Frazz by Jef Mallett for November 23, 2012

Frazz’s obsessive exercise compulsion is a mental disorder that will lead to disability and early death. He’s not a good example.

I remember when a reader asked columnist Marilyn vos Savant (the woman with the highest recorded IQ) to describe the stupidest thing she’s done. Her reply was (I’m paraphrasing from memory) that three times a week she takes the elevator down from her apartment, drives across town, and takes another elevator up to her health club, just so she can walk on the stair machine for an hour.

Aren’t you forgetting to account for the effects of exercise on the aging process? Namely that by staying more fit, one will be reasonably healthy and strong and cognitively competent even into the age range where some of us assume (perhaps incorrectly) that feeble automatically applies. (Maybe you’re joking, but for a lot of people this is no joke.)

The human body was meant to move, not sit in one spot. We excercise, not just when we are young but all our lives, so that when we get old, we aren’t “…feeble, wheezing, and sick.” You can rationalize not exercising with humor all you want, but you will some day regret not doing it. The trick is to make it a priority in your life, and find an exercise that you enjoy. I run, but outside in the fresh air, and not so fast that it hurts. And ride a bike, again outside whenever possible, with friends. It becomes a social event as much as exercise. Jef should be proud that he encourages people to try a fit lifestyle.

@cartoonacy

I had a Canadian friend who would run 27 miles, take a shower, then drive five blocks to the liquor store for a six-pack of beer.

Pool exercise is the best. First, it’s easier on old joints and secondly every 1/2 hour in the pool is equivalent to an hour on land.

Ping Pong anyone?

Ya’ll might enjoy NIH Senior Health’s Exercise Stories at http://nihseniorhealth.gov/stories/stories.html

I think the idea is to build your muscle cells when young, including your heart, and maintain them. I’m 63 yrs. young, ran 4 yrs track and 3 yrs. x country, little league and babe ruth league baseball, 19 yrs. premier league amateur soccer until work related back surgery stopped me at 39, then took up xc skiing up to 12 miles a day on hilly trails and backpacking. I rarely get a cold or flu, my physicals show excellent B.P. and blood tests with low 60’s pulse. I played an 8 game 16 and up soccer league this fall and got in shape to keep up and play on the field and a mean goalie for half of each game. I’m younger than half my 40 up out of shape, overwheight, diabetic wheezing, co-workers. Muscles, use them or loose them!

I always hated calling it “working out” or exercise, when I was a kid, we called it “playing.” So I play with my kids and funny thing is I don’t have to waste time or money at a gym. I spend my time enjoying my family in the back yard, around the block, and down the street at the park.