It's crazy to do something artificially that could be integrated into the day

I recently completed an exercise study in which I did weight machines for a year.  That was a big achievement for me since I never sicked long with an exercise routine.  Although I do have to confess that working through that second part of the year was though since the routine became boring and the assigned weight was getting way to optimistic.  A chip key was programmed with weights "appropriate" for me but being able to leg press only 100lbs less than the exercise asked for becomes a downer.  I do see the value of a trainer that often checks up with you in person or setting your own weight program.

Now that the year is over I have the opportunity to explore the exercises of one of the other study groups.  I'm quite well aware how the no-exercise works so naturally I'm doing four weeks of cardio.  I'm really glad I wasn't assigned to the cardio group (or the no-exercise group).  The couple of weeks I've been doing cardio have already been so frustrating.  There is the never ending issue with pairing the wireless heart rate monitor with the machine.  I just want to jump onto the machine and start exercising and not struggle with technology for 6 minutes first.  I have to deal with enough tech the rest of my day.  On top of that, the stationary bike for some reason decided today that I need more and more resistance to the point that I couldn't spin anymore.  Nobody know what was going wrong there. Grrr.

Asides the technical frustrations, being stationary while doing cardio is really mind deadening to me. The only way to survive that is by distracting yourself with music or videos, but dammed me if I forget the head phones.  Neither the upright bikes nor the recumbent bikes are comfortable enough for me to sit in them 25 minutes.  And then there's the lack of breeze as I'm not moving (in respect to my surrounding) at all.  Not sure if I last the whole four weeks.


The nice spring weather outside probably doesn't help.  It's hard to justify being inside if it's nice outside.  It's even harder to justify driving in a rush to the gym instead of bicycle commute to work.  Biking to work is often relaxing for me while having to squeeze the exercise into my day causes often stress.  It's also nice not to have to fill up the car as much.  Yes, you really do notice the greener mode of transportation more in form of $$ than environmental.  But I guess you're really green in both ways by going to work via muscle power.  It's just crazy to do something artificially that could be integrated much better into the day.

Yes, too often I had to drive in order to fit in the exercise.