MAKING FITNESS FUN – Part 1 – Avoid Fitness Infidelity!

MAKING FITNESS FUN – Part 1 – Avoid Fitness Infidelity!

By Cori Ann Lentz

Starting a new fitness routine can sometimes be like intimacy within a long-term relationship. You want it all, you deserve it all, but sometimes you have to mix things up a bit to keep it interesting and exciting!  If it’s not a rewarding, motivating, and healthy relationship you may find yourself looking at what other activities have to offer. Before you know it you may wake up to find yourself in bed with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s and a good episode of Dancing with the Stars.  Instead of detrimental ‘fitness infidelity,’ try these suggestions to rekindle your love of fitness.

The truth is, if fitness isn’t fun, you aren’t going to do it.  It doesn’t matter how much guilt you lay on yourself for that piece of cheesecake or that extra glass of wine.  Punishing yourself with fitness is only going to make you want to rebel against it later.  Instead of forcing yourself to exercise out of guilt, find a way to fall in love with fitness, to want it just as much as you want those sinfully decadent food and drinks, to look forward to it and daydream about it just as much as you would a new lover. 

Innovative health clubs understand the importance of environments that make you WANT to be there.  More important than that though, is your own mindset.  Luckily, this is one area that we each have complete control over in our lives.  Don’t fall into the trap of ‘furrowed-brow fitness’ where fitness is a chore that must be done with a serious face, a specific number of repetitions, and a monotonous routine.  If you enjoy running on a treadmill, then by all means do it.  But if you feel like a hamster on a wheel, don’t feel as though you must run with the pack!  Try dancing, hiking outside, playing tag with the kids, hula hooping, or a group exercise class where you feel great energy, a refreshing atmosphere, and a hip vibe, making it as entertaining as it is healthy.

The 1980’s exploded with “aerobic” classes that evolved into an entire generation of classes to keep people motivated and entertained. Deep down, we all naturally understand that entertainment and fun is the prime motivator for behavioral change. 

As children, we looked forward to running out onto the playground for recess, jumping rope, playing four-square, kickball, and handball with our friends, anything else but sitting at our desks!  As adults, we can relive that excitement through group exercise classes like Zumba®, which adds elements of sexy hip hop and latin beats to energize you through the workout and through the rest of your day. 

If you are searching for a mind-body experience try Nia®, a transformational movement practice drawing from martial arts, dance, and healing arts that teaches you to be more joyful, expressive, and alive in your body.

Or dare I suggest…Urban Strip Tease Aerobics™, where you learn some basic moves of a strip tease, but also combine aerobic elements to create a fun, edgy, and sexy workout that definitely gets your heart pumping and melts off the excess calories!  Let’s face it, learning a smokin’ hot routine that you can perform for that special someone sounds exciting, fun, and taboo!  Learning some flirty moves AND getting a great workout at the same time is seriously getting some bang for your buck. 

The overarching theme is that it has to be fun.  Movements that allow you to feel provocative, fun, elegant, and powerful are always going to keep you coming back for more.  Boredom kills any routine.  The body craves new, adventurous ways to move.  Love and respect those cravings by finding a fitness program that provides you with a positive experience. 

Come back next issue for part 2 in this series – Making Fitness Fun – Part 2 – From the Weight Room to the Playground.

While this short list of unique fitness activities is hardly complete, it seeks to provide some alternatives to better known sports and work-outs that may inspire more people to live active and healthy lives.  Teachstreet, San Ramon Valley Fitness, and the author of this article do not endorse or accept liability for the exercise programs featured in this article, but seek to inform readers of new exercise concepts gaining popularity.  As always, it is recommended to consult your physician before you begin any exercise program.

Cori Ann has over 10 years in the health and fitness industry as personal trainer, fitness manager, group exercise instructor, seminar presenter, and coach. She is a Bender Method Master Trainer and is certified with ACE, AFAA and NASM.  She also has additional specialty certificates in Optimum Performance Training for Youth, Advanced Program Design and Human Movement, Exercise for Special Populations, Stretching to Prevent IT Band Syndrome, Pilates Matwork, Urban Strip Tease™, and the Schwinn® Indoor Cycling Program.  She is the creator of THE SPORTS BARRE®, an athletic approach to barre fitness and is also president, founder & CEO of San Ramon Valley Fitness, Inc.