I don’t rewatch movies very often, but the one movie I find every year is Groundhog Day. Who can resist the combination of classic Bill Murray and Punxsutawney Phil the groundhog? There have been various interpretations of the movie, but let’s look closer at this movie from my view and with respect to transformation of ourselves from a fitness standpoint. What did Phil do every more, day after day, when his alarm clock buzzed at 6:00 AM? I can guarantee you he didn’t make it to an early bird Warehouse fitness class with Marc, Jeanine or Paul! He did walk from Cherry Street Inn to Gobbler’s Knob every morning, but he wasn’t quite seeing the glass as half-full with his snarky attitude: Rita: “What did you do today?’ Phil: “Oh, the same-old, same-old.” Perhaps Phil could have benefited from changing up his fitness routine in addition to walking-like an Insanity or Bootcamp class, or a T25 video in his room. I will, however, certainly count his daily walk toward his presumed 10,000 steps a day (keep those FitBit trackers going team!). Did Phil also maintain a healthy nutrition plan throughout the day? Let’s take a look. We all know how Phil feels when he wakes up and yells, “Don’t mess with me, pork chop! What day is this?” Well, Phil, I hate to be the one to break the news to you…it is Day 2 of your 21 Day Challenge and you have 19 days to go. Isn’t that how you feel sometimes? Like, I so cannot do this for 21 days, but you do! Overall, Phil is on the right track with protein-especially in the morning-even if he indulges in a pork chop! But then he completely falls off of the wagon when he continues throughout his day: Phil: “Hi, three cheeseburgers, two large fries, two milkshakes, and one large coke.” Ralph: “And some flapjacks.” Phil: “Too early for flapjacks?” Yes, Phil, it is too early for flapjacks. And you should have substituted that milkshake for a Shakeology shake (also, skip the fries too and add some fruit). Mrs. Lancaster, the innkeeper of the Bed and Breakfast he wakes up in every morning (for 8 years, 8 months and 16 days), does consider some menu changes: Phil: “Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?” Mrs. Lancaster: “I don’t think so, but I could check with the kitchen.” Isn’t that how we feel sometimes when we go out to restaurants? Fresh fruits and vegetables aren’t foreign food groups. It’s déjà vu all over again with menu choices…Maybe I should ask my waiter to check with the kitchen next time for healthier alternatives. Phil’s approach toward food continues with dinner. Ned: “So what are you doing for dinner?” Phil: “Umm..something else.” I don’t share in his lack of enthusiasm for nutritious options. There are a multitude of healthy recipes that the Warehouse members share on Facebook. In fact, I can’t wait to try recently posted recipes for the breakfast egg “muffins” and the cauliflower casserole. Yum! Phil could also probably use some coaching about his alcohol intake: Phil: “Can I have another one of these with some booze in it?” He could have used a hint from Nickie: Use the yellow carb container for your daily amount of your favorite wine! And remember to drink water, water and more water! One might also think that his overindulgence would eventually make him concerned about his health metrics: Rita: “Don’t you worrry about cholesterol?” Phil: “I don’t worry about anything.” Tracking such results as cholesterol, blood pressure and BMI are an essential part of a fitness regimen. If you join a Challenge Class at the warehouse, your BMI, weight, and inches are tracked! What a deal! Spoiler Alert!! If you have seen the movie, you know that Phil really isn’t working to change his health and nuitrition, but he finally does get a few things right and is able to escape from the reoccurring time warp. As one movie critic mentions of the protaganist, “He becomes a better Phil, not a different Phil.” This mindset resonates with me as I start off 2016 with a renewed focus on my health and nuitrition. I don’t want to become a different person, just a better person. How are you going to spend your next 6 weeks transforming as we wait for spring? Are you going to live everyday like it is February 2 – Groundhog Day - all over again in the shadow of the same-old, same-old, or are you going to commit to make some changes? Am I right, or am I right? Bing! |
AuthorLisé Freking is our resident Warehouse member blog writer. When she isn’t in the “member trenches” in Zumba, Bootcamp, Insanity, Tank Top Arms and more, Lisé enjoys time with her husband and their three children. Lisé has been involved in sports as long as she can remember: tennis, swimming, track (including shot and discus) and softball. Most recently, in addition to Warehouse classes, Lisé enjoys at least one good mud run obstacle course challenge a year! Lisé also enjoys a hot beach, a good book, and a cold drink in her spare time. She earned her undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Spanish at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Go Badgers!) and her law degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Archives
December 2019
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