Hamsters on a Wheel

In my quest for health and fitness, I’ve added walking to my routine. I normally walk on my morning break, over lunch, and again during my afternoon break. My lunch route consists of a loop downtown, right past a fitness center. The front of the building is glass, and the treadmills and stationary bikes are situated in front of that glass, giving the operators of the equipment a nice view out. As I walk by every day, breathing the fresh air, enjoying the warm sun on my skin, I observe them (as they are observing me) running in place. Cycling in place. Breathing in the stink of their neighbors sweat. Listening to their iPods, or watching one of the TV’s that’s on around them. And I think to myself “Poor hamsters. Running on your wheels”.

WAKE UP PEOPLE! Why are you paying good money to a gym / fitness center, when you could get outside and enjoy the world? Be a part of what’s going on outside, rather than watching through a window. It is so absurd that I can’t even believe that I have to write about it.

Sweet Freedom

You can save a ton of money by cancelling your gym membership, jumping off your hamster wheel, and hitting the sidewalk. I’m talking anywhere from $35 to $90 per month. But there’s even more money to be saved by applying the walking or cycling to something practical. What God intended you to use your legs for. Wait for it... It’s so brilliantly simple you might pass out.... GETTING PLACES!!!! It doesn’t take that long to walk 2 or 3 miles. It takes even less time to bike. Imagine how much money you’d save on gas if you started walking to work, or the grocery store.

If you live far enough away from your work that you can’t commute, you should seriously consider moving. When you put pencil to paper, it will blow your mind how much you spend on commuting in your car. For those of us who can't just up and move, there are still a lot of activities that you can do to get exercise that don’t involve spending money or entering a smelly gym. Here are just a few ideas. These barely scratch the surface: walking, jogging, running, biking, rollerblading, hiking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, surfing, disc golf, frisbee, rock climbing, caving. Or any number of organized sports like tag football, soccer, baseball or basketball.

Those of you out there with kids - get them involved. The only thing kids want is attention from their parents. They don’t need a fancy game console, or expensive toys. Go out and ride your bike with them, or take a walk, or play tag. Those are the things they’ll remember when they grow up. Not that you gave them a PS3 for their birthday.

The Plan

I know a lot of people use the fact that they are paying expensive gym fees as motivation to go. Here’s my answer to that. Isn’t there something else that you’d rather spend that money on? Maybe a family vacation, or a new bicycle. Figure out how long it would take to make that purchase using money that you save by not going to the gym. Then get outside and exercise. Every. Single. Day. When you’ve reached the point where you’ve saved enough to make that purchase - do it. Reward yourself. You’ve earned it. All with money that you didn’t spend at the gym. And you will be just as fit as you would have been had you gone. That’s what I call a win, win situation.

Listen, I’m not the most fit person around. But I guarantee I’m just as fit as a lot of the people that are working those stationary bikes at the gym. And I didn’t pay a dime to get there. I just got outside and started moving. Simple as that. You should too.

-Brian