Fitness: Cheap/Free Ways to Entertain Yourself When Exercising

Sorry I have been MIA during the holidays!  It has been crazy hectic on this end, but, I promise, all of my recipes and ideas are still being recorded in my phone, ready to become blog posts(:  And I am talking plenty of recipes(;

I have been looking for countless new ways to keep myself occupied with exercise, specifically with exercise that I find a little...tedious *cough* ellipitcal *cough*.  Just because I love to do it, it doesn't always mean that I am consistently enthusiastic and excited to work up a sweat on a stationary, hip torturing device.  Here are some (physical) ways to switch up your workouts.

• Do interval training
• fast pace for 30 seconds, 30 second break (and, if you're feeling super energized, try a few 60 second fast pace, 30 second breaks)
• Play with the resistance.  Climb a hill by adding a level every 30 seconds, play with your heart rate by increasing your pace, then climb back down.  This can be an interval and strength exercise.
• go backwards (for the elliptical specifically) -this can work the glutes more and cause muscle confusion (the only kind of confusion I like)
• Try a new sport/class
• Play basketball with friends, go to zumba, cycle indoors instead of out (or vice versa), rock climb, box, or learn how to strength train.  varying your workouts makes your routine...less routine(;
• Exercise to the music
• when running, walk during choruses as a break
• when doing intervals, speed up with your song or every chorus
• save these playlists for ONLY exercise, so they become something to look forward to when you hit the gym and become associated with workouts

As you know, I am a huge fan of audiobooks during my runs.  Now I have been trying podcasts during running and reading my new kindle (Thanks, Santa!) on the elliptical while doing my interval training.  

• Some books to try out on kindle or audiobook
• Hunger Games, Gone Girl, Bossypants, Why Are All of My Friends Hanging Out Without Me, Sylvia Day series, etc (if you ever need a book recommendation, I would LOVE to pass them along)
• Call a friend! (or bring one, which is even better!)
• This gives you a chance to catch up and bond.  Before you know it, 45 minutes will fly by!
• Netflix
• Watch it on your smartphone, tablet, or kindle when on a stationary machine.  It makes the time fly (if you're able to not sacficice your attention to your workout while using it these devices!) 
• It took me a long time to balance this stuff out.  Some days, I can.  Some, I can't.  Depends on my attention span and mood.  The workout comes first; I can always watch TV to relax afterwards.
• Podcast obsession: Serial
• These are free, and they are amazing!  This one specifically investigates a real murder case that was thought to be solved long ago.  The researcher wants to find the real story.

What is your favorite way to pass the time during a workout? Comment below!