Making Your Workout Fun

I went out of town for a couple of days this week for my weekend. I wanted to workout one day so I went to a walking track that had a new fitness-station section on the trail.

I planned on checking out the set up and then doing my regular workout. I'm in the middle of a three-week push to get to 20 pull-ups, and I didn't want to set myself back by skipping a workout. But I have to confess that I don't like the pyramid scheme I'm doing right now. There's something about the workout that makes everything in me want to quit about halfway through.

Instead of enjoying my workout over-looking a lake on a pretty summer day, I hated my workout. I realized that a workout that's not fun doesn't become fun just because I'm at a cool place.

I should have used the fitness equipment there at the park and done something fun. Between the pull-up bars, push-up bars, monkey bars, steps, balance beams, ladders, and other equipment, I could have done a fun, creative, fast-paced, challenging workout. Instead, I was bored, frustrated, and exhausted.

So here's my advice: Make your workout fun.

Here's how:

Make a workout template that guides your weeks and months so that you hit all of the important components of fitness.

Then write down the types of exercises and workouts that you enjoy.

Gather more ideas when you read online or talk to friends and try them as they fit in your workout template.

Keep track of the workouts that you do and how you felt.

Use all that information to keep your workouts fun and balanced. Don't just do your favorite workouts, but make sure that you are finding workouts that you enjoy rather than just finish.