Walking for health

by Lakmal Welabada

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"Everybody says I'm fat and not fit enough for my age," said my friend cum colleague.

"So, I decided to walk," she said.

"Good! Have you already started to walk then?" I asked munching another piece of starchy rotty. Many around us in the canteen seemed to be gobbling the same tasty stuff made out of flour, potato, Sardine and oil.

"I'm not trying my best to avoid 'that' type of food," it was my friend again.

"Good!" I replied. "Have you started to exercise?" I continued.

"Yes, since two weeks ago. But...," she paused.

"Why?" I butted in, and she went on saying....

I generally take a three wheeler from my home up to the junction where I then take a bus to office. This one Kilometre would provide me some good exercise if I go by foot. It would also save me Rs. 80 to Rs. 100 per day if I go on foot up and down. So, I started to walk," she said.

The first two days passed off untroubled though I saw a few neighbours peepet from their homes in amazement. On the third day, a middle aged lady was waiting for me at her gate still in her 'nighty' and housecoat. She gave me a broad smile and greeted me from quite a distance.

I had to spend ten minutes talking with her, answering the 'question paper' she unfolded. When she reminded me of the number of vehicles at my place, I assumed her ultimate curiosity was to find out why my husband was not dropping me at the junction in his vehicle. "You look troubled these days. Is there any problem?" she was suspicious.

I wondered what I should tell her. I decided to tease her a bit. "I have. Thanks aunty, you have already noticed that," I said. "Yes, yes, what is it my dear," she was so inquisitive. Her half opened mouth and her flapping ears urged more 'news' from me, and probably about my family life. She was known as 'Reuter' by the neighbours as she 'provided' news to the whole neighbourhood.

"I thought I should walk a bit as I'm becoming unfit,"

I said. "Ah! is that so," it was not the answer she expected. Though she wanted to know more I politely excused her and vanished. The next incident related to my friend's walking exercise was as follows; "A friend of my husband who was also staying in that area, offered me a lift," she began.

"I was heading towards the junction. He stopped the vehicle and asked me to get in. I tried to refuse, but, since he insisted and was ready to drop me at the office I accepted it humbly. He seemed very friendly and was full of humour while discussing various subjects. He casually asked the time I would be returning in the evening as well.

To my surprise, this man started giving me lifts quite often in the morning and then in the evening as well. Since his office was quite far from mine, I somehow smelt what he was after. And then quietly dropped his 'drops'.

After hearing the two incidents my husband plainly asked me to give up 'walking'. Instead he offered to go jogging with me every weekend. It was great! We could enjoy it thoroughly. We continued it for about three weeks. And then we stopped as he was transferred to a station out of Colombo.

Meanwhile, two of our colleagues were hospitalised due to high Cholesterol and Diabetics, giving us more 'reasons' to think about exercising. Working places in many countries have their own gyms.

Physical fitness of workers is treated compulsory, and is being observed annually in many such places. But, in Sri Lanka, only the three Forces are forced to maintain such training. Apart from them the Police may also be following the same training. But other than that a very few in the government and private sector have given a serious thought to this factor.

The Government spend millions on the healthcare programs in the country. Annually, many private companies too set apart a lump sum for medical care and insurance for its workers. But, rarely do they tend to conduct a health camp or program to check whether their workers are feeling ok.

Many workers who sit at one place in an Air Conditioned environment from morning to evening, burning only his/her brain powers are 80-90 percent in danger without their knowledge. Failures could occur in both ways, either physically or mentally.

Walking is a good exercise which costs nothing, if you have resistance towards dust, fumes and drizzle. Hope you, would not encounter the problematic incidents my friend faced. However, she is still longing for a jog, and has ended up going to a gym for which she has to spend through her nose for a limited period of time.