Keep Exercise Fun and Adventurous

If the Gym Don't Fit, You Must Not Quit!

Remember playing baseball or soccer as a youngster? Getting together with your friends after school or on a Saturday afternoon and playing for hours at a time? Now what was the point of playing? To get in a good workout, or just to have fun?

Now think of today. Do you frequently find an excuse not to go to the gym, or just wake up and tell yourself you don’t really need to run today? Could it be that you’re missing some of the fun? That’s right, FUN! Did you forget about having fun with exercise?

Somewhere between constant visits to the overcrowded gym and waking up at 6 a.m. to go walking or running, fun may have taken a backseat. Sadly enough, we probably do not even realize our workouts are lacking the fun we used to enjoy on the ball field when we were younger. Now is a better time than ever to get that feeling back, and start jumping at the chance to workout.

First off, workouts do not have to consist of just lifting weights or running around the neighborhood. Who says you can’t still play baseball or soccer? There are recreational leagues for all ages and abilities all over the place. Maybe you can get your spouse involved and find a co-ed team. There are plenty of leagues out there too – tennis, basketball, and many more! Keep your eyes peeled and you’re sure to find one to your liking.

A fitness goldmine is the local park. What can you do at the park except walk the dog, you ask? How about hiking, rollerblading, biking, mountain biking, and canoeing to name a few, all of which are great exercise. And instead of being stuck inside a cramped, sweaty gym, you get to enjoy the outdoors!

Of course, you can get very adventurous and go after sports such as kayaking, climbing or cross country skiing. You might not be able to do all of these depending on where you live, but you probably have access to at least one.

Or take advantage of everyday activities you might normally avoid. Some of those chores can also be a great workout. Many dread the first sign of winter because they know it means shoveling the driveway. What a great workout this can be, though, for your arms, legs, your entire body. Same goes for raking leaves. If you get ambitious, you could volunteer to do it for your neighbor too!

These are just a few ideas and examples to get the fun and adventure back in your workout. The key is to find whatever gets you excited and give it a shot!

-- By Zach Van Hart, SparkPeople Contributor