Dooley Noted: 11/25/14
Last night, I walked off the subway.
My station has four exit points.
One exits towards most desired destinations.
As I approached this exit, the stairs were crowded. People were barely moving. But they stayed put.
To me, the solution was simple: go to the empty exit and pick up my pace.
As I raced down the empty staircase, I ended up way ahead of the many people still stuck on the staircase.
Why didn’t they follow my suit?
In their minds, the exit they chose was the most direct path. Even though it slowed them, they had to take fewer steps.
In my mind, that’s the path of most resistance.
I feel the same way when I watch people on elliptical machines. They are going down the crowded staircase, thinking that’s the quickest way to lose fat and get fit.
I used to be one of them. I would spend hours on those machines, looking and feeling the same year after year, with nothing to show for it but a faded gym membership card.
But if they would simply join me on another staircase, they’d get closer to their goals even more quickly.
Consider my staircase. Add functional strength training to your cardiovascular work. Deadlift. Squat. Lift heavy things. Build muscle.
Give back to your body more than you take.
Or, continue taking a path of more resistance on that machine.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley