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Summary
On episode 136 of 40+ Fitness, Coach Allan opens a three part series on play, arguing that adults do not stop playing sports because they got old, they got old because they stopped playing.
He makes the case that a lack of time is usually an excuse rather than a real barrier, and that finding a sport you enjoy gives your training a purpose that a generic workout never will.
He breaks that purpose into three pieces: a reason to train, connection with other sport minded people, and clear direction for what to work on in the gym.
Links
- https://40plusfitness.com
Key Takeaways
- We do not stop playing because we got old, we got old because we stopped playing. Allan opens with this idea to reframe play as essential to staying young, not something reserved for kids.
- Lack of time is usually an excuse, not the real barrier. Most working adults face similar time constraints, so joining a league is more a matter of mindset than actual free time.
- A sport goal sustains motivation better than a number on the scale. Allan describes training toward being able to play beach volleyball, which kept him engaged in a way that chasing the last five pounds never did.
- Playing with or against others builds real connection. Teammates and opponents create camaraderie, and everyone involved is there because they enjoy the game, win or lose.
- The people you play with shape your own effort. Citing Jim Rohn’s idea that you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with, surrounding yourself with sport minded people pulls your own fitness forward.
- A sport gives your training clear direction. Wanting to play better volleyball points you toward endurance and lower body fat, while wanting to hit a tennis ball harder points you toward rotational and full body strength.
- Framing gym time as training instead of a workout changes how it feels. Training for something you enjoy removes the sense of punishment that plain exercise for its own sake can create.
- Lower barrier sports are worth considering too. Pickleball, described as a toned down version of tennis, and bowling are accessible ways to bring the same purpose driven approach to people who are not ready for volleyball or tennis.
“We don’t stop playing because we got old. We got old because we stopped playing.”
Coach Allan Misner
