9 ways to make fitness FUN

2Channel your inner athlete

Getting involved in a competitive sport does as much for your psyche as it does for your body. “While you’re out there having a good time and getting exercise, you’re also learning life lessons such as how to work with others, give and accept praise and be accountable,” says Kristin Anderson, a personal trainer in West Hollywood. “If you’ve never participated in a team sport, consider joining a soccer, tennis, softball or volleyball league for a season. Your fitness will be the byproduct of your sportsmanship.” Not the competitive type? Gain the same benefits by joining a club for bicyclists, swimmers, kayakers, runners or walkers.

3Do cardio for
a cause

Whether you’re interested in running, biking, swimming, hiking, walking or wheeling, you can find a fun charity activity in your area. Knowing your efforts are helping others is the ultimate reward. Plus, you’re more likely to reach your goal when you’re working out for more than just your own sake. “Every time you want to give up, you’ll be reminded of the people you’d be letting down and that will get you recharged every time,” says Anderson.

4Take it outside

Whether you decide to power walk down the city streets or mountain bike along a remote wooded trail, the distractions of your surroundings take your mind off the work of working out. As a result, you’ll end up going a lot farther than if you’d been walled in. “You can press ‘stop’ on a treadmill, but you can’t turn back time after you’ve walked or jogged three or more miles,” says Anderson. Nature’s stimulation also impacts your brain in positive ways. In a May 2010 article in Environmental Science & Technology, British researchers shared their findings that exercising outdoors improves self esteem and that a walk in the country improves one’s mood. Being in nature also makes people feel more alive, according to a series of studies published in the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

For those who like combining exploration with their exercise, consider geocaching, a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure with other participants. The participants, called geocachers, hide items, called geocaches, in various places around the world. They pinpoint the geocache’s location using GPS technology and then register its existence and location online. Then anyone with a GPS device can try to locate it. Geocaching provides unlimited opportunities to walk, hike, bike or climb to undiscovered places. Participants can choose the level of mental and physical challenge they like. For more information, visit geocaching.com.

5Update your playlist

Into Bach, not Beyonce? You may want to give her a shot to up the fun factor. In a study published by Brunel University’s School of Sport and Education in London, Dr. Costas Karageorghis found people work out harder and longer when listening to fast, upbeat tunes. It may also help reduce your rate of perceived exertion (how hard the exercise feels). Translation: The easier the workout seems, the more you’re enjoying it.

Get motivated6
by meringue

Think a dance class is just for experienced coryphées? If so, try a Zumba class. It combines simple, repetitive steps that anyone can do with traditional exercises like squats and jumping jacks. “Zumba is all about having a good time. One of our slogans is, ‘ditch the workout, join the party,’” explains Elaine Gil, an instructor from Staten Island, New York. “One of my most enthusiastic students is a 65-year-old woman with a pacemaker. Since she began taking classes, she’s lost 85 pounds. She’ll tell you it’s changed her life.”

Zumba favors Latin music but also incorporates tunes from all over the world, including Indian, Arabic, Greek and Italian. “The whole philosophy is to be all inclusive in every way,” says Gil. Classes are also offered for people with autism, in wheelchairs and those with other special needs. Find one near you at zumba.com.

7Step out of your comfort zone

A big part of keeping fitness fun is changing up the ways you actually stay fit. Ever try indoor rock climbing for example? It’s not as scary as you imagine. In fact, it’s actually much safer than a typical sport like cycling, which people don’t associate with danger. Your harness and the equipment attached to it is checked and double-checked so you’re totally secure. And for those who say they’re afraid of heights, rock climbing instructors say what they’re really afraid of is falling. Once you’re up holding the rope and you feel secure in your harness, you’ll lose your fear. Take a lesson with an instructor to learn the safety rules and get acquainted with how to climb. Private lessons run about $100; group lessons run about $50. Find a climbing gym near you at indoorclimbing.com.

If you’d prefer to stay grounded, deep water running can offer you a jaunt off your beaten path. “Running in the pool is a fun alternative to land and it can actually be more challenging,” says Robert Valentin, founder of Blue Ocean Swimming in New York City. “Water is thicker than air so as you move your body through it, you encounter more resistance. The faster you move your arms and legs, the greater the resistance, and the harder the workout.” Pregnant? No problem. Injured? Deep water running can speed up the recovery process. “The beauty of this sport is that anyone can do it. If you’re already in great shape, it will take you to the next level by increasing your flexibility and improving your posture,” says Valentin.

8Stay turned on with tech toys

Until recently, you’d never find this fitness writer on an indoor cardio machine. Even the most driving playlist couldn’t keep my eyes off the clock ticking down each boring second. Then I tried the new Trixter Xdream at my gym, the first virtual indoor bike. It’s billed as “the first fitness machine that simulates the outdoor riding experience,” and except for the absence of wind in my face, this is accurate. The connection is between your avatar on the screen and your actual movement on the bike. You feel gears, brakes, handlebars, pedals, cranks and seat sensors. My mind and body became totally immersed in the ride and 30 minutes flew by. I got a sweat-drenched workout while totally focused on staying on course and racing against other riders. You can find them in many YMCAs, Gold’s Gyms and The Sportsclub/LA gyms.

A tracking device has found its way onto a spinning bike developed by Schwinn. It’s loaded with lots of motivational toys. What’s most innovative is the cool, high tech-sounding “magnetic flywheel;” it records your power, wattage, RPM, heart rate and laps. Then you can copy the information onto a USB key that plugs into the console. The benefit: You can take it home, print it out and chart your progress.

9Get out of town

If you’re used to reaping all the emotional and physical perks of your workouts, chances are just lying on a beach for a week or sightseeing aren’t your ideas of an awesome vacation. Fortunately there are scores of alternative trips that combine zen and culture with a good sweat. Bootcamp retreats in Tulum, cycling trips through California vineyards, mountain hiking in Utah and sea kayaking in Belize are just some of the cool, exotic trips to consider.