I don't know about you, but in my Victorianist mind, and even in today's society, play ends at 13-14. At the latest. When you "Grow up" You put away the dolls and come indoors to learn to be an adult. At least that's what happened to me. I'm an only child so I was shy, and never very active anyways.
Now we come to it. I've lived a rather unhealthy, sedentary life style. and with all this snow, I have a serious case of cabin fever! And all those Christmas goodies are sitting on my middle, taking my 33" waist up to a 34"...
I thought about bringing out the exercise bike... But it's old and is rather hard on one's bum.
I thought about going for a walk, but I never can seem to get up enough speed, or go far enough, to really burn anything.
The other day, I got and email from my 70+ year old "adoptive" Nana. She's originaly from Florida and absolutely LOVES snow. She told me she had made a snowman, which I expected, We had done it together many times when I was little. But then she told me she planned on going sledding! To me the thought of my Nana Flying down a hill on a piece of plastic was a little more than strange. But then I thought, why not?
I had slipped and slid down my long steep driveway all week, it being a solid sheet of ice. So today I followed Nana's lead and got my dad's old steerable sled out and set it on top of the ice. A kick of the feet and I was off, flying down the hill, then running back up. A few times of that and I had my heart rate up.
Guess what? It was the best exercise I'd had in a long time!
Though we don't like to say it, some of us do have new years resolutions to lose weight or get in shape. No matter how you put it, no matter what music you put behind it, Working out is not fun... It's monotonous, and that's why people quit on it so easily. So here's my advise. Go play!
If you have little brothers and sisters, get out in the yard once or twice a week and have a rousing game of tag! Or any other game. If you don't have Siblings, play chase or fetch with your dog. If you have neither, go on a hike or a bike ride, just something to get you active, But make it fun!
Don't go by yourself if you can help it. Don't "Diet and exercise" Eat better and play!
Life can get awful monotonous if we never allow ourselves to have any rambunctious, get-up-and-go fun, so find gather some friends and get out and get moving! You'll be surprised how many memories you'll make, and how healthy and in shape you become!
Here are some sites with all kinds of fun old time games.
http://www.nyfolklore.org/pubs/voic30-1-2/oldgames.html
http://www.earthskids.com/games&songs.htm
Stephanie Ann wrote recently on how to play a great game called "Blind Mans Bluff" Here
http://worldturndupsidedown.blogspot.com/2011/01/colonial-games-how-to-play-blindmans.html
Enjoy the fun!
Meggie,
Ps, blog about what you do and leave a link in a comment, I'd love to see what fun things you come up with!
Written Jan 14 2010
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