Bored of training

Dirk_Diggler

Back training a couple of months now but already I'm getting pretty bored of it all. Even though I hit a couple of PBs last week it's still not enough. I train at home (just have a bench) and for 3 evenings a week it always goes like this:

7pm start training
5x5 Bench press
5x5 Dumbbell row
5x5 Deadlift/bodyweight tabata squats

and then if I've time/energy I'll do some press ups or bodyweight dips.

8pm finish training

9pm (feeling full after my workout drink and post workout drink - both containing 500ml water, 30g protein and 60g glucose) I have dinner.


It's just, well, boring.

pvt.joker

Why not mix it up a bit? . Every routine gets boring if you do it for months on end without variation. Add in some new stuff , chin ups etc .

celestial

Dirk_Diggler wrote: »

Back training a couple of months now but already I'm getting pretty bored of it all. Even though I hit a couple of PBs last week it's still not enough. I train at home (just have a bench) and for 3 evenings a week it always goes like this:

7pm start training
5x5 Bench press
5x5 Dumbbell row
5x5 Deadlift/bodyweight tabata squats

and then if I've time/energy I'll do some press ups or bodyweight dips.

8pm finish training

9pm (feeling full after my workout drink and post workout drink - both containing 500ml water, 30g protein and 60g glucose) I have dinner.


It's just, well, boring.

Boring in the sense of you don't enjoy the exercises, or you are just bored overall with training at home?

IMO a big part of working out is working out in the gym itself. Having other people around you training, noticing what they are doing, what level they are at, the music, sounds etc, is a big part of the whole experience I feel. It helps drive you and motivate you when there others sweating it out (well the odd one or two sweating it out) around you.

You could consider joining one for a few months, would likely give you a fresh outlook.

Charlie3dan

What was it that motivated you to start that routine in the first place?

Change your routine, set new goals, try something new (take up a sport/ martial art/ yoga?). Try doing something competitive, the will to win is a great motivator.
Or as celestial says maybe the gym would be good.

aye

Dirk_Diggler wrote: »

Back training a couple of months now but already I'm getting pretty bored of it all. Even though I hit a couple of PBs last week it's still not enough. I train at home (just have a bench) and for 3 evenings a week it always goes like this:

7pm start training
5x5 Bench press
5x5 Dumbbell row
5x5 Deadlift/bodyweight tabata squats

and then if I've time/energy I'll do some press ups or bodyweight dips.

8pm finish training

9pm (feeling full after my workout drink and post workout drink - both containing 500ml water, 30g protein and 60g glucose) I have dinner.


It's just, well, boring.

change it so.
do clean and presses, dumbbell swings, military presses etc.
do a circuit style workout maybe involving tuck jumps, power lunges, skipping etc.
get a medicine ball and do press ups with that.

go do a boxing class, circuit class etc.

mix it up a bit

Money Shot

Weight training can be very boring and it isn't for everyone, ditto running on threadmill and many other gym based activities.

Fortunately, there are many, many other ways to keep in shape. Playing a sport with others is generally more fun that pumping away in your bedroom (pardon the pun).

Five-a-side football, cylcing, tennis, tag rugby, rugby, GAA, hockey etc You could also try swimming, running, hill walking, mountain climbing etc to see if you enjoy these more than weights.

You will still have the weights for when you fancy it or get your motivation back. There really is a lot more to fitness than Bench, deadlift, squat followed by PWO shake.;)

Dirk_Diggler

Thanks for the replies. Joining a gym is not a viable option as I live in the middle of nowhere and finances at this present time do not allow me to join one.

I enjoy bench pressing, rows, dips, press ups, chins...but I detest deadlifts. But I keep doing them because I know they're vital in seeing some real gains. The reason I train? Well, to be stronger, look better, able to hold myself well on the pitch (when I do bother to play).

The reason I haven't changed my routine is that I've read so much about bench and deads being so important to your training that you must keep them in. Now I'm afraid to even change it up a little.

Charlie3dan

Dirk_Diggler wrote: »

The reason I haven't changed my routine is that I've read so much about bench and deads being so important to your training that you must keep them in. Now I'm afraid to even change it up a little.

Changing your routine will give more benefit than slogging away endlessly at the same thing.

Definitely sounds like you need to set some new goals.
The being able to hold yourself on the pitch can't be much of a motivator if you don't often bother to play.

rubadub

It can get a bit boring, I got gymnastic rings for my chinning bar and love messing around on them. I do various gymnastic static holds too now. I do a lot of chinning and legraises, levers etc on the bar. (a bar is €11 in argos, you could make rings for under €20 and loop them over some wood spanning across an attic hole, you can do chins & dips etc on the rings and loads of other stuff)

I will have to run and hide saying this on this forum , but I also am not fond of squats & deadlifts and do not do them much at all now (though I always recommend others should do them!). But I am getting into front squats, I do like cleaning the bar up and lashing some out, I also like goblet squats.

I also go out cycling and do chins & dips & other stuff on monkey bars and other stuff in a local park (cabinteely). I also cycle along the coast and there are various structures to do pullups etc on.

If you check my signature link there are guides to lots of weird ideas, the link is a sticky post on a forum where lads are getting up to all sorts of mad training ideas, tyre flipping, sandbag training, sled pulling etc.

BossArky

You need to freshen thinks up by getting out of the house. Go for a run, do pull ups on goal posts, etc.

Al_Fernz

rubadub wrote: »

I will have to run and hide saying this on this forum , but I also am not fond of squats & deadlifts and do not do them much at all now (though I always recommend others should do them!).

Do you do them with a full oly bar? Using a thicker bar makes these exercises way more enjoyable IMO.

OP your routine is good but if your not enjoying it whats the point in continuing it? I know that if I was doing the same lifts every session I would get bored very quickly. Split things up so that you're always doing something different.

I deadlift, squat and bench on 3 separate days. That way I always go in with a fresh exercise to do. Knowing that you won't be doing the exercise for another week or so is a great motivator too. It makes you really want to nail the last set so that you don't walk away from the gym with any regrets.

I've also found that doing isolation movements at after compound lifts can be very motivating. Everybody enjoys a good pump.

celestial

Al_Fernz wrote: »

I've also found that doing isolation movements at after compound lifts can be very motivating. Everybody enjoys a good pump.

+1

Al_Fernz

Arnie agrees too!:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMjG2s6UOaw&feature=related

celestial

Al_Fernz wrote: »

Arnie agrees too!:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMjG2s6UOaw&feature=related

If it's good enough for Arnie......:D

Transform

Man that was funny!!!

Transform

Lunges instead of squats.

Straight leg deadlift instead of normal deadlifts

High rep press ups instead of bench press (elbows in to sides and feet on a bench)

Chins

Bent over lateral raises or band pulls to chest for the upper back.

BTW what are your numbers i.e. weights being lifted, height, weight, body fat?

rubadub

Al_Fernz wrote: »

Do you do them with a full oly bar? Using a thicker bar makes these exercises way more enjoyable IMO.

I only have a standard bar at home and no squat rack. I am just lazy and loading up plates for deadlifts is a pain, I squat what I can get on my back by pressing it up and over, only about 65kg now. I thought an oly bar was the same thickness as a standard bar where you hold it anyway?

Also I cycle everyday and legs can be in tatters after lots of squats, I only lift to stay relatively fit and get rid of the gut, and simply enjoy the other exercises a lot more. I should eat healthier and drink less too, but enjoy what I eat & drink and am happy enough with my current shape.

celestial

rubadub wrote: »

I only have a standard bar at home and no squat rack. I am just lazy and loading up plates for deadlifts is a pain, I squat what I can get on my back by pressing it up and over, only about 65kg now. I thought an oly bar was the same thickness as a standard bar where you hold it anyway?

Also I cycle everyday and legs can be in tatters after lots of squats, I only lift to stay relatively fit and get rid of the gut, and simply enjoy the other exercises a lot more. I should eat healthier and drink less too, but enjoy what I eat & drink and am happy enough with my current shape.

Got any identity-preserving pics Rub?! I'm interested to see what this 25 pint a week gut of yours looks like?:D

pvt.joker

celestial wrote: »

Got any identity-preserving pics Rub?! I'm interested to see what this 25 pint a week gut of yours looks like?:D

+1 fair play to you if you can get away with it!

Dirk_Diggler

Transform wrote: »

Lunges instead of squats.

Straight leg deadlift instead of normal deadlifts

High rep press ups instead of bench press (elbows in to sides and feet on a bench)

Chins

Bent over lateral raises or band pulls to chest for the upper back.

BTW what are your numbers i.e. weights being lifted, height, weight, body fat?

Cheers.

Not sure what band pulls are but I'll try and incorporate some of the other stuff tomorrow. I'll post here to let you know how it goes.

Numbers? Nothing major tbh! 5x5 bench is now at 67kg (not sure what my max 1 rep is though), dumbbell row is 26kg at 5x5 and deads are 5x5 at 80kg. I'm just under 6ft and weigh about 12 and a half. Ain't sure about my bodyfat but it's not too much.

rubadub

celestial wrote: »

Got any identity-preserving pics Rub?! I'm interested to see what this 25 pint a week gut of yours looks like?:D

I could, but all ye damn Irish begrudgers would just say I used fancy lighting and photoshop

celestial

rubadub wrote: »

I could, but all ye damn Irish begrudgers would just say I used fancy lighting and photoshop

Ah come on, ya know us by now - harsh but fair;)

Dirk_Diggler

What do you guys use as a platform for the straight leg deadlift? Also, at 100% I'm lifting 80kg with a normal deadlift, will it more likely be greater or less than this for the straight leg one?

rubadub

Dirk_Diggler wrote: »

What do you guys use as a platform for the straight leg deadlift? Also, at 100% I'm lifting 80kg with a normal deadlift, will it more likely be greater or less than this for the straight leg one?

Probably less, especially as you are only starting out doing them. When trying new exercises always start VERY light, get your form correct. Overhead squats are the big one to watch for as it can be dangerous, and if new to them the weight you can handle will be FAR less than a back squat. Even an empty 20kg oly bar would be dodgy for your first overhead squat. Your front squat will be lower than the back one too.