Playing vs. Exercise
@just4him (306113)
Green Bay, Wisconsin
January 5, 2016 3:05pm CST
As a kid I was very active. I played outside all day long, went swimming in summer and sledding and ice skating in winter. I walked to my girlfriend's house or took my bike and she lived about five miles out in the country. I didn't think anything about all the walking I did.
Today I am not at all active and need to start exercising.
I was thinking about the difference between playing and exercise over the past couple days.
When you play you use every muscle you have. My muscles were never tired or sore the next day and I was ready to go out and play some more.
If we engaged in the same kind of play as we did as kids, we wouldn't need all the exercise we pay tons for at gyms.
Now granted I'm not ten years old anymore and neither are you, but what happens when we get out there and play with our grandchildren? Other than the fact we get tired easy, we have a lot of fun, and it doesn't feel like exercise.
I think it's time to start playing again. I know that when I played as a kid I never had a weight problem. In fact I never had a weight problem until I went to college and sat in class the entire day and gained seventy-five pounds by the end of the first year.
If the NFL can engage kids in Play 60 I think I can spend one hour playing as well. I know it will take time to work up to 60 minutes, but I know I can do it.
It's time to engage in reverse exercise here. It's time to play again.
Thanks for reading.
Image courtesy of Pixabay
40 people like this
37 responses
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
5 Jan 16
It is better to keep fit by doing something that is fun. I love dancing and it is a great way to exercise as well
6 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79708)
• United States
7 Jan 16
@freelanzer dancing is so much fun even if you blast the music and dance around the house
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
5 Jan 16
Mmmh get playing though it can never be as intense as when one is a child
6 people like this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
5 Jan 16
@just4him I agree, Fun and also healthy
5 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
5 Jan 16
I do hope this works for you, Valerie!
It sounds like you are on a back-to-my-roots campaign except you are returning to childhood.... I am very curious if calling exercise play instead will motivate you more than simply calling it exercise does? I'm thinking you will need to make yourself believe it really is play for it to work.
I'll patiently wait to hear about your positive outcome while I am cheering you on, hon! Good luck!
Thanks to @BernieZ for suggesting this discussion to me. I appreciate it!
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
5 Jan 16
@just4him I do hope you will keep us updated on this, Valerie.
You are very welcome!
2 people like this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
7 Jan 16
@DaddyEvil While I was watching the kids play tonight, and even kicked at one of the beach balls being used in the game, I realized it has been a very long time since I did any kind of kicking.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Jan 16
Swimming is a very good form of exercise. You can work yourself up gradually!
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Jan 16
@just4him Don't over do it just build yourself up slowly.
4 people like this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Jan 16
@garymarsh6 Nothing will be done fast. Though I do get to play with kids on Wednesday nights again at the church youth program I'm a leader for starting tomorrow.
3 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
5 Jan 16
I love to camp and fish. And camping is hard work. But of course I don't camp all the time. I do love playing with my sisters grandkids though. They exhaust me. They are 5, 4 and 2 all girls.
4 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
5 Jan 16
@just4him I love to camp, hear the fish splashing in the lake and birds chirping while having my morning coffee.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
6 Jan 16
Wonderful post and great truth. I read about a young mom once who just followed her kids around for a month and lost lots of weight. Not only does playing help your physical heart it helps your heart, your emotions, your spirit.
3 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
7 Jan 16
I use to have the exercise ball and as I was on the computer I would sit on it and roll back and forth and sideways and it did help. When we moved I deflated it and when I tried to blow it up I found that I lost the screw to cap it off so the air won't stay in. I think this week I will go buy another one as it really helped me.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
5 Jan 16
the idea of playing is way more enticing than exercising
3 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
5 Jan 16
I agree with you on this one @Jessicalynnt. Unfortunately my grandsons live in New Jersey and I now live in Florida. Before we moved here over a year ago, I always had my grandsons around to play with and I did have lots of fun.
2 people like this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Jan 16
@ramapo17 It's been a while since I played with my grandchildren. They're all adults now. However, I do have two great granddaughters I can look forward to playing with this summer as they are getting to that age where they will be outside playing more. They are 2 & 1.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
5 Jan 16
That is what I am trying to do with the dogs instead of walking on a thread mill in the house.
3 people like this
@zebra2222 (5269)
• United States
6 Jan 16
Walking for me is exercise. I do not play as much unless it involves board games or video games. Once in awhile, I'll throw around a ball.
2 people like this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
8 Jan 16
I never had a weight problem till i broke my ankle and hardly left my house and then the next year i broke it again so two years of non exercise or doing much put weight on me and it is now hard to do when i can barely walk or stand..yes i wish i was 10 again..oh the fun i had back then..
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
10 Jan 16
@just4him oh i feel for you..i hated those down times getting the leg muscles back and i still suffer from mine..i broke both sides of the ankle, my achilles , my foot,and the femur..still hurts to stand after too long and he told me it will always be wanky but at least i can walk
1 person likes this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
10 Jan 16
@Rosekitty That sounds horrific. I'm glad you can walk with all you been through.
1 person likes this
@slund2041 (3315)
• United States
6 Jan 16
I know my health has a lot to do with my activity. When I keep my little cousins I have to take a lot of breaks from playing with them, because I tire out so easy. I am asthmatic as well as a ton of other health issues.
2 people like this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
6 Jan 16
Health issues can cause a lot of problems especially when we play or exercise.
@Marilynda1225 (79708)
• United States
7 Jan 16
I like your theory that playing is exercise but fun. Sadly there isn't much I can do today that I used to do at 10 yrs old. My days of sledding, skating and rolling down a hill are long gone but fond memories. If you can go out and play I say go for it!!! Keep young physically& mentally
2 people like this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Jul 17
I remember those good old days of rolling down hills, sledding, and ice skating. There are other kinds of playing that we can do. I haven't done it yet. Seems I should look into it.
I didn't realize I missed these comments. Sorry it took so long to get back to it.
1 person likes this
