UPDATE: Wednesday, 27-Apr-2005 8:33 PM

Well, my discussion now will go in two directions. First a pretty sad commentary regarding the waste line of midwesterners. The other is a discusstion about saving in America.

First I will start with something that bugged me as I was spending a few days in Columbus, Ohio. It seems that the entire population had "exploded". At one time I was getting a serving of my favorite food when in Columbus... it was about a two dozen White Castle burgers. Now, I realize that you are laughing that a guy commenting about the weight of mid-westerns is talking about burgers, but I can. During the week I had walked the dog a few hours and then emptied 66 bags of mulch around the lawn. After that I had earned the burgers, so I had them.

However, while in line to order the burgers, two ladies in front of me made an example of what not to do. They had around the same amount of burgers (between them) and a diet coke. Of couse, the two of them weighed in the same as me plus the near-limit bags that I checked in on the flight back. Not good at all.

On another occation I took a sample at a Target store with the knowledge that perhaps the Target store clients might be a better "sampling" of the population. Once again, I was wrong. About 80 percent (I kid you not) of the people that I saw at this perticular Target in the northwest part of the city were over weight. Not just a bit, but near grosely overweight. Unless, of course, my definition needs to be adjusted.

Now, once again, you may accuse me of going off the subject. You can. My point here is that while you are building your personal, business and financial success --all this is pointless IF you fail to maintain good health.

And this is the challenge that I am facing now. I am at a good weight even measured by the Dutch standards, which I think are a better measure than the American. Anyway, looking around here (in the Netherlands) I see that people are in a lot better shape. Having said that, things here are changing too. In the mid nineties I think people here were a lot slimmer. Now they are catching up with the North Americans.

Anyway, guys (and gals) around here are biking, walking and being very active every chance they get. One the other hand it seemed that I could not do anything in the States without first driving to a place and then doing what ever.

All of my thoughts are summerized in the CNN.COM Article that I read a day or two back. Note that a new window will open.

So, now back to "WHY?" --The point is make sure that while building your needs, regardless of what they are, that you focus on a wholesome approach to life.

In my case the answer is "Situps!" -- yes, those that bring a migrane just thinking about. I started doing a few last fall. And that was all I did. The next day I had a bruised tailbone and I didn't get further than that.

That was a VERY POOR excuse on my part. So, now the computer guy has put it as a priority on the 'to do' list and will start out doing them at the end of the day.

I might add *today*!

So, setting up my plan to do situps, here is the way I am going to proceed. I will start out by doing just a few... say about 50 which I can handle. Then I have a piece of equipment. Basically, a wheel that I can use to stay on my knees and move my shoulders forward, while moving the "wheel" ahead of me. Let me see what this is called...as I thought, Google search tells me that it's an "exercise wheel", which I will use to do 10 more streatches.

I will continue to do the above for 10 times. And then begin the SECOND STEP --increase my routine by 20%. I will continue to do this, at 10-STEP events, and continue to increase the repetitions until I am satisfied with the workout, at least 4 or 5 days a week.

My goal is to get to a routine of 5 sets of 50 situps and 5 sets of 10 streatches on the exercise wheel.

Once I get to that step, I'll add push ups. About half as many should be a good target.

Part of these efforts are because I am approaching the big "40" and it has been in my early 20's when I was in great shape last. It has been only a decade ago that I ran and finished a marathon. After that I have been behind a computer most of my life.

I still should not use that as an excuse. I should say that I did approach my 20's health about two years ago when I ran the Billy Goat trail few times a week for almost a year.

Anyway, as part of my personal success building, I will work on the sit ups. I hope that goes well, as I will then extend that to pushups. AND when all of that works, well, I will join a local athletic club. Now you may find it a bit strange that I join a club *after* I get a bit in shape.

Yup, right observance. The reason is that after I get a bit in shape, getting in shape will be part of my routine of life. If I go join a club now, I can assure you that I will waste away a few months, and then when I look at my bank record and realize that I am paying away about one hundred dollars a month for nothing, I will find a way to go, just because I cannot escape the annual contract.

However, by doing what I am doing, the athletic club memebership will be an "enhancement" to my existing routine. I am sure a good percentage of athletic club memberships fall into the category of "used seldome" and the owners of such clubs know it.

Anyway, the routine gets started tonight.

Well, when I got started there were two discussions. This one has gone long enough. I still have a few tasks to do and it's the end of the day. I must go. Out for now. I'll talk about the second discussion tomorrow. Sam.