The Fitness Guru

Because my “real” jobs have had little to do with exercise, I’ve gotten a bit of ribbing along the lines of, “Who died and made you the guru of fitness?”

Well, nobody, of course. I worked my way through graduate school partly as a personal trainer, but my relationship to exercise is love-hate, at best. When I am deeply committed, I love it. But like anyone else, when I am not, I loathe even the thought of it. The difference is, I suppose, that I learned early how powerful exercise could be in bringing about a significant improvement in health. So I goad myself through those rough patches and am deeply grateful when it pays off.

I’m not talking about weight, but health. Studies are proving that weight itself is not as unhealthy as has been portrayed. I have told clients many times: Don’t worry about your weight -- worry about how you feel. Exercise makes you feel better—makes you healthier—no matter how many pounds you carry around. That you will also look better is just an added bonus.