Suggestions:

As part of a campaign to encourage Americans to exercise and lose weight, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a new website: smallstep.gov, where one can find a list of 100 "small steps" to get you started. If you have seen one of the public service announcements, you might have seen the list scrolling (very quickly) down the screen. Most of the suggestions are reasonable, but these caught our eye:

40. Pace the sidelines at kids' athletic games.
41. Take wheels off luggage.
47. Bike to the barbershop or beauty salon instead of driving.
52. Avoid laborsaving devices.
80. Stop eating when you are full.
98. Walk to a co-worker's desk instead of emailing or calling them.
100. Use a snow shovel instead of a snow blower.

24. Skip seconds.
88. Don't take seconds.

Sure, most of the 100 suggestions are reasonable, but "Take wheels off luggage"? That would probably lead to more physical problems than less. And using a snow shovel is a quick way to get to Heart Attack City. And how many women are going to bike to and from the beauty salon? Not many, we bet.

posted by Quiddity at 3/10/2004 08:11:00 AM