Exercising by Osmosis

Today was "Casual Friday" at the workplace, which means that we not only get to wear jeans and tennis shoes, but those who want to can chip in on a community lunch, and we all gather together on the big porch out back to eat and enjoy spending some time together.

After a nice meal of sub sandwiches and chips, and just before the brownie Sunday dessert was placed on the serving table, the ladies at my table began to talk—as invariably a group of women will do—about weight-loss and working out. So I shared my story.

So there's this thing that I do ... not every weekend, but it happens more than I would care to admit. I get up on Saturday mornings and putz around the house, checking my email and Facebook accounts to see what I have missed, and then often I will go in and turn on the TV and flip through the channels as I wake up for the day. That doesn't sound so bad, but the interesting part is ... I always seem to land on one of those infomercials for the latest workout program, which I will sit in my recliner and watch for a good 30 minutes—with no thought about how useless it is! I mean truly, it is like I think that if I sit and watch someone else work out, I can be proud that I started my day with "a workout" ... sure, not mine maybe, but it's a workout! Right?!

After the laughter died down, one of my coworkers confessed that she has done the same thing! She said when she lived in Ethiopia a few years ago, she would actually go and put in a video of Jane Fonda, and then proceed to do other things around the house. Why would she do that you ask? "Because," she said, "I liked to hear Jane tell me 'well done' at the end of the video!" Hilarious!

I don't know which confession is more pathetic, but I have to admit that it made me feel good that I am not the only one who does such things. What about you? Do you ever exercise by osmosis?

Hmmm ... tomorrow is Saturday again, what will I do? ;D