Exercise: When does it stop being work and start being fun?

I am often accused around work of being crazy or overzealous about topics like exercise, health, health care reform, doctors and weight loss. I have to admit it takes very little for me to step up on the soapbox lately. I think much of it comes from my disappointment in the health care system and the solutions being proposed to help change it. But that is a topic for another time. Let me just say that if doctors and health professionals took a more active role in preventative medicine rather than curative we would not have such an overload on our systems.

So, back on track, when does exercise become fun? First of all there are days when it still is not fun for me. I can speak to anyone’s feelings but mine, but there are still days when it just feels like work. The quest however is to develop the habit so there is more driving it then just feelings. See as part of my crazy desire to reach some form of longevity and optimal health I believe that feelings have very little to do with it.

I look for ways to make it fun instead of feeling like it is too hard or taking too long. How? Let’s see:

1. Change up the routine – I keep mixing it up. Strength/resistance training, running/walking, various forms of cardio, and with all of that days that I go my limit and days I take it easy and back off just a little.
2. Put my eyes on the prize – I read various blogs and see other peoples stories. I encourage when I can and take encouragement when I need it. I really enjoy seeing transitional pictures or stats where people have changed their lives. And I can always find someone that has taken it one step higher than I have.
3. Reach a new goal or level of fitness – My current version of this is to run my first 5k. Now for the first one I have no ability to place. In fact depending on how I feel that day I will be happy just to finish. Still, it will be my first of many runs to do since I left the military over 35 years ago. So it is a great improvement from not being able to run a block.
4. Search out more information – I am always looking at the new studies and seeing how this or that can extend your life. My most recent read was about active 80 year olds living a full 3 years longer than their inactive counterparts. I figure at my age I must have gained a few more years. In fact when you take in the weight loss and the activity I may have gained 10-15 years. Now that is what I call fun.

What it really gets down to for me is that life has become the priority. When I focus on that- the workout is just part of life. It is another day in paradise and another day with family and friends. And if you met some of them they are as varied as a Forest Gump’s “box of chocolates”.

Live your life to the fullest. Take the time to extend life and keep drawing from the well. It is worth the work and the journey is just one step at a time. Sometimes it just feels like you are going uphill.

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