by: Kimberly Trefilek
After all of the excitement of leaving for Paris wore off, one question remained: will I be able to handle not working out for nine days? For most people working out is a chore and they count down the days to get a vacation from it. However, for me, it’s my life. Rumors were going around that there wasn’t a gym in our hotel because it was too small. I also heard there weren’t many gyms in the city at all. Those two statements boggled my mind and I couldn’t stop wondering how do the French stay fit? So, I packed my suitcase with a jump rope, running shoes and an idea for my feature story.
My Observations
This idea had been on my mind the whole eight-hour plane ride. As soon as I got off the plane, I was constantly observing people’s body shapes and keeping my eyes open for any sign of a fitness center.
The U.S. is constantly full of gyms and full of personal trainers and ads for getting in shape. In Paris, it was non-existent. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I noticed that there were a variety of different body types and though most people were thin, none had very good muscle tone.
My Troubles
Suddenly it occurred to me that this story might be a real challenge, due to the fact that there was not one gym in sight. I did notice, however, that people did run outside in the cold, which is barely seen in the U.S. Those who were really dedicated to being in shape, seemed to use what they had around them.
How I Found My Answer
I resorted to talking to people in bars and the answer I mostly got was that they don’t really think about working out and are too lazy to worry about it. I did notice, the younger people were more active because of sports they played, such as volleyball.
Thanks to Jim Bitterman from CNN and sources from the Herald Tribune, I found out exactly what I needed to learn about Parisians and their fitness. The answer is in my story. Stay tuned.
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