workout, but feel you've wasted your time?

R

RhiannonW

Cathlete
Anybody ever feel this way? You complete a workout, but afterward
you feel like you've wasted your time? Maybe you didn't even break a sweat, but you've invested half your workout time already, so you can't do another complete workout and you keep hoping the one you're doing will get more challenging...
What do you do to make yourself feel better?
 
Sure, this happens once in a while. I just let it go and figure that it's better than nothing and plan something more intense for the following workouts to make up for it.

It is aggravating to use your precious exercise time for something that doesn't make you feel worked out!

Erica
 
Like Erica said, just count it as a low intensity workout. We all need those and sometimes we need to be FORCED to go low, LOL.

Today, I did HSC because it was on my rotation, but I'm not big on the high step workouts so it took me until almost the 3rd cycle (of 5) to start feeling into the workout. But, I know I've been working out hard, so this was a good change of pace.

Gayle
 
I always preview my workouts, so I can usually tell before even doing it if one is going to be a waste of time, and it goes right to my "Ebay" pile.

There have been times, though, when I did start a workout and was very frustrated with it(Kick Max comes to mind--the warm-up was great, first section too pivoty and lower intensity than I wanted, and the second section way jumpy). In that case, I might not finish the workout, and pop in a shorter workout that I like to end on a positive note. Usually, as you say, you can figure out by 1/2 way through that a workout isn't working for you. There's no need to do another complete workout (since the 'lame' workout was a warm-up), but doing 20 minutes or so of a more intense workout can leave you with the sense of having actually gotten an effective workout.

I actually sometimes like "not intense enough" workouts, like when I'm coming back from not working out for a while. Then I add my own modifications to increase the intensity, which feels much more like an accomplishment than having to 'modify down' during a more intense workout.
 
Yes, I do, even with workouts that normally kick butt. I suppose sometimes our bodies, or minds, aren't really prepared or able to put 100% into a workout. Then there are times when immediately after the w/o I feel like it was a flop, but then DOMS sets in the next day. The body is a fickle machine, huh?
 
That will happen to me on occasion and I will just make sure I give my best effort at my next work out. :)
 
I take pride in the fact that I am able to do a workout and find it "easy"! It means that all the work I've been doing with the higher intensity workouts has been effective. If a workout is feeling too easy for me, I try to focus on my posture and my form; go deep on knee bends, keep my shoulders back and down, etc. And then I just relish in the "ease" of the workout, and plan a harder one for the next day.

Cheers,
Sandra
 
This situation that you bring up is the exact reason that I started working out at home. I have a membership to a local rec center that has aerobic classes. Well, I think that their classes are geared only toward beginner because they are a total joke and I felt like I was wasting my time. But honestly I can only spend so much time on cardio machines before I am bored. I was so glad when I saw Cathe on FitTV and tried her Rhythmic Step. So challenging. I never knew you could have such great workouts at home :) .

Also, if I do have a workout that isn't as intense as I thought it would be I just try to think that it is better than sitting on the couch, even if it is frustrating x( .

Karin
 
Strength workouts are never wasted as I know I can always heavy up on the weights or put more into my form. Sometimes emphasizing the form can make a huge difference. I have finished some weights sessions and thought, well I had a nice workout, but nothing terribly challenging. And the next day been shocked by a raging case of DOMS. I remember those workouts and will grab them again...okay so I'm a little strange:)

Now with cardio, I do have to be aware of the intensity right away. If a few minutes into the body of the workout (once the warm-up is completed), my heart rate isn't going up sufficiently, then I KNOW I need to switch to something else. Usually a short, intense step session will salvage the session.
 
At that point I do one of two things:

1) Stop that workout and quickly put in another one...if I'm short on time I grab the CTX dvd and do one of those.

2) Stop that workout and run to the basement and hop on the treadmill.

This has happend to me quite a few times. It is so maddening, and disappointing, to have wasted not only your time...but your money on a dud workout. Just happened to me this last week with CIA Hi/Lo To The Max with Donna Read-that workout s*cks. Took it out after about 10 minutes and put in a PowerStrike.

Will be selling the Donna Read on Ebay.
 
If I feel that the workout was a waste but still have 5 minutes or so, I do as many push-ups as I can, then roll over and do reverse crunches for 1 minute, then as many push-ups as I can, then bicycle crunches (or whatever they are called) for 1 minute, then as many push-ups as I can and then 1 minute of regular crunches and then finally I see how long I can hold modified plank position (arms bent, weight on forearms and toes). If I can knock out 50-60 push-ups and get in a little ab work, I feel better.
 
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