Rafa's Awesome Abs

The U.S. Open is in full swing this week. Each night the fans in New York City are treated to another few hours of incredible athletic performances. Tonight it's Rafa - tomorrow yet another awesome talent will grace the courts at the National Tennis Center.

Those of us watching at home miss some of that incomparable New York excitement - but we still get to see the same great tennis! Those young tennis pros are in the most incredible physical condition. Many of the top money makers have a staff of people they work with - their own coach and a trainer and maybe a strength coach. Awesome abs for these young athletes is the result of hours of sweating in the gym and on the court. They work hard and it shows.

The good news is we - us common tennis lovers - don't have to work quite as long or with the same intensity to enjoy playing our favorite sport! We can have a bunch of good clean fun playing at the local park or at a fancy-pants tennis club. Just give us a new can of balls and a friend to hit with!

And tennis helps you burn some major calories. Playing singles for an hour will leave you ready to enjoy a few cool ones in the shade or at your favorite pub. Have you ever seen a fat tennis player? They run around the court so much they can't possible keep any fat on their slim bodies!

You and I can have abs like Rafa - or slim, toned bodies like Maria or this new little teenager from Atlanta. All we have to do is get out every day ( or most days of the week ) and run off those calories. Whether you choose to run them off chasing a fuzzy little yellow ball or simply running around your neighborhood - you can stay slim and trim just like those young pros!

You and I don't have to spend six figures to hire a bunch of fitness trainers and hitting partners. We can just call up a friend or hit the pavement by ourselves! Tennis is great fun - for a lifetime - and you'll never have to worry about getting fat if you keep playing! Check out a local park or call the nearest tennis club and see if you like it.

Maybe you could take a lesson or get a tennis video to help you get started. Once you play a few times you just might find you've found a great way to have fun and stay fit. You might enjoy mixing it into your weekly fitness schedule for a nice, fun bit of variety!