Lots of readers have been letting me know that they are following my dieting exploits.

Just the other day, while picking up lunch at the Kroger salad bar, two readers asked, "How’s the diet going?"

At the bank, the teller wanted to know the same thing.

My classmates in the Leadership Sidney program keep a sharp eye on my selections when we break for lunch or when pastries are available as we start the morning sessions.

I have gotten phone calls, letters and e-mail expressing support and encouragement.

And Mike Becker continues to collect my fine at each week’s Kiwanis meeting. But then again, he has to pay, too!

And, by the way, it is still going great. I will weigh in this Thursday, so I can give another weight loss update. However, I have taken my first measurements and discovered that I have lost 5 inches in girth.

(This consists of a loss of 1 inch in my chest; 2 inches in my waist; 1 inch around my neck; ½ inch around my thighs; and ½ inch in my forearms)

One of the folks that offered assistance and suggestions early on was Paul Waldsmith, health enhancement director at the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA.

He loaned me a copy of "Get Real, A Personal Guide to Real-Life Weight Management," by Daniel Kosich, Ph.D.

I am still reading and referring to this book and have found it as helpful as Waldsmith assured me I would.

Exercise is emphasized throughout the book in terms of both weight management and health benefits.

One of the central themes that Kosich offers is the following: "Research has clearly shown that just doing some regular activity, whether it’s easy walking, gardening, yard work or recreational tennis, will likely reduce your risk of heart disease."

Just in the past week, health studies have confirmed that losing just a few pounds, and keeping them off for a four- to five-year period of time, results in significant health advantages.

So exercise is VERY IMPORTANT in efforts to lose weight and improve one’s overall health.

I noted previously that I am walking (a minimum of two miles a day at a fairly brisk pace) and will soon be returning to playing both singles and doubles tennis.

While walking, I have contemplated what does and what does not qualify as legitimate exercise.

For example, "jumping or leaping to conclusions" is not really exercise.

Neither is "hopping from one task to another," "skipping a step," or "climbing the corporate ladder."

Similarly, other activities that at first glance may look or sound like forms of exercise but are not include:

• Carrying a grudge

• Hopping from one option to another

• Leaping to conclusions

• Hurdling obstacles

• Stretching the truth

• Walking around an issue

• Lifting expectations

• Running out of ideas

• Tossing the bull

• Exercising an option

• Stretching the truth

There are, no doubt, lots more. If you can think of additional "exercises that DO NOT count, send them to me and I’ll share them with everyone at a later date.