| Weve all seen those TV commercials featuring all | | | | telephone with headset, just in case I get an important |
| sorts of exercise gadgets that will get you that buff | | | | business call while I jog. And I keep my high fidelity |
| body or that rib-like belly with minimum effort. There | | | | earphones in there too, in case I want to pursue one |
| are even wrap-around belts that zap your midsection | | | | of my favorite hobbies listening to books on tape. |
| with electronic pulses, allowing you to slim down | | | | Ive essentially turned my treadmill into a work, |
| without even making an effort to move your own | | | | entertainment, and learning center. Its become one of |
| muscles. Wow! If only they worked! | | | | the most productive areas of my house. |
| But, of course, any of us who have bought one of | | | | I am not the only busy person I know who has |
| these effort-free exercise gadgets knows that their | | | | embraced the necessity of exercising to maintain good |
| ultimate use is as a trash can stuffer. They work | | | | health but who cant quite justify the effort to just |
| about as well as miracle weight loss diets. They are | | | | exercise. Ron Graham, BHMs operations manager, |
| expensive and worthless gadgets, not solutions to | | | | also has his exercise machine a Gazelle Freestyle |
| getting yourself in shape. The only way to get in shape | | | | Glider in front of his TV, and he typically exercises on it |
| is the old fashioned way sweaty exercise on a | | | | to the tunes of his favorite group, the Bee Gees. |
| scheduled basis. | | | | To me it just makes sense to make exercise fun and |
| Its not a bad way to go, either. I have done it for years, | | | | mentally productive. Otherwise, why would anyone |
| and this issue leads with an exercise article by Richard | | | | continue doing it? Its not human nature to continue |
| Blunt that I adhere to, with a few modifications. For | | | | doing things that make us miserable. |
| example, I like to chop wood so I often substitute | | | | I have other exercise gadgets too, like a set of |
| chopping wood for resistance training. | | | | dumbbells, a bench, and a heavy bag, but all are |
| But I have found a good use for gadgets to help me | | | | strategically located so that I can do more than just |
| stay in shape. In fact, as I write this Im on my | | | | work out. |
| eighteenth minute on my treadmill, which is a | | | | These little electronic gadgets not the electronic |
| super-handy gadget. And Im writing this commentary | | | | zappers and miracle diets are the real miracle |
| by dictating it into another gadget a pocket-sized | | | | exercising tools of our day. They help the actual |
| cassette player/recorder. It is even more useful than | | | | workout fade into the background, and for me they |
| my treadmill because it turns the treadmill into a work | | | | often even extend the workout. For example, I |
| station, making it something that doesnt just exercise | | | | intended to use the treadmill this time for 20 minutes, |
| my body but allows me to continue working at what I | | | | but I have been so mentally involved with formulating |
| like best writing this magazine. | | | | these words that as I look down at the treadmill timer, |
| This is a critical issue for me being able to work while I | | | | it is on its 26th minute. |
| exercise. I am one of those people who cant just | | | | Heres the bottom line: The greatest impediment to |
| exercise. I have to get stuff done, whether that stuff is | | | | people exercising to maintain their health is that it takes |
| working at my business or just catching the news or a | | | | too much time and trouble. So fool yourself by making |
| basketball game on TV. | | | | it either fun or productive. My wife loves her |
| So Ive positioned my treadmill in front of the TV, and in | | | | jazzercise. Its good exercise and a social event at the |
| a little plastic basket Ive taped to the side of the | | | | same time. My daughter loves her dance classes. |
| treadmill I keep the TV remote so I can switch | | | | Theres lots of stuff to do out there besides just |
| between channels or raise the volume when I put the | | | | exercising. For the sake of your health, find your own |
| treadmill into a jog. Also in the basket is my hands-free | | | | fun and keep fit. |