I have a decent IQ. While not a genius by any stretch, most would say I am smarter than the average bear. Even so, there seems to be an ever-widening gap between what my brain says and what my body does. Last weekend, Barbara and I rode our bikes over the Brooklyn Bridge. Between references like “what a view,” “this is so cool,” and “aren’t the Orthodox hot walking in black coats,” we had some time to reflect on one of the great social conflicts.

People that run are not fat. People who run less are less fat. People who do not run…well, they are usually more fat. This is not hard to understand; yet more people are getting fat than anytime in our history. You don’t even have to run. Biking is ok. Rowing is ok. Even walking is ok.

People who eat less weigh less. Bigger portions mean bigger pants. They could not have made culprit foods more obvious. It’s called FAT. If you eat more fat, you will get more fat. Simple as that; yet we also have more people searching for magic pills, special herbs and drinking poop tea (yum) than ever before in history.

I’ve been there and done that. My keen intellect has helped me lose close to 425 pounds…yes, an amount equal to more than three human beings. I did it going to the gym, being conscious of what I ate, and never drinking calories. One could say that I did it by the book. Am I proud? Not really. You see, over that same time, I have also gained close to 495 pounds. I did it by chasing fad diets, getting tangled in my own schedule, and being relaxed about what I ate. One could say that I also did it by the book, but it was a very different book.

I’m clearly not alone. If you ask 100 people if they would like to be in better shape, 99 would raise their hands. The average American weighs 30 pounds more than just a few decades ago, and the average dress size in this country is now 14. “Plus” is the new normal.

If so many know, why do only few do?

There seems to be a conflict between being smart and being comfortable. We know what is good, but we find comfort in what is bad, as it makes us feel warm, safe and rewarded. A bowl of mac and cheese makes it easy. Everything, for a moment, is perfect. There is no healthcare crisis, no foreclosures and no unemployment. We fool ourselves, and we know we are doing it.

The challenge then is not to get smart, as much as it is to stay smart. To find balance and patience. To blog less and sweat more. To realize that every hour we exercise comes back to us at the end of our lives. To finally realize that the right way to lose weight is the same way we gain it – a little every day.

So, I may not run today, but at least I will be smart enough to move forward.