What Exercise Games do you Play?

Sparqi · 02-21-2008, 08:27 AM

As I was working out on Tues. I noticed that I play mind games with myself at the gym. I admit, working out is not on my list of pleasurable things (although the alone time is nice). Plus, some of the stuff I do now is difficult, so I do these things to get through.

Keep telling myself "just 1 more minute" on the stair climber (it's like an escalator, not a stairmaster). That thing is a killer.

Count forward in my reps counts till I get to the last set, then I count backward

My gym is fairly busy, so while I am on the cardio machine, I plan out "plays" for the weights and equipment: if that woman moves, I can do biceps and abs, but if not, I'll do push ups and squats.

I know. I am a weirdo. What tricks do you use to get through your workouts?

JenR · 02-21-2008, 08:37 AM

Fellow "gamer" here. I break up my runs into segments so I can tell myself "just x more segments" so it's not 30 minutes, it's 6 5-minute runs. Same with swimming - it's 6 4-length segments, not 24 laps. Also on the treadmill I'll vary the speed and incline so it seems like I'm getting a break. If I'm really dying I tell myself "just three more minutes - you can do anything for three minutes" and that usually pushes me on. I'm totally convinced that it's almost all mental. Having my iPod helps so much, too - I forgot it the other day and my run was so much harder.

sarasuzy · 02-21-2008, 09:02 AM

Well, I haven't worked out in a while, but back in the day I almost always had to have a new magazine to read on the Elliptical or I would feel like I was dying. Somehow reading about Paris Hilton or George Clooney distracted me from the fact that I was working.

Either that or I would do interval workouts where I would go fast/intense for 3 minutes, then slow down a little for 2 minutes, and repeat. It broke it up into little segments and from what I've heard is actually better for you than just a 30 minute moderate workout.

mommy23ms · 02-21-2008, 09:46 AM

I pick something on the DVR to watch at the same time. I have to be watching something otherwise forget it. And I count my breathing. I use an eight count and count to four for inhaling and 4 for exhaling. If I'm not counting, my mind starts to wander to all the stuff I need to do. I get all stressed and stop the run so I can do all the "other stuff".

KBtotheBB · 02-21-2008, 10:40 AM

You are not a weirdo!!

I do kind of the same thing as your "just 1 more minute" trick. I absolutely hate the treadmill and elliptical, but sometimes they're my only exercise option. So, I set myself to go for 30 minutes. I tell myself, you can do this for AT LEAST 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, I tell myself, well, I can go another 5 minutes and do HALF of my 30 minutes. Once I get past the halfway mark, I always stay because I tell myself I've already done it for 15 minutes (and some odd seconds) ... what's 14 or 29 minutes more?

I even play games while in my group exercise classes, which I love! If I'm in my step aerobics class, I pretend that I'm performing for people watching me. If I'm in my cycling class, I pretend I'm racing Lance Armstrong. I make it a competition or performance in my head to push myself. Until the change up the step routines, they can get really monotonous ... and so can my efforts. If I'm going to sweat it out for an hour, I better be sweating it ALL out!

I hate the stair climber.

symesa · 02-21-2008, 03:27 PM

The exercise game I play is before I leave the house -- the mental game of even trying to talk myself into doing it!! For quite a while now, I have effectively "taken my ball and gone home" because I haven't played any exercise games

But, back in the day, when I weight-lifted a lot I didn't play any mind games really...I was pretty focused on my routine. Doing cardio, however, requires a great deal of mind games. I loathe spending time on the treadmill/elliptical/bike/etc. so I have to do anything and everything I can to keep myself on it. However, more often than not, I just hit the gym for weights and consider walking the dog to be my cardio.

Man, this is why I like classes better...more accountability for me. It starts at a certain time, ends at a certain time, and I've paid for only that class -- therefore, I can't skip it.

KeriKadi · 02-22-2008, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparqi

Count forward in my reps counts till I get to the last set, then I count backward

I kind of do this but for cardio.

When I get to the point I think I can't do it anymore I start counting. I usually get to 100 and if I still have plenty of time I count to 100 again. When I get to less than a minute I count backwards

I also do the one more minute. Or you've done this for 15 minutes, 5 more isn't going to kill me.
When I do cardio I increase my time daily and tell myself you did it for 20 minutes yesterday and you didn't die, 21 won't kill you either.

hotgogobot · 02-22-2008, 07:30 AM

I used to sing songs in my head while I ran. It helped me to keep pace. I had a series of songs that I could sing that I knew would take me about 2 miles.

I also do kind of do stuff like Kim. Especially if I can see myself in a mirror. I pretend I'm in a movie and I come up with a scene to match the exercise and soundtrack.