Obesity is a huge problem in America. Though America is a great nation, there is so much more that we can learn from countries with longer life expectancies. Staying active is one way that Americans can become more competitive with other nations. More studiesare revealing that if adults exercise, they are less likely to develop chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

Not only are we making poor diet choices in America, but also Americans are taking sedentary jobs and are engaging in sedentary hobbies. These habits must be balanced with exercise. The problem is that so many Americans hate to exercise because boring, it is not fun or because it is too hard. Let’s take a look at some ways to exercise to overcome these obstacles and excuses people often make:

Dance. Dance. Dance! Dancing is a lot of fun and can help to produce mood-enhancing endorphins. As long as dancing occurs in a smoke-free environment, it is a great form of exercise. Ballroom dancing is suggested because most ballroom dancing occurs in smoke-free environments. Take a salsa class or a tango class. These forms of dance work nearly every muscle and are good for cardiovascular workouts. Dancing is no longer considered as a suggestive art form. It is truly a legitimate way to exercise.

Take a Trapeze Class: While it is not recommended that you run off and join the circus tomorrow, taking a trapeze class could be a fun and invigorating way to exercise. Often, social purchasing will offer coupons for trapeze classes or for learning other circus acrobatics. While this form of exercise is not recommended for everyone, it can be fun for some. Who knows? It may be your passion, and the world may get to experience your art form in a Las Vegas review or Cirque Du Soleil.

Try Yoga: Stretching does not seem like a great way to exercise, but those yoga movements are quite challenging. Flexibility is a problem as people age. People who remain flexible and build muscle mass are less likely to suffer broken bones. Yoga is a great non-traditional way to exercise.

Build an At-Home Gym: Build an at-home gym complete with elliptical machines, treadmills and strength trainers. Most people only need three pieces of equipment to get a total body workout. Ellipticals and treadmills are recommended for cardiovascular workouts and should be used three to five times a week for 30 minutes per day. Strength trainers are recommended for building tone and muscle strength.

Join a Gym. There are so many gyms all over America, but few not enough people have memberships and are using them. Join a gym and participate in classes if motivation is needed. If not, autonomous workouts are also possible in gyms.