The Beast

Cardio.  That blasted thing that makes you so sweaty and feel like death.  Some people love cardio and that’s where they leave their focus.  Either too intimidated or too content to wander into the weight section of the gym.  There should be a balance in both worlds but a lot of people who lift do not like cardio and a lot of “cardio bunnies” do not lift.  It isn’t a rule but it is a pretty accurate assumption.

Prepping for a show there is a lot more cardio in my life then there was before.  I need to do high intensity things to really get my heart rate up and my sweat on; burn all the fat I can.  I have done the sprints on the treadmill in Tabata rounds and I have also done the “stair climber” or step-mill.  The step-mill is a vile beast who can never be conquered.  Prior to my increased amount of cardio, I couldn’t make it long on this torture device.  Five minutes at eight speed and I was bailing, convinced my legs where going to disconnect from their sockets.

Fast forward to today and I will choose the step-mill over running sprints on the treadmill.  Why is this if it’s so horrible?
1.    Because it IS so horrible.  It works super effectively at getting that heart rate up and the sweat downpour going.
2.    Sprinting sucks.  Sprinting on a treadmill is even worse.
3.    I am lazy and the step-mill “seems” like less work.  It isn’t less work.  It still sucks.

Now here is the secret to staying ON the step-mill for longer than five minutes…get ready to have your mind blown...Netflix.  Seriously, if I didn’t have a reliable wifi connection and my phone to watch Netflix I would be off that thing so fast it wouldn’t count as a cardio session.  As it is right now in my life, I do not have time to watch television shows.  I literally sleep, workout, work, repeat every day.  Turning on an episode of a show I want to watch while doing my cardio is like a little treat.  Sure, I probably look like a crazy person laughing breathlessly at my tiny screen but I don’t care.  It’s like my treat yo’ self compromise.  I also try to challenge myself when on The Beast and turn up my level every five minutes for twenty minutes.  I have got up to thirteen for five minutes.  Don’t know what I am talking about?  Get on the step-mill and turn it up! 

So next time it’s time for cardio try out The Beast aka the step-mill and a movie to entertain yourself.  You might find it is slightly less awful with something to keep your eyes busy.