One of my favorite things to do, going all the way back to grade school, is to play basketball. I was never the best basketball player at any level that I ever played at, and at most levels, I probably wasn’t even in the top half of basketball players in my area. However, I love basketball more than most, and I credit the game of basketball with keeping me out of trouble when I was growing up and providing me with some of the most fun exercise that I ever participated in.
Unfortunately and fortunately, I didn’t play nearly as much basketball in my 30s as I did in my teenage years and 20s, largely due to me becoming a father. It was a very easy tradeoff to make. I love being a father more than any other thing I have ever done in my life. But from a purely physical health standpoint, refraining from playing basketball contributed to me developing ‘dadbod’ and by the time I got to my 40s, I was in the worst shape of my life.
Thankfully, I have clawed my way out of the fitness gutter and am now in the best shape of my life. One major benefit of being in better shape is that I can play basketball again in a way that I enjoy. Playing basketball when I was slow and could barely jump over a toothpick was not fun for me. In addition to getting some of the pep back in my step, my joints and muscles don’t feel as bad on the days following a hoops session as they did when I was overweight.
I look at basketball differently now than I did in the past. I no longer strive to become a better basketball player per se, rather, I soak up the times that I am able to play basketball because I know that I won’t be able to do it forever, and I very much value the cardio and calorie burning aspect of it.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (and other credible sources), playing basketball for one hour burns the following number of calories based on a person’s weight and level of intensity involved. The numbers below coordinate to a person weighing 130 lbs, 155 lbs, and 190 lbs, respectively:
- Basketball, game, 472, 563, 690
- Basketball, nongame, general 354, 422, 518
- Basketball, officiating, 413, 493, 604
- Basketball, shooting baskets, 266, 317, 388
One thing to be mindful of, and this is true of all physical activity over the age of 40, is to do your best to mitigate getting injured while playing basketball. Basketball is a tough sport for people over 40 because of the impact it can put on a person’s joints and tendons. Knee injuries, Achilles injuries, and other injuries are common for older basketball players. Always stretch before playing, do a proper warm up, and don’t go harder than you should.
I know from firsthand experience how tempting it is to try to go as hard as possible in the moment, especially when some younger hoopers are trash-talking, but that momentary motivation often comes with some long-term aches and pains. Don’t let your ego get the best of you. Go at your own pace and aim to be able to play another day. Happy hooping!
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