Are you one of those people who the thought of exercise conjures up images of torture devises, pain and misery? If so, you're not alone. A lot of people don't exercise at all because they can't get past the thought of it: it's just a very undesirable activity for them and one they are not interested in participating in. However, regular exercise has been proven to lower many lifestyle diseases including cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes. Seniors who exercise regularly are independent much longer in their life times and have fewer complications. We all know it's good for us, but how can we make such an undesirable act fun? Here are a few tips that will help with that and help you to love exercising.
1. FIND SOMETHING YOU ENJOY. If you hate running, every morning when it's time to hit the road you will come up with 100 excuses as to why you can't go. What's the motivation if you hate it? Find something you do enjoy and start there. If you enjoy it, then it will be hard for you to wait until the next time you get to do that activity. Besides running, I love racquetball. I can be in that court for an hour, playing hard, and it feels like only 15 minutes has gone by. If you love it, you will do it.
2. FIND A PARTNER. Having a partner in crime makes any activity more fun. Would it have been much fun throwing toilet paper all over the neighbors house if you were out there doing it all on your own? Of course not. It was fun because you were out there with a bunch of your friends. Find a partner to workout with, keep your mind off of exercising, and make it a social even. Besides, if you have someone counting on you meet them, you will be less likely to not go.
3. HAVE VARIETY IN YOUR WEEK. If you do the same workout, at the same time, in the same place every single day it's going to get really old really fast. Shake it up. Run a different route, or do a different activity from time to time. I run three days a week and workout in the gym three days a week. On running days I run a slightly different route from time to time and on gym days I never to the same workout twice. This keeps me from getting bored.
4. LEARN A NEW SKILL OR EXERCISE. When I got my kettle-bells, I couldn't wait for gym day to go out and learn some new exercises with them. Then I got my spin bike and all of the sudden cardio was super fun. In the past I have taken Karate, tried out Yoga and tinkered with Palates to name a few of the activities new to me. When something is new it is exciting, so keep things fresh and always be trying new things.
5. HAVE A GOAL. I can't understate the importance of goals. It's what keeps you going on the days you don't feel like going. Knowing that you have a half-marathon you have to complete or that you want to do 50 push-ups by Christmas will keep you moving. It gives your workouts purpose and direction.
6. PARTICIPATE IN A FUN RUN. There are so many fun runs these days. You can swim through mud, run through paint and be chased by zombies. These runs are designed to be fun. It's pretty much impossible to get a good time while you are zig-zagging to avoid the living dead getting a hold of you, or trying to clamber your way out of a 5 foot mud pit. Participate in these events, and just have fun doing it. Oh, and there is always a big party afterwards (usually with a beer garden and music) so where is the downside to this?
7. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. Yes running is great cardio and hefting weights is good to build muscle, but that is not your only options to get into great shape. Think about the scene in Rocky IV.... Drago is training in the state of the art training facility while Rocky is in the back country of Russia training by splitting wood, running through snow and throwing around huge ass concrete blocks. Remember who won that fight? Think outside the box to make things more fun. Hiking, kayaking, landscaping, and chasing your kids around the playground will all get you some serious calorie burn and work your heart and muscles. There's a reason why our ancestors didn't have to exercise - life was exercise.
8. GET A ROUTINE. If you are sporadic with your workouts you will never get into good enough shape to reach the fun part. You will spend every single workout trying to get past the hump - being sore, tired and grumpy. That is no fun at all. Once you get past that hump though, and you can complete a workout with energy to spare, then you will finally see where the addiction is. Keep at it, stay consistent, and once your body is feeling strong it's a whole new ball game.
9. DRESS FOR SUCCESS. Yes, you can get the same workout in sloppy sweats and a hole ridden t-shirt as you can in your lulu lemon - but you look so much better in the lulu lemon! This may sound shallow, but it really makes a difference when you feel like you are dressed for the part. And when you look good you feel good. Also, exercise clothes were designed with exercising in mind. They are made to wick sweat, move with your body and support your muscles. You will feel so much more comfortable if you wear the appropriate clothing and, let's face it, if you have an awesome outfit you can't wait to put on, then maybe that will motivate you out and get you moving.
10. SOMETHING IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN NOTHING!!!!! This is my mantra. If you are tired, running low on time or just not feeling it, just do something. I guarantee, most of the time you will keep going because getting started is the hardest part, but if you need to stop early then do it. Never take the all or nothing attitude, this will just set you up for failure. Even if you just do a little bit it's better than sitting on the butt doing nothing and your mind will feel better.
I promise you, if you stick with it, follow these steps and have a good attitude you will come to love exercising. And there isn't much in life more empowering than that!
