You don't realize you're working out......

Every now and then I have to stop and think about the physical aspects of being a server, and just what type of workout I am getting……


This really came to light when I realized that I’ve been on the pizza diet for a few weeks. I spent many years cooking, and let me tell ya, I am so over the whole cooking thing…..and….. I’m a pizza-holic. So is my son. What it’s been reduced to, is, not what are we gonna eat, but who’s gonna make the phone call. Then I realized that I haven’t gained any weight on this pizza rut of a food regimen… so I took a closer look at my physical activity and began to equate things I do everyday with things that I’ve done at the gym.

First of all, we are on our feet for many hours at a time, usually walking…okay, we’ll call that the treadmill. Now picture walking on the treadmill while holding a 20 pound weight, shifting it in various positions. Next you step off the treadmill, hoist the weight to your shoulder (and you have to keep it level and balanced) walk a little more, you’ve arrived at your destination and now have to do a squat to set it down… .

Now it’s time to graduate from treadmill to Stairmaster….take the same 20 pound weight, again hoist it up on your shoulder and walk a flight of stairs, up or down, it doesn’t matter, because you’re going to be doing it many times. Without realizing it, you’re working you legs, your gluts, you’re core (abs) and back are working to keep you upright, your arms and shoulders are involved…Oh! And let’s not forget the calves, they become hard as rocks.

Let’s set the tray aside and pick up a rack of heavy glasses, that has to be carried with two hands, holding the rack in front of you….that changes the angle of everything and hence the muscles are being worked in a slightly different way.

Try maneuvering a round table, (that is taller than you are when it is on it’s side) around corners and down a couple of steps, and see what muscles come into play. Every time I have to do this I feel like I am in an episode of the old “Lucy” show, and try not to think of the consequences should I lose control and roll it into a freshly painted wall or let it fall onto a tower of glassware or a giant shelf of dishes.

In every good exercise routine, you do reps and sets…..however most people don’t spend 4 hours at the gym, where you pay to use the equipment. In a sense, we’re getting paid to workout. I like to think of it as killing two birds with one stone. (Hey, it works for me.)