Sometimes cardio can get boring, especially on a stationary machine for 60+ minutes. I love the gym and its convenience, however it seems the minutes tick by slower and slower each time I look up at the clock.

Doing Cardio at the Gym:

Pro: getting a high calorie-burning workout in an air-conditioned and safe facility, no weather or crazy drivers to deal with.

Con: Boredom.

One boredom buster I enjoy is people watching, through which I have noticed the 3 silliest gym trends:

1. Guys who spend more time staring at themselves in the mirror than lifting anything.
2. Girls who work out with their hair down, fixing and primping in between sets (heaven forbid they break a sweat!)
3. Stationary Bikers on Level 1 pedalling about 10 rpms. (you could burn more calories chewing gum)

Solution: Mix It UP! My parents and I like to do a “Cardio Carnival” where we pick 3 different cardio machines for 20 minutes each. It’s a great way to keep the heart rate up for an hour without getting bored. Knowing that you are spending a smaller amount of time at each “station” allows you to push a little harder, and take a “rest” while moving from one cardio machine to another.

As you can tell, not a big gym crowd at 5am…

Cardio Menu:

Row Machine ~ Elliptical (forward and backward) ~ Sit-down Bike ~ Treadmill (walk with high incline OR jog/run) ~ Stairmaster

My Rotation of Choice:

Elliptical, Run (treadmill), Bike.

I put my least favorite at the end because I know when I finish that 20 minute set I am DONE. However incorporating Row, Stairmaster and Treadmill would be the best whole-body blast because it targets upper body, butt, and legs.

It’s like a personal triathlon to keep things fresh. Not to mention, calling it a “Carnival” instantly means it’s gotta be fun, right?!