Simple Ways to Make a Fitness Workout Fun

If you find yourself bored with an average and mundane fitness workout every day, it doesn’t have to be anymore.

Courtesy of our fitness expert, here are some helpful and simple ways you can make a fitness workout more fun.

1. Variety is the spice of life

“Most people make the mistake of going to the gym and just sticking with one piece of equipment,” says Sean Wells, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, and the fitness expert at bistroMD. “Variety is important when it comes to achieving the best balanced workout. Instead of walking on the treadmill for long periods of time, expand your horizons.”

If you haven’t jumped rope since you were a kid, give it another try. To make things a little more fun, get some of your closest friends and go roller skating or roller blading. Skating is great exercise, and can really bring friends together for a great time.

2. Happy trails

If you are looking for something different to do, hop on a search engine and look for local parks or hiking trails in your area.

“Trail running is great, and it can really build up your endurance and stamina,” says Sean. “It adds a nice variety to your workout, and isn’t as hard on your joints as a treadmill.”

Trail running is a great fitness workout simply because it also improves your agility. The element of surprise is nothing new on a trail, which may require you to hop over or dodge unforeseen objects or obstacles. This is a great, natural way to build your agility. Trails will literally keep you on your toes.

3. Re-arrange your living room

If there is a block of television that you simply can’t miss, fight the couch potato syndrome by turning your living room into your own home gym.

“To get a full body workout, you really only need a few key pieces of equipment,” says Sean. “A simple mat with an exercise ball and some weights will suffice. You can tone your core using the exercise ball, and with some light weights, you can tone your arms by sets of bicep curls and lateral raises. You can also do a rotation of planks on your mat while you enjoy your favorite show.”

4. Just dance!

Dancing is a great workout, and it’s a great way to make fitness more fun and enjoyable. Whether you are a fan of Beyonce or The Beatles, dancing is a great way to slash calories and tone muscle.

“Just dancing could help you burn as many as 500 calories, depending on your current weight and the period of time you dance,” says Sean. “Not only does dancing help you burn calories, but it is a great way to tone core muscles, as well as your legs and arms.”

To see how many calories you could burn dancing, check out this great dancing calorie calculator, courtesy of Self Magazine.

5. Train for a different kind of race

“If you really want to make a fitness workout fun and exciting, training for a different kind of race can really keep you motivated to keep doing more,” says Sean. “Other than training for the typical 5k, expand your horizons and look for races that combine other physical activities, like obstacles.”

If there is a local charity that is near and dear to your heart, get involved in one of their events. Many of these organizations host local walks and 5k’s, but they also host other fun activities that involve more than just walking or running.

These type of events will also give you something to look forward to each year, and keep you motivated to keep training.

For more fitness tips from our expert, please visit our health library section for more information.

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