Remember the joys of recess or gym class when you were a kid? You could enjoy the delights of playing games like tag, dodgeball, jump rope. You did this exercise not because you had to, but because it was FUN!
Then you grew up and, for many of us, exercise became another chore for us to accomplish. It was no longer fun. We know it’s good to exercise for our health, but many of us have lost the fun part. That’s why people listen to music or watch TV while working out—it helps the time pass more quickly whereas when we were kids, we never wanted the fun of exercise to end.
Bring back fun fitness by finding the kid in you!
While traditional activities like running or taking a class at the gym may be the most practical choice, consider other activities that can have the same benefits with an added dose of fun. Here are a few exercise ideas to bring out the kid in you.
- Try a team sport like softball, soccer, basketball, or hockey
- Replace a stationary bike at the gym with a lovely ride outdoors
- Take a dance class – there is a Hip Hop Mama class in my area that I love
- Hoola hoop classes – or just break out a hoop in the backyard
- Find a local Dodgeball game – many communities have these for adults
Do you have other ideas for fun fitness? Share them in a comment. Have fun bringing out the kid in you!
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I love being a kid again and just playing like there’s no future and no past but just the moment. I think that’s why kids have so much fun. Thanks for the many ideas and I’m definitely going to try these out with my nieces and nephew this weekend.
I love this. I usually just play catch with a football. Thanks for more amazing ideas and I will be trying these out.
i love finding ways to make fitness more fun 🙂
I have a jump rope but haven’t used it for ages, I will this weekend though 🙂
I really want to get good at hooping – it looks so pretty
For me as a kid it was tennis. I played it all the time, then gave it up for about 20 year, and now playing again. It is just going outside and having a good time with whatever you do!
I was going to include tennis. Good reminder.
Hula hoops are so fun! Love the idea of just going out and playing with them.
I joined a triathlon training club – training sure seems like a lot more fun when there are people to have beers with afterwards 🙂
I may start a “slow runners group” – I find it challenging to find people who run at my pace.
I like the idea of fun fitness (like sledding or playing with active toys) I also like the idea of housework fitness. When will we see an article on that?
I have a hula hoop & a trampoline & they are both fun!
Love this! I don’t enjoy traditional workouts. But I love playing and being active with my kids. It’s a much better way to be fit and stay healthy.
I’ve been meaning to take a dance class with my niece this summer. We both need to be more active, and a good exercise session each day helps the little ones sleep!
When I was young we roller skated and played hop skotch and jumped rope. We were always outside.
I do like making exercise more fun – I get bored way too easily. Normally I take the classes at the gym, which adds some variety! Great ideas on how to make exercise fun – I need to work on the hula hoop. I used to do it as a kid and was very disappointed to see I lost my groove!
I like the hula hoop idea, I loved that as a kid! My daughter has been wanting one, maybe I’ll get one for me too :).
We have a small one and a large one so that I can hoop with my daughter. It is so much fun!
When I was a kid, my favorite outdoor games are soccer and dodge ball. Right now, I don’t play soccer anymore but I play dodge ball with my friends. It will truly bring out the kid in you!
For me, it was soccer. My friend kept urging me to join an over-30 league, but I kept putting it off, thinking, I’m 35 and haven’t played since I was 10 years old… I’m not going to know what I’m doing. But I ended up doing it and it’s really fun. Just the idea of sprinting as hard as you can for a game, not doing intervals a track, is something that makes you feel like a kid again.
Hurray! I am all about having active fun!
That’s why I’m glad for the new trend in video games, where you can get active with your kids indoors. I think that it’s super important to get outside and get active with your kids but on those rainy days, you can make sure your kids are off the couch playing games inside!
Kids today don’t exercise as much as we did as children. I remember riding my bike nearly every day in the summer time. My brothers would organize baseball games at the park and we always enjoyed swimming. But that was before video games, internet and 100 channels on your television.
I also agree that even as an adult it is hard to find time to get out and have fun while exercising. Thank you for sharing these wonderful tips! Have a great weekend.