Gym drudgery: Fitness & motivation

I hate the treadmill. Medieval torture devices had NOTHING on this punishing piece of cardio equipment. You get on. You set your pace. You run. And run. And run and run and run. No destination. No reward. It’s kind of like a dead-end relationship—you pour blood, sweat, and tears into the thing, yet you never get anywhere. Hence, the treadmill is the bad boy of the gym circuit. He hurts you, he gives you nothing but pain, and he does it to all the ladies, yet you keep going back for more. Why?

Laced up and ready to hit the gym

It can be rough trying to stay motivated about exercise. I should know. I started my fitness quest with nothing more than a handful of DVDs by The Firm and an overwhelming weight loss goal. I did those Firm DVDs more times than I care to remember, and after a year, I was burnt out. I began to dread my daily workouts and started skipping them here and there. This is a slippery slope for a girl who gains weight merely looking at a cheeseburger, and so I decided to shake up my exercise routine and signed up for a gym membership. I took the plunge and paid a flat fee for three whole years of gym access. Sure, my bank account suffered a bit of a blow, but I figured it would all be worth it. I’d have access to countless cardio machines, weight equipment, and group exercise classes. I’d never be bored by exercise again! I’d stay motivated and never skip out on another workout!

Needless to say, the gym euphoria didn’t last. Sure, at first the equipment was novel and fun, but I soon tired of the tedium of the elliptical machine and the torture (both physical and mental) of the treadmill. I took group classes sporadically, but swore off of them when I nearly passed out in a step class led by an overzealous-bordering-on-sadistic engineer with a passion for inflicting pain, dizziness, and nausea on gym-goers in his spare time. No more classes. Back to the stepmill.

Before I knew it, I was avoiding the gym like the plague. I’d make excuses as to why I couldn’t fit in exercise—I had to work late, I was coming down with a cold, my index finger hurt, I didn’t have any clean sports bras, my water bottle was missing, I had to visit my fourth cousin (hadn’t seen Edith in ages!), there was a Three’s Company marathon on television, etc. etc. etc. It was pathetic and I knew it. I had signed up for three years of this. It couldn’t go on this way. If this was a bad marriage, it was I who was the adulterer, cheating on my fitness spouse with bad re-runs and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Half-Baked. Something had to change.

And then one day while at my gym, preparing for another mindless engagement with the stair stepper, I happened to check the group exercise schedule and noticed a new bootcamp class taking place that very evening. It was kismet. I walked into that class and just knew it was for me. The instructor transitioned between three-minute weight segments and two-minute cardio bursts with an awesome, ten-minute ab-chiseling section at the end. The choreography was creative, but not too difficult, the music was just-suited to my taste, and the teacher was upbeat without being obnoxious (I have a low tolerance for unabashed perkiness). This was perfect! As we cooled down and stretched, the instructor mentioned that she also taught a cycling class twice a week and that we should check it out. I made a mental note of it and headed out the door, exhausted and exhilirated.

Flash forward two days and I was back at the gym ready to try my hand (or legs, as the case may be) at this spinning thing. I had heard of indoor cycling and loved riding my hybrid bike outside for leisure. This has potential, I thought to myself. Halfway into the class, I was breathless, dripping with sweat, and completely and totally hooked. I loved everything about the class. I loved the music, the rhythm, the pace, the energy. After the hour had passed, I exited the cycling room with a goofy grin on my face. I was a sweaty mess, but a happy, sweaty mess. Finally, I had found my fitness calling.

Exposure to these classes helped me to see my relationship with the gym in a new light. Not to beat the relationship metaphor to death, but, like a good romance, you get out of it what you put into it. If you work to find what fulfills you, you will be successful. Now, even my time spent on cardio machines is enjoyable because I make that time my own. I read my favorite magazines, like Self and Body & Soul, crank my iTunes workout playlist (hello, Beyonce!), and do intervals— varying my resistance, incline, and pace from easy to difficult and back again—to make the time fly by. I jump from machine to machine to avoid boredom, and, in the manner of my bootcamp class, insert weight-lifting segments between cardio bouts to make my workout routine more exciting and efficient.

Cute new running skirt from Lululemon = instant motivation

Feeling burnt out on your fitness routine? Here are my top 10 tips for making exercise more exciting:

1. Try out a new class. The options are endless and suited to every fitness level and taste. From aerobics to yoga, cycling to samba, there’s something out there for everyone.
2. Try a new piece of equipment. Terrified to mix with the meaty and grunting weightlifters, but curious about a particular weight machine? Ask one of the trainers to show you how to use it. You’ll be lifting like the pros in no time.
3. Enlist a workout buddy. It’s always more fun to train with friends and they’ll hold you accountable when you feel like skipping a gym session.
4. Get outside! My best workouts have been performed outside of my gym. Try walking, jogging, biking, playing basketball, kicking around a soccer ball, jumping rope, or swimming. During colder months, try ice skating, cross-country skiing, and other winter sports.
5. Get a new workout outfit. It’s hard not to be excited about exercise when you’re wearing a cute new top or running skirt.
6. Visualize yourself attaining your fitness goal. Whether it’s losing weight or running a 10K, seeing yourself accomplish your dream can make those minutes spent on the elliptical machine feel so worth it.
7. Download new workout music or swap playlists with a friend. New music is so inspiring and makes the time fly by.
8. Scan health magazines for exercise moves and fitness tips. This is an easy way to shake up your routine and work your muscles in new, exciting, and effective ways. Plus, the picture tutorials make learning new moves easy.
9. Set a goal for your cardio workout. Aim to tackle a new hill setting on the treadmill or up your resistance on the stepmill from level 8 to level 9. Attaining a new level of fitness always feels awesome.
10. Utilize active rest days. Day after day of heavy exercise with little to no recovery time wreaks havoc on your physical and mental state. Take at least one to two days off from the gym each week to rejuvenate. Go for a walk or do some light yoga to keep your muscles engaged, but take it easy. Your next workout will be that much better for it.

Remember, I’m not a personal trainer or an exercise expert, but I am someone who has managed to lose a significant amount of weight and remain dedicated to exercise for over seven years. If I can do it, anyone can do it.

If you have other tips and tricks for staying motivated about fitness, please leave a comment on this post. I’d love to hear your ideas. Now, get off your duff and tell that treadmill that it’s time you saw other people, er, equipment.  😉 Happy sweating!