Exercise That Feels Like Play
My favorite way to get my cardio exercise in is to forget I'm working out. I like to play the calories away.
Right now, it's water aerobics. Water aerobics is gentle and healing for my injured spine and hip joint as I recover from giving birth. It's great- all of the pain disappears as the water gently cradles you. Even better, you feel like a kid again, "playing" with water noodles (floats) and other water toys. One of my favorite moves involves flipping from your front to your back in the water, kicking your legs together, like a dolphin. It feels great, and it's so much fun. It reminds me of swimming lessons- after all of the hard work was done, the teacher would tell you it was "free time." That was when you got to play in the water. Love it.
Here are some other ideas for ways you can work out without really even noticing the "work" part:
Wii or Wii Fit:
Instead of just working out your thumbs while you play video games, consider getting exercise while having fun. The Wii and Wii Fit burn calories, but you'll never notice. Instead of watching the clock and wishing your workout would be over with, you'll be watching the score and saying "one more game!"
Tennis:
Tennis burns a lot of calories while you play, and it'll also work your muscles for continued calorie burning. Even if you're not skilled at tennis, it's a great workout. Just be sure to wear a good pair of tennis shoes and bring a water bottle along.
Golf:
Though golf is unlikely to get you to your THR (target heart rate), it does burn calories. Skip the golf cart and lug around your own clubs, and you'll sleep well that night.
Soccer, Basketball, Hockey, or any sport where you keep moving:
These are my absolute favorite ways to burn calories. Team sports are so much fun. An added bonus is that you can't cancel your workout last-minute if you're tired or lazy; you don't want to let your teammates down.
Skiing, Snowboarding, or Surfing:
The thrill and exhilaration of riding a wave or flying down a hill definitely distract you from your burning muscles and racing heart. You won't even realize you worked out until the next day- when the delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) kicks in!
So, play your way to fitness today! You'll look better, feel better, and have more fun. What's to lose?
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