We’re all familiar with the health benefits of regular exercise. Partaking in exercise regularly is also good for our mental health and overall wellbeing. But if you’re someone who dislikes a traditional gym environment, feels intimidated by the gym or doesn’t have access to a fitness centre, then the idea of getting fit can feel like an uphill struggle.
It’s hardly surprising that many individuals find the gym an unpleasant or intimidating place. Whether you’re conscious of people watching you while you work out, too nervous to work out alongside all the ripped bodybuilders and posers, or you just don’t enjoy the facilities that they have on offer, even stepping foot inside the gym can feel like a mental workout all its own.
Thankfully, hitting the gym isn’t the only way to get regular exercise, by switching up your exercise routines and embracing new ways to move and get your heart pumping, you’ll not only allow exercise to become part of your daily life, but you might actually begin to enjoy it.
Read on for how you can get fit if you hate the gym.
Set Up A Home Gym
You don’t need a bottomless bank account or a vast amount of space to set up a home gym. Swinging a 12kg kettlebell in the comfort of your own home is a simple yet inexpensive way to get your body moving. The right equipment such as kettlebells, resistance bands, exercise bikes and exercise balls can easily be stored at home, and allow you to create diverse, full-body, fat-burning workouts that make you feel good. Home workouts can easily be progressed to keep routines exciting and challenging without stepping foot inside a gym.
Get Outdoors
The great outdoors provides everything you need to get yourself fit and healthy. Long walks in the fresh air, up hills, over uneven terrain, jogging to hit your personal best, paddle boarding, surfing, walking the dog, hiking – any outdoor activity you can think of counts as an exercise that will give your mental and physical wellbeing a boost. And most of the time – it’s completely free!
Go Swimming
You might hate the gym, but how do you feel about hitting the water? Swimming is a low-impact exercise that provides a full-body workout, increasing strength, endurance, and cardiovascular health. Swimming sessions are usually kind to your wallet, or perhaps you could try something different such as wild water or sea swimming with a local group.
Make It Part of Your Day
If you’re someone who leads a busy lifestyle, then finding the time to hit the gym in the first place is incredibly difficult. However, if you combine your exercise with your everyday routine, then you’ll effectively kill two birds with one stone. Cycle to work or the shop, if you drive to the supermarket, drive part of the way and walk the rest. Set off early for the school run and take the long way round.
Final thoughts…
Even if you hate the gym, there are plenty of ways you can exercise and enjoy yourself! Consider the points above to fall in love with fitness again.
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