Elevators ‘out,’ exercise ‘in’
Photo: Gabi Menashe
IDF declares war on potbellies
Elevator service at army headquarters to be suspended for week as part of effort to whip officers into shape
Anti-paunch war gets underway: IDF fitness officials have decided to disable the elevator service at army headquarters in Tel Aviv for a week in a bid to fight the growing paunchiness of officers serving there, newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday.
The special anti-potbelly operation is set to get underway at the end of the month, during the IDF’s annual “fitness week.”
Fitness officials have identified the belly problem in Tel Aviv as a cause for concern, particularly among former combat soldiers who were promoted to administrative positions. According to the plan, elevator service at all buildings at the headquarters compound would be halted up to the fourth floor at least, forcing all officers and soldiers to use the stairs instead.
‘God gave us legs so we use them’
Lt. Col. Avi Benita, who formulated the plan, said he has no doubt some of the officers would not be happy about the proposed change, but declared his readiness “to address everyone and explain the importance of using one’s body.”
“We want to get them used to using the stairs. God gave us legs so we use them,” Benita said. “Sometimes I see phenomena at the Kirya (army headquarters) that drives me crazy. Officers take the elevator down to the parking garage, where the driver is waiting in the car and drives them to a nearby building.”
But the elevator war is not the end. In order to encourage exercise, walking paths were marked throughout the compound and soldiers have been advised to walk at least three kilometers (about 2 miles) a day.
