[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Exercising SUCKS (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 5/18/2009 6:53:54 PM EDT
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I forgot how much I hated it. Didn't take long to remember... Background: I'm in baaaad shape. I haven't done anything requiring assertion in a long time. My wife decided that she always wanted to complete a triathlon, and for her birthday she had me pay for a training class for the last few months. So she's been training for a couple of months, and recently finished a sprint-distance tri. I think it was 400m swim, 11 mile bike ride, and 2 mile run. She finished it and I was very proud, but in the back of my mind I always thought, "That doesn't sound too hard." Anyway. Last Sunday, we found her a cheap road bike on clearance for $175. Before any cycling snobs mention that you need to spend at least $1K on a road bike: Save it. This is a decent enough bike for now. I got it all adjusted for her, and she's very happy. Yesterday I decided to maybe do that myself, you know, ride a bike. I mean her bike looks so fast just sitting there, I'm thinking to myself "This can't be too hard. I'll go for rides with her." Last night, we snagged the same bike (last one) for the same price. So you guys have seen those Bowflex and Treadclimber commercials, right? Perfectly chiseled specimens of human beauty effortlessly working out with a big smile on their faces. "3 easy workouts a week of only 20 minutes each!" That's right! I can do this! I get my bike set up and take it out for a test drive, check the derailleurs and such. Feeling pretty good, I kept the speed up for the entire HALF A MILE that I rode. When I finally caught my breath after collapsing in the driveway, I thought to myself "Working out sucks" - and "I'm in BAAAAAD shape." As I laid in bed last night, I kept thinking "3 easy workouts a week of only 20 minutes each!". Riiiiiiight. The other thing that came to mind is that my wife's accomplishment was actually no small feat, and I'm pretty humbled. Today, she went for an 11 mile ride and 2 mile run with her training group, then rode TWO miles with me to keep me company. Needless to say, I was glad the two miles were over, while she went for another 2 miles with my son. So I'm sitting here, dying, while she did a total of FIFTEEN miles on the bike and running two. I suck.  |
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Two things that I do to make cardio more "fun"
1) I sometimes match my cardio at the gym to tv shows I like to watch. For example I rotated between running, biking and stairmaster at the gym during the two hour season finale of 24. Sometimes I forget about the exercise if I like the show I'm watching. 2) Playing sports (that require you to run around) with friends |
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Quoted: I suck. You are in the "getting there" phase of being in shape. It always sucks. But once you're there, exercising is a lot of fun. Imagine being in good enough shape to hop on your bicycle and ride like the wind for a hundred miles in a morning, or running with your rifle between shooting stages in the West Texas desert with an endorphin buzz. That's why I exercise. |
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So you guys have seen those Bowflex and Treadclimber commercials, right? Perfectly chiseled specimens of human beauty effortlessly working out with a big smile on their faces. "3 easy workouts a week of only 20 minutes each!" That's right! I can do this! And you believed it? The ONLY infomercial I've ever considered is P90X. Only that one because I can't find any fault or BS in what he preaches. I've thought about trying it out. Anyone here have it? Reviews & thoughts? |
| I'm in good shape...best physical fitness of anyone I work with. I workout a lot. That being said it still sucks every single time and for some stupid reason walking up a flight of stairs here in ABQ still makes me feel winded. That being said, the improvements being in good shape have made to my life make it all worth it. |
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I've been hittin' the gym about 6 times a week for the last month or so.
I picked up my "tacticool, crap-hanging-off-it" M4gery today and thought "Crap, this thing has gotten a lot lighter" 
Matter o'fact, as soon as my workout gear gets out of the dryer I'm off to go 
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Dude, you're using the wrong gear. You shift to make it easier. Follow the wife-unit and have her call out her gears with regularity. It may make it easier.  If that doesn't work, Costco has an electric bike that can also be pedaled. That may help you keep up or even show up the wife when you pass her by.
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| I hear you man. It doesn't get any better either. I'm at around 80 pushups, 100 situps, and 5 miles in 37 minutes. And even after working out for like 3 years to get to this point, I still sit and stare at my running shoes after stretching and think, "I don't want to go running right now. I don't." |
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I hear you man. It doesn't get any better either. I'm at around 80 pushups, 100 situps, and 5 miles in 37 minutes. And even after working out for like 3 years to get to this point, I still sit and stare at my running shoes after stretching and think, "I don't want to go running right now. I don't." 5 miles in 37 minutes - thats pretty damn good - sounds like you are there i dont dread running any more, it my time to think, im addicted to it now |
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5 miles in 37 minutes - thats pretty damn good - sounds like you are there i dont dread running any more, it my time to think, im addicted to it now I wish I had your ability to focus. The only thing I can think about when I'm running is my legs are on fire! |
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5 miles in 37 minutes - thats pretty damn good - sounds like you are there i dont dread running any more, it my time to think, im addicted to it now I wish I had your ability to focus. The only thing I can think about when I'm running is my legs are on fire! do about 6-8 800M intervals - hard as you can stand with about 3-4 minutes between each one, once a week that made my runs feel alot less sluggish |
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You are in the "getting there" phase of being in shape. It always sucks. But once you're there, exercising is a lot of fun. What this man said. I couldn't imagine going a day without physical activity. There's something for everyone; find something you enjoy and just roll with it. |
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The swim would kill me. I could do the other two no problem. Running and cycling? I had wanted to try a triathlon this summer, but a hip injury is keeping me off the bike and off my feet for extended periods. So I started swimming. ...Here I am, a novice swimmer, getting ready to jump in the pool for some laps. There's a bunch of kids doing laps in the next few lanes. No big deal, I'll show them how it's done and be on my way. Well, 10 laps later, I'm gasping for breath and floundering around in the water. These little kids are lapping me over and over again
I'll just stick with it for now, it's kind of fun. I'm hoping I'll be able to get back on my bike later this year... |
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you got to start somewhere. Last year about this time. My doc gave me the " oh your fat, your blood sugars out of whack..." scare talk. I went on a diet and started working out alot. I worked out before 1-3 times a week. I went to an everyday deal. I lost 35 lbs by december..of course 8 of that comes and goes now depedningon what i do . Anyway. last May, i was lucky if i could jog a full 1/4 mile non stop..... that aint far! I backpack and i have never had any issue hauling 20-45lbs for miles on end all day long. I just could not run. Unlike my college HS days of playing foot ball ( was alot easier back then LOL ) now biking i have had zero issue on, except at the gym,, my toes go numb on the pedals lol well 1 year later and i can do 2 miles with out stopping.. i run at least 1 mile every day with a 1/2 mile walk/power walk warm up , 60 crunches, 20 push ups, and 3 sets of curls/tricep excersises with 20lbr's Im still " fat" to some, but im slowly building up that stamina... |
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you got to start somewhere. Last year about this time. My doc gave me the " oh your fat, your blood sugars out of whack..." scare talk. I went on a diet and started working out alot. I worked out before 1-3 times a week. I went to an everyday deal. I lost 35 lbs by december..of course 8 of that comes and goes now depedningon what i do . Anyway. last May, i was lucky if i could jog a full 1/4 mile non stop..... that aint far! I backpack and i have never had any issue hauling 20-45lbs for miles on end all day long. I just could not run. Unlike my college HS days of playing foot ball ( was alot easier back then LOL ) now biking i have had zero issue on, except at the gym,, my toes go numb on the pedals lol well 1 year later and i can do 2 miles with out stopping.. i run at least 1 mile every day with a 1/2 mile walk/power walk warm up , 60 crunches, 20 push ups, and 3 sets of curls/tricep excersises with 20lbr's Im still " fat" to some, but im slowly building up that stamina... good for you man, keep doing it if it wasnt hard everyone would be doing it you get out what you put in, running is the gift that keeps on giving |
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you got to start somewhere. Last year about this time. My doc gave me the " oh your fat, your blood sugars out of whack..." scare talk. I went on a diet and started working out alot. I worked out before 1-3 times a week. I went to an everyday deal. I lost 35 lbs by december..of course 8 of that comes and goes now depedningon what i do . Anyway. last May, i was lucky if i could jog a full 1/4 mile non stop..... that aint far! I backpack and i have never had any issue hauling 20-45lbs for miles on end all day long. I just could not run. Unlike my college HS days of playing foot ball ( was alot easier back then LOL ) now biking i have had zero issue on, except at the gym,, my toes go numb on the pedals lol well 1 year later and i can do 2 miles with out stopping.. i run at least 1 mile every day with a 1/2 mile walk/power walk warm up , 60 crunches, 20 push ups, and 3 sets of curls/tricep excersises with 20lbr's Im still " fat" to some, but im slowly building up that stamina... Easy there Cartman, you're not fat, your just big boned. 
Seriously, good for you. 
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I suck.
You are in the "getting there" phase of being in shape. It always sucks. But once you're there, exercising is a lot of fun. Imagine being in good enough shape to hop on your bicycle and ride like the wind for a hundred miles in a morning, or running with your rifle between shooting stages in the West Texas desert with an endorphin buzz. That's why I exercise. Yup. I remember my first trip to the gym, with my puny arms and pitiful physic, the weeks of being sore and barely able to bench 75lbs Needless to say I love going to the gym. I still hate doing sprints though, but I hate running in general, but I deal. One of the things that drives me is I now look like the jocks from HS, while they look like tubs of lard.
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I actually feel for you here. I was in phenomenal shape when I was in the Marines (I actually ran the physical training platoon for my unit, helping fellow Marines who were struggling wiht PFT scores or their weight get back into shape).
Then I did something incredibly dumb: When I got out, I stopped PT'ing cold turkey. That was bad. Six years later Im 340lbs, and get winded way too easily. So (you might have seen my thread on medical weight loss) last week I started a physician monitored diet plan, and this week morning PT started. As my joints wouldn't likely appreciate 300+ lbs of me slamming down on them repeatedly yet, Im doing whats called LISS or Low Intensity Steady State cardio for a while. This week its just going to be M-W-F, but next week Im ramping it up to every morning. The week after that Im going to be adding weight training in the evening just after work. Initially that will be M-W-F only, but the intent is for the second week to ramp it up to every weeknight, with fridays being a burnout lift (full body workout, lift to failure on every major muscle group) so I have 2 days to recover. This is very close to what I did in the Marine Corps to get in shape and maintain that shape. The funny thing is my old excuse for not doing this was that I didn't have the time, but since changing my diet and doing some exercise, my energy level is so high that I just don't have an excuse anymore. Instead of sitting on my butt playing video games or dicking around on the internet every night for 4-5 hours, Im going to be doing so for 2 and using the other 2 to get my ass in shape (Im not giving up my Xbox time completely). If you can stick with your plan long enough to start to see a little progress, it gets so much easier. In many ways I think there are a lot of parallels between what makes MMORPG's popular and Fitness, that being a distinct reward for time and effort invested. You just have to frontload a lot of that time and effort in real life :) |
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I'm in good shape, I've exercised and worked out pretty much my whole life, and to those who claim it's fun, you're fucked up. It hurts. It burns. It makes you winded, and tired, and the more you do it the longer and harder you have to do it to maintain yourself. That's fun??? I do it because I have to, because I need to to be healthy, but that's not fun. Getting a blowjob and eating some steak. That's fun. Blowing shit up with tannerite? That's fun. Running until your calves are on fire and you can't breathe? Eh. Not a fan. Some of you are fucking weirdos. |
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Suck it up, cupcake. My wife said to tell you "That's MARSHMALLOW to you." Apparently, I haven't made it to cupcake yet.
I owe your wife a drink! And ETA: I'm with Swingset...I do it because it makes me look good and makes me stronger and so I can intimidate my sons (and some "marshmallowy" men) But I don't think it's FUN. I look at it like I look at brushing my teeth: it's gotta be done. |
| Start out slow and small, keep increasing a little everyday. GO EVERYDAY, or at least 6 days out of the week. Its gets easier, trust me. I just did a thread about me starting out exercising again after 4 years off. Don't give up, keep at it. Baby steps, baby steps. |
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Quoted: I'm in good shape, I've exercised and worked out pretty much my whole life, and to those who claim it's fun, you're fucked up. It hurts. It burns. It makes you winded, and tired, and the more you do it the longer and harder you have to do it to maintain yourself. That's fun??? I do it because I have to, because I need to to be healthy, but that's not fun. Getting a blowjob and eating some steak. That's fun. Blowing shit up with tannerite? That's fun. Running until your calves are on fire and you can't breathe? Eh. Not a fan. Some of you are fucking weirdos. During exercise yes, it totally sucks. However, i really love the feeling after. I just feel really great after a good workout/shower. |
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Signs you are an out of shape fat fuck loser:
1. You get winded after 1 flight of stairs. 2. Your BMI is over 30. 3. The hot women at work use you for information instead of sex. 4. When you run, you can feel your back fat and man tits slopping around. 5. You jerk off more than you get laid. 6. You strategize how to get out of manual labor. 7. You qualify reasons not to excersize. Feel free to add. |
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I'm in good shape, I've exercised and worked out pretty much my whole life, and to those who claim it's fun, you're fucked up. It hurts. It burns. It makes you winded, and tired, and the more you do it the longer and harder you have to do it to maintain yourself. That's fun??? I do it because I have to, because I need to to be healthy, but that's not fun. Getting a blowjob and eating some steak. That's fun. Blowing shit up with tannerite? That's fun. Running until your calves are on fire and you can't breathe? Eh. Not a fan. Some of you are fucking weirdos. No one has ever claimed that I am right in the head.
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If done properly, exercise will always get you winded and tired. it just takes longer to do it as you get in better shape. I haven't been on a bike in years. When I moved from a bike to a car, my bike started to rust. But when a bike was my transportation, a fifteen mile ride was absolutely no big deal at all. I had very well developed leg muscles back then, and could do burnouts on a beach cruiser. Just get on the bike and ride around the neighborhood for a while. Don't try to make it hard exercise, just go at a comfortable pace. Do it every day or every other day at least. You'll find yourself going farther and farther all the time. Riding a bike is one of the least abusive ways to get into better condition unless you have a collision. Muscle soreness problems? Take Creatine. I use the pill form that GNC sells. It really does do incredible things for endurance and recovery time. You just won't believe it until you try it. CJ |
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Good for you. You have taken the first step.
Physical fitness should be part of your personal defense plan. Train with and carry your firearm. Try to have a less lethal option (OC) Practice weapon retention Learn unarmed self defense Be in shape so that if you do have to go hands on you have the gas to win the fight. I thought I was in good shape, then I started crossfit. I realized that although I could run 5 miles and bench 275 I was not in shape. Been CFing for 6 weeks now and my stamina has really increased. |