Making Fitness Fun
by Barbara A. Brehm, Ed.D.
People who manage to keep exercising day after day and year after year have developed ways to find immediate gratification from their exercise time. What do I mean by this? While a lifetime of regular physical activity offers many future health benefits, making time to exercise is easier when you get some of the rewards today. The knowledge that exercise is helping to prevent obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and other health problems may not always be enough motivation to get you away from the demands of work and family and into your sneakers. On the other hand, knowing that you are just one workout away from feeling great can help you make daily exercise a priority. Here are some suggestions for getting more stress relief and more fun out of your exercise program.
Sometimes you can combine your goal to be physically active with other goals that are important to you. For example, are there people in your life that you would like to spend more time with? Parents, for example, might be able to find ways to be active with their children. Consider activities you and your children might enjoy together. Younger children would love to have you join them playing tag, riding bikes or sledding. Older children might accompany you hiking or skiing.
Is there a friend who would join you regularly for a walk, bicycle ride or a trip to the weight room? Maybe you would both like to sign up for an exercise class or join a recreational sport team.
Don't overlook opportunities at work. Perhaps some meetings, especially those with only two or three people, could be transformed into a walking discussion. Walking is a great way to stimulate creative thinking.
Cultivate a garden. Digging, planting and weeding can be great calorie burners. Go on garden tours that require plenty of walking. How about bird watching? Join an organisation that goes out for weekly nature hikes or bicycle rides. Maybe you would like to learn a new activity or revisit one you used to enjoy, such as canoeing or snowshoeing. Many outdoor activities are a great way to enjoy nature, get fresh air and spend time with interesting people. You might even forget you are exercising.
Whether it's square dancing at the community center or rocking out at a club, dancing is great exercise and a lot of fun. Consider taking a class, such as ballet, folk, swing or tap dancing. Community groups may sponsor evenings of line, folk or contra dancing, often with free instruction for beginners.
Is there a sport you used to love? Try competing in or simply training for an event, whatever appeals to you the most. Find a group compatible with your age and skill level, and have fun! Or try a new sport. Check out local opportunities and consider taking a beginner's class to help get in shape. You may even enjoy some coaching to improve your skills.
Walking is the easiest and most accessible form of exercise for many people. Maximize your walking enjoyment by finding interesting routes and fun people to walk with. If you like walking with a group, what about a hiking or walking club? If none exists in your area, start your own.
Keep your brain busy with interesting diversions while you exercise. Distractions are especially great if you are using exercise machines. Let your body use the machine while you read, watch a video, listen to music or do crossword puzzles.
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