It never ceases to amaze me about this fine city in which I
live how many people refuse to walk around outside,* but how much they cram like
sardines into the local gyms. And what do they use when they go to the gym? Well,
the most popular machines by far are the treadmill and the stairmaster. And
what do these machines mimic? Why, it’s walking down the street, and walking up
stairs. Can’t people do that in real life? (Not in Los Angeles: It is
apparently prohibited here.)
But what I really don’t understand is what motivates people
to do fake walking on a treadmill, or walking up fake stairs. Why would they do
this? In order for people to get a real workout on these machines, surely they
could use some sort of reason to want to move quickly. And that’s why I think
what these machines really need is rearview mirrors and a movie screen. And on
that movie screen would be footage of some crazy guy chasing them with an axe
or a chain saw. Now that ought to get them moving! And then they might finally
get some real world exercise!
* But they always brag about how great the weather is here in LA, even though they never seem to want to go out in it. Odd, huh?
