As I was walking home from the Y yesterday, trudging up Madison feeling broke and frustrated with my workout slackitude, I realized that sometimes life as an American feels like an constant uphill battle against lethargy and consumerism. Maybe it’s just the human condition, but I kind of doubt it. I know my country well enough to know that we’re fat and we like to spend money — and anyone who is trying not to do either of those things is going to feel like they’re swimming upstream.