Reading about Richard Marles’ experience on a water slide this summer reminded me of an episode of The Simpsons when Homer takes Bart and Lisa to a water theme park.
Just like Richard Marles, Homer’s attempt at going down a water slide ends in serious embarrassment. Richard’s experience wasn’t as shocking as Homer’s though – who had to be cut out of the water slide and placed back to earth by a crane.
Thankfully, unlike Homer, Richard has decided not to pursue a life in the ‘moo-moo’, but is instead seeking to, albeit slowly, trim down for a healthier life. In fact, while there’s no shortage of reports telling us how fat we are, there are more and more of us attempting to lose that spare tyre.
A report might say we are a nation of fatties, but we are fast becoming a nation of people trying to lose it.
We all have our motivations for doing so. Some are spurred on by the nightly news telling us how horribly unhealthy we have become; others are motivated by the fact they can’t keep up with their children on the push-bike anymore. Richard Marles decided to hit the gym because his sparring partner on Sky News had lost his extra chin and was making him look rather large on TV.
Others are hitting the gym as an escape. The Parliament House gym has become somewhat of a sanctuary for politicians, staff and journalists seeking refuge from the daily grind of politics.
Whatever the motivations for exercising, trying to lose weight and starting a healthier life is a good thing.
But while we are turning a corner and trying to lose the bulge, roadblocks – mainly self-made – still remain.
It’s easy to avoid the gym. There is always an excuse not to go. You’ll go tomorrow. And then when you do go, your confidence is shot because there’s the marathon runner on the treadmill next to you, or there’s a body-builder pushing weights as easy as picking up a feather.
Before long, your attempt at the gym is over, and like the confessions of Richard Marles, you crave a return to the couch.
As you get a bit older, you might not be able to fit down a water slide like you did when you were twelve, or run as fast as you once did, but that’s no excuse for a return to the confectionery section of the supermarket.
With exercising, you need to endure a bit of discomfort to feel the results. Eating a cocktail of burgers, ice cream and chocolate gives you an instant hit, but makes you feel terrible as you digest it. When you exercise, the feelings are reversed. During exercise, your legs hurt, your back can ache, and your breathing is about as loud as an A380 taking-off, but then you feel good afterwards (well, after the lactic acid has gone and your muscles have healed).
As we get into the New Year, try to remember the bloated feeling you get after you eat junk food, before you enter the drive-thru, and when you are sweating it out at the gym, focus on the long-term results.
Then, maybe, we won’t have to worry about politicians blocking-up water slides.
Comments on this post will close at 8pm AEDT.
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
RT @adamroy37: Just received a phone call from a young girl apologizing for her actions. Lets support her please #racismitstopswithme#Indi…
RT @adamroy37: Just received a phone call from a young girl apologizing for her actions. Lets support her please #racismitstopswithme#Indi…
Australia. Where you die for your country and get a rest area named after you http://t.co/hO6LpfwDvI
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
The Punch is moving house
Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…
Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?
I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
Tim says:
They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go
Kel says:
If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
Most commented