There's no doubt Australians love sport – especially when we’re winning.
Unfortunately, the London Olympic Games have shown that we’re out of form but, regardless of that, many of us mere mortals who were glued to the television will now be inspired to get into shape.
Just as the annual Tour de France cycling epic is followed by the inevitable swarms of MAMILs – that’s middle-aged men in Lycra – on our roads, the Olympics draws many a potato off the couch and into the great outdoors to pursue the fitness that’s been kept on hold since the last Games four years ago.
While it’s an admirable desire to want to get fit, the warning from our local physiotherapist Anita Doughty ought to be heeded.
Bodies that have grown soft through years of neglect and poor diet cannot be expected to leap into action without repercussions, some of which can be more debilitating than the potato-hood the sudden rush of exercise is aimed at defeating.
Achievable, short-term goals are of paramount importance if the newfound fitness routine is to be sustained.
Go too hard at the outset and the chances are you will give the game away for another four years until the next Games arouse you from your couch-bound slumber.
Oh, and there’s another thing.
No amount of exercise will shed the excess kilos if the diet is not right.
Oddly, there is scant mention of this in the coverage of the Games, whose big sponsors include McDonald’s and Coca-Cola.
Funny that.