| Ahh the eternal attraction of the Beautiful Game, the | | | | play soccer for a continuous hour. |
| most popular game on the planet - football. Yes, | | | | Competitive games are 90 minutes with only a |
| football is the name of the game, not soccer, and | | | | 15-minute break in the middle, soccer players are |
| who can deny the aesthetics of a beautifully curled | | | | among some of the finest athletes in the world, |
| free kick or a nutmegged goalkeeper. Ronaldo, | | | | often covering up to 10 km during the course of a |
| Beckham, Drogba, Kaka. These are all world famous | | | | game, the vast majority of that distance covered at |
| names, players with world class skills that are surely | | | | pace. |
| worth aspiring to. | | | | If you are going to play soccer solely as part of an |
| It is certainly prudent to encourage anyone who | | | | effort to slim down, you should have a contingency |
| wants to take up soccer as part of a continuing | | | | plan. You don't want to slim down just for a short |
| weight loss program. Exercise is a vital component of | | | | while and then put it all back on again do you? Which |
| losing weight, and you get plenty of it playing soccer, | | | | is exactly what will happen if you stop playing |
| plus you have the bonus of being involved in the | | | | football. |
| world's most popular game. | | | | Even the pros don't play all year round, so you should |
| In the words of the late, great Bill Shankly (manager | | | | have an idea what you are going to do once you |
| of Liverpool FC) "Some people believe football is a | | | | stop playing soccer. Walking, running, cycling, |
| matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with | | | | swimming - something! |
| that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more | | | | If you want permanent weight loss, then you need |
| important than that." | | | | to incorporate exercise permanently into your |
| The energy burned while playing football can vary | | | | lifestyle. The real secret is not what exercise you do, |
| depending on the intensity of the activity. As a guide, | | | | but how often you do it. |
| if you weigh 155 pounds, you will burn approximately | | | | Like many sports, soccer can played in your |
| 500 calories per hour while playing on a casual basis, | | | | backyard on a recreational basis or at a more formal |
| or 700 calories per hour if playing a true competitive | | | | competitive level on a full-sized pitch with 11 players |
| match. | | | | on each side. It is a great family game which can be |
| As you can see soccer is a serious calorie burner but | | | | played at all levels by both genders of all ages, so |
| don't underestimate the level of fitness required to | | | | get out the soccer ball and start practicing! |