Relentless

Mind-boggling but relentless: We hear repeatedly these days that America is overweight. We are obese. We need to eat better, exercise more and we will live longer with an improved quality of life. I personally have never counted myself among the populous that fits either the obese or overweight categories although I admit I have been marginal on a couple of occasions during certain trying episodes of my life. With my years adding up, I do understand I need to work harder at being in shape. My trainer tells me with age we lose muscle, flexibility and balance leading to many of the health problems of older Americans. Therefore I have joined a gym and yes, I have engaged a personal trainer twice a week. I find that mind-boggling in itself.

The gym is what one might say is over the top. It is a beautiful facility with everything anyone could want. Tennis, basketball, swimming, cardiovascular and weight training equipment, Jacuzzis, spinning, and on and on are all there. You can’t imagine. And they have their own restaurant with healthy food (with some exceptions). It’s all there.

The mind-boggling thing to me is what goes on in the parking lot. It is a very large parking lot and probably equal to most city blocks. Mind you, people come to work-out here, to get into or stay in shape. They want exercise. But they are relentless in their efforts to secure the parking spot closest to the entrance to the gym. They drive around and around waiting for a spot to open up that is a couple or three rows closer to that entrance. To me it is mind-boggling and comical to watch these BMWs, Mercedes, Lexus and Jaguars cruising the parking lot relentlessly looking for that coveted parking spot. These drivers just don’t seem to want to walk any further than they absolutely have to in order to get on the treadmill and do their 2 or 3 miles.

Other gym members don’t bother with the driving “exercise”. No, they simply pull up to the Valet spot directly in front of the main entrance, give a wave and the young guy who is the valet is right there to take care of the fancy car. The car owner is only a few steps from the treadmill.

Maybe it’s just me but I have always felt that by parking a block away or in the far end of a parking lot and walking to my destination I would stay in better shape and not gain weight. Likewise, taking stairs rather than using the elevator helps. In my office I was the one who roamed around. I would rather walk down the hall to have a discussion than send an e-mail. I always walk, or better said, pace, when on the telephone. It just came out somewhere recently that exercising for an hour and then sitting at a desk all day is as bad as smoking cigarettes. Sitting is apparently one of the worst things we can do for our health. That means sitting in cars driving around a parking lot as well as anywhere else. I stand as much as possible when working. At conferences I like to be the one standing in the back of the room. All these little things can make a huge difference in your life. Of course, I do have to admit, I am sitting to type this so I’m not always doing as I suggest. I do keep reminding myself to be relentless about moving, moving, standing and moving some more.

A big portion of America’s health care costs go to remediate, control and minimize the maladies caused by poor diet and lack of exercise. Okay enough of this, I need to get up off my butt and go for a walk.

Stan the Man