7 Ways To Make Exercise Fun For Everyone
From Atkins to Paleo to eating gluten-free despite not being one of the rare few people afflicted with celiac disease, fad diets are everywhere. It drives me crazy because I believe these diets do more harm than good. Your body is made up of a variety of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals, and losing weight healthily isn’t possible when you fill your body with unnecessary synthetic plastics, sugars, and powders. There’s no easy button in life.
What you need to do is exercise, which isn’t very appealing to many people. Workouts take work, so there’s already a stigma involved in going to the gym. Starting a healthy workout regimen becomes easier when you make it fun. If you want to live long and prosper, get off the couch and try these methods to turn your workout into a playout.
1. Take the scenic route.
It’s good to get fresh air.
Walking is an easy way to transition to a healthy lifestyle, and it’s free. Not only do you burn calories (check out
this calculator for how many calories you burn based on your weight), but you see the world in a different way. Hiking in nature is great if you have access to it, but don’t let living in an urban area deter you from walking.
Whenever I’m creatively stuck I get my head straight by walking a couple of miles. It’s also how I discover new paths, meet new people, and stumble upon hole-in-the-wall spots I never would have found otherwise. You could drive past the same place every day and never appreciate the beauty, nor even notice it’s there.
2. Distract yourself.
You can’t trust your coworkers.
No matter what exercise routine you choose, use the time to meditate. You may wonder how marathon runners are able to put so many miles on their bodies. It’s because the pain from running that you avoid is something they’ve learned to harness to enter a transcendental state. If you’re aware of the benefits of meditation and exercise but don’t have time to do both, you can combine them, killing two birds with one healthy stone.
3. Listen to music or podcasts.
Not a creature was stirring, except that damn mouse.
There are few experiences in life more pleasurable than turning up the music and drowning out the world around you. With so many podcasts and music apps available on your smartphone, you can easily find entertainment options perfectly suited to your personal tastes. Never worry what people may think of you when working out;instead, crank up the volume and get lost in your own world. You’ll be in shape before you know it.
4. Bring a friend.
SMH…
Some people can’t go anywhere alone. While I highly recommend dining out and seeing a movie in a theater alone, having company while exercising is very helpful. It allows you to pace yourself with someone else, and gives you a coach to motivate and push harder than you may have on your own.
Many exercises are safer when done with a friend, and some sports can only be played with another person. Involving others in your goals can mean the difference between success and failure. Just remember to continue exercising if the other person flakes, or they’ll be in control of your health.
5. Accessorize.
Turn down for what?
There are accessories that can make exercise easier, and sometimes buying a new toy can add some much-needed fun to your routine. With apps like RunKeeper and Nike+, your smartphone is capable of tracking your vitals and progress. Wrist weights can add a new dimension to your workout, and, if you exercise at night, a headlamp can help you see what’s in front of you so you don’t trip.
For urban runners and power-walkers, one of the biggest obstacles is other people. It’s difficult to get in your meditative zone and enjoy your music when you constantly have to dodge people. To resolve this vexing issue,
Runbell, a startup in Tokyo, has developed the runner’s version of the bicycle bell. With this lightweight brass bell warning people you’re approaching from behind, you’re free to maintain your transcendental state while continuing your workout. Head to
their Kickstarter campaign to pledge your support.
6. Compete.
Loser becomes gaegogi.
A little healthy competition can motivate you to push yourself further in your workout regimen. There are apps like Zombies, Run! which turns your run into a video game, and MyFitnessPal which allows you to connect with others in the exercise community. Whether you’re directly competing with a friend, an online community, or against your previous self, setting goals is the key to reaching them. Running with no destination can feel like an impossible task, and it’s easy to get distracted.
7. Relax.
Don’t be a lemon.
The best part about exercising is how much you enjoy the downtime. If you think laying on your couch all day is enjoyable, it has nothing on that hour you spend as a couch potato after a rigorous workout. Jay-Z said it best, “in order to experience joy, you need pain.” The harder you push yourself while exercising, the better you’ll feel when you’re relaxing.
With that said, don’t relax too much, or it loses the effect. It’s okay to indulge every so often. Treat yourself to some junk food you’re craving, imbibe a drink here and there, and spend a day vegging out on your couch. Staying healthy doesn’t have to be torture. Just turn down when you can and dedicate some time to better the health of your body. You only get one.
Summer is a wonderful time to shake up your social life and try some
new and funny things. It is important to have an active lifestyle,
because it fulfills you with energy and improves your reputation and
social status. Look for romance if you are single or broaden the circle
of friends and acquaintances with these seven ways to make your social
life more interesting.
Starting an activity for the first time is perhaps the most fun you
can ever experience; it’s new, completely out of the ordinary, exciting
to take part in, and is hardly ever boring. But there will ultimately
come a time where that excitement begins to wear off and the shine is no
longer what it used to be when you first started.
There are many easy ways to make your summer fun when you think it’s
boring. Whether you’re working, or you’re in summer school, or on summer
break, you can still have lots of fun. When the weather is amazing,
there are so many interesting things to do to have a fun summer. Here
are a few great ideas to try this summer.
This tidbit of Ferris Bueller wisdom is probably even more relevant in today’s fast-paced society than it was at the time of the movie’s release. Between our phones, our careers and the Internet, there’s always something pulling our attention away from the here and now. It’s easy to let minutes, hours and even days slip by without a second thought.
It doesn’t take a meteorologist to confirm that weather affects mood.
If it’s rainy, things can get a little gloomy, and if it’s sunny,
there’s often an extra kick in our steps. But what happens when weather
becomes a deal breaker? If the winter doldrums bring depression year after year, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) could be to blame.
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Greg Go, co-author of Wise Bread‘s new book, 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget. Buy the book today (by Monday 11:59pm PDT) and get a $15 Ebates bonus and a chance to win a brand new Flip Cam.
I have felt unworthy of love for a lot of my life. A common question that replayed in my head during my high school years was: “Why would anyone be interested in me?” My
insecurity made me see problems where they didn’t exist, turning what
could have been a successful relationship into a short-lived, dismal
failure. Know the feeling? If so, here are 7 ways to let go of
insecurity.
Look, we get it, no one wants to lose their passport or get robbed
when they travel… you want to dress for comfort and take a lot of
pictures… but do you really have to stick out like a sore thumb when
abroad? We submit that you do not.
Do you feel like your spend your days reacting to everything that
happens to you, and you wish that you could stop the merry-go-round and
have things go the way you want them?“I beg of you, don’t say goodbye; Can’t we give our love another try; Come on baby, let’s start anew; ‘Cause breaking up is hard to do” – Neil Sedaka
I have met countless successful people who can speak up a storm in front of a big crowd, but once moved away from the spotlight, they turn into shy people ’cause they are, actually, introverts. You know why I’m privy to how things work-out in their lives? I am a certified self confessed introvert like them.
Many of us have one or several habits that we consider bad and
we want to break, but not all of us know how to do it. Perhaps, the worst thing
about bad habits is when they rule our life. Before you start breaking your bad
habits, you need to realize them first. Write your bad habits down and follow 9
tips that will help you to get rid of them.
So you’re stuck, huh? Welcome to the crowd. With constant peer pressure
from social media to define ourselves in 140 characters or less, it’s no
surprise that who we actually are gets lost in the shuffle.
But once we get away from those glowing screens of identity-makers, how
do we decide what our strengths are and how to use them? Identify your
talents and start using them now with these ten simple tips:
Getting attention of the guy you are interested in can be a bit
tricky, especially if you don’t use your looks. Looks are not everything
and personality is much more important than looks. Although guys are
highly visual creatures, most of them understand that a woman has a
personality attached to her face and her body. If you notice a nice guy,
but you think you don’t look your best to get him to like you, try
these seven ways to attract a guy without using your looks.
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