How to Make Exercise Fun

Few people enjoy going to the gym. It's expensive, the music they pipe in is terrible and the machines you want to use are always occupied. While exercising every day is important, it doesn't have to be painful.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Playstation, X-Box or Wii
• Office building with stairwell
• Sidewalks

1. Play video games. It used to be that video games were just another manifestation of the couch potato. No more! Games like Dance Dance Revolution, Rock Band and Wii Sports force you to stand up and move around. Tell me you aren't breaking a sweat after dancing a couple of rounds of D.D.R. or that your arm isn't just a Wii bit sore after a night of challenging your friends to a Wii tennis match!

2. Play ball. Adult amateur sports leagues are all the rage these days. You and your friends or co-workers can form a team and engage in playground favorites like kickball and dodgeball, classic sports like football and baseball, or more social games like bowling and miniature golf. If there isn't a league set up in your area, set one up yourself at work or use Craigslist to find interested parties.

3. Take a hike. Whether you live in the city, the suburbs or a rural area, there's bound to be somewhere interesting to go for a walk. Urban parks or nearby state parks have plenty of interesting trails. Some suburbs have bike paths that meander away from high-traffic areas. Get outside and take in the scenery. Bring a friend and catch up. Fresh air is good for your head as well as your body.

4. Go shopping. Retail therapy is proven to be effective for the mind, but what about the body? If you walk to your favorite store, you can get in some well-rounded "Me Time." Also, the next time you need to pick up a few groceries, take a cue from our forefathers and haul those bags home on foot. Doing a couple of curls with the milk jug won't hurt either.