Reality

The other day I was talking to a friend about our mutual quest for health (and a smaller waistline), when she suddenly went into orbit over the professional dancers on “Dancing with the Stars.” Apparently, they all have perfect bodies. Big surprise. They’re dancers. But I had to confess I’d never seen DWTS, and resist the urge to say, “Reality television? Please! Exactly how real is it?” Instead, I promised to watch it sometime—in the future—sometime—although frankly, I can’t think of anything more likely to send me into convulsions of envy than looking at people who dance for a living. Would it be possible to be unfit if you spent your entire day in motion? And they probably eat fairly well too, because they know what provides energy and strength.

Anyhow, my friend said that if we had a dance partner like Maks or Tony, we’d get ourselves in shape so fast our heads would spin. So I checked the show out online and replied that no matter what, it was unlikely that either of us would turn into Edyta or Julianne overnight. Or over years. And I’m an optimist! However, I did agree that I’d love to be able to move with the fluid grace of a dancer, and be limber and energetic enough to dance the night away.

The trouble is, I’m nearly allergic to exercise. That’s just my reality.

Here’s another reality: I’m not alone in this feeling. I do better than many people do; at least I eat well. That’s not hard, since I spend most days preparing menus for my clients, where the emphasis is on healthy, fresh foods. But the other day, looking around at people on the street as I was running errands, I was amazed—shocked, actually—to see that nearly everyone in view was overweight. Some were just carrying a few extra pounds, but most were taking aim on obese. Okay, that’s not everyone in Louisville, but it is way too many for our own good. Far too many of us couldn’t have danced all evening, as our parents and grandparents did, if our lives depended on it. Not comfortably, anyhow.

What are we thinking? Are we simply not taking this threat to our health seriously? A friend of mine once told me that her veterinarian, upon discovering that her cat had diabetes, commented, “It’s not at all strange in cats. You know, here in Louisville, we have 40 percent more diabetes in people than in other cities our size.”

So—spring is in the air. I’ve given up my resolution to walk in the Derby Festival’s Mini-Marathon, and I’ll resist the temptation of dreaming about dancing the Quick Step with the reincarnation of Fred Astaire anytime soon. But I am not giving up my desire to beat the statistics of bad health. Eating well is only half of the story, and as the temperatures go up, so will my resolution. I have to admit to getting lazy during the winter, but it’s now time to renew those New Year’s vows.

It’s time to create a new reality.