Week 7: Balloon Ball

A famous comic actor, W.C. Fields, once commented that when the urge to exercise hit him he would lie down until the feeling went away. I sympathize, and well, I tend to agree. Exercise is of the devil. But the apostle Paul commented on exercise in I Tim 4:8

Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.

While the focus of the passage is on exercising your spiritual muscles, note that Paul thinks that exercise is useful. I guess W.C. was wrong.

But I will not be suggesting a lot of exercise. Instead I will be suggesting that you move instead. While the difference between the two is subtle, I think the difference is significant.

Look at a typical American day. Up in the morning and watching TV while drinking coffee. Walk to the garage and then drive to work. You take the elevator to your floor. You sit in front of a computer screen most of the day. There is an occasional meeting. You sit for that. You drive home, going through the drive-through for dinner, you don't even get out of the car for that! You unwrap the burger and sip your cola in front of the TV. Later you lie down for sleep. This can't be healthy.

No, exercise is not of the devil, but sitting is, especially in front of the devil's eye.

Here is this week's homework, the benefits of exercise. 



See What Balloon Ball Can Do! So this brings me to the subject for this week's action, play balloon ball.

The equipment needed is a balloon and a lot of hot air. I have plenty of both. The goal is to keep the balloon off the floor as much as possible. We tend to be somewhat competitive, so my daughter and I often keep score. Hey, I do not like losing, even if it is Candyland. If you have a helium balloon that is losing its rise, so much the better.

There are various moves like the Jay Leno: you hit the balloon with your ... chin. Do not confuse this with the Jimmy Durante--no nose is involved. The Pelè involves hitting the balloon with your head. But you must jump up into the balloon for it to be a full Pelè.  The slam dunk involves hitting the balloon hard toward your "opponent." A knee move is a lot more difficult than you might think. You have to hit the balloon hard to get any altitude. Of course you can also use your foot. Tomorrow my daughter and I will play balloon soccer as the helium will be mostly gone. You get extra points if you dance while your opponent does their moves. Thus my daughter does the "shuffle off to Buffalo" as she is a tap dancer. Above all have fun. 

You can play alone, nor do you even need to be human. 

As fun as Balloon Ball is, my point is not solely that you should play balloon ball. It is that you need to move your body. Park your car farthest away from the door. Walk up the stairs. Bring your lunch to work and walk during your lunch time. When you take Fido out to do his business, do not do the bare minimum, instead be outside longer. Fido will appreciate it.

Action plan for this week. Play balloon ball. Have fun. Move your body.

Continue with the last few weeks' actions. Write down everything you eat, do not drink diet drinks. Avoid caloric beverages. And as I said last week, limit your calories!



Music to listen to while playing Balloon Ball.