We just got in last night from a week of vacating with family in the amazing city of San Diego. One of the things that struck me (other than the awful awful cost of J-U-N-K at Seaworld and the zoo) is how attractive most of the local citizens are. Unlike L.A. where there is a fairly normal mix of people, San Diego residents are overwhelmingly thin, fitness oriented and in good physical shape. Why is that, I wondered? Is there something in the water?
After a few days of staying there, I came to the conclusion that it’s simply fun to be in shape in San Diego. It’s often sunny, about 65F in the morning with a high temp of about 73F and has a cool breeze coming in off the ocean. No matter how dedicated a couch potato you are, you can’t resist the simple pleasure of walking/slogging/running along the beach with the seagulls flying overhead and scores of young, handsome servicemen running along with you (there are at least two Navy bases in SD). There are lots of marinas with boats to sail, both open ocean and sheltered bays to swim through, lots of flat waterside streets to rollerblade along.
Sounds just like Texarkana, right? Well, okay, maybe not. It’s hot as the inside of a brick pizza oven here for 4-6 months per year and I definitely look like a piece of pizza that’s been left in too long after I work out in the sweltering heat. There aren’t many public parks with jogging or biking trails and running/biking on the roads can be hazardous given the lack of shoulders on most of the major thoroughfares (and a plethora of crazy speed demons just itching to mow you down).
But despite the heat and the lack of trails and the crazy drivers, we can still learn something from the lovely people of San Diego. And it is this: if you can find something you enjoy doing for exercise, you’re more likely to do it, you’re more likely to stick with it and you’re more likely to reap the rewards. If exercise becomes something you have to do, it’ll just end up as one of a million obligations you already have – and likely resent. Exercise needs to be a fun part of your life, not a chore; a time for yourself and a time to relax, not something you dread. I’m not a huge treadmill fan, but I love slogging outside. I really dislike big aerobic classes, but love being by my lonesome on the elliptical. But there are lots of people who feel exactly the opposite. The point is to find what YOU like, what YOU’ll stick with and what YOU’ll enjoy – then go do it. You don’t have to be a jock (I’ve never read an issue of Sports Illustrated in my life) but you do have to incorporate fitness into your world in order to lose the weight you want and keep it off for good. And, by the way, look good doing it.
30. July 2009 at 12:58 pm
A good part of the reason San Diego is so nice is because it is so expensive! One must have a make a good living just to live there; you must be headed for the upper income brackets to buy a house. Given a good income, there is usually a good eduction in the background and, given that, enough smarts to learn what is good for you in life.
You are too kind in your description of the L.A. area — it’s full of gangs, crime, refugees from everywhere and all sorts of other undesirable events that go hand in hand with low income areas. But, of course, there are little islands of prosperity here and there. Beverly Hills is only one.
3. August 2009 at 3:48 pm
Dear Doctors –
I am not a patient of yours – I live in Az and had my band placed in Tijuana Mexico in November ’08 – 45 pounds gone and doing fine, thanks.
I’m writing to thank you for the helpful information on your website. It is apparent from your writings that you genuinely care for your patients and want to give them all the tools you can to help them succeed. God bless you for that.
4. August 2009 at 1:26 pm
Thank you so much for your kind comment! We really do care (albeit sometimes with a scolding tone) about our patients and we try to encourage close relationships with our doctors and nurses to help them achieve their goals.