Whether you live (what seems like) miles away or right around the corner, going to FitRec is a dreaded activity for the majority of Boston University students. Some people work out for stress relief and to get some much needed “me” time during their hectic days. Others exercise to combat the inevitable weight gain caused by the dining hall cookies. No matter what your excuse is, here are 5 easy ways to make the workout more fun!
1. Suit up with new workout clothes – My mantra is if you look good, you feel good. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on expensive leggings or tops at Nike or Lululemon. Both Marshalls and Target have a large selection of cute workout apparel at a fraction of the price that will put a pep in your step while on the treadmill or elliptical. Don’t be afraid to try some bold colors or prints!
2. Have a workout buddy– Everyone loves company! A workout buddy not only provides someone to talk to and laugh with about how ridiculously sweaty everyone is, but she provides some reliability in your workout schedule. She will hold you to working out, and you don’t ever want to bail on your friend.
3. Set the tone with the right playlist- Music is so important while working out that the wrong song could totally ruin the mood. Set up a playlist with your favorite high energy songs and don’t forget to bring your iPod and headphones the gym with your water bottle. If you don’t want to put a playlist together yourself, there are tons of workout stations on music apps like Pandora or Songza.
4. Multi-task- We all have jam packed schedules with classes, homework, clubs, internships, and jobs–finding time for the gym often falls to the back burner. However, to make your time at the gym more efficient, bring something to do while on the treadmill. Kill two birds with one stone by getting in a cardio workout and reading your psychology homework or riding the stationary bike while answering emails. This might not make the gym more fun, but you’ll be proud of getting two things done at once.
5. Change up your workout schedule– FitRec offers so many PDP classes that you should never get bored with your workout. If you were one of the unfortunate few with a really bad registration number, you probably didn’t find a spot in a class. Hope is not lost, though! Every Friday afternoon, FitRec offers a Happy Hour workout from 4-5 PM. The classes are $5 and range from Beach Body Workout to Zumba. It’s a great way to end the week and kick off the weekend.
Happy workout everyone!