Recess for Adults

Do you ever walk by a park and feel nostalgic? Watching little kids going down sliding, swinging, and playing in the sandbox can make anyone wish they were young again. I wish I was here to tell you there was a way to turn back time but I'm still trying to figure that out myself. Just because you can't turn back the clock, who says you can't play the same games you did as a kid?

Many of the games we played as kids are great ways of getting in shape (unless you were like me and were lighting tennis balls covered in gasoline and playing catch with them). Here are a couple of games that are safer than playing Fireball and will get you in better shape.

Hula hooping: I know most of you haven't hula-hooped since at least junior high, but apparently it can get you in great shape. It works out your entire core and about an hour a day can help you lose weight and have a great time. Don't believe me? According to TIME magazine, Dawn-Samantha Cahill was able to go from a size 20 to a size 12 in 5 months by hula hooping about 45 minutes a day.

Skipping: Skipping (or jumping rope) can provide one the most intense workouts out there. According to HealthandGoodness.com, skipping can burn as many calories as running at 12 km/hr (about 7.5 mph). It's a great cardio workout that is great for toning your legs. Doing it for a workout is a bit more intense than when you were singing songs on the playground with your friends--but it's just as fun if you haven't tried it since being a kid.

Kickball: For a group fitness-oriented activity, you can play kickball. Kickball was my favorite sport as a little kid and apparently there are adult teams throughout the country. It's probably a game you've forgotten about, but it's good for a lighter workout with a lot more fun. If you want to find a league in your area just checkout the World Adult Kickball Association website.

Just because you're not a kid anymore doesn't mean you can't play like one. These activities are a cheap and easy way to keep in shape and provide you with hours of fun. Working out can be like recess all over again.