Performing the same old gym routine over and over again is boring. For some, going to the gym is not only a daunting idea, but it seems much more like work than fitness. It helps to redefine the ideology behind fitness. A truly “fit” person does not have to do 100 crunches a day.

There are a million and one different ways to make the most of the day and get plenty of exercise along the way. Take a moment to read through this short summary, highlighting a few of the most creative and downright fun ways to exercise and stay in shape without ever walking through the gym doors.

Play a sweet and loving game of paintball

Okay. Maybe there is no such thing as a sweet and loving game of paintball, but that first pop will have you sold on the idea. Playing paintball not only requires you to use your powers of problem-solving.

It requires running, crouching, jumping, rolling, and whatever else you can do to escape a friend’s paintballs. Get out a little aggression on the paintball battlefield.

Try dancing your way through the pain

If you are like the majority of the population in the United States, exercising is not on the top of the day’s to-do list. Getting in shape seems like a very painful idea. That may be an accurate deduction, but at least have some fun in the meantime.

Try taking a Zumba course and dancing your way through the pain of physical fitness. If social situations are not your favorite, YouTube has all you will need to get started at home.

Buy a Hula Hoop and use it

Hula Hoops are no longer just a dead fad from the 1950’s. “Hooping” has recently re-emerged as an excellent and fun way to get in shape. Hula hooping is a great cardiovascular workout, and it will quickly shape hips, buttocks, and thighs.

Hula hoops can provide convenient exercise almost anywhere, indoors or outdoors. Just make sure to grab an Hourglass hula hoop so you have a strong cardio workout every time you use it. The children’s hoops are too small and too light to be effective.

Pole dancing uses muscles you never knew you had

Pole dancing may not be your mother’s idea of exercise, but it is one of the most all-around ways to workout. It may also feel a bit silly at first, but you can promise yourself that there will be plenty of laughs.

Learning to dance using a pole requires a person to use every muscle in their body to balance and support their own body weight. Pole dancing builds agility, strengthens, and slims down the body. Let yourself cut loose a bit, and give pole dancing a try.