Making Exercise Fun?

Not already enjoying a dose of adrenaline several times a week? Then, this may sound oxymoron–but exercise can actually be fun. If you (1) detest the gym, or (2) don’t know where to start,  consider these tips for getting motivated–and moving.

1. Join an intermural sport through your city recreation program. Activities like soccer, softball, swimming, lacrosse and tennis are great ways to get off the couch, raise your metabolism, build muscle and improve your cardiovascular health. It doesn’t have to be a high-pressure, competitive situation. There are many low-key,community leagues to choose from–where the players are just there to have fun and meet new people.

2. Find a workout partner. Working out with a friend has the benefit of being more fun while it keeps you accountable. It’s a lot easier to get to the gym on time if you know someone is waiting there to meet you. If you can afford it, you may even want to invest in some personal training sessions to get you started. Once you’ve learned some simple, effective workouts, you won’t feel so frustrated in the weight room.

3. Make fitness a family priority. Plan a physical activity every weekend. Bike rides, hikes, walks and frisbee tosses are great warm-weather activities. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, head to your community gym for a game of basketball, racquetball or tennis. In addition to reaping the physical benefits of these activities, your children and spouse will begin to see that you’re making health and well-being a priority–for the whole family.

4. Get physical with the Wii. There are dozens of games that incorporate cardio, weight training, yoga and balance work, and they’re easy to enjoy because they don’t feel like a workout.

5. Join a fitness or adventure club. Meetup.org and CoolRunning.com are great places to connect with others, and you’ll combine fitness with social opportunities.

6.  If you feel guilty plopping in front of the television with a snack, designate that 30 to 60 minutes as your workout time, instead. Commit to exercising throughout the entire program. You don’t have to have a home gym for this, since exercises like push-ups, lunges, squats and planks can be done in your living room without a single piece of equipment.

When you get creative with exercise, it will seem more bearable than it did before. And as you develop a routine and begin to see physical benefits, you may even begin to enjoy yourself!

Video Games: A Fitness Revolution?

According to Merrill Lynch, 30 percent of American homes will have a Wii by 2011. The Wii has been marketed as an alternative to “couch potato” video games—offering sports, cardiovascular, yoga and weight training programs for all ages. But can you really lose weight playing your Wii? Possibly—according to recent research presented at the American Heart Association’s 2009 Scientific Sessions.

Funded by Nintendo, the 2009 Wii fitness study found that one-third of the console’s virtual physical activities are considered “moderate” in intensity. “The range of energy expenditure in these active games is sufficient to prevent or to improve obesity and lifestyle-related disease, from heart disease and diabetes to metabolic diseases,” said lead study author, Motohiko Miyachi, Ph.D.

Health studies have determined that adults get the most benefit from moderate-intensity exercise when they do at least 2.5 hours of aerobics each week. So…if you aren’t getting the recommended daily allowance of running, tennis, swimming, kickboxing and biking—host a family “Wii game night” or invest in My Fitness Coach, Wii Sports or Wii Fitness.

If core strength, flexibility and stability are your main concerns, there are also several yoga and balance applications for the Wii—including Wii Fit Plus and Yoga by Dreamcatcher Interactive.