Should Exercise Be Fun?

One of our brand values at Innerfight is FUN. Life is about having fun and creating enjoyment. Human performance skyrockets when fun is involved.

I really believe this, though recently I was asked how is pain and struggle fun?

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For me, that is the fun part. Even so, it got me thinking how the word “fun” varies from person to person and how the global exercise community exists along a spectrum ranging from "absolutely no fun" to "all the fun and none of the pain."

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Having fun in the gym is different for everyone

Now everyone's idea of fun with regards to exercise is completely different. Some bury themselves in the processes, find absolute pleasure in the grit and the struggle, and feel that fun has no place in a training session.

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There are your dedicated crossfitters, marathon runners, or triathletes that find their fun in discomfort and revel in the glory of doing what so many others will not. Fun to them is eagerly tying their laces at 5:58 am before Track Tuesday, clipping into their bike to ride down the same old road, or even going nowhere at all riding in their living room.

Some want all of the fun and none of the pain. They want to move, socialise with friends and enjoy post-exercise coffee.

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Then some find fun in six beers and a pizza, those that workout as a means of survival meant to keep them from tipping into obesity and losing all sense of health and well-being.

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I am not suggesting that anything is right or wrong with any of these, fun is a relative term, and our differences make the world go around. However, prescribing health & fitness and pushing the world to be a healthier, better place, how much fun is too much? And most importantly, can we see progress and have fun at the same time?

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Does having fun when exercising limit progress?

While we must find something that we enjoy, there is a fine balance if we have a specific goal in mind. Those who seek only to enjoy individual workouts often end up doing too much of the stuff that we enjoy and not enough of the things we need to do.

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We all know if you want something, you have to work hard for it. I am a huge believer in hard work, consistency, and grit. Just because a workout is fun does not automatically mean it’s not challenging or helping you towards your goals. At InnerFight, we still ensure progressive overload, skill work, aerobic capacity, muscle gain, and fat loss while making it fun for our clients, the results of which speak for themselves.

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Yes, exercise should be challenging, but it should be inviting enough to make everyone want to join in, fun enough to make them stay, and hard enough to reward their efforts.

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What are the benefits of having fun when working out?

If you think about something in your life that’s fun, chances are you do it often – because you enjoy how it makes you feel.

At this point, we all know that being physically active comes with a lot of different benefits. Once you add having fun into the mix then you become a lot more likely to stick with your exercise program!

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Doing the same thing over and over can be a grind, so occasionally mixing things up can add a bit of spice to your regular workout routine and make it easier to keep showing up and putting in the hard work.

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3 ways to make exercise fun

#1 Compete against others… but don’t compare yourself to them

Healthy competition is a great motivator. Like I said earlier, everyone is different – so don’t get caught up stressing over someone being better than you. Use that to fuel your fire during the workout Bring a friend along and push each other to your limits!

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#2 Make an excellent playlist

Music can be a powerful tool for motivation. Studies have shown that fast-paced music can boost your mood and your energy during a workout!

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#3 Play to your strengths… but avoid repetition

Once we find a workout that we love and are good at, it’s tempting (because it’s fun) to keep going back to it. The problem with that is you can quickly get fed up with it! Even something as simple as doing your strongest exercises in a different format – like switching your normal rep scheme for a circuit – can make exercise a lot more fun.

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My final thoughts

As a coach, it is my job to continuously encourage my clients to make themselves strong and push past where they were before. I prescribe just the right stimulus to move the proverbial needle. Then it's about throwing some fun into the mix and letting the person be free.

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It allows the mind to relax and the body to work underneath the calm. Maybe someone hates going heavy, but they love the feeling they get when they are out of breath, or vice versa. My job is to give them what they need, but it doesn't mean I can't give them a little of what they want.

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No matter how seriously you take your exercise or your sport, I encourage you to find a great environment and epic people, such as what we have at InnerFight, to keep you motivated, accountable and enjoying your fitness.

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Life is short, and exercise should not be a core. It shouldn't make you miserable to do well for yourself. The pursuit of better health and wellness is essential but shouldn't be one that comes at the cost of your happiness, your well-being, and your emotional state.

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I promise that if you nail the hard work and fun balance, you will get epic results and love the process.