Staying fit to save the planet
By Alan Knight
For ten years my office was only five miles from my home, I could have easily cycled and not driven. But, in my eyes, I was far too busy being an important executive, making very important decisions to even consider looking after myself. Then, of course, there were all those important papers I had to carry to and from home and how could I possibly cycle when I had to wear a suit?
The office had a shower, the dress code was casual but still I stayed wedded to the convenience and status of my car. I would sit in a traffic jam, watch cyclists creep past me, but nonetheless I was sure I would be get home quicker. Pangs of guilt did test me. I was the environmental adviser to a big multi-national and deep down I knew I should cycle.
Over the years, my inactivity took its toll. My waist grew with my perception of self-importance, I joined the company with 32 inch waist, this grew by stealth to a 34”, and I managed denial when it reached 36” by squeezing into size 34 trousers. When I rented a morning suit I was offered a 38” size I began to think. But the awful truth was driven home by the cruellest but simplest of wake up calls.
“Uncle Alan, why are you so fat?” asked my seven year old nephew. Yep - I was fat!
I dug out my old university bicycle, it was dirty, the tyres were flat but other than that it was in working order. On I jumped, within minutes I was sitting on the kerb, feeling nauseous with exhaustion. I was not only fat, I was chronically unfit. I was only 35. It was there and then I committed to cycling to work. At first my colleague teased me, I did not mind, because the 38“ soon shrank to 36, and within two months I was 34”. By then my colleagues had nothing but praise. My self-esteem shot up, I joined the gym and dieted. The fitter I became, the fitter I wanted to be. My credibility rose within the work place, I was the green guru who practiced what he preached, others began to copy me and within a month there was a group of us, all fit, and actually feeling good about ourselves. It was not only the physical activity, it was the mental effect it had, I relaxed more and I slept better. My diet mattered more and I looked for and enjoyed other exercise.
I noticed the weather, the change in the length of daylight, the smells of the season became obvious and were interesting. I would take papers home with me, I organised my day so I could go home when it was still light, my productivity improved because I was in control. I organised my work, it did not organise me.
All this was driven for my well-being, but the reality was that I was making a big reduction into my environmental footprint. I was cycling to work, so no car emissions, I was eating more fresh food, so using much less packaging, I was generally eating less, which means less impact on my environment and because my sense of well- being was very high, I was less stressed and so had a sharper mind but one which was far more empathetic with the global issues we all have to tackle. My success was a positive influence for others and so the ripple affect was fantastic.
This long-winded story about me, has led me to believe that there is a direct link between health and a single planet living.
