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Friday, August 04, 2006

Cardio....ugh...

Ok so I've made a decission to force myself to do more cardio in an effort to jumpstart my metabolism. I'll let you know right off though that I hate walking or jogging for exercise. My parents used to make me do it when I was younger and it seemed more like punishemnt than like exercise so I have a bit of a mental block with regards to it. (Dad. If you're reading this..no hard feelings really i just grew to dislike it and am trying to find ways to do it until I'm fit enough to include other types of cardio in my workout plan)

You may remember that I first tried listening to music to get me through my cardio sessions but I soon found out that my mind still wanders and the more my mind wanders the more I think about what I'm doing and how much I hate it. I start thinking about all the discomfort and breathing etc. and I tend to wear myself out in about 15 minutes and if I can get in 1/2 hour it's a miracle.

Well I think I truly found the secret this time but it makes my workout much more complicated. Television. That's right the ole Boob-Tube! I've found that I have to be totally emersed both visually and audibly. But here's the rub. At my gym they have televisions but you have to have an fm radio inorder to receive the proper channel's sound. I have NO radio. I have an iPod which can be converted to an fm radio but I'm not wanting to ssopend the $50 or so to buy the device. And I suppose I could just buy a radio too but I don't wanna.

So on days when I don't see my trainer I've been going to another 24hr fitness across town where they, not only have several more tvs and a plug on the treadmill handle where you can tune the TV sound for the partiular screen and channel that you want to watch. I find if I get a good show I can walk for a long time without even thinking about it. So, when I'm done I really feel like I've acomplished something.

Today was the first time that I decided to try going to my trainer at one gym and then driving across town to the other gym for cardio.

Positives first.. I did it. I worked out with Kendrick then I shot on over to the other sight and got through another 1/2 hour of cardio.
negatives: takes alot of time and cooling off after my main workout on the way to the othr gym makes for a lot of pain that generaly goes away after a few minutes on the treadmill.

I don't know if I'll continue to go to the other gym on the same day that I viit my trainer. I may just end up getting a cheap radio so I can use their tv set up. I do, however like the change of scenery so I probably will continue to go to the second gym on my days off.

11 Comments:

Blogger The EYE said...

glad you found a way to make the cardio easier. the tv helps for me too (when i get up off my lazy rear and go to the gym), but ive also taken to listening to books on tape. ive found that its easier to focus on the audio book than it is to focus on music. and since my library is jam packed with books on tape and cd, im all set (for an ipod, you could take the books on cd and rip them to your pc, then put them on the ipod).

that and when i go to the gym usually the news is on every tv in the gym. usually just on three different channels. i prefer to read my news. eh.

5:48 AM, August 04, 2006  
Blogger Sean Perkey said...

Eye:
Books on tape huh? I never thought of that. there's tons of stuff that I'd like to read but don't have the time for...I'll check into that...maybe swing by the o'le tower books today and take a look! Thaks eye! Always quick with the good advice. thanks again!

7:24 AM, August 04, 2006  
Blogger jimbizzle said...

I do the TV thing as well. Good bless Comcast! To really get you mind off walking, try using a PSP, or pulling over your PS2/game concel.

Podcasts work too, but tv/video games = king.

8:31 AM, August 04, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love your honesty and can completely relate to it all! Without the audio/visual the time goes by way to slow, in fact it seems to drag on forever. I think I would break down and buy a cheap radio, because the gym is a second home to you these days so you might as well make yourself comfy! K

9:18 AM, August 04, 2006  
Blogger nikki said...

Oh yeah, the books on tape (iPod) idea is great. You can download almost any book published to your iPod, and go to town on that dreaded treadmill (I also despise the "exercise" walking). I highly recommend Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" (I read the books, and then my bf downloads them for listening pleasure, he's not much of a reader but loves the books on tape).

I know this may not be something you want to do quite yet, but have you considered a water aerobics or swimming for cardio? It took me a while to get over the whole 280-pound-me-in-a-bathing-suit-in-public, but eventually you realize that hey, we're chubby in baggy clothing or in a bathing suit; either way, it's not a secret! People know I'm overweight and it's not a huge surprise to them when I show up in a swim suit. I'm not sure if you've mentioned an aversion to swimming already, but if you don't have a problem with it, it may provide a nice alternative to the dreaded walking/jogging.

Whew. Long comment. Sorry.

Keep the faith Sean!

11:06 AM, August 04, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I completely agree with "cardio...ugh..." because I feel like someone is making me walk the plank whenever I have to go on the cross-trainer or the treadmill. But it's so funny because I read the first part of your blog and I said to myself "you should watch TV, it's a lot more fun and distracting" and then you said that that's what you do! So hooray. ;) and I definitely agree with a previously made comment - if you're always going to be at this gym because it's close by and your trainer is there, you may as well just get a cheap FM radio and watch TV with it.

Also, I don't know if you would enjoy this or not but I find group exercise classes are a lot of fun and they make the time go by faster. I'm not sure if your gym offers them, but if they do you should definitely try a high-cardio group workout. Enjoy yourself!

Vivien

8:33 PM, August 04, 2006  
Blogger Talena said...

Hey, Sean, long time no visit! This made me giggle, because I totally hate cardio, too--in a gym. A few years ago, before I had kids and got my own 16-hour-a-day cardio session going, I decided that since going to a gym or an aerobics class to get exercise was totally uninspiring to me, I decided to force myself to be motivated to exercise--by getting a dog. Not a lap dog. Not a low-energy dog. A Husky-Shepherd cross, that would not be satisfied by a quick break in the dog run, but would need a regular, kilometres-long-per-day walk, and maybe more than one. That would force me to exercise, come rain or shine, or snow. (This is important, since I am notoriously wussy in the cold and snow, which is the state of the weather from 4-8 months per year up here.)

You may laugh, but it worked. I'm not saying you should run out and get a dog, just thought you might get a kick out of the story. Meanwhile, I hope you manage to get your walking in without losing your mind from boredom. I know it's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it. (You could always write blog entries in your head while you're walking. :-D)

T.

P.S. When I used to work out in the gym, I would actually read books or magazines while I was on the treadmill or bike--the sweat gets in your eyes eventually, and you have to stop, but it's good for the first part--especially if you're into a good novel at the moment. (As long as you don't get so distracted you forget to pedal.)

8:36 PM, August 04, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why not -walk- to the other gym? :)

7:05 AM, August 05, 2006  
Blogger Sean Perkey said...

uhm, well i guess the first reason is because the other gym is about 15 miles from my gym and the second reason would be if I could walk 15 miles and still be looking to exercise....I probably wouldn't have any need to do this blog.

you'll have to forgive me because I couldn't tell if your question was serious or in the spirit of a joke?

either way I hope that answers your question. :O)

12:38 PM, August 05, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Sean ~ Ever seen this link? http://www.usatf.org/routes/ It's a database of running / walking routes, complete with mileage. I did a quick search on 1-2 mile routes in Sacramento and 8 options came back. Food for thought - and maybe some variety as well! Keep up the great work, man. ~m

8:33 PM, August 05, 2006  
Blogger Sean Perkey said...

Jimbo: hey long time no see! Hope you're doing well.
Videogame and treadmill? I think i'd kill myself! lol i don't know that I have the coordination for that but if I ever workout somewhere they have that option I'll try it..or if I get a treadmill for the house but that would be a while off. I'd rather beat the hell out of their treadmills that I'm reallytoo heavy for...I think that they're only rated for like 400 lbs so I'm sure I put a little strain on it...but what the hell I paid an arm and a leg for that membership..I practically paid for a pro treadmill ;)

Anonymous-'K': Thank you and I'm glad that you can relate...or should I say 'I'm sorry that you can relate"? ;) I toook your advice and bought a sony radio and som comfy ear phones and will be testing them out tomorrow on my trip to the gym. I'll post my review for those looking for the same set up.

Nikki: I've hear friends mention "American Gods". I'm starting to think I better read that :0)

as far as the pool...I'm just no where near ready to take that leap yet but one day down the road I'll be able to...just not now. for now I'll stick with the walking and jogging and just do what it takes to keep my mind occupied. Thanks for your suggestions though. I'll get there one day!

Vivien: see! Great minds think alike! TV is the answer! And, I agree with that poster too. I went ahead and bought a radio so that on my 'trainer' days I can stay at the same gym. I still think I'll go to the other gym on my days off though just for a change of scenery...
as far as the exercise classes...i hate to keep making excuses about my size but it'll be about 50 lbs before I can keep up with a slow class but I assure you that as soon as my trainer and I feel that that will be safe and beneficial I'll jump right on it!

"T":hey a dog is a good idea...I think that our 5 cats would probably gang up on it though ;)
Maybe I should get some kids instead...then I could be a fit as you! :0)

about reading while you walk...how do people do that? seriously! I can't figure it out...if I tried to focus on something that close to me I'd trip on my own feet. I give you credit for some serious balance...i'll stick to the TV!

Anonymous "M": Hey! What a cool site. Thank you. I'll give it a little deeper look tomorrow evening but it looks like something I can use when I descide to get out of the gym and onto the street. (I figure once a lose about 50 lbs and my knees are a little stronger they can take the pounding of walking or jogging on the street but for now I'll stick with the treadmill) I'm thinking about starting a weight loss resource page and I think I'll put that link on it! Thanks again.

2:30 AM, August 07, 2006  

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