Be A Kid Again: Have Fun While You Exercise!

By Marty Copeland

A workout can be just that — work!  And, it can also be boring.  If you’ve worked out for any length of time, you already know that.  It doesn’t have to be that way, though!

There are so many exercise possibilities — and there are many ways to exercise and have fun doing it.  Going to the gym each week and doing the same routine can get old.  In fact, often by the time people realize their weight-loss goals, they’re burnt out and in such a rut that it’s tempting to stop going to the gym at all.  The solution?  Add some variety to your exercise.

Finding a different aerobic activity you can enjoy by yourself or with family and friends will help you stay in shape and keep things interesting.

Walking is probably most widely practiced as a form of aerobic exercise, because it is the most convenient to do.  The truth is, the most popular aerobic activity is the one you will do.  After getting clearance from your doctor, choose an activity that is in keeping with your health and fitness level.  You might consider cycling, swimming, kick-boxing, cross-country skiing, racquetball or tennis.

Start thinking outside the box.  Try something different and experience the excitement of a new challenge!  Or, go back to something familiar and loved.  Remember when you were a kid?  Getting enough exercise was never a problem.  Back then you didn’t call it exercise, you called it FUN! So, why not think about what you loved to do as a kid?
Skate Your Way to Fitness!

I think almost every child loves to skate.  I know I did.  What was your favorite — roller-skating, ice skating, rollerblading, or perhaps even skateboarding?  I really enjoyed roller-skating when I was younger. Occasionally, we would get to go ice skating, and that was a real thrill.  We never once thought of skating as exercise, even though we were getting a “wow” workout.

So, why not consider taking up that favorite activity again?  Many people are!  In-line skating is one of the fastest growing and most popular recreational activities for young and old alike.  One gentleman I know took up skating in his 60s.  After he retired, his waistline began rapidly expanding and he decided to roll away those pounds!  Although it took a little time for him to feel entirely comfortable with in-line skating (he had roller skates as a kid), once he got the hang of it, he became an in-line skating enthusiast.  Extremely fit and toned, this man (who now buys a much smaller belt size), takes every opportunity to put on his skates and get rolling.

Skating is a definite workout, and the payoff is huge!

According to the Mayo Clinic calorie counter, a person weighing 140-150 pounds can burn between 446-476 calories per hour while moderately to vigorously skating. That makes in-line skating a terrific aerobic exercise.  And not only that, you can also get great anaerobic benefits at the same time.  You will strengthen and build muscle in the hips, thighs, buttocks, upper leg, hamstrings, lower back, and upper arms and shoulders.

Wearing the recommended safety gear is a “must do” when you skate! You will also want to take into account the following if you are a beginner:

First of all, learn to stop before you try skating anywhere!  The heel-stopping mechanism found on most in-line skates takes some practice to master.

Before strapping on your skates, plan your route.  Choose a flat area with no traffic and think through where you are going to skate.  Don’t try to carry a water bottle in your hand, but do take appropriate breaks to hydrate.

Be aware that in-line skates move faster than regular roller skates, therefore, it is easier for beginners to lose control.  Carrying a straight

cane with a rubber stopper on the end to assist with quick stops, or as a way to brace oneself in case of a fall, is a good idea.

In-line skating doesn’t have to be risky, when proper precautions are taken.  Still, about 30,000 in-line skaters visit the emergency room each year.  Many of the injuries could have been prevented with the proper protective wear.  So, before you roll anywhere, put on a proper helmet, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads.  And, no matter how accomplished you may become as an inline-skater, always wear your safety gear!

Go ahead.  Have fun.  Take a day off from the gym.  Be a kid again — strap on those skates and safety gear, and go for it!  Or you may want to…

Dance Away the Workout!

Today, I doubt the majority of people think of aerobics as being associated with music.  However, taking a dance class or something like a jazz exercise class is a great way to jazz up a workout!

Naturally as Christians, we would want to choose an appropriate form of dance.  The scripture says, “Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors.  Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world,” (1 Peter 2:12, New Living Translation).  We must keep this in mind when choosing any activity.

Many gyms, community centers and dance studios offer a variety of options for dancing.  Instructional dance exercise videos are also available.  I read about one woman who would put her kids down for a nap, go down in the basement, turn the music up loud, and dance as hard as she could for 45 minutes. She lost the weight she wanted to lose in record time.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a person weighing 140-150 pounds can burn between 416-442 calories in one hour of dancing.

If you danced as a child, you can dance again…and enjoy it just as much.  In fact, it can make you feel young again.  If you have a background in ballet or tap, you may consider taking it up again. Many gyms offer jazz exercises, and even hip-hop classes.  Being in a class setting can help you stay motivated.

According to one survey by a well-known dance studio, dancers not only get a great deal of exercise, but report they enjoy numerous other benefits, including: better health, acquiring more grace and poise, overcoming shyness, relieving stress, feeling relaxed, having fun and experiencing increased self-confidence.  What a great way to exercise.  Of course, the kind of dancing you choose will affect the fitness benefits you receive and the number of calories you burn.  As you’ve seen, burning calories is not the only benefit of aerobic dancing.

The fact that aerobic dancing includes the element of music is also significant.  Science is constantly learning about the power of music.  Numerous studies have been done and are being done about the effects of music in different arenas.  The findings are remarkable.  For instance, researchers have found music therapy alone is beneficial in reducing anxiety, enhancing cognitive processes and influencing mood and memory.

Given that, imagine what happens when you combine the effects of music with the effects of aerobic exercise!  Imagine how good you will feel!  That’s one reason I produced my walking CDs.  I know from experience that music can add a beneficial dimension to your workout.  So, why not give it a whirl?  Take a dance class!  You’ll have a lot of fun, make new friends, feel the exhilaration of taking on a new challenge, and perhaps even laugh at yourself a little along the way.