If you have just had about it with your weight lifting strategy or your jogging routine, then it's time to choose an alternative exercise that will keep you fit and happy at the same time. The challenge that any fitness regimen poses is always your commitment and regularity of attendance. Unless you really enjoy lifting dumbbells for life, chances are you'll stop your regimen sometime during the month or year. Certainly, a regular workout is important for health but when those times come when you just don't feel like doing any "serious workout" (and these times can go on for as long as forever), then you should find an alternative exercise that will still increase your stamina, develop your strength and enhance your flexibility, balance and coordination.

An alternative to working out that will still give you a good cardiovascular work out is dancing. From ballet to jazz to ballroom to hip hop to aerobic dancing, you have a wide variety of dances to choose from. The longer you stay on the dance floor, the more cardiovascular benefit you're likely to receive. High kicks, somersaults and hip grinding are abundant in dancing and they all work to develop coordination, stamina, flexibility and balance.

Another alternative exercise is climbing. Whether you plan to climb a tree or climb a wall, the benefits are the same-- endurance, flexibility and upper and lower body strength. It's not easy to scale a wall. Advance climbers might climb it in minutes, but novices can literally take hours to reach even halfway. Reaching for handhooks develops flexibility while upper and lower body strength is needed to support your body as you climb.

If you can, why not try horse back riding? This is one alternative workout that develops balance, core strength and stability. It might seem that only the horse is doing all the exercising but in reality, it takes balance not to fall off a trotting equine. Staying upright on the horse also needs a great degree of core strength as well.

The list of alternative workouts just goes on and on. There's canoeing, kayaking and parasailing. On land you can try scrambling or playing Frisbee. You can also try ice skating. Indeed, the choices are endless. However, don't think that you have to try something extraordinary when we say alternative workouts. This could also mean engaging in any exercise that you don't normally do. For example, if weight lifting is your regular regimen, why not try cycling or swimming for a change? If you haven't tried dancing before, why not put your dancing shoes on?

Whatever alternative workout you choose, what you must always keep in mind is that keeping fit is not only limited to any "formal workout regimen" you do. Any activity that entails you to move can and do contribute towards the reduction of calories. It tones your muscles and keeps your body looking lean and mean. Do not limit your workouts to the gym. There are so many activities you can do outside a health center that will not only strengthen your body but will also challenge your mental faculties to develop your overall fitness.