(Disclaimer: Some have claimed that this post is basically recycled lines from a 1980’s movie starring Matthew Broderick. Those claims are outrageous and absolutely true.)
Radio Host: It’s a beautiful day in John’s body with a temperature expected to hover around 98.6. Morning workout and healthy breakfast enter his room and find him in bed long after it’s time to exercise eating packaged donuts and drinking a Coke.
Morning Workout: Healthy breakfast!
Healthy Breakfast: What’s the matter?
Morning Workout: Oh, it’s John.
Healthy Breakfast: What’s wrong?
Morning Workout: What’s wrong? For Pete’s sake, look at him and what he’s eating.
Healthy Breakfast: (leans in close) John?
Morning Workout: He doesn’t have a fever, but he says his stomach hurts and he’s seeing spots.
Healthy Breakfast: What’s the matter, Buddy?
John: (looks down at his food) Oatmeal? Blueberries?
Morning Workout: Look at his tummy, it’s large and flabby.
Healthy Breakfast: (Pats John’s stomach and makes a frowny face) Oooh.
John: Ok, I’ll get up and exercise. (Starts to get up)
Morning Workout and Healthy Breakfast: No! (Pushes him back into bed)
John: I have to eat something healthy. (Tries to get up again)
Morning Workout and Healthy Breakfast: (Pushes John back into bed) No!
John: I have to work out. I want to eat a good breakfast so I can have a healthy body and a fruitful life.
Morning Workout: You are not going to exercise in this condition.
Proper Hydration: (Enters John’s room. Crosses her arms and taps right foot) Oh fine, what’s this? What’s his problem?
Healthy Breakfast: He doesn’t feel well.
Proper Hydration: Yeah, right. Look at what he’s eating and drinking in bed. I wouldn’t use that to fertilize the lawn.
John: Hydration? Is that you? Hydration? I can’t see that far. Proper Hydration? I… (falls back into bed)
Proper Hydration: No big breakfast or workout, Junior? Granola? Morning walk?
Healthy Breakfast: Go on now, Proper Hydration. (turns to comfort John) What he needs is a McGriddle and a Coke.
Proper Hydration: He gets to eat like that in bed? I can’t believe this. If I was bleeding out of my eyes, you guys would make me provide hydration for those who exercise and eat well. This is so unfair!
John: Hydration, please don’t be upset with me. You have your health. Be thankful…
Proper Hydration: That’s it. I want out of this health and fitness relationship.
John: (Pulls blanket up to his neck). I’ll just sleep late. Maybe I’ll have a few slices of pizza around noon.
Morning Workout: (Sits on the edge of bed, tucking John in) Now, I’m teaching about fiber to that new couple from Vermont today so my office will know just where I am if you need me, ok?
Healthy Breakfast: I’ll check on you too, Pal.
John: It’s nice to know that I have such loving, caring habits that look the other way at times. You’re both very special.
(Morning Workout and Healthy Breakfast smile at each other)
Morning Workout: Now you get better Pumpkin.
John: Ok, Pumpkin…
Morning Workout and Healthy Breakfast: We love you sweetie.
John: I love you too. And it’s all about me me me me me.
Morning Workout and Healthy Breakfast hold hands as they exit.
John: (Leans up in bed with donut crumbs falling down his chest, looks at the camera and smiles) They bought it.
John: (Stands up, opens a Slim Jim and cracks open a second Coke) Incredible. One of the worst performances of my career and they never doubted it for a second. How could I possibly be expected to exercise and eat healthy on a day like this.
Acting like I’m not feeling well in order to treat myself poorly and eat what I want is a little childish and stupid, but then again, so is exercise.
Life moves pretty fast, but it won’t if you follow my example. If you don’t stop and really look at what you’re doing to yourself once in a while, you could miss it.
*Image by Toronto artists Sarah Keenlyside and Joe Clement
JohnJFrady.com 