Helping people develop a healthy relationship with food is my primary goal.

About Fitness
Gym Time versus Playtime

Written by:
Jennifer Pereira, RD, LD, CSCS

Many people begin their relationship with exercise innocently enough. It is good for the heart, gives you more energy, etc. But as you see calorie counters dancing through your head, you become more concerned with weight control…this leads to the “more exercise equals less weight” fanaticism. You declare you will work out every single day, building in intensity, and you will suffer severe guilt for any missed workout.

Most people cannot continue on like this for long. The gym is, well, pretty boring. It often means an hour or so away from the life you would like to be living. And, unlike the advertisers would like you to believe, the results are not usually as fast or as perfect as you would like them to be. All of this leads to the inevitable, dreaded…Burnout.

There is another way to have an active lifestyle without missing out on life. The solution is Playtime (or active play). If you are lucky enough to have a two-year-old handy, you will not need to read any further. However, if you are flying solo on trying to recapture the days of play gone by, then you are going to need to use some imagination. Think of what types of things you used to enjoy as a child.

Did you like to slide or swing or jump on a trampoline?
I know someone who jumps on one of those big trampolines, listening to her ipod—an hour can pass without her even realizing it because it is so fun. And that brings up an important point: active play is not only active but also fun—this kills two birds with one stone as far as living life goes. If you are going to be active, it should add to your life instead of take time away from it.

Does it make any sense to take an hour a day away from your life in order to prolong it?
Other ideas for more conventional active play are swimming in the pool (not laps!), shooting hoops, hitting a tennis ball against a wall, etc. If there is a sport you enjoy, sign up for a recreational team. If there is a cause you support, join in for a charity walk for the cure.

Just remember that if you are going to be active, it will be a more consistent endeavor if it is fun or has purpose. Do not waste your life feeling guilty over not exercising—live your life more fully by making playtime a regular part of your day.

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Listen to your Body, it is Wiser than you Think.
Respect your own unique traits, and develope a healthy relationship with food.