Learn to love exercise

Overview 

Making exercise fun begins in your mind, just ask personal trainer Andrew Cate. When you try some new activities, or do them in a different way, you need to have an open mind. It may take a little time to start enjoying the feeling of movement if you have been inactive for a while. Take baby steps, and ease into it. And remember, you don’t have to sweat profusely or go through extreme discomfort to derive any benefit – ‘no pain, no gain’ does not apply when you start exercising to remove stored body fat. If you have a positive attitude and can find ways to make your exercise enjoyable, you will be much more likely to stick to it. Doing what you enjoy doesn’t require motivation. You will feel enthusiastic, and look forward to it, rather than making excuses not to do it. Find an activity that you are passionate about and exercise will never seem like a chore. 

What If I Don’t Like Exercise? 

When people say they don’t like exercise, what they really mean is that they have not enjoyed the exercises they have tried in the past. Fair enough. You may have got too puffed and red-faced, or embarrassed doing something that didn’t suit you. Most people have probably already had a negative experience in sport or exercise at some stage. But what about getting back into some form of movement right now? You should have goals that mean something to you, and physical activity can help you achieve them. Try Cross Training Choose an aerobic activity, such as walking or slowly jogging, as your primary activity. But if you think doing the same activity every day sounds boring, it may help to try a wider variety of exercises. This is known as cross training, where you do a number of different activities on different days. After all, variety is the spice of life. Cross training may help you maintain your motivation and interest. If you focus on a variety of activities that you enjoy, you will be more likely to incorporate them into everyday life. 

Action Plan: Add Variety Into Your Exercise Routine

1.Try to find one or two other activities (in addition to walking or slow jogging) to include in your exercise routine – resistance training or a team 

2.sport. 

3.Try to include a few activities that are more about fun than exercise – backyard cricket, throwing a frisbee, or playing tag with your kids. 

4.Try a variety of activities to increase your chances of finding something you enjoy. 

Top Ten: Fun Cross Training Activities 

1.Bushwalking 

2.Golf 

3.Swimming 

4.Rollerblading 

5.Mountain biking 

6.Surfing / bodyboarding / bodysurfing 

7.Frisbee throwing/kite flying 

8.Martial arts 

9.Kayaking / canoeing 

10.Team sports