The alarm going off at some heinous hour signals the beginning of your day, with seconds spare to throw on your exercise gear and yawn your way to the gym. Or, after work - you're free for the evening with ample opportunity to fit in a body attack class before you head home and curl up on the couch feeling righteous. But every now and then (or perhaps more often) you find that you've arrived home an hour earlier than anticipated, or when you finally roll out of bed after snoozing for just 10 minutes, the sun is higher and brighter than it should be. You've skipped your workout, and you don't really care all that much because, well, you hate it anyway.
Sound familiar? You might be one of the majority of gym membership holders who sign up, give it their all for a couple of weeks before dropping off and trying to forget the place exists - if only for that weekly dip in funds that serves as a niggly reminder that your good intentions have fallen by the wayside. The people, the lights, the mirrors, the annoyed glances over badly loaded weight racks and even a constant feeling of being judged are complaints I often hear from clients, culminating into one sentiment of loathing for the place they are supposed to getting fit, healthy and happy in.
While perfect for some, the gym environment can be an intimidating place for others, treated like a chore about as appealing as doing the washing. More often than not the demotivating nature of it all will result in unfulfilled fitness goals, higher frustration levels and a continued dissatisfaction with your body - something you were aiming to fix in the first place. If this sounds like you then it might be time to shake up your approach to working out; getting a new perspective on the way exercise looks can do wonders to help get you back on the right path.
One of the golden rules I have always touted to clients is also a pretty simple one: the secret to success? Finding a form of exercise that you enjoy and constructing a fitness regime to work around that and your lifestyle. Exercise should fit seamlessly, becoming a habit that is as non-negotiable as brushing your teeth. Working out regularly should begin to feel positive, not put you in a constant state of dread, and help you to enjoy a stronger mind and healthier relationship with your body. And if working out at the gym isn't making you feel inspired then it is time to figure out what will.
Thankfully, with so many options it's virtually impossible to say you can't find something sweaty you enjoy. Some workouts are wackier than others, yet sure to put a smile on a your face. Here are a few ideas that are gaining popularity here and overseas:
