CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and CNBC Banned from Popular Gym: Not Conducive to ‘Healthy Lifestyle’

Ever feel like watching television is making you crazy?  If 2016 and 2017 have shown us anything, perhaps it’s this: sometimes you need to step away from the news.  Recently, a popular gym franchise announced it was eliminating CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and CNBC from screens attached to their workout machines, because an ever-increasing number of customers believe these news channels don’t encourage a healthy lifestyle.

I’ll say.

The Star Tribune has the details:

USA, A&E, Discovery, HGTV, the local over-the-air stations and ESPN are all that remain on the visual menu of distractions while sweating off the caloric consequences of the holidays.

Bushaw added, “Clubs do have flexibility to air programs of interest in their club, such as local sporting events from college to pro teams.”

She said Life Time pulled the plug on the cable news outlets based on “many member requests received over time across the country and in keeping with our overall healthy way of life philosophy and commitment to provide family-oriented environments free of consistently negative or politically charged content.”

Well, with all the highly partisan content, ESPN should be next.

Regardless, I agree with these gym goers.  Let’s strive to make this year one that is less full of bitter politics.  We can’t control how much drama our politicians generate.  (And, in fact, the headlines from the first few days of January don’t indicate that the drama will wane at all this year.)

However, America is supposed to comprised of self-governing individuals.  Though we need to be informed about our government, part of beauty of self-governance is that individuals can choose to be less affected by the ups and downs of political drama. We can’t control our politicians’ proclivity for drama, but we can control how much time we spend fretting over who said what, or who attacked whom.

Let’s make that our resolution for the coming year.  (Oh, and you might want to hit the gym.)

Image Credit: Runners have the opportunity to watch brand-new TVs while exercising in the cardio room at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, May 19. The fitness center facilities are now available 24/7 by card reader. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Kellie Rizer/Released) 

Hat Tip: Star Tribune