How Your Inner Child Can Keep You Thin

In the 1970s, staying thin was so easy, I never thought about it, and neither did most of my peers. We were kids and so it was easy. In the 1977/78 school year, when we were 9 years old, we had two overweight kids in a class of 20. Life was good.

In the 1980s, I was a teenager. I gained weight. A lot of weight. Of course, I lost it all as an adult, but not before thinking back to the way my life had changed between 100 pounds and 140. The biggest change was the fact that, at the age of 13, I became a slug.

Thirteen-year-olds did cool things like watch soap operas and do their hair. They did not ride bikes and climb trees or chase and tumble with other kids. Other younger kids. I was much less happy as a teenager because of those assumptions, I think. As an adult, I figured that out and went back to the basics.

Climbing trees didn't really work for me anymore, but giving in to little urges did. Bouncing on the balls of my feet just because it feels good and because I'm suddenly happy works for me. That's something that kids do. Adults don't bounce. That's why they're so out of shape.

If it suddenly occurs to me that doing jumping jacks would be fun, then I do jumping jacks. If I decide a good sprint during my walk would feel good, then I do that. The neighbors ask me what the heck I'm doing. I don't care. The neighbors are large.

Of course, bouncing and jumping jacks alone aren't going to make you a powerhouse of health, but it is impossible not to feel happy while you're doing those things. They get the blood pumping and make you think that movement is fun. As adults, we consider so many things a chore, because we've convinced ourselves that, if we're not sitting down watching a screen, or stuffing our faces or drinking, then we're not having fun. We've convinced ourselves that those are the only appropriate entertainments for adults.

Why not get back into some of the things you enjoyed as a kid? If you liked riding bikes after school, ride bikes after work. If your kid wants to get out the bicycles and play Star Wars, then play with him. Organize a game of keep-away with your friends the next time you have a barbecue. Don't be so concerned about getting dirty. Just put on your play clothes first.