Making Workouts Fun – Exercise Doesn’t Need To Be A Pain!
Most people can’t find the motivation to start exercising. They wonder how others can find any joy in burpees, running, pushups, squats or yoga. Many who do find the inspiration to exercise, find it a chore and can’t wait until it’s over.
The key to sticking to any fitness program is finding an activity that you enjoy enough to do regularly.
That means months and years after you originally set your goals, you’re still going at it.
If you find your exercise program unpleasant, boring, frustrating, and you hate every second of it, you probably won’t stick with it for the long term. It’s important to know that the best exercise program in the world is the one that you enjoy enough to participate in enough to experience results and get hooked!
“Enjoyable Exercise” will look different for everyone.
Some people love group classes and others like the solitude of working out alone.
Some people love to dance and enjoy Zumba classes.
Other might love a Barre, Pilates or Yoga class.
Some might love to hike, run the trails, swim or cycle.
Others might like to enjoy certain activities at different times of the year…water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding or surfing in the summer; skiing, boarding, XC skiing or snowshoeing in the winter.
Some like to lift weights and other like to rock climb.
Some like variety and will participate in several different activities to keep their program interesting.
Not every activity may bring the same level of enjoyment.
You might not love lifting weights, but you love the benefits it provides for your muscle, bone density and metabolism.
Certain activities may feel like a chore, but eventually (usually after a couple months) they will become much more enjoyable. You become more skilled and/or start to experience results. In the beginning, will-power and discipline are definitely involved. Don’t give up.
Other tips to make exercise fun…
Music motivates
Create an awesome playlist with your favorite music to keep exercise interesting.
Distraction
Watch a movie or listen to a podcast while working out to keep your mind stimulated during workouts.
Fun in numbers
Encourage a friend or loved one to workout with you to make the time pass more quickly and help ywith your adherence.
Variety is the spice of life
Try something new that you’ve always wanted to do to maintain excitement. Cross-training will also help to prevent boredom.
Mix up your approach
Take running for example, one day run long and slow, another day run shorter but harder – try hills, track workouts and intervals to keep your running program interesting.
Train and participate in organized events with friends
Pull together a team for an adventure race, do a Triathlon relay with friends, family or co-workers, train for a Half Marathon together…Fun events like this give purpose to your training and it’s fun to cross the finish line with your training buddies!
Yours in health & fitness,
Sherri McMillan
Sherri McMillan
Sherri McMillan, holds a master's degree in exercise physiology and has been inspiring the world to adopt a fitness lifestyle for more than 33 years. She has received numerous industry awards including 2010 CanFitPro International Presenter of the Year, 2006 IDEA Fitness Director of the Year, 1998 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, 1998 CanFitPro Fitness Presenter of the Year and 2005/2006 ACE Fitness Educator of the Year - Runner up. She is a fitness trainer, fitness columnist for various magazines and newspapers, author of five books and manuals including "Go For Fit - the Winning Way to Fat Loss" and "Fit over Forty" and the featured presenter in various fitness DVDs. She has presented hundreds of workshops to thousands of fitness leaders throughout Canada, Australia, Mexico, Jamaica, New Zealand, Germany, England, Spain, South America, Asia and the U.S. She is the owner of Northwest Personal Training in downtown Vancouver, the founder of WHY Racing Events & WHY Community, participates in various community fundraisers and can be found running, biking, or hiking around the community. Find more information at nwpersonaltraining.com.