The fit way to be happier – not everyone loves to exercise, but like a flea-bitten mutt freshly rescued from the pound, you can teach yourself to form a certain affection for it. Here’s how to make sweating become your loyal friend
EXPERT
Harry Judd is a former member of the band McFly and author of the book Get Fit, Get Happy
Switch your mindset
Struggling to find enjoyment because you’re not seeing the results everyone’s getting on Instagram? Forget the noticeable rewards and focus on doing instead to regulate stress, sleep better, eat better, beat anxiety and improve your resistance to all major diseases.
Make it a family affair
There are the obvious family walks and bike rides, but there’s more you can do. Have a game of tag as a warm-up, which is sure to create plenty of laughter and smiles.
Next, throw in a competitive element, so pair up a child and a parent to do some relays against each other from one end of the garden to the other.
Try wheelbarrows, piggybacks, frog jumps and bear crawls and you’ll soon hear cries of “again, again”. You can then move on to pike holds while one person crawls under the other’s piking.
Once this is completed, move on and all hold a plank as one person tuck-jumps over each person planking.
Dance like everyone’s watching
Once you get over the cringe sweats, you’ll quickly realize not only is dancing fun, it is also an intense workout that’ll leave you sore in muscles you didn’t know existed.
Dancing improves stamina, flexibility and strength, plus it o ers a coordinated workout for body and mind. You’ll be well prepped for the next wedding, too.
Do all the things you loved as a kid
When you leave school, and no one is providing sports on a plate, you’ll probably think you don’t have the time for them.
But there will be a sport that you did as a kid that you want to get back into. The unpredictable movements you make in a sports match is a great way to keep your muscles guessing and your fitness improving.
Set yourself a test
I’ve both watched and run a marathon and it is one of the most fun, challenging and satisfying things I’ve ever done.
There’s a festival-like atmosphere, with thousands of people cheering you on. This, in turn, causes surges of adrenaline sure to be new to your body and mind.
Also, if you are running for a charity that’s close to you, it adds a huge sense of purpose and positivity to your training.
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