The Energy Express Column

I dreamed up the Energy Express column in 1976, while working as a critic and feature writer at my old paper, the Chicago Tribune. I was doing a lot of thinking and writing about holistic health and mindbody medicine and it occurred to me that there were many people out there who would benefit from a targeted newspaper column about exercising more, eating smarter, and dealing with stress in healthy ways. We certainly weren't getting that information from our MDs.     

In the beginning, I called the column “Dr. Jock,” and wrote it Q & A style with a leading Chicago sports medicine doc advising me.   “I'm a runner with sore knees. . . how can I prevent tennis elbow?. . what's the best way to lose weight?”

As I evolved, so did the column. I read, traveled, studied with great teachers, spoke to experts, got certified as a personal fitness trainer and eventually went solo with the column. In 1991 I changed its name to “Energy Express” to reflect the wide range of healthy lifestyle issues I cover, now including adventure travel, senior fitness, kid fitness, workplace wellness, green and conscious living, mindbody training, and my personal favorite, yoga.  

Today, after more than 30 years, I'm happy to say that Energy Express has earned championship status as the longest running syndicated fitness column in the U.S. It's carried by newspapers, magazines and online outlets around the country, and I get a lot of   mail, much more than I can personally reply to. I am grateful.

I have done many other things in my work life. I've written 2 books, more than 35 TV shows, and performed on camera as the co-host of several TV series. I've run a small, successful TV production company, and I've had 2 plays produced.   A 3rd is on the way. The one steady thread of content that runs through everything I do and believe in is contained in Energy Express:   Be active. Practice kindness. Eat real food. Live your best life.

To read one of my favorite columns, click here.

To connect to my syndicator's website, please go to www.creators.com and have your best time.

         Energy Express-O!
         Start Where You Are

“Energy Express isn’t aimed at the ultra-marathoner or uber-exerciser. It’s for all the rest of us who want to experience a more conscious, balanced, energized life: exercising more, eating smarter, enjoying nature, learning to integrate body, mind and breath.”            --mp