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For some people, working out feels like an incredible way to relieve stress after a long day of hard work. For others, getting a root canal sounds like more fun than stepping onto a treadmill.
We’re guessing you’re in the second group, wishing you were actually in the first group.
There are plenty of different reasons why you hate working out. Even if you loved it at some point, it doesn’t take long before exercise starts to feel like just another chore.
With all the physical and emotional benefits that exercise has to offer, going to the gym means a lot more than losing weight.
Let’s get to back to that happy place, where you actually look forward to hitting the gym every day.
BuzzFeed talked to a few fitness experts about how to get excited about working out, and here’s what they had to say:
- Stop Weighing Yourself: Seriously, just stop. The scale can’t tell you anything about your muscle to fat ratio, and that’s really the important part about being fit. People can’t actually see the number on the scale. What they can see is your body. If you’re toned, fit, healthy, and happy, then who cares how much you weigh?
- Cardio Isn’t the Answer: Time and time again, fitness experts say we focus way too much on cardio when it comes to losing weight fast. In reality, the more muscle a person has, the more fat they burn. “The most harmful misconception is that more is better, especially when it comes to cardio. Spending long periods of time doing cardio, particularly continuous, low-intensity cardio, can actually be counterproductive. It can cause the body to hold on to its energy sources … for fear that it will need them for future long, continuous exertions,” Annie Mulgrew, director of programming at CityRow, told BuzzFeed. What will help you burn fat faster is high-intensity interval training, or HIIT. These short bursts of intense exercise blast fat way faster than low-intensity cardio.
- Choose Workouts That Make You Happy: If you’re focused on nothing but weight loss, then you will eventually give up no matter what. Truly healthy people love exercise because it does just as much for them on the inside as it does on the outside. A great workout shouldn’t just help you get in shape. It should also clear your mind, relieve stress, boost your energy levels, and improve your mood. What works for others may not necessarily be your jam, so make sure to find a plan that you truly enjoy.
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- Switch It Up: No matter what you do, you will get bored of it. The only way to avoid the inevitable plateau is to switch up your workouts as often as possible. “Our bodies are incredible at adapting, so much so that when you perform the same exercise repeatedly, your muscles adjust to make that exercise easier. Basically, your body is no longer being challenged to the same degree, and therefore has no reason to continue to develop strength,” Jill DeMarco, of Strengthen Lengthen Tone, told BuzzFeed. Try out different levels of resistance, speed, movement—anything to switch it up!
Do you have any fitness tips to add to the list? If so, tell us in the comments!
