends is my boredom fix. Having someone there to talk with and push me to try harder makes all the difference for me. Misery, just kidding....I mean, exercise loves company!

The thing that makes the exercise better for me is...

2009-07-02T13:49:55.099-04:00

The thing that makes the exercise better for me is the change. I make small changes all the time & larger changes every few months or so. It keeps it new & challenging. Some people say weight training is boring & I always tell them that there are so many ways to lift & that will cure the boredom. Same with cardio, find something that keeps you going & that you can live with & then change it up to keep the boredom away! Different strokes for different folks!

I found this playlist on Seventeen Magazine that a...

2009-07-02T13:42:04.248-04:00

I found this playlist on Seventeen Magazine that always keeps me going. It has this new song by Tina Parol. http://www.seventeen.com/health-sex-fitness/all-access-fitness-blog/swap-workout-playlists-with-friends

SO TRUE. I think that's why I prefer outdoor exerc...

2009-07-02T13:00:55.171-04:00

SO TRUE. I think that's why I prefer outdoor exercising to the gym. With the terrain being a little different all the time it makes it more interesting.

Actually, I feel more like Prometheus when I have ...

2009-07-02T12:58:07.797-04:00

Actually, I feel more like Prometheus when I have to exercise....

Oh man. I have to ride up this huge hill to get h...

2009-07-02T11:26:16.850-04:00

Oh man. I have to ride up this huge hill to get home from work/the gym. There is no other way to get home. My apartment is up a hill. It's not so bad after I've been sitting all day at work, but after a leg workout. Yeesh. I have to get off and walk. Small children pass me riding their bikes up the hill. I hate that thing.

Awww don't rule out RAGBRAI. Sure, there is a lot ...

2009-07-02T11:19:22.656-04:00

Awww don't rule out RAGBRAI. Sure, there is a lot of corn, but there are also lots of hills to keep it interesting (Iowa is not flat) and there are thousands of crazy people on bikes and in costumes to look at! It's a ton of fun.

Actually, sometimes what apoears to be an easier r...

2009-07-02T10:19:27.500-04:00

Actually, sometimes what apoears to be an easier ride is harder. I had a definite case of saddle soreness after being sweep on a longish ride recently. I had thought that wandering along with pleasant company at a conversational pace would be fun - and it was - but using the same muscles the same way for so long, never shifting that weight to the legs for a hill, well, it hurt. So it's not all that surprising that it could hurt your mind, too.

Yeah, I get bored so easily with the elliptical or...

2009-07-02T10:17:11.441-04:00

Yeah, I get bored so easily with the elliptical or the same workout over and over. Right now, I am tyring to make gardening and yardwork my workout. Your new route does sound harder, and way more fun!!

Oh, yeah. Long, flat...Yuk! I gotta have a hill ...

2009-07-02T10:09:46.569-04:00

Oh, yeah. Long, flat...Yuk! I gotta have a hill or two to make things interesting. There's nothing like cussing your way up and enjoying the wind in your face on the way down.

Anf failing a hill, I at least need to have some change of scenery along the way.

I think boredom is a huge factor. Whether it be th...

2009-07-02T09:56:01.373-04:00

I think boredom is a huge factor. Whether it be the route you choose, music on your MP3 player, or watching something interesting on TV while you're on a cardio machine - you need to keep your mind busy so the time will fly by.

You mentioned RAGBRAI! Hooray! And while I haven...

2009-07-02T09:53:25.062-04:00

You mentioned RAGBRAI! Hooray! And while I haven't personally participated, I've heard nothing but what a good time it is---all the little towns get really into it and there is beer and festivities and a lot more than just flat biking. I think you'd like it. :)

Well, if the plural of mouse is mice, it follows t...

2009-07-02T09:38:14.955-04:00

Well, if the plural of mouse is mice, it follows that the plural of spouse... oh, never mind...

Boredom is never a good thing in any endeavor. Mix...

2009-07-02T09:18:05.073-04:00

Boredom is never a good thing in any endeavor. Mix it up! (Unless we're talking relationships, of course.)

Change is the only constant:) And you're right - ...

2009-07-02T08:57:31.350-04:00

Change is the only constant:) And you're right - you do not want to ride your bike out here in the Midwest!

It's true. Variety IS the spice of life.

2009-07-02T08:06:55.465-04:00

It's true. Variety IS the spice of life.

I definitely can relate. Most of my exercise righ...

2009-07-02T07:52:16.227-04:00

I definitely can relate.

Most of my exercise right now comes from the physical therapist (Rehabbing my knee after ACL surgery). After the first 2 sessions each week, i start dreading going to PT b/c it's the same thing over and over again.

Then, they introduce a new, challenging (i.e. painful) exercise and i actually seem to enjoy it.

Whether it's a break in the monotony, or knowing that i'm using a new muscle, it makes me happy. :)

I try to keep my workouts as short as possible for...

2009-07-02T07:49:05.889-04:00

I try to keep my workouts as short as possible for that very reason, and part of the reason I stopped doing yoga was that I found myself watching the clock. Now that I tried a yoga session and it kicked my butt, I'm focusing on it more.