Finding a middle ground

American Fitness, Nov-Dec, 2003 by Ken Anderson

"Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! Well, the former may be true, but according to national obesity studies, the latter is definitely not. The above quote is from the 1958 film Auntie Mame, whose central theme and title character enthusiastically emphasized the importance of living life to its fullest. It's a worthy philosophy which has undoubtedly inspired many individuals to take personal stock and exercise regularly. Few would argue its wisdom, but what exactly is a life lived fully? Heath magazines and fitness gurus would have us believe it is an active and prolonged life resulting from a healthy lifestyle. However, the high incidence of exercise drop-off and yo-yo dieting which typifies the average fitness experience leads me to believe one of the core, unaddressed flaws in the American exercise approach has been its inability to reconcile living one's life fully with the discipline required for good health.

The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the adult obesity rate has risen steadily since 1991 and shows no sign of decline--a dismaying statistic when one considers the magnitude of fitness, health and diet information currently at our disposal. Diet books dominate bestseller lists, low-fat foods clutter market shelves and late-night television is virtually awash in infomercials on the latest exercise apparatus or weight loss program. Although this and more bombards us daily, Americans are still a "growing" population.

As a group exercise instructor and personal trainer in Southern California, it has been my experience that once committed to a regular exercise program, clients find their biggest challenge is not exercising, but trying not to fall into "The Cycle." "The Cycle" is a name I use for the self-sabotaging behavior that can develop when one begins to reap the benefits of good health (i.e., a shapelier body, elevated self-esteem, energy). The more one exercises, the better one feels; the better one feels, the stronger the desire to "live it up;" the more one "lives it up," the fainter the results of those strenuous workouts ... and so on and so on.

For many, it's a frustrating cycle as they wait for their newfound fitness to translate into a desire to engage in "active, healthy-lifestyle" pursuits (e.g., biking, hiking and inline skating), which fitness magazines claim will suddenly become appealing. The troubling reality is that the thrill of newfound health can just as easily be channeled into decidedly non-healthy activities, such as drinking, eating junk food and partying like it's 1999, again.

As much as I see the folly in such behavior, I can also see the point. I have never understood those "gym rats" whose lives and eating habits are so regulated by their "health" that they don't live their lives as much as spend a lifetime on body maintenance. Measuring cups of oatmeal, monitoring body fat percentages, "fuelling" their bodies with supplements--it's more like being God's mechanic! Poor health can be a prison, but over-management of good health can bc as confining and life limiting as a hospital bed.

Since many of our interactions center around food, drink and behavior that can take us into the wee hours of the morning, it's understandable if, at times, steady health maintenance seems to interfere with things that make life enjoyable. As the fitness media fondly points out, a sizable contingent exercises for the sheer joy of it, finding no sacrifice in eating well, getting to bed early and devoting time and effort to the upkeep of their near perfect bodies. For them, the fitness industry's promise of improved quality and quantity of life is a reality. However, a larger number of people simply aim to be happy with themselves when they look in a mirror, strong and flexible enough to actively participate in their lives and healthy enough to live unencumbered by illness. They want exercise to be a fun adjunct to their daily activities, not an unyielding master with a long list of dos and don'ts. For this group, quality of life is measured by the time spent with loved ones, not in the gym. Admittedly, staying fit gives an edge in the longevity sweepstakes, but like the person who works 18-hour days to have a "better life," it's easy to miss the goal if one is chasing it ton swiftly.

So, what can you do when you want to be fit, but don't see the point if it means not drinking (lots of calories!), late night partying (you need your rest!), eating decadent desserts (those pounds, again) or letting go at picnics and buffets? The answer, of course, lies in a word unfamiliar to as many fitness enthusiasts as it is to the bacchanalian hedonist--moderation. The fitness and diet industry deals with so many human behavior extremes that not enough is said about the ability to be healthy and still enjoy the occasional cocktail, steak or all-night dance party.

Without seeking a formula in a manual or looking to a fitness celebrity to define what we should want out of life, each of us has to find the balance between discipline/sacrifice and reward/indulgence that enables us to live active lives which encompass both good health and a good time. Common sense is the best weapon. Be realistic--if you spend all your waking hours at the gym and have a remarkable body, don't complain if people think you have the personality of a medicine ball. Your life may need a little diversity. Similarly, if you like a good party now and then, don't complain if the byproduct of a half a dozen tequila shooters protrudes above your belt the next time you wear a midriff-baring top.