Mrs. Griz loves to go garage saling and it’s kind of become our Saturday morning outing. At least it’s doing something different than work.
Mrs. Griz has convinced me of the value in going because of the sometimesgood-deals that can be found on things of interest. So when we go, I keep an eye out for old cameras and still-good computerequipment. She usually looks for home decor and other bargains.
While I haven’t found that bargain medium format camera or even a newer computer with the latest processors, I have come across some fine older 35mm cameras for next to nothing - which is pretty much what they are worth in today’s digital camera market. Theycan, however, capture some beautiful images with quality that digital just can’t quite match, but that’s beside my point in today’s column.
What I’m trying to figure out is the need to buy things simply because they are a good deal. On Saturday, Mrs. Griz came across this nice set of ankle weights for a bargain price of next to nothing.
“But why do we need them,” I asked. “Don’t we already have some ankle weights in the garage?”
“Those are wrist weights,” she said.
Indeed, the ankle weights were nice. They had removable packets of steel shot so that the weight can be increased or decreased.
“But why do I need to add an extra 10 pounds to each ankle when I’m already carrying a good 50-plus pounds around my waist?” I asked her.
She explained that the adjustable weights were to keep one’s body working at the same level and burning calories even after losing weight.
“So if I can manage to lose up to 20 pounds of belly fat, I can carry it on my ankles?” I asked.
“Right,” she said, “and your body will have to keep on working just as hardso you’ll lose even more weight.”
Well, it’s hard for me to refute the wisdom of a nurse who often knows more than the doctors about a lot of things, so for a couple of dollars, we have this fancy set of ankle weights.
I offered to strap them on Saturday when I mowed the lawn during the extreme heat, but she felt the added burden might be too much and let me work in shorts and light-weight tennis shoes instead.
“They’re to wear during your regular exercise routine,” she said. “That way, you can burn even morecalories and get rid of fat while you’re just doing what you normally do.”
Like I said, “It’s hard to refute medical expertise.” So I’ve got ‘em on while sitting here in my recliner and writing this column. She’s right. I’m hardly noticing the extra strain. And as I lose weight and build up to it, I can increase the weight around my ankles. I only hope the foot rest on my easy chair can take it.
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Decatur Herald and the Gentry Courier-Journal. He may be reached by e-mail at rmoll @ nwaonline .com
Opinion, Pages 5 on 07/21/2010