TITLE: Agile Methods in the Dining Room
AUTHOR: Eugene Wallingford
DATE: April 04, 2005  3:58 PM
DESC: Whether you run or not, agile methods may help you outside of the computer lab.
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BODY:
I've written about
<A HREF="http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/blog/archives/monthly/2004-07.html#e2004-07-15T12_07_34.htm">
   using agile software principles in my running</A>.
Now Brian Marick applies the idea of
<A HREF="http://www.xprogramming.com/xpmag/BigVisibleCharts.htm">
   Big Visible Charts</A>
as a motivational technique for
<A HREF="http://www.testing.com/cgi-bin/blog/2005/04/02#big-visible-belly">
   losing a few pounds</A>.

The notion that practices from agile software
development work outside of software should
not surprise us too much.  Agile practices
emphasize individuals and interactions, doing
things rather than talking about things,
collaboration and communication, and openness
to change.  They reflect patterns of organization
and interaction that are much bigger than the
software world.  (This reminds me of an idea
that was hot a few years ago: design patterns
<A HREF="http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/teaching/062/sessions/support/pattern-examples.pdf">
   occur in the real world, too</A>.)

Oh, and good luck, Brian!  I know the feeling.
Two years ago, I had broken the 190-pound barrier
and, despite recreational jogging, felt soft
and out of shape.  By exercising more and eating
less (okay, exercising a lot more and eating
a lot less), I returned to the healthier and
happier 160-pound range.  I'll keep an eye on
your big visible chart.
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