Are you one of those who are having a hard time sticking to your health and fitness goals because you find diets and exercise very challenging, not to mention boring?
There’s hope for you. You just need to find the right activities to keep you physically healthy and mentally sharp.
Why Diets and Working Out Aren’t Foolproof Ways of Being Healthy
The main reason why people are having a hard time maintaining their weight and sticking to their fitness and health goals is sustainability. It takes more than just jumping aboard the latest diet bandwagon or fitness fad to stay healthy and fit.
If anything, a person needs to look for something more sustainable. Crash diets just won’t do it. In fact, a lot of studies and research have proven how ineffective, and sometimes dangerous, going on a crash diet is.
It’s pretty much the same thing with exercise and working out. Hitting the gym is not for everyone. People without the proper motivation will find it hard to sustain whatever physical activity they’re into, especially if it entails a lot of hard work. That’s just the way we’re wired.
However, if you replace working out at the gym or doing circuits with activities that are a lot more enjoyable, then the sustainability rate increases leading to healthier habits.
The following fun and enjoyable activities and hobbies can help keep one get fit and have a healthier lifestyle:
1. Dancing
Dance is a very popular and fun way of getting a good cardio workout. It doesn’t just help make you fit and healthy but it also develops your body coordination, balance, and endurance with each session.
2. Swimming
Speaking of endurance, one of the best sports to build and strengthen is hitting a few laps in the pool. You don’t need to be an Olympic-level swimmer to get a good workout from swimming. It’s a fun thing to do, especially on a hot summer day, plus it’s a very practical skill to have.
3. Rock Climbing
Rock or wall climbing is not an easy sport. This extreme sport will push you to your physical limits. It’s a good activity to build muscles and sharpen your focus. Check out Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2’s opening scene and you’ll get what we mean.
4. Mountain Biking
There’s nothing like the freedom one feels when biking on trails. This hobby might be a bit tougher to get into as you need to invest in the right bike and gear for it but once you get into it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived life up to this point without it.
5. Yoga
The great thing about yoga is anyone from any age group and fitness level can do this. From young children mimicking their moms or older adults at home health care facilities, yoga offers a lot of health benefits both physically and mentally.
6. Gardening
Since the pandemic started, a lot of people took up gardening as a form of stress reliever. It is believed that getting your hands dirty helps promote self-esteem and decrease anxiety. It’s also a great way to get in some physical activity that improves your strength and dexterity.
7. Music
Music, they say, has charms to soothe the savage beast. While people have different preferences when it comes to music, the overall effect is similar. Listening to music can be therapeutic for a lot of people. Learning how to play an instrument improves verbal and visual skills and minimizes stress and depression.
8. Journaling
While journaling may not really have any physical benefits, the ability to put into writing one’s thoughts and feelings helps improve a person’s wellbeing. It is known to reduce stress, improve sleep, and boost self-esteem
9. Cooking and Baking
One of the other things that people did at home during the pandemic was to cook up a storm in the kitchen. It helped them channel all their pent-up stress and do something creative and practical with it. Learning how to cook, especially healthy meals will save you a lot of money in the long run. It’s also a great excuse to spend time and bond with the family.
10. Sex
Yup You read that right. It’s a fun activity that gives you a good workout. It might not be as efficient as hitting the gym and pumping iron but it is known that a person uses about five calories for every minute of sexual intercourse. You get a good cardio workout, an increased heart rate, toned muscles, and other health benefits.
There are a lot more fun things that can contribute to your overall health. These are just a few examples to help get you started. The important thing is you find the right hobby or physical activity that you enjoy the most so that staying fit is no longer a struggle but a joy to do.
