By Brooke Chaplan
One of the biggest reasons workout routines fail over time is because they’re not fun. You need to have an active and engaging workout to keep you coming back for more. Toiling away to an exercise DVD at home, or hitting the gym just to stare at the wall five days a week is no way to keep your mind interested in physical activity. Think outside the box and have fun when you work out!
Geocaching
What’s this, you ask? It’s the closest thing you can get to treasure hunting. Slap on a pirate hat, and grab your parrot as you head into local areas and search out a box of “treasures” hidden away at a certain geographical location. You search for the location using a GPS that pinpoints the exact latitude and longitude of your treasure chest. Burn calories as you zigzag through forests, and up and down hills. Some geocache hiders stick their bounty in very hard to find places so you can easily put on a few miles on one trip and not even realize just how far you’ve hiked! You can even pass along the fun by hiding some of your own in some remote areas. It’s a fun hike with a specific destination in mind.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
If you’re lucky enough to have waterways nearby, consider picking up a paddle. Paddling a canoe or kayak through water can tone your arms, shoulders, back, and abs in a way that won’t feel like you’re exercising at all. You’ll spot something interesting off in the water and paddle faster to get to it, meaning you’re upping your heart rate, and making your muscles work even harder. Going through rapids in rivers will challenge you, and make the workout more extreme. You’ll spot nature and wildlife that you won’t find being stuck on land. Ask an ocean kayaker about their up close encounters with whales or dolphins and you’ll be running for a kayak.
Let Rover Be Your Personal Trainer
When you take your dog for a walk, let him do the walking. If your dog has excellent recall skills, head out for a hike and let your dog set the pace and the route. Got a competitive spirit? Talk to a dog trainer about training your pooch for things like agility or Flyball. You’ll get an excellent cardio workout that proves to be consistent if you want to place in events, and Fido will be happy to be getting some energy burned as well.
Join a Sports Team
Sports are way more fun as an adult. Forget the nerve wracking days of gym class where you were always picked last. Check out your local community center for adults-only softball and volleyball teams. You’ll have the accountability of showing up for team practices and the fun atmosphere of post-game parties without all that high school stress.
Take an Active Vacation
There are travel agencies that will book you vacations centered around your favorite sport. Like to run or cycle? Hit the trails through picturesque Ireland where you’ll run past ancient castles, and cycle along the crashing coastline. Visit the land down under for a package of tennis vacations worldwide that includes professional coaching, unlimited court time, and even just-for-fun competitions with other players. You might even get the chance to watch the Australian Open.
Stop thinking about exercise as a “must do” and turn it into something you want to do. Skip the gym for a few days and hit the great outdoors with friends, family, or your pooch to experience what being active is all about.
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