Health Topics for Exercise and Fitness

Smoking Cessation

Fitness should be fun

Having fun is the key to sticking with any exercise program. When something is fun, we usually welcome the chance to do it again. Patience and moderation are the keys to keeping workouts fun.

Most exercise dropouts push too hard and too fast to get themselves in shape. Impatience and shortcuts often cause injury and discouragement. It takes time to achieve weight loss and fitness goals, and it takes regular exercise to maintain fitness. This is why it is important to include regular physical activities in your daily lifestyle.

Here are some ways to make exercising more fun and rewarding:

• Socialize while you exercise. Invite a friend to exercise with you, or join an exercise class. Add picnics to your walks, hikes, or bike trips. Enter in fun runs or walks and other community events. Play ball or field games. Play tag with children or teach them a new game.
• Cross-train: Do a variety of exercise activities each week that work different muscle groups. This adds intensity to your program, minimizes the risk of injury, and gets you fit faster.
• Add recreational activities: Play in a sports league. Go out dancing. Try water sports. Take up tap dancing, rollerblading, martial arts, badminton, golfing, or some other activity that is enjoyable and will keep you physically active. Try a ropes course. Take a backpacking trip. Ride horses.
• Reward your accomplishments: Set realistic short-term and long- term fitness goals. Reward yourself when you achieve them. Whether your chosen reward is a massage, new shoes, or an evening out, make sure you give yourself those well-deserved pats on the back.

Always get a medical check-up before starting any exercise program. Work with a certified exercise leader to learn how to exercise safely. Do not try a new activity that is too demanding for your level of health. The risk for injury is too great. Get properly conditioned first, and then try the new activity.

There are plenty of ways to make fitness fun. Be creative. Involve your whole family. Fitness can add years to your life and life to your years.

Last Reviewed: 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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