Exercise is FUN!

Yes, I did say, “fun”. It’s a new year and so many people have made the pledge to get fit. Many of them will go to a gym only to find they're bored with the monotony of cardio equipment and weight training routines.

But exercise shouldn't be drudgery. Plenty of pleasurable activities deliver a legitimate workout. Surfing, kayaking, ballroom dancing, trail running and self-defense classes are just a few ways to avoid a fitness rut or supplement a regular gym workout. Some offer other benefits too, such as being outside, expanding one's social network and building confidence by mastering a new skill. Exercise doesn't have to be boring. It can be fun and addictive in a good way.

For the beginner, calculating cardiovascular benefits or measuring muscle strength shouldn't be the priority. Just get out and do something if you don’t want to work out in the gym. Try to incorporate at least 10 - 15 minutes of some activity. Don't worry so much about what you're doing. Going from nothing to 10 - 15 minutes is a success. Then start to increase that gradually.

As stamina and strength build, activities should vary to target different muscle groups and switch off from aerobic (moderately paced endurance exercise) and anaerobic (short bursts of high-intensity exercise) workouts.

For more experienced exercisers, get an inexpensive heart rate monitor to gauge workout levels. You can also gauge how hard your body is working based on how hard you're breathing and how much you're sweating (what fitness experts called rate of perceived exertion). Keep in mind that the more fit you become, the more efficiently your body will work.

Workouts with mental components can be great stress-relievers. Concentrating on exercise is excellent for reducing stress and anxiety too.
So what's the best way to get started? Fitness experts recommend trying a smorgasbord of activities to see what's enjoyable. You may want to revisit fun childhood pursuits, such as ice skating or roller skating. Don't think you've outgrown something. Just use your imagination and get moving!