The experts are telling us two things these days. First, we don't get enough exercise. We sit-a lot! We sit at our desks, on our couches, at our tables, in our cars, at restaurants and much more. Now, mind you, sitting is not altogether a bad thing, the problem is that we've got the whole sitting thing out of balance. We sit too much. The result is that we're all becoming fat!

We're not exercising like Americans did back in the good old days. We need to walk, run, jog, or even just plain move around more. In fact, one recent American Cancer Society report states that lack of exercise is just as dangerous to your heath as smoking! And, people who don't exercise are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease as people who get even modest amounts of exercise.

Even back when John F. Kennedy was president, the country recognized that Americans weren't getting enough exercise. A fad that captivated the nation was walking. Not just walking around the neighborhood, but walking 20, 25 or even 30 miles in a single day. It was such a big deal that there were newspaper articles and news stories about how far people walked in a day. No one is expecting you to walk 30 miles today, but it would be great if we just got outside to play a family game together.

So, if we admit that we're getting a little fat as a nation, what can we do about it? Again, the experts tell us that even a moderate amount of exercise will help. People are starting to recognize this as evidenced by the increasing popularity of outdoor family games. There are many to choose from and they're priced within reach of even the most budget conscious consumer. It's an inexpensive way to add exercise to our regular routine.

One favorite game across the country is BlongoBall. It's an interesting and exciting game. It's quick to set up and easy to play. It doesn't require any special skills or abilities, so it's great for anyone in the family.

BlongoBall uses a bolo made from two golf balls joined by a length of rope. The bolo is tossed so as to wrap around one of the horizontal rungs of a "ladder" type goal. When the bolo wraps around a rung and stays, you score! It's fun and easy to play.

BlongoBall is the original in the "toss it, wrap it, score" game category. Other imitators did not impress us. In our testing we found that BlongoBall seemed like the only one built to withstand normal use. Some of the lesser quality brands broke within minutes of being out of the box, so BlongoBall is our preferred choice. Be wise when buying a game in this category and you'll get one that your family will enjoy for years.

The next thing the experts are saying is the we're not spending much time together as families. Spending more time with your family may not exactly help you stay in shape unless you're chasing each other around the house, but spending time together is an essential part of developing a healthy family atmosphere. Pshychology and parenting authorities encourage families to be together for more than just accomplishing the household chores. Families need to have fun together.

This is where outdoor family games are handy things to have around. Most families will respond quickly and easily to a game as easy and fun as BlongoBall. Even teenagers who might normally be less interested in participating in a family activity will usually perk up when the BlongoBall game is set up.

One of the things that makes BlongoBall one of our favorite outdoor family games is that not only can you play it in groups, but you can talk and interact with each other while you're playing. Intense concentration is not required for effective play, but the game is still challenging enough to capture the interest of players of all ages and abilities. And-the soft rubber ball sets are ideal for playing indoors. This makes BlongoBall a year round favorite at many houses.

Outdoor family games are great for keeping your body and your family in shape! Listen to the experts and get out there and play with your family.