Motivation Monday: 38 Ways to Beat Exercise Boredom

It can be hard to find your Monday Motivation when your bored with your workout! 


Working out should not be a "chore." It should be something you look forward to. And if you are constantly changing it up and finding new things to add to the mix, you will likely never be bored!

Here are 38 ways to Beat that Exercise Boredom:

1. Go for a hike.
2. Go horseback riding.
3. Change up your lifting workout every 4-8 weeks.
4. Make a (short term) goal (Ex. Complete 10 full pushups by week 4).
5. Make a (long term) goal (Ex. Complete a half marathon in 5 months).
6. Make a new Playlist.
7. Join a walking/running club.
8. Listen to Podcasts/Audio Books while working out.
9. Sign up for a Charity Event.
10. Hula Hoop.
11. Hot Yoga.
12. Table Tennis.
13. Take a spin class.
14. Multi-task with Circuit Training.
15. Join an Online Fitness Community.
16. Get new workout apparel - shoes, shirts, shorts, headbands, etc.
17. Get a new workout "gadget," like a fancy heartrate monitor or step counter.
18. Workout at a different time of the day than what you are used to.
19. Write down 10 reasons you workout. Place this list somewhere you'll see multiple times a day.
20. Always use machines? Try free weights or cables or resistance bands.
21. Go for a long bike ride.
22. Swim laps.
23. Play beach volleyball.
24. Live near a lake? Go paddle boating. 
25. Take dance lessons.
26. Try Pilates.
27. Check out Tony Horton's P90X. 
28. Always run or walk? Mix it up with the Stair Master, Elliptical, Stair Stepper or Bike.
29. Take a new group class you've always wanted to take, but never got around to taking. (Ex. Zumba)
30. Mow the lawn.
31. Go to a track and do sprints.
32. Indoor wall-climbing.
33. Have kids? Wash the car together! (Ok, so you don't really have to have kids for this!)
34. Jump rope.
35. See how many sit-ups you can do in between each commercial of an hour-long show/movie or more.
36. Wii-Fit. Need I say more?
37. Take a martial arts, Tae-Bo or kickboxing class.
38. Get your booty in gear - participate in a Boot Camp.

If, after reading this list of 38 Ways to Beat (Exercise) Boredom you are still bored, then perhaps it's just your attitude that needs an adjustment!


Clearly there are many more than 38 Ways to Beat this Boredom! So tell me - how do you beat exercise boredom? What are some good ideas (activities - things to do) to add to this list?


CHEERS!



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Summer Workout

After this weekend, California finally feels like the summer I have so desperately been waiting for! 

It has been a long time since I've written a workout. After I go months and months of being on a stringent workout plan, I like to take some "off time" and just go to the gym, do what I please and be done. 

Those of you who know me, though, know that I like to have intense workouts constantly in the pipeline. It's the "goal" of getting into the gym, achieving something, writing it down and leaving with the pure satisfaction of "goal achieved!"

I am happy to be back here - with my "Summer Workout!"

About 3 years ago, I had every intention of studying to be a Personal Trainer. I even had all the material from the NSCA. I studied and studied. Meanwhile, I was working at ClubSport in San Ramon. While I was studying and seeing the day-to-day of trainers, I decided that making a career as a Personal Trainer was definitely not going to be me. Unfortunately those were two passions that could not be mixed. 

But fortunately, I had acquired some knowledge and my passion for working out for me had not diminished at all!

When I make my workouts, I pull from many different places and resources. I get things from my NSCA material, my husband, friends (dannymclarty.com) and just general knowledge I've acquired over the years from this obsession.

I'm not an expert. I'm not a professional. I don't pretend to be. And I don't pretend to give out advice to "help you reach your goals." I do this, talk about this and live this because it works for me and because people can usually pick up a thing or two which may work for them as well. 

So....back to my "Summer Workout." (Well...phase one anyways - roughly 4 weeks.)

Day 1: Chest/Back + HIIT Cardio

Day 2: Legs (lift)

Day 3: OFF

Day 4: Shoulder/Tricep/Bicep + HIIT Cardio

Day 5: Legs (Circuit)

Day 6: OFF

Day 7: HIIT Cardio + Abs

Yesterday was (obviously) Day 1: Chest/Back + HIIT Cardio. 

Here is what it looked like:

1 (a). Rotating DB Bench Press

1 (b). Reverse Situp 

- 3 sets; RI = 30 sec. -

2 (a). DB Incline Fly

2 (b). DB Lawnmower

- 3 sets; RI = 30 sec. - 

3 (a). Pullups

3 (b). Reverse DB Fly

- 3 sets; RI = 30 sec. -

4 (a). Wide Grip Pushup

-  3 sets to failure on each -

HIIT Cardio - 20 minutes of Running Sprints. 

5 minute cooldown. Stretching.

In less than an hour, I felt like I had worked out for 2 hours! There is so much beauty in that!

Legs today....

CHEERS!