Staying Fit Isn't Easy

Staying fit isn’t easy, especially as I grow older. It becomes harder all the time to avoid my slothful ways.

To that end my smart watch keeps track of my daily exercise goals, encouraging me to step it up if I’m falling short, and praising me when a goal is achieved.

“Take a 20-minute walk to close your exercise and move goals,” the watch will tell me as I’m curled up on the couch with a beer.

I rarely respond.

While I typically start the day with good intentions, by noon I’ve lost most of my ambition. If my goals haven’t yet been achieved, chance of that happening grows slimmer with each passing hour.

I try to walk a “brisk” mile every morning with the dog. It’s a quick, easy way to get some exercise, and offers me an opportunity to pick up her poop and carry it with me in a plastic bag.

Sometimes I skip the walk, but always for a good reason. Lately, it’s been the heat. Other times it’s the cold.

Last week it was because we were moving. My watch, however, praised me for the activity the move involved. Every day of carrying boxes, and loading and unloading the trailer pushed me past my set goals.

It also nearly crippled me, my knees and back complaining non-stop.

I needed a rest.

Or so I told myself.

For a week I skipped the walks with Dot. Parked myself in front of the television instead, and watched the Olympics. If I wasn’t exercising at least I could still appreciate others who were.

Apparently it paid off. Barb and I went out for dinner a couple of nights ago, and while enjoying a cocktail before the meal, my watch began to buzz.

“Congratulations,” the message began. “You achieved your exercise goal.”

I never guessed that hoisting a gin and tonic would become a regular part of my exercise routine, but I’m open to it.

The old joke about beer drinkers performing one-armed curls comes to mind.

I plan to keep walking with the dog. She doesn’t like gin so drinking is not an activity we can share. But I’m elated that my smart watch recognizes the effort it takes to lift that glass.

Staying fit as I grow older just got a little easier.

Parker Heinlein is at [email protected]