If you are trying to lose weight or increase your overall fitness level, exercise is an absolute must. Does this mean you are condemned to countless hours of boring treadmill walking or dragging yourself through a morning jog every day for the rest of your life? Not at all! When we were kids, we thought movement was fun. Why did they let us out for recess, anyway? It was so we could move those antsy bodies. When did running and romping cease to be fun?

One tip to making exercise fun is to determine several active pastimes you truly enjoy and maximize on those. For instance, do you enjoy playing softball? Join a team, and then take time to practice between games. It will be motivating to know your exercising will ultimately help your team as well as helping you get fit.

Do you enjoy the great outdoors? You could opt to plop down at the side of the lake or in a boat and fish - or you could don those hiking boots and hit the trail. Fishing might net you a low-fat meal, but the hike will provide the exercise you need. Do go easy on yourself, though. Don't expect to get much good out of a three mile hike if you have been sedentary for years. You'll probably just rub blisters on your feet.

Exercise needs to be consistent to do any good, so the occasional hike or softball game just won't cut it. However, they can liven up the mix when you have other active pastimes you participate in regularly.

What about dancing? Have you ever thought about joining a square dancing club? In some cities, you may be able to take classes in ballroom dancing, folk dancing, or other forms of movement to music. For those of us who thrive on music, dancing can be great fun. In fact, if you are around the house, boogie to the beat! Boogie while you clean house or do other mundane tasks. It's a great mood lifter as well as a calorie burner.

Think back to your youth and the things you liked to do in your childhood. Were you an avid swimmer or an enthusiastic bicycler who could explore all day? Even riding horses is fairly good exercise, although the horse probably gets a better workout than you. If you do go swimming, don't just drift around on a floatie. Swim some laps or jump, romp, and do tricks like you used to. If biking is more your bag, make sure you do it safely. Wear a helmet and invest in some reflective gear in areas where visibility might be a problem.

Finally, don't overlook the fun of an evening walk with that special person in your life. While many ladies like to get together with their chick friends for walking and gossip earlier in the day, a hand-holding evening stroll with that special guy can really be fun! It's a great way to nurture that relationship, too, so that the affection you feel now will last a lifetime.