Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Updated : June 7, 2014 1:17 PM IST
Most of us detest going to the gym. Workouts are often called boring and professionals in the weight-loss industry are always trying to make a workout fun. But if you find yourself dreading your next exercise routine, here's some useful advice -- try working out for fun.
A new research study published in the journal Marketing Letters, found that those people who percieved that the workouts they were doing were for fun were more likely to stay healthy, happy at the end of the workout and felt no urge to eat unhealthy after.
The study, conducted on 56 adult, healthy women found out exactly why. The researchers divided the group into two and told one that they had to walk for half an hour as a form of exercise, while the others were told that they were simply to walk as a form of entertainment. The second group was found to be more happy, relaxed and less likely to eat unhealthily at the end of the experiment. Moeover, the study also tried the same experiment on men and found that it worked for them as well.
So, if you want to lose weight or simply stay healthy, try looking at your workout as a form of enjoyment. Here are some tips to make exercising more fun:
1. Try something new: The same workout, music and place can make the entire process of losing weight a drudgery. So, make a change. Opt for an alterations in your routine. You could choose to change where you workout, alter the kinds of exercises you do or simply change up the flow of your workout regimen.
2. Choose an alternative form of exercise: Weight loss is synonymous with the gym. But that does not always have to be the case. You can choose from an array of alternative forms of exercise like a dance workout, playing a sport, swimming, running and even trampolining.
3. Think of it differently: As the study suggest, thinking of the workout you are doing as a fun activity that will help you become more healthy. Avoid looking at your daily regimen as a drudgery and enjoy it instead. If you have picked a workout you don't enjoy, change it up for a day. Go for a nice walk or pleasant jog instead, and watch the pounds simply melt off.
4. Choose a regime wisely: If you aren't a gym rat, or don't like lifting weights, don't pick such a workout just because others are doing the same. Understand that not everyone enjoys the same things. The best way to decide if you like a form of workout is to try it out first. So talk to your trainer and get a free trial class before you commit.
5. Gear can help too: The right clothes and shoes can make all the difference -- not only to your workout but also to how you feel about the enitre process. So, go out and buy yourself some good workout gear. Feeling good about yourself when you workout is an essential part of sucess in the whole weight-loss journey. Alternatively you could also reward yourself with some nifty workout gear on achieveing your set goals.
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