How to Make Exercise Fun

1. Pick a winner
Motivation is a key ingredient in exercise. Before you run out and buy a new pair of shoes to start running, ask yourself a few questions. First, what part of your body are you hoping to trim down? Running is a great toner, but if your main goal is to flatten your stomach, it is not the answer to your prayers. So, before you get started, do a quick evaluation of yourself and select exercises honed to specific areas.

Is there something you enjoy that could be turned into exercise? Many people forget that things such as dancing, swimming, yoga, karate and sports are great ways to keep fit. Working all muscles of the body, they get the blood pumping and the heart racing as you work out.

2. Liven it up
Exercise works best with a distraction, that way you can divert your focus from the intensity of your workout to something enjoyable. Music can ease the pain and make time fly, just keep it upbeat. Your body often "marches to the beat of the drummer," so your tunes should be snappy. You can Express Yourself with Madonna, roll with Garth Brooks, or jam with Linkin Park, but the melancholy of Muse or Amy Winehouse are not recommended.

Another lifesaver is television. You can plan your workout around a specific show, watch favorites saved on DVR, or burn carbs from a workout video. It doesn't matter. TV has an innate ability to take you away from reality, whether to solve a criminal case, laugh at comic stupidity, or critique contestants. Just make sure you keep up with the exercises. It's easy to get wrapped up in drama and forget your main goal. Focus and achieve.

3. Change is good
Exercise doesn't have to be the same thing everyday. Repetition gets boring quickly, but there are countless ways to invigorate your exercise routine. Try changing the scenery. If you are always running on the treadmill, try jogging in the park or around the block. Not only will that give you some fresh air, it will also work a variety of different muscles due to variations in terrain and incline. If you have allergies, try running at the gym instead.

Have multiple exercise routines. The body works best when given time to breathe and repair. Work in rotating cycles, with exercises focusing on all areas and partial areas of the body used interchangeably. That way, you don't have time to get bored and your body is constantly in a stage of regrowth, repairing and restrengthening muscle and tissue as you work toward a better build.