I don’t know about you guys but I hate working out so I have to find creative ways to make exercise fun. Otherwise, I don’t look forward to doing it and I usually end up making excuses.
Even if you eat a really healthy diet, you still need to incorporate exercise into your life. Being active controls your weight, reduces stress and helps to prevent disease.
Here are ten ways that your can make your exercise routine fun so you actually stick to it.
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10 Ways To Make Exercise Fun
1. Go Outdoors
Walking on a treadmill and staring at a blank wall is not my idea of a good time. I stay motivated for a few minutes and then I bail in favour of something else. When you go outside, suddenly exercise doesn’t seem so tedious. The scenery changes and keeps your mind engaged.
Best of all, it’s free. Go for a walk in the park or just around your neighbourhood. Go on a hike or a bike ride. Live near a beach? Take a swim or stroll on the shore.
2. Bring A Friend
Activities with friends are always more interesting. I know when I go walking with a companion, we talk and laugh and the time whizzes past before we know it.
3. Group Classes
There are plenty of places offering group exercise classes that you can take part in. Try a Zumba class at your local gym or any other kind of class that strikes your fancy. You’ll push yourself harder because you’re surrounded by people and you’re being guided by an instructor. Also, there’s usually music involved which makes everything more fun.
4. Music
That brings me to my next point. Music.
Blast your favourite upbeat tunes on your MP3 player and get to work, work, work, work, work! (A little Rihanna reference.) You don’t even have to complete a regular workout. Just dance your butt off while no-one is watching. You’ll be sweaty and out of breath in no time.
5. Dance
Dancing burns a lot of calories and it doesn’t feel like torture. I joined a salsa class a few years ago and let me tell you, I was always drenched when the class was over.
There’s a ton of variety and you don’t need to have majored in dance to enjoy a class. Try different ones until you find something you like. Maybe line dancing is more your thing.
6. Sports
Try a sport that you like. Tennis, squash or volleyball with your friends on a Saturday afternoon are great ways to burn some calories.
7. Play With Your Kids Or Dog
Young children and dogs seem to have an endless supply of energy or maybe it’s just the ones I know. In any case, they’ll never say no to a romp outside. (Well, technically your dog can’t say anything unless you have a talking dog and if so, send me a video immediately!) Put on your sneakers and get out there with them.
8. Play Video Games That Encourage Movement
The explosion of video games has resulted in children, and adults, spending hours on the couch in front of the TV. The manufacturers of these games have caught on and decided to do something about it. Enter the Wii Fit and fitness video games for other gaming systems. There’s a whole term for it now called “exer-gaming”.
Good Housekeeping has compiled a list of exercise games for various game consoles and fitness levels in their article 12 Fun Fitness Video Games That Work.
9. Mix It Up
Don’t do the same old routine every time you want to work out. If you go to the gym, throw in a class every once in a while. If you walk, do it at different times of the day. Not to sound cheesy here but variety is the spice of life. If you vary your exercise, you won’t get bored.
10. Dress The Part
Baggy sweatpants and t-shirts are no longer the norm when it comes to workout clothes. When you dress well, you feel great. Something about wearing stylish gym clothes makes the act of exercising a little more rewarding.
You can now find great quality active wear that is also fashionable thanks to companies like Fabletics.
However you go about it, find a way to make exercising fun so that you’ll actually stick with it.