Which Way Do You Prefer to Count?

Get the best of POPSUGAR
Fitness — in your inbox!

Help us customize your newsletter by selecting your interests (optional):

Yoga Working Out Running Weight Loss

Which Way Do You Prefer to Count?

February 1, 2008

I count forward when doing reps at the gym, but after writing about switching up the way you count I realized that many folks like to count backwards. The cardio machines at my gym even have the option to count up or count down, and I always pick up. So what about you?

Source

Poll Counting

31 Comments

jossfan23 5 years 16 weeks

i count up when doing cardio - but when doing reps i count 1/2 way up and then 1/2 way down. it makes it seem like less to me.

KAEB06 5 years 16 weeks

Count down- I like to know how long I have LEFT...keeps me motivated

JaimeLeah526 5 years 16 weeks

Counting up makes the time go by faster. If I'm staring at the amount of time I have left than it's just going to depress.

SassyRedhead 5 years 16 weeks

Counting up makes every one seem like more of an achievement. I worry that if I counted down I would rush each rep since it's more of an end oriented goal.

tiabia 5 years 16 weeks

When doing reps with my trainer, I always do 20 reps in one set, so I have about 3 different counting methods: count from 1-20, count from 20-1, and counts of 1-5, 5-1. I do this to keep me from feeling less fatigue...

Spectra 5 years 16 weeks

It depends: If I'm doing the programs on the elliptical, I count down. If I'm going at it freestyle, I count up. When I do weights, I count up (I just usually never think to count down, I suppose).

DeviousMuse 5 years 16 weeks

I generally count down when I'm starting something new with my weight-training (something exceptionally hard or that I'm nervous about), because it goes with my idea of "try a few and see how you feel." If I count up, I feel like the number is infinite and it can be discouraging.However, I usually count up on my cardio because I'll push myself a little more/longer... unless I'm doing a specific timed workout (how far in 30min) vs. a distance workout (3mi in how long).

DeviousMuse 5 years 16 weeks

I generally count down when I'm starting something new with my weight-training (something exceptionally hard or that I'm nervous about), because it goes with my idea of "try a few and see how you feel." If I count up, I feel like the number is infinite and it can be discouraging. However, I usually count up on my cardio because I'll push myself a little more/longer... unless I'm doing a specific timed workout (how far in 30min) vs. a distance workout (3mi in how long).

GlowingMoon 5 years 16 weeks

Count down.

GlowingMoon 5 years 16 weeks

Count down.

melizzle 5 years 16 weeks

Count up... I honestly never thought of counting down!

Swen 5 years 16 weeks

I count up. Strange, but I feel like it fits in with my life philosophy. I'd rather see what I have accomplished rather than what I have left to do.

Tutta 5 years 16 weeks

I count up when doing strength training, but always count down on cardio machines.

jesssa 5 years 16 weeks

i count up on the elliptical or treadmill and down on the stepper. reason being i need to constantly know that i'm almost done on the step machine, lol!