Overcome treadmill boredom

When asked about his incredible weight loss, Stephen Fry told a reporter from a British newspaper:

"I never thought I would say this, but I genuinely enjoy going to the gym. I spent years mocking them, but now I'm one of the converts.

"What has helped enormously has been the audio books I listen to while I'm walking.

"I've written myself a list of great novels and am slowly working my way through them.

"At the moment it's Tim West reading Anthony Trollope. It's sheer pleasure, and largely uninterrupted.

"I've discovered that wearing white earphones means that people can see what I'm doing and usually don't disturb me."


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to audio books on your treadmill...)

Stephen Fry and I couldn't be more different: I couldn't act to save my life. I'm definitely not a gay British guy. And I'm only 4' 11"

But like Fry, I struggled with my weight. Thanks to everything from lupus medications to switching from cigarettes to donuts -- not to mention plain old middle age -- I've been everything from a size 0 to a 14 over the last twenty years.

When we moved into a condo with a fitness room, I was excited. Finally, I'd have no more excuses.

However, I found I became impatient after about 10 minutes on the treadmill. A voice in my head told me I was wasting my time, that I should be doing laundry instead, that I was probably missing some important phone call...

I just couldn't stay on the treadmill long enough for it to make a difference in my weight and well being.

At first I started listening to podcasts of talk radio shows, which is great because they tend to be chopped up into 35 minute segments. Just right for my time on the treadmill.

But later I added talking books to my mp3 player and listening to those instead.

I'd been a member of Audible.com for years, and had always listened to audio books during my commute. It was a great way to "catch up on my reading."

And Audible.com talking books can be less than $8, instead of the $30+ you have to fork over for a new hardcover.

With a little help from those audio books, I've gone from a size 14 to a size 8.

And it was just a coincidence that the thing that kept me on my treadmill long enough to lose those pounds was the same method being used by a total stranger across the pond in England!

So that's two of us.

Today, mp3 players are more affordable than ever; Amazon lets you download audiobooks on every imaginable subject; and an Audible.com membership is cheaper than buying a new hardcover book every month.

PS:

inevitably, they keep asking Stephen Fry if he'll write a new book about his weight loss adventures.

He says he won't rule it out.

I hope it's an audio book. Narrated by himself. That would be the perfect ending to the story.