A few times each week I still manage to make my way to the gym and while the facility is immaculate and I am into my health, I get bored. Sure, I have an iPod and I can watch their TV’s but come on, for three to four hours each week I am doing the same damn thing—riding the bike, lifting weights, etc.
No matter how I mix up the workout routine (the Dinosaur, Schwarzenegger, etc.), I am doing the same thing and simply “setting goals” isn’t cutting it. Bored out of my skull, I did some homework by talking to other people at the fitness center. As an introvert, I assure you that this was not easy. Nevertheless, over the last three months I came up with a handful of things you can do to spice up your boring workout. Your alternative is getting bored, discouraged, and quitting, so make it easy on the mind and lose the monotony with some of these ideas.
Get a Bag
This one is my favorite. I bought an 80-pound punching bag and installed it to an I-beam in my basement. Once a week, I beat this thing until I can’t raise my arms. Based on how winded I am, this has to be great for a cardio workout, your arms, and even your legs, you know, if you stick and move. With this, I am able to replace the bike at the gym (although the scenery, if you know what I mean) is not as nice.
Row Away the Calories
Five miles from my house there is a lake and on that lake there is an old guy renting canoes. While I have already tipped that thing twice, rowing back and forth even in the smallest of lakes is a crazy workout. I cannot begin to explain the burn you feel in your arms. If you’re lucky, you’ll give up on the shore as opposed to sitting in the middle of the lake where there is no wake to push you in. You are on your own out there and rowing in the water sure beats the elliptical and I still get to wear the iPod.
Where’s Crissy?
Remember Three’s Company and how hot Crissy was? Well, her and a thousand other people made some DVDs that you can rent at the library. Get a workout on DVD and skip your normal routine in favor of a Jack Tripper workout one day. It’s a blast.
Hey Neighbor
I have never done this because I don’t talk to strangers. However, working out in twosomes or groups is instant motivation. If you “don’t wanna” your peer or group will force you to go. The key is agreeing in the beginning that if force is needed, force will be used. I’d bet that you are not the only one in the group to come up with a lame excuse one morning!
