French people think going to a gym is crazy. Or really, any attempt to exercise for the sake of exercise. Jogging took a long time to catch on in France, and you still don't see that many people doing it. They "exercise" by integrating it into their daily activities--walking way more than the average American, carrying groceries home from the market, etc.

I think I am French! Seriously, though, since not having a car, I walk a lot. I walk a lot carrying things. I eat a fairly good diet (certainly similar in content to my thin cow-orkers). I haven't just randomly lost weight. When I lost weight via exercise, it was when I a) worked an 8 - 10 hour a day job that included standing on my feet and moving crap around b) I walked or biked to work and everywhere c) AND exercised 1 - 2 hours per day. That is sort of ridiculous, and I don't have that kind of time

Yes, that helps sometimes. But, if I'm being introduced to someone who says "this is Bob Smith", then where do I go?

Follow Teal'c's example and always call him by his full name?

I think of exercise and the nation's self-esteem being related as a myth that everyone knows is a myth, if they even grant it any status at all.

I don't think it's a myth. I think people do feel better about themselves, in the sense that they think on some level it makes them a better person. How often have you bragged or been bragged to about making it to the gym? Happens all the time. (More the latter than the former in my case, heh.)

And the converse is even more true - that not exercising or going to the gym is reflective of some sort of character flaw, or laziness at the very least.

Which is not to say these things are true. But that people believe them, on some level, is certainly true in this country.

Does anyone think it's weird if little kids call grown-ups by their first names? Bloke says it's Just Not Done in America, and finds it very weird here where no one calls anyone Mr or Mrs anything. The only situation I can think of is in school, but even that's being phased out, I hear.

Not weird to me. But it depends on the degree of familiarity. If it's someone I would call by their first names, I find it hard to introduce them to my kids as Mr. __ or Ms. ___. Teachers, etc. still get called by their title, since I think it's a respect thing.

But just someone casually, I'm not apt to force Mr. or Ms. onto my kids.

Now that I'm an adult, I would find it totally weird to have anyone address me as Ms. Hell, I'm not even that into Aunt as it feels so formal.

How often have you bragged or been bragged to about making it to the gym?

Not that often, honestly.

But, bon, I don't see the point of that statement if France and the US are similarly uncheered by an increase in physical exertion.

This is not what the author said. He said:

I didn't say that's what he said. I posit that Americans are uncheered and he posits that the French are uncheered. That's where I was discussing from.

I also think that better self esteem is generally better mental health.

Oh, and some other stuff. I'm going back to bed.

I would find it totally weird to have anyone address me as Ms.

Does take a lot of work. Occasionally I respond to "Ms. [lastname]" with "Yes, Mr. Guerrero?" This tended to surprise the middle-schoolers.

I've bragged about making it to the gym because it's so unusual for me. And I can never keep it up. I get so tired of the "If you'd just exercise, you'd have more energy!" sentiment, since -- unless it can start working within two or three visits -- I don't have enough energy to exercise regularly! You'd think this would be an obvious obstacle.

Of course, then we get into the tired=lazy=bad issue, and I go eat chips instead.

Being fit makes anyone feel better. I don't mean being skinny, but being fit--getting your heart rate up and using your muscles to the point of tiredness on a regular basis so they are toned and strong. We are designed to move and all the systems of our body work better when we do so. I think that's a fact which no one would argue. But how one gets healthy is immaterial, although we do make gym-going a moral thing here.

Since my surgery, I have fallen back into rationalizing not getting much exercise andit sucks. I am working on getting back in shape again right now and I know I will feel better (noot about myself, just better in general) once I do so.

Our lunch options have been canceled, sadly.

Wah. May the hotel sandwiches be tasty and edible.

I have french fries and new glasses! I'm a little worried that other people aren't going to find them as awesome as I do.