When I was a kid, I used to like to play team games. I played soccer for 4 years from ages 7 to 11. I played baseball for a couple years and basketball for one year — as I recall, that basketball team did not win a single game all season….
As I recall, we used to also, during our free time, get together to play 3- or 4-man baseball — remember “right field is closed” and “pitcher’s as good as first base”? — and pickup soccer and touch football games, as well as an enjoyable game of progressive dodgeball. To this day I recall the plaintive cry of one of my fellow competitor-compatriots: “Guard me, Steve. Guard me with your life!”
During school gym class, we climbed ropes a few times, played yet more dodgeball, and ran 100-yard dashes. I’m sure we did more than that, but that’s all I really remember. Oh, yeah, and square dancing was in the mix somewhere. In grade school in Massachusetts. Square dancing. Go figger. I recall that none of the guys at Sgt Robert R Litwin Elementary School wanted to dance with Kathleen. Karen and Cindy were the prized partners, so we always had to draw partner names out of a hat. (Btw, I recall those girls’ last names, but I left them out to protect the innocent.)
Anyway, this is not about reminiscing. The point is that, as a kid, playing games, and, okay, maybe a little dancing, were the primary ways I worked out. But that changed as I become an adult.
I mean, sure, as an adult I played the occasional game of flag football. I was even part of one softball team or another for many years of my life. But football was more about drinking beer, and softball was really more about … hmmmm … okay, also about drinking beer. Nothing wrong with that, but drinking and team sports are not really a great way to stay in shape.
At one point I became a runner. The main reason was that I had to run for the Air Force, so, of course, I wanted to be one of the best runners in my unit.
I really enjoyed running, and participated in some half-marathons over the years, averaging between 7:30 and 7:50 per mile for the 13.1 miles. I was, however, never tempted to run a full marathon. Honestly, I really didn’t feel that I could take the time to train to run a full marathon.
My brother was an avid and frequent marathoner for a few years, and he subscribes to the idea — as many people do — that a marathon is best done with a mix of running and walking.
I simply cannot wrap my mind around that. I don’t argue against it. In fact, I would bet the evidence shows that non-elite marathoners who do it achieve better times than those who don’t, but it’s still not for me, because I have this mental block about running, i.e. when I run a race, I have to run the race. Not walk … RUN!
Wow, I have rambled on for quite a few words, but have not yet arrived at the point.
The point is that when we are kids, all we have to do is play and go to school. It’s pretty easy to stay in shape.
However, as we become adults, we now have the responsibility of needing to make money. This generally involves a job of some sort, and that job usually takes up quite a bit of time.
So how do we stay in shape? How do we work out?
Well, we find something that we like to do, something that we look forward to.
Just the other day on Facebook, one of my friends wrote:
“Just got done with my first workout at Gold’s Gym. I’m gonna be positive and NOT focus on my perception that it sucked and I feel tired right now. It is a necessary evil that I have to adjust to.”
Do we ever really adjust to something that sucks? Well, something that sucks that we don’t get paid for? Not likely.
Hopefully, at some point my friend will change his mind about the gym, and it will no longer suck, but what I bet will happen is that he will eventually taper off his workouts, until he’s not working out at all.
And so I say again: We need to find a workout we enjoy.
Life already sucks enough. I mean, it’s not bad, but there are enough things we have to do. We need to make our fitness programs something we enjoy doing.
So, then, what do you enjoy doing? What’s your favorite workout? Haven’t found it yet? Try something else until you do find it.
Along those lines, keep in mind that all Beachbody programs come with a money-back guarantee. With nothing to lose, and your whole life to gain, why not give one a shot?
Fwiw, my favorite workouts are aerobics and yoga. I’m not too much into weightlifting, although I loved P90X when I was going through it. I do like running, but I have not set aside enough time to get back into it. Perhaps someday I will.
What’s your favorite type of workout? Find it, and odds are, you’ll stick with it.