IT ONLY MAKES SENSE
We in the United States seem to be divided in our participation in sports or fitness activities. I believe that most of us recognize the value of fitness and its health benefits. But do we generally make serious efforts to stay in shape?
Frontiers in Public Health reveals that 2 of 3 adults and 1 of 3 children are overweight or obese. Obesity is now a major health problem in the United States.
Our military sees a similar problem. Among young adults between the ages of 17-24, over one in three is too heavy to serve in the military. Of those who do qualify, one of four has not done the necessary physical exercise to meet training standards.
See my prior post on Center for Disease Control standards and how we measure up. It’s not a pretty picture.
There is one solution that seems to make the most sense. Choose an activity that you enjoy. You will stick with it.
Legendary alpine skier Lindsey Vonn has a few more suggestions:
- Make a list of the activities that you might enjoy – hiking, gardening, salsa dancing, spin classes, pole dancing, swimming, weight lifting, jogging and any others.
- Try a new 20 minute workout every week. Do the full 20 minutes, but ease into it gradually.
- Assess the workouts. If you didn’t like it, cross it off the list. If it interested you, try it again the next week. Try to find 1 or 2 or more activities that you enjoy.
- Look for 4 enjoyable sessions. Four times should be enough to determine if that session is a good fit. If not, make a new list.
- Keep the adventure alive. Exercise can be monotonous. It can be like food in that even our favorite meals can lose their appeal if we eat nothing else. Try different forms of exercise.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I began playing sports in elementary school – baseball, football and basketball. I stuck with basketball and picked up tennis and golf in junior high school. Then basketball and tennis in high school, tennis and intramual sports in college, tennis tournaments in North Carolina through age 50. Back to golf until age 75.
I enjoyed the competition of sports and never thought of any of them as being a means to fitness.
Weight training was part of this from age 17 unitl now. I can relate to what Lindsey Vonn says about avoiding monotony. Doing the same workout – same exercises, sets and reps – can create plateaus, if not disinterest. We must freshen our workouts!
My advice – do something you like. Do not be one of these (below).
TIPS ON CHOOSING A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Victoria State Government Department of Health gives us valuable advice when we consider a physical fitness routine, beginning with the suggestion that we get a medical check-up before we get started.
We must identify our style of physical activity. Do we enjoy:
- Exercising alone? This makes sense for those with busy schedules who may have difficulty planning regular times
- Training partner? We will be likely to benefit from shared energy and commitment to a partner
- Team sports or exercise programs? We can widen our social circles
- Mix it up? Try to do a variety of the above during the week
Consider different activities. Here are a few:
Cycling:
- Benefits – this is a weight bearing form of exercise that is easy on the joints. A great cardiovascular activity
- Keep in mind – a good quality bicycle can be expensive. Protective equipment is essential.
Swimming:
- Benefits – swimming is a low impact form of exercise. The buoyancy of the water supports our bodies and injury is generally prevented. The entire body is exercised.
- Keep in mind – swimming requires skill and this may mean lessons. Swimming is not a weight bearing exercise.
Walking:
- Benefits – walking is free, easy to perform and doesn’t require special equipment other than a good pair of shoes and a hat for sun protection.
- Keep in mind – walking can be unsafe or make us feel unsafe. Consider a partner or a walking group.
Team sports:
- Benefits – this gives us the opportunity for fun and friendship. Exercise is always easier when it is enjoyable. Sports like soccer, softball/baseball or basketball can build cardiovascular health quickly since there are requirements to run.
- Keep in mind – the stop-start nature of team sports may put strain on our joints and ligaments, especially the knees and ankles. Also, team sports may be seasonal.
AFFILIATE MARKETING
This is what I do, i.e, write articles and include links to relevant items that may interest readers. I may benefit from activity on the links, which is the essence of affiliate marketing. See my upper menu – BECOME AN AFFILIATE MARKETER – for information on this Online business.
I am featuring two affiliate associations today, Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
AMAZON
Each link will show details, prices, pictures and suggestions for similar other options.
Lindsey Vonn – New York Times bestseller Strong is the New Beautiful – also check for other books by Lindsey. They are inspiring.
The Nordic Track treadmill I use at home at least 3 times per week
Cable jump rope – tangle free, less than $9. Great cardio device.
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS
This has been my favorite sports retailer for several decades. I like to consider their Online specials. Here are a few:
- Up to 40% off on running shoes – Brooks, Nike, Adidas and others
- Up to 50% off men’s, women’s and kids’ fleece – hoodies, joggers and more
- Up to $300 off select golf clubs – Callaway, TaylorMade and others
- Up to 50% off select NFL gear – support your favorite teams
- Up to 45% off dumbbells, racks and weights
- Up to 40% off select team sports equipment and cleats
- Up to 40% off select outdoor gear – paddles, camping, hiking
See my Dick’s Sporting Goods link at the side of my website. Then:
- Click on the red link
- You will see the question “What are you looking for?”
- Proceed from there
FINAL THOUGHTS
My theme today has been to “pick an activity that you enjoy”. That is the key. We wiil not think about burning calories or shaping our bodies. It will happen automatically.
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of actvities from which to choose. Most people can go outside and take a walk. Or walk on a treadmill inside as music is played. If we are competitive, there are almost unlimited sports or games to play. There is no reason I know of to ignore the health benefits and pleasure to be derived from physical activity.
Please leave me any comments or questions in the “Comments” section below.
Let’s not be couch potatoes!
Richard, this is such an insightful and motivating post! I really appreciate how you’ve broken down the importance of finding a fitness activity that resonates with each individual’s preferences. Your emphasis on variety, like Lindsey Vonn’s advice to try different workouts and keep things fresh, is spot on. Lack of variety can be tough to overcome, but, your personal experience in sports and weight training reinforces how sticking with activities we love can truly make fitness enjoyable and sustainable.
The detailed breakdown of various fitness options, from cycling to team sports, is a fantastic resource for anyone unsure where to start or looking for inspiration. Overall, this is a thoughtful, encouraging guide that emphasizes the joy of movement rather than making fitness feel like a chore. Keep up the great work!
Best Regards, Scott
Thanks for your input, Scott! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. You have certainly ackowledged the essence of my theme today – that we have better results when we pick an activity that we enjoy. Please keep in touch and thanks again!
Hi Richard,
Wow! This is a nice post! I totally get what you’re saying about the divide in how we approach fitness. Growing up, I was always involved in sports—soccer, basketball, you name it. But once I hit high school, it felt like everyone around me was more focused on hanging out than staying active. It was easy to get sucked into that lifestyle, and I found myself doing less and less. Eventually, I realized I needed to find something I genuinely enjoyed to keep me motivated. That’s when I picked up rock climbing! It’s such a thrill, and it really doesn’t feel like exercise at all. The best part is, it challenges me both physically and mentally. Who knew pushing myself up a wall could be so much fun?
Now, I try to keep my routine fresh and exciting, just like Lindsey Vonn suggests. I’m always looking for new activities to try out, whether it’s yoga, hiking, or even dance classes. I remember trying Zumba once and laughing the whole time—definitely made me forget about the workout! Hahahhaha! It’s all about finding what you love and making it part of your life. So, have any of you discovered a fun activity that completely changed your perspective on fitness?
Thanks, Macfais! Your experience has fit in perfectly with my article today. Rock climbing sounds fascinating and I have never tried it. My daughters do mountain climbing and the older one loves yoga. I don’t do yoga, but I loved mountain trails when I was younger.
My real fit was tennis. One of the best things about tennis was to meet a new opponent without a ranking and to try to win with no information except what I could glean as we began to play. Tennis kept me entertained for over 5 decades.
In college, I tried handball in a physical education course and immediately liked it, but never played again after graduation. In the military, I played lots of ping pong and pool, as well as tennis.
There are many competitive and enjoyable sports or modes of exercise today. No reason to sit around!