Examining physical activities of my childhood

When I started examining my childhood habits and wondering why everyone I knew was so lean and healthy then, but now we have gotten so far away from that, at first I was sure I would find that it was all about the exercise.  We surely were more active back then.  But what I am realizing is that is not true.  All of the "experts" have convinced us of this and it is just not true.

I was not an active child.

In grade school we did go out at recess.  In the earlier grades we mostly played with dolls, or board games. Occasionally, we played jump rope, or red rover in which I spent a lot of time waiting in line for my brief turn.  Sometimes I never even got a turn.

In the later grades - 4-6th grade - we usually played baseball.  We mostly played work-up, since it was quicker than rounding up enough people for teams and then having to take time to choose sides.  Again, I mostly stood around waiting for my turn to bat. Not much activity there.

I did walk a few blocks to school each day. But when I got home from school, there was not much time for exercising. I was born in the fifties. Back then we did not have after-school activities like sports, or dance class, or gymnastics.

When I got home from school each day, I had chores.  My Mother worked and when I was in the fourth grade my sister and I were pretty-much in charge of the whole house.  We did all of the daily house cleaning and most of the meals.  We were in charge of planning, cooking and cleanup after meals.  We vacuumed and dusted.  We wash and ironed the laundry.  Back then most of the laundry had to be ironed, and it took us several days to get it caught up.

Some of the other activities I had were daily piano practice, homework, and of course watching TV.  I was in 4H and always had some project or other that included sewing and baking. I did handwork, like embroidery, crocheting and cross-stitch. I also sewed most of my clothes.

I also loved to read and always had a book or two in progress.

We did have horses and I loved to ride.  I would try to get away for a ride every couple of weeks.

So, you see, I was fairly sedentary. If the "experts" were correct, then I should have been an obese child. Right? But just the opposite is true.  I was at my leanest and healthiest during those 18 years. Everyone I knew had a similar lifestyle and they were all lean and healthy, too.

So it must have been the eating. We will see...