COURIER L M B G IFE, DEC. 7–13, 2018 49
Signing up for a class and working out with friends
are great ways to make exercise more enjoyable.
Sedentary lifestyles can be dangerous
to human health. Numerous
studies have linked sedentary
lifestyles to various diseases,
including type 2 diabetes, heart disease,
and stroke. But in spite of those
connections, sedentary lifestyles are
on the rise.
According to the National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey
from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, both men and women
are engaging in physical activity a lot
less frequently than in years past.
The survey, which examined data
between 1988 and 2010, found that
women who reported not engaging in
physical activity rose from 19 percent
to 52 percent, while fi gures for men
rose from 11 percent to 43 percent.
Many people fi nd physical activity
unenjoyable, which may make it
diffi cult for them to include exercise
in their daily routines. The following
are some approaches those living
sedentary lifestyles can take to make
physical activity more enjoyable.
Find activities you like. Physical
activity is not limited to working
out in a gym. Many adults fi nd gyms
great and motivational places to get
in shape, while others are bored by
strength-training or intimidated by
gyms. Finding a physical activity
you enjoy increases the chances that
you will make exercise a part of your
daily routine. Yoga, walking, and cycling
are just a few of the many physical
activities that can help you live a
less sedentary life.
Get a workout buddy. Another
way to make exercise more enjoyable
is to enlist a friend to workout with
you. Friends can supply motivation
on those days when you don’t feel
like working out while also making
workouts more enjoyable by sharing
a few laughs as you lift weights, walk
around the neighborhood, or engage
in whatever physical activity you do
together.
Set specifi c goals. Exercise also
becomes more enjoyable when you
establish specifi c goals that give you
something tangible to work toward.
You are more likely to enjoy what
you’re doing if you reach your goals
along the way than if you don’t set
any goals and simply go through the
motions. You also can reward yourself
for reaching certain goals, which
will undoubtedly make your efforts
more enjoyable.
Involve other interests in your
exercise routine. If exercise truly
bores you, fi nd ways to incorporate
your other interests into your workout
routine. Rather than spending
30 to 60 minutes simply running on
a treadmill, take your tablet along
with you and stream your favorite
television shows. If possible, catch
up on reading while you ride the exercise
bike. Combining your workout
routine with other passions can make
your exercise routines more enjoyable,
making you more likely to commit
to them on a regular basis.
Sign up for classes. Gyms are
more than just weight rooms and
cardio machines. Many gyms now
offer classes like Zumba, kickboxing,
and yoga, which can make exercise
more communal and fun. If the
weight room isn’t your thing, fi nd a
gym that offers classes you’re likely
to embrace.
Exercise need not be dull, and men
and women looking to be less sedentary
can look for ways to make working
out more fun in an effort to reach
their fi tness goals.
Health
Make working out more enjoyable