“If your workout feels like work, it’s not worth it,” is a basic rule of thumb that will help you avoid the wrong kinds of exercise.
Granted, sometimes it takes more than one or two sessions to learn to enjoy a specific activity, but it’s generally easy to say what feels like work and what feels like play. When in doubt, always choose play.
If you feel like the only reason you’re doing a certain exercise is because it’s good for you, it’s actually bad for you. It can add a lot of stress in your life by introducing yet another obligation “for your own good.” Exercise only ceases to be a burden and becomes an activity that improves the quality of your life if you like it and would do it willingly even if it didn’t come with health benefits.
For this reason I stay away from all kinds of structured fitness classes where the focus is not on having fun and general sportsmanship, but on the general benefits of exercise.
A general rule is that if it doesn’t have a simple name that most people immediately recognize and can picture what it’s about, stay away from it – unless you genuinely find it fun.
“Fat burning exercises,” “fitness classes for women 40+,” “flat stomach fitness,” or “shock fitness” are all examples of fitness classes that you’ll probably find boring, or at least not particularly immersive. Yoga, tennis, basketball, or golf can all provide a never-ending source of inspiration and motivation to exercise because there’s more to them than just burning your stomach fat.
If you enjoy structured fitness, that’s great – keep doing it. If, however, you’ve always abhorred them, but felt it was your obligation to go to the local gym and take them because “hey, they’re called ‘flat stomach fitness’ and that’s what I want,” give yourself a pass and stop.
No matter how long you keep taking these classes, they will never cease to be a challenge for your willpower and a reason to procrastinate. They can still provide results, but why make yourself suffer so much if you can opt for something more enjoyable instead?
Ask yourself what sounds or looks like fun – regardless of how silly or inappropriate for your age, gender, background, etc. – and do it.
Pole dancing fascinates you? Go and do it. Yes, even if you’re a guy. You’re not any less of a man because you choose it over pumping iron at the gym.
Krav maga sounds like something you’d do eagerly? You’re no less of a woman if you choose to master this Israeli self-defense system instead of wearing a pink tank top and attending aerobic classes.
Throw away the stereotypes and go where the excitement is. Let others sweat their guts out doing exercises they hate while you move your body with a smile on your face.
I could list tons of ideas for sports here, but ultimately your final choice will depend on what’s available in your area, how you can fit it in your schedule, whether it excites you, and whether you’re physically capable of doing it.