For many of us, looking good is a goal we work very hard for. Often aesthetics even trumps health concerns in the pursuit of the perfect body. This pursuit has made us do crazy things like crash dieting or replacing meals with dietary supplements just to lose weight without realizing how unhealthy these practices are.
What we should remember, however, is that staying fit for health reasons should be our number one concern. But since exercising can be tedious for many, the key is to find an activity that we like and that is fun so that it will be less of a chore.
We listed 10 engaging and fun activities that you can do to stay fit this 2017.
Basketball
Basketball, one of the most popular sports in the country, can help you burn calories and give a good cardio work out. It can also help you increase your sense of balance, coordination, and endurance. And because it is a team sport, it also encourages the interaction with others as well as fosters good human relations.
Zumba
If you love dancing, then Zumba might be perfect for you. It mixes several waist and hip, shoulders, and feet movements simulating dance, which can help you burn 600 to 1,000 calories.
Jogging/ Running
Jogging, as an aerobic exercise, improves your body’s ability to deliver oxygen to your muscles as well as give you a good cardio work out. It is a good exercise for people who may want to go solo since you can do it alone or in a group.
Swimming
You might call swimming the perfect workout. The buoyancy of the water supports your body and takes the strain off painful joints so you can move them more fluidly. Research has found that swimming can also improve your mental state and put you in a better mood. Water aerobics is another option. These classes help you burn calories and tone up.
Bicycling (Racing)
Bicycling is the best activity for those who wants to prevent themselves from serious diseases such as stroke, heart attack, some cancers, depression, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis. As a low-impact form of exercise, it stretches all your muscles, thus, making you more fit and healthy.
Mountain Climbing (Trekking)
Mountain climbing or trekking is one exercise that will appeal to people who like the outdoors or enjoy communing with nature. While not as intensive as basketball or cycling, this kind of physical activity exercises the muslces of the upper and lower legs as well as the upper and lower arms. And depending on the distance, it provides good cardio work out.
Boxing
Boxing, as a fitness activity, requires a high level of athleticism. It develops strength, speed, agility, hand-eye coordination, endurance, nerve, and power.
Jiu-jitsu
As an effective combative sport and self-defense method, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers a variety of health benefits. It is an art that is rigorous and difficult to master in which you can expect to gain significant physical and mental benefits.
Antigravity aerial yoga
A combination of traditional yoga poses, Pilates, and dance with the use of a hammock, aerial yoga defies gravity and allows you to perform various yoga poses that may be difficult to do on the ground, but easier in mid-air. As an exercise, it is good for the muscles and joints and to improve upper and lower body strength.
CrossFit
If you want to focus on improving your strength, then CrossFit is the right fitness activity for you. It combines strength training, explosive plyometric, speed training, Olympic and power-style weightlifting, kettlebells, body weight exercises, gymnastics, and endurance exercise.
CrossFit targets what it calls the major components of physical fitness: cardiorespiratory fitness, stamina, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and accuracy.
Take one step at a time, acknowledge your efforts and be proud of it. Always remember that being fit is not just about losing your weight, rather it is more of improving yourself to be much healthier.
Sources: www.reference.com, www.webmd.com, www.healthfitnessrevolution.com, bttjax.com, www.moneycrashers.com, www.theforum.org.au, www.active.com, www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au, www.womensweekly.co.nz, www.healthfitnessrevolution.com
