I Hate (Gym) Cardio

I really can’t pin down the point when I decided that I hated gym cardio.

It could have been when I got my foot injury and had to lay off the running – instead sacrificing the outdoors for staring at the wall on a cross trainer for 30 minutes.

Or if as my life became busier I had less time for gym that I started to focus on the stuff I really got the most value from (e.g weights).

I realise that I don’t want to spend an hour inside a building that has machines that simulates running, cycling or rowing and at the end I am in the same spot.

I don’t want to spend an hour + in the gym doing cardio.

To be honest I find doing 25 minutes gym cardio followed by weights is still too much indoor cardio.

A five minute warm-up is enough.  But I still find that boring.

As a result my cardio has been suffering for a while.  I went out on my bike for the first time since moving the other day and although I was not as fit as I was, I realised how much I do enjoy cardio when you get to explore and see scenery (even if it is cycling round the streets of a Northern town).

The rain came out and hit my face and the cold really hit my lungs.  But it was so much enjoyable than sitting on a spin bike trying to occupy boredom by watching whatever trash was on the gyms TV.

I do want to get out more, but the main barrier is finding time.  In the winter it is usually dark before I go to work and when I come home.  Going out in the pitch black does not appeal to me both for lazy and safety reasons.

So here are some ideas I have for getting a more ‘natural’ cardio on.

• Make a point of having a long (1 hour+) outdoor cardio of running and/or cycling.
• Leave my car at home – cycle to the train station and lock my bike up at work.
• Make a point of going for walks at lunchtime.
• Take the stairs at work (all eight flights).
• Really, really force myself to go out for some evening cardio – even if it is only going round the block (and ensure safety – helmet, high vis clothing and mobile phone.
• Do indoor cardio that is interesting!

My aim is that by improving my cardio fitness regime in the winter, it won’t be such as struggle when the days start getting lighter.