If you're anything like me, you're horrified by the prospect of another mundane, cringe-inducing gym workout, where you're not even sure if you're using the Ab-master correctly, but you're quite sure you look ridiculous in the process - constantly checking your watch to see if it's almost over...

There's a better way to lose weight.

Sign up for a race!

Not only will you'll see a tighter, more toned body in no time (without obsessing over the scale!), you'll be setting up and working towards an achievable goal - something that will give you a great sense of accomplishment and community.

What kind of race?
A triathlon, a Century bike ride (that's 100 miles!), a 10K, a marathon, adventure race—anything!

How should you pick your race?
Ideally, pick a race that is a bit of an investment, whether it has a big entry fee, or requires some travel to the start line. If you have to book a hotel and plane tickets to get to the race, you'll be more inclined to see through your investment by training and completing the race.

Also, training with a training partner or several other people provides motivation to train, and accountability on training days and race day. If you leave a buddy hanging in the cold at 5:30 on a Thursday morning, you can bet on receiving a livid phone call—or a butt whooping—later on.

Finally, "training" sounds a lot more fun than "working out" because it's working out with a concrete, achievable goal. Weight loss as a final goal can only motivate you for so long. Forget about the scale and focus on finishing your race. Your body and mind will have more fun and thank you, most likely by being happy and dropping lbs.

How do I find a training partner?
There are many great organizations around today that not only provide training plans and hook up training partners, but also help you raise money for worthy causes while you train.

Team in Training has programs all over the United States that will train you for your first triathlon, marathon, half-marathon, or century bike ride while you raise money to help cure cancer. It's a feel-good, win-win situation.

Nike has several training runs in various locations throughout the year. They are a great place to meet new people who run your pace, to start getting some miles into your legs, and to test out cool new Nike gadgets and shoes.

If you want a date out of the training deal, try Active.com's singles site. You can meet people in your area with active interests ranging from hiking to wind surfing and everything in between. Note: a date, under the guise of "training", is the best way to take the pressure off, get to know someone, and get fit without even thinking. It's a given that you both won't look your best after jogging five miles. And it's also a given that you won't want to look like a wuss in front of your future potential girl/boyfriend, so you'll finish your scheduled training session no matter how much it hurts.

Which race is best for me?
Only you can answer this question. If you're completely sedentary, don't worry! Try making a 5K run (that's 3.1 miles) your goal. Join a local running club for inspiration, then knock 'em dead on race day.

Even if you've never ridden a bike, organizations like Team in Training will take you from zero to a 100 mile bike ride with coaching, group training rides, and the extra motivation that comes from knowing that all of the time you put into improving yourself will also help to improve the life of someone fighting cancer.

The best part is, once you've finished the race, nobody can take that away from you. You may or may not win a medal but you will have bragging rights for the rest of your life. No matter what life throws at you, you'll know that you can achieve a goal once you've put your mind to it—and that includes weight loss!

Need some inspiration?
Sister Madonna Buder, a Roman Catholic nun from Washington, started running when she was 49 years old. She has since completed over 200 triathlons, including 13 Ironman triathlons (that's a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run—in 17 hours or less!). She competed in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in 2006 at the age of 76!

Just this last Sunday, July 22, 2008, Craig Dietz did the Pittsburgh triathlon swim as part of a relay team—Dietz was born with no arms and no legs. And he finished ahead of 35 other swimmers!

And you must've heard of Team Hoyt, a father and son team from Massachusetts who have completed 65 marathons, 6 Ironman triathlons and countless other races—all while
Rick Hoyt's father, Dick, pulled and pushed his son in a wheelchair. Doctors told the Hoyts that their son would be brain-dead after being born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. After showing an affinity for sports, Dick Hoyt made it his life's mission to make sure his son would not miss out on any athletic competitions due to his disability.

So get out there. Use that awesome body that you have—in whatever state it's in—to begin training. You'll make friends, encourage other people, and even raise money for charity along the way. Oh, yeah, and you'll lose weight and tone up. Without even thinking about it.