Hot on HuffPost Healthy Living:

 

Is Your Family Competitive?

Posted on Aug 24th 2009 2:00PM by Martha Edwards
Filed Under: Your Turn, Fitness
tennis
sxc.hu

A family that plays together stays together -- well, in a sense, as Katherine pointed out in her account of the annual tennis tournament that brings her extended family together once a year by dividing them in fierce competition. Athletic competition among families can no doubt get a little out of hand (as evidenced by an entire year of trash talking that takes place over e-mail) but ultimately, it's healthy -- it gets people moving and teaches them important lessons about training, fairness and how to take both glory and disappointment with the grace of a true winner. Well, we hope anyway.

But not all families have this sporty competitive streak -- mine, for instance, ends scrabble games with weeks of silent indignance and pouting, so I can't imagine what would happen if our clumsy bunch tried to get it together for a tennis game. So I'm wondering: What's the norm? Do most families use sports as a way to bond, or can they not take the pressure? What about yours?

Last week, we asked if you eat more when you're working out more. Your response?

  • 37 percent of you listen to your body -- you eat when you're hungry.
  • 32 percent of you said definitely -- you need more calories.
  • 25 percent of you said no -- you make sure to keep your calorie intake about the same.
  • 6 percent of you said yes -- because you deserve a treat after all your hard work.

Whether you're sporty or not, there's one exercise you absolutely need to to do. Click here to find out what it is and why.

Around the Web

Related Videos

 
 
 

Share Your Success Story

Jupiter Images

Have you lost weight and kept it off? We want to know how you did it and what keeps you inspired!