The Joy of Movement...or Not

So I've just returned from a weekend in New Jersey, where my son played in a NFL flag football tournament at the N.Y. Jets training facility. It was a great time; I don't think my son has ever played so much football in his life. Even between the official games, the boys kept playing pick-up games of their own.

They just never stopped.

I'm sure some of it has to do with the fact that they're pre-teen boys with boundless energy and few worries. But more than anything, it has to do with the fact that they just love to move -- and to play football.

Recently, a reader named Linda commented on a post I wrote about how exercise always makes me feel better about my body. She said: 

"...my self-talk about vigorous exercise goes more like this: 'Wow, I could not wait for that to be over. What I hear other people say is invigorating and satisfying is nothing but torture to me. It must be because I'm so irredeemably unfit. I suck.' Sure, maybe I managed to do X (but not run a mile, because I absolutely can't). But I don't get a sense of accomplishment from having done it. If anything, I get a sense of inadequacy about how hard and taxing and un-fun I found it, when I imagine that "normal" people would find it enjoyable."

Personally, I think Linda's being much too hard on herself. After all, exercise is work -- it wouldn't have the effect that it has on our bodies and our health if it wasn't taxing. But I also think there's a certain value in finding exercise that brings you a sense of joy. I'll be honest: I hate running, so training for a marathon sounds like torture to me. But I love to dance, so an hour spent in a good dance class doesn't feel so much like work. Sure, I'm sore and tired afterward, but the time usually flies.

If you're feeling like Linda is, I say keep trying until you find the activity that feels like fun, not exercise. After all, when we were kids, we weren't thinking about "exercise" or "calories" or "being fit."

We were thinking about playing. And like those boys on the football field, we'd do it for hours and hours, just because we could.

P.S. My daughter and I happened to catch the girls' championship game during the tournament. Those ladies sure can throw a football. My starry-eyed daughter turned to me and said, "I want to play on a football team."

Comments

[Annie]

I'm with Linda. I don't find exercise to be particularly fun or energizing, and I always wonder what I'm missing. I've tried different things, and I hate some things less than others, but I can't say that I love exercise. And that makes it really hard to get all cheery and "Just make time!" I also wish that more people who worked in health and fitness could understand that not everyone is like them. Some days, I want to smack their cheery, energetic selves around. That is a big turnoff to some gyms.

[Alex]

Me three. There have certainly been times in my life when I've enjoyed something physical--playing volleyball, taking a long walk on a lovely day--but those don't amount to the kind of exercise on a regular basis that helps to keep bodies in shape. Any exercise is good exercise, sure, but for some people exercise is never going to be fun. (I think the whole "endorphins" thing is a cruel hoax, myself.)

[Alyssa]

Oh dear. I'm one of those people who loves to work out. BUT, there are certain things I despise, like running. SO I don't do it.
Personally, I think going for a nice walk is one of the best things ever. The fact that it's considered exercise is just frosting.
Mmmmm...frosting!

[Dara Chadwick]

Alyssa, you crack me up!

Annie and Alex, you're right -- not everyone will love exercise. But I do think it's important to keep trying different things and find the activities that are MOST enjoyable to you. That may change over time, too. I'm easily bored and find I really need to change things up to stay motivated.