Undeterred by this frankly unsurprising discovery that people tell fibs when asked about their lifestyle, the PMA has partnered with Channel 5 to launch a survey into the health and fitness of Britain’s pub landlords and landladies.
I urge you to complete the survey and be honest in your self-assessments, and in the spirit of full disclosure I will share with you my own thoughts on the matter.
In the six months following my appointment to the editorship of the PMA I put on half a stone — poundage that I’ve subsequent been trying to shift through frequent gym visits, weekly badminton sessions and — when time and invitations allow — regular zig-zagging walks around prestigious golf courses (corporate event organisers, please note)!
I am a man of little willpower when it comes to pleasures of the palate and the comfort of soft-furnishings, and since my job involves a dangerous mixture of sedentary desk-work plus frequent visits to great pubs whose licensees are always keen to show off their fabulous beer and food (I’m not looking for sympathy), I am at constant risk of creeping weight gain.
I’m no health fascist, as anyone who has spent time with me will be able to confirm. But having recently turned 40, I’m enduring a mini mid-life crisis that has made me think hard about the next phase of my life, the importance of being around in a fit state for those that depend on me, and ensuring that I minimise some of the risks that a man of my age, shape and lifestyle might face.
Well that’s me. What about you? Can you be honest about your health and fitness in the context of your working life? Are you working long hours, drinking too much, eating unhealthily and smoking? And dealing with high levels of stress? And if so, what are you doing about it? What do you feel you can do about it?
While I don’t want to prejudge the results of our survey, I will venture to suggest that the lifestyle of a licensee is not necessarily conducive to optimal health and fitness.
While there is plenty of physical activity involved, there is also temptation all around. Licensees are also busy people, and therefore time-poor when it comes to opportunities for other leisure activities. I’m sure there are super-fit licensees out there who eat well and exercise regularly and who would put me and my journalistic colleagues to shame in any feat of speed, strength and endurance (and no, that’s not a challenge).
But don’t forget I’ve met many of you and — besides invariably a good strong pint-pulling forearm — there is often plenty of ‘junk in the trunk’. Don’t shoot the messenger, especially one that carries his own excess baggage. But do take part in our survey, so we can see what condition our readership is in, and work out how we can help you get fitter.
I can already envisage a fitness DVD based on exercises you can do in and around your pub! Any volunteers for the Lycra-clad presenter role?