Idaho Falls

62 IDAHO FALLS MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2019 Well, the New Year has come and gone and all of our well-meaning plans to get back in shape just never seemed to make it off the drawing board. Oh, I know it's easy to come up with all sorts of excuses. Believe me, I've used them all. One excuse that none of us can use is the lack of businesses around town willing to help whip you into shape. There's something out there for everyone, but all do require you to get off the couch first. Most people probably aren't aware that Idaho Fish & Game Officers must pass physical fitness assessments twice a year. As far as I know, no other law enforcement agency in the state requires its officers to maintain POST (Peace Officers Standard and Training) physical fitness standards as a condition of employment. I've actually seen an officer give up trying to complete a mile and a half run knowing that it meant he would lose his job, There are certain procedures that must be followed but if you fail to pass then you are actually let go! Conservation Officers often work alone and in rugged conditions, so being in good shape is not just important for getting the job done, but also for personal safety. Most of us want to work out so we can feel better about ourselves, not because we risk losing a job. Every gym or fitness club has those individuals who equate fitness with the old George Atlas model. They're the ones you see gulping down hemp smoothies and handfuls of supplement pills. Sure, they get plenty of muscle mass, but real fitness covers a whole lot more. Here in Idaho Falls, we have all different types of options when it comes to finding somewhere to get fit. We have huge national chains named after precious metals, celes- tial bodies, military training, and Village People songs. Some are staffed, some not so much. Some offer the selling point of being available all the time. Others have very spe- cific hours. Some are set up for individuals, and others for class situations. The bottom line is that there is an exercise option to fit everyone. If people that want to hang from the ceiling and twirl as a form of exercise, we've got it! Climb or bounce off the walls, we've got that too! You can even ballroom dance your way to health. We even have our own local health club that uses the acronym of a fruit for its name. (Full disclosure – I have been a member there for years.) For a relatively small city, it is impressive what services this privately owned club provides to the community! Sure we have the Idaho Falls Aquatic Center for those who like the year- round polar bear challenge, but this private business has all sizes, types, and tempera- tures of pools. Our municipal recreation center is great if you want to experience what it was like to play basketball in the 1930s, whereas our private concern has so many modern court options that they are housed in multiple locations! Sometimes the government can get the job done, but other times a little bit of the capitalistic spirit helps to provide services that would otherwise not be available. Not to say that you can't get fit doing things by yourself and in your own home, but having a special place to go and trained people to help you can make a big differ- ence. In the end, the choice is up to you. My 93-year old father-in-law does both. He walks the greenbelt a few times a week and goes to work out at the health club a few times a week as well. It seems to work for him. The point is just to make up your mind and do something. IF Out There by Gregg Losinski

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