Hands up who’s bored of running on the treadmill? What about the cycling machine or lifting weights? You’re not the only one. These activities are endlessly dull. There are much better ways to be working out. You can actually burn calories and build strength much more efficiently with alternative activities. Plus, they’re a lot more fun. Exercising should be all about excitement. One of the biggest factors in exercise is the release of feel-good endorphins.

As well as losing weight or building muscle, you should be actively seeking out these endorphins. These make your mind feel good, as well as your body. In order to satisfy this excitement and stay fit, you’ll need to look beyond the gym. Look out into the real world and find a more satisfying way to work out. This could be anything from starting a new hobby, to joining a sports team, to trying something new.

Rock climbing

You’ve never experienced a full body workout until you’ve been rock climbing. It works the core muscles like no other exercise. The main movement in rock climbing is weight shifting. It’s less about strength and more about balance and poise. Of course, it builds strength in the arms and legs too. If you’re afraid of heights, don’t let that stop you. Most indoor rock climbing centres offer bouldering walls. They are no more than 10 foot high and require just as much skill to conquer.

Skipping rope

If you’ve ever wondered why you always see boxers skipping rope, it’s because it is a formidable exercise! It burns more calories than running, cycling or rowing. Any cardio exercise at the gym can be matched or beaten by skipping rope. Not only that, but it’s addictive. You’ll find yourself constantly setting new goals and targets. It’s much more fun than running endlessly on a treadmill.

Walking exercises

Just getting out and walking burns more calories than you would imagine. Incorporate this into your daily life by walking to work instead of driving. Why not take a business meeting walking rather than meeting for coffee? Some clubs now exist to encourage walking. You can even join a footy walk club. It’s exactly like football with no running allowed!

Dancing

Dancing is one of the best all-round exercises you can do. And what other exercise is this much fun? There are plenty of options for you here. Hundreds of specialist dance classes exist. Whether you’re into jazz, zumba or ballroom dancing, anything that gets your heart going is good! Take friends and hit the club once a week. Just keep the alcohol to a minimum or you’ll undo all the good work.

The key to maintaining a fitness regime that you’ll stick to is having fun while doing it. If not, you’ll fall out of the habit. Exercise is something you need to stay on top of. You lose fitness faster than you think and it can be incredibly frustrating. Make your workout fun, however, and you’ll always be in tip-top condition.

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