It Will Creep Up On You

"So Mark, what does this have to do with fitness?"

We're getting to that...

Well, after my experience at the Y, I didn't attempt any kind of fitness program for several years. I did, however, start to come out of my shell. I was still shy in new situations and I still hadn't figured out how off-putting that could be at times, but I had a few friends who were very outgoing and at ease with themselves, so I essentially imitated them. I still was pretty clueless, and really had no idea how to treat people or how to get along with anybody.

In my twenties I studied history, literature and art. I drank coffee and smoked cigarettes whilst reading an indy paper with an air of smug satisfaction. I ate whatever I wanted. Sure, I'd put on a few pounds during the holidays but they melted off by spring. I really didn't think too much about it. I did, however, take a class for my college PE credit. It was, again, weightlifting, and the teacher, while very nice, didn't really impart much in the way of instruction. I remember he said, "Don't believe the "no pain, no gain" rule. If there's pain, somethings wrong." I'd do a few reps on the machines and ride the exercise bikes but all I got out of the class was a grade of "Pass."

I graduated with a BA and then went to work in my family's business, a wholesale janitorial supplies company. I have to say, with a BA, I obviously wasn't prepared. I didn't know anything. About sales, about managing people, things that seemed to come so naturally to my father (of course, he'd been doing it for forty years, and I was so dumb I lacked the perspective to even see that!). This caused me a great deal of stress. I'm not a numbers person. I struggled with math, and my father could do his sales analysis reports with an adding machine, green ledger sheets, and a pencil. I couldn't even work the stupid adding machine.

I felt like a failure. I was terribly stressed. The only luxury left was food and drink. My attitude was, since I had never had a serious weight problem, then I can still eat whatever I like, whenever I like. Oh, and these GAP khakis I've had since college are looking a little shabby for work. Better get some new ones next time I'm at the mall. 32W32L. Gosh, these are a little tight. I'll take the 34s. They'll shrink in the laundry.

My point here is, so often we think, "It can never happen to me." Like middle age, my weight gain just sort of crept up on me. And then one day you catch yourself in a department store mirror or see a photograph of yourself and you think, "How the hell did I get here?"