You likely won’t get farther than a few minutes into considerations over a new weight loss program before your thoughts will turn to workout strategies. Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand when it comes to losing weight, and while coming to terms with the reality of giving up your favorite foods may sound difficult enough on its own, those changes are often a lot easier to commit to than a workout that you just don’t want to do.
There are some people who are born loving to run, and there are others who just plain and simple don’t like it. If your memories of gym class are filled with anxiety and dread, and you can’t remember the last time you happily went to the gym, then attempting to go all-in on a workout program that you know you aren’t going to enjoy doesn’t make sense. A much wiser strategy is to spend time exploring creative workout ideas that you can have fun with as you burn calories and get in shape.
Here are a few creative workouts worth trying:
- Dance classes: There are plenty of ways that you can burn calories while dancing. While you can do this at home on your own, either by having a dance party to your favorite music or by following along to a dance video, you can also sign up for a dance class at your local community center.
- Adult leagues: Part of the fun of being active as a kid is having people to be active with, and so getting involved in adult leagues may help bring the fun back to your workout. Many community recreation centers have adult leagues like kickball, soccer, volleyball, or softball.
- Running clubs: Running on your own may not sound like a lot of fun, but getting involved with a group of people who love to run, and signing up for competitive events like 5k races may make the experience more enjoyable.
Before you make any changes to your activity level, it is always a good idea to check in with your weight loss doctor to ensure that your body is up to the task. Reach out to your friends to see what their favorite workouts include. You may be surprised by how much fun you can have getting fit.