I got into rollerblading recently and it’s been a lot of fun! I think ever since I watched The Mighty Ducks as a kid I have secretly wanted to play some sort of hockey. But alas, hockey is not one of the typical sports for growing Asian boys. Now I get to live out my childhood dream.

And even better is that rollerblading is actually a good way to work out. According to this article, skating is the number 1 way to burn fat! The author writes:

1. Inline skating Burns 425 calories in 30 minutes

Surprised? While skating might be so much fun you forget you’re actually working out, it’s also numero uno on our list when it comes to blasting fat and calories.

The big burn stems from the side-to-side movement of your thigh and butt muscles (demanding more from your body than the straightforward motion of our number-two activity — running). And your core gets involved in a big way to keep you balanced.

What’s more, you get all these benefits without putting too much stress on your knees and other joints. Skate at a strong, steady pace. Don’t forget your helmet, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads.

Boost the burn: Alternate one minute of hard skating with one minute of medium-paced strokes.

Reid, Su. “The 7 Best Fat-blasters.” CNN. 6 October 2010. Web. 16 Sept. 2013.

It seems like after you hit 30, something turns off and it’s no longer easy to maintain the weight. I blame it on the fall corrupting our natural bodies. (And probably my extra helpings of ice cream play a role, but only a small one.) And even though we await a glorious heavenly body when all things will be made new, we are given a physical body now to carry out God’s kingdom purposes.

Dr. Nick Yphantides, one of my mentors and heros, once said, “Your health, your life is a gift. Honor your God by taking care of it.” Let us be good stewards of all that God has given us, and that includes our health. By the way, if you have tips on rollerblading, let me know!

What are you doing to take care of your body?