Urban Rangers and Egyptian Watercourses

Dr Dork was lurking around intueri recently. Amongst, in essence, waxing lyrical upon her resolutions for the forthcoming year, Maria happened to make mention of something or someone called "urban rangers".

The Dork followed the link and found this interesting site which is the work of a gentleman called Reinhard Engels. It is a collection of what he refers to as everyday systems. The urban ranger is by far the best of the lot, Dr Dork thinks.

In apercu: "We've invented one class of machine to spare us physical exertion, and another class of machine to inflict it back on us again, but in an infinitely more boring, painful, and useless manner."

Dr Dork likes this kind of thinking.

As has been discussed before, obesity is a major problem in all Western societies. It is tantamount to a pandemic. We Docs don't really care what our patients look like in an aesthetic sense, within reason, we care about obesity as it complicates, exacerbates and causes such a vast array of health problems, costs our society billions and our individual patients many years of life.

Dr Dork has straddled both sides of this fence. Before he dropped 30 kg (65 lbs) a few years back, he was guilty of the same rationalisations, defences and methods of denial that he now sees in his patients.

The urban ranger approach is simple : incorporate walking into your day. Walk to the local deli or the video store, don't drive. Walk to work, or at least to/from public transport routes.

Dr Dork used to say to himself he was too busy, too tired, not enough time, other priorities, too many restraining orders, too many complaints about his spandex bodysuit.


*Ahem*. Lets just say there is always an excuse if you want to find one.

Dr Dork found that the excuses tended to fade away when he ignored them. Kind of like a reverse Mr Stay Puft. Once he started exercising, he was less tired. He slept better, and woke up earlier, giving him more time. And so forth, for each apparent impediment.

Dr Dork now rarely drives. He walks or cycles to and from work, the local shops, nearby friends and family - whenever possible. Maybe hops a bus or train or tram part of the way.

Dr Dork doesn't bother spending many hours and dollars at the gym anymore - he gets all his exercise by simply incorporating it into his day.

Like a good urban ranger. Won't you join the Dork ?