Aerobics in Disguise
By Wendy Korn Heppt
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After her landmark 45th birthday, Mary Zorcik went on a fitness kick to get in shape. “I tried a step class but couldn’t follow it,” says the North Carolina teacher. Then “I joined a power walking group, but I lagged way behind. Finally I joined a local gym, but I felt way too self-conscious. I decided to give up on aerobics for good. But now [a year later] I feel so out of shape I’m starting to regret it.”
Mary’s story is not unique. Studies show that half of all adults who begin a new exercise program quit. So how do you get in shape if you hate aerobics and consider “cardio” to be a bad word? “Chances are you only think you dislike aerobics, when you really just don’t like the scene at a gym or you find fitness classes intimidating or solo workouts boring,” says Kim Lyons, celebrity trainer for “The Biggest Loser.” The key therefore is to find a physical activity you either enjoy or have another good reason to do so that getting fit is merely a side effect of having fun or doing something meaningful. Some ideas to get you started:
Get video-fit The most innovative new way to work out is with active video games like Wii Fit, an extremely interactive cyber personal trainer with more than 40 activities, from running with a virtual partner to whirling a Hula-hoop around your waist. Another calorie-burning video workout is Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) Extreme, a competitive dance game you play by moving your feet on a controller pad while following directional arrows on your TV.
Shake your booty Love “Dancing With the Stars”? Don’t just sit there dreaming in front of the TV, let the show inspire you to sign up for a dance class. Salsa and swing are particularly hot nowadays. And if you’re feeling positively sultry, check out pole-dancing or Carmen Electra’s “Aerobic Striptease” series of DVDs. Talk about getting your heart rate up as you work up a healthy sweat!
Stick with sports If a treadmill sounds like torture to you, skip the gym altogether. Tried-and-true recreational sports -- like rollerblading, tennis, basketball -- feel more like playing than “working out.” The latest sports trend: mixed martial arts. Popularized by the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Champions) and Kristy Lee Cook of “American Idol” fame, these challenging workouts combine boxing, judo and other martial arts from around the world to get your heart pumping. With Donald Trump sponsoring a new league, you can expect to see this sport really grow.
Make it a social occasion More and more people are combining fitness with socializing, resulting in a growing number of social-fitness groups that get together to do everything from roller hockey to throwing a flying disc. For new moms, stroller-walking clubs and strollercize classes are a great way to get out of the house, meet other new parents and shed some of those excess baby pounds all at the same time. Search the Internet for social-fitness groups in your area, or email your friends and organize one yourself!
Help your community Sign up for a fundraising walk or run, then let it motivate you to spend the weeks leading up to it training for the event. Or visit your local animal shelter and sign up to be a volunteer dog walker. What a workout you’ll get trying to keep up with a pup!
Earn while you burn With gasoline at record-high prices, there’s more incentive than ever to walk or bike whenever you can. Just think of all the gas money you’ll save -- not to mention the benefit to the environment.
See? You can achieve exercise success if you simply adjust your exercise mind think. “Keep reminding yourself that it’s not a grueling regimen or a ho-hum chore,” says Lyons. Instead, approach it as a recreational activity, disguise it as a social event, or turn it into an opportunity to save money, help your community or protect the environment. Then exercise won’t feel like exercise anymore and fitness will follow naturally.
Wendy Korn Heppt is a New York City-based health and fitness writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Health online, We Go Bridal online, Prevention, Self and Golf for Women.
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