Fitness, weight loss, health, nutrition, and wellness. Key words that get searched to death in this day and age. We search the web, but are we doing the things that are recommended? Studies would say no, we are an inactive generation. It's a shame because on Google alone, weight loss is searched globally 11 million times. Imagine if all those people got into a weight loss grove?
I find the problem seems to be in the consistent message. Take for instance these two videos. They show me with Lise Aquin, a fitness model, focusing on bicep and shoulder definition.
The goal of these video's is to offer a few tips to "spice up" a workout. For those who are comfortable at the gym, but still relatively new, the video tips can give some new definition ideas. The video's are borderline useless to someone looking to start a weight loss journey.
There are a multitude of ways to exercise, programs to follow, and diet plans to get on. What I think people need is a definition, and some timely advice on how to read all the info that is out there.
Fitness Competition or Competitor
Athlete
Functional Training
Weight Loss
Wellness
Healthy Living
Fitness competition or the fitness competitor is what seems to permeate the large media outlets. This is the thing I am battling back against the hardest. The cover model being the go to for what we strive for in our daily lives. Working for something fleeting and in many lifestyle cases, unattainable seems silly to me.
Our choice, and the media's choice of what represents health is mentally defeating more people than it inspires. Personally, I'd like to see covers with women who are the healthy 18-25 per cent body fat. . Some Doctors will even say as high as 32 per cent is healthy. So why is our focus on a model who is 8-12 per cent when "shoot ready"?
The dedication it takes to be a female competitor is impressive, and the women work very hard to get their body fat low. The problem: it's not a symbol of health. It is a product of the dedication to a sport and lifestyle. Seeing these images everywhere is the starting point for a lot of misconceptions for what "should happen" when someone starts to workout.
The Wellness craze is the next thing to tackle. I have found that many people mistake cleanses for a way to eat regularly, or a way to lose weight. Dr. Oz is at the head of this problem. Not saying Dr. Oz has done anything wrong, but the clarity has been lost as he has to now make television magic daily instead of the monthly special appearances on Oprah. People are losing their sense of "regular diet" with "regular cleanses." We seem to have lost the base of healthy eating. It's been replaced with quick fixes and super foods. What people need to do is eat fresh fruit and vegetables, cook for themselves, plan meals, and get away from trying to fill themselves with super foods. A cleanse won't make up for a bad diet. Fix the root of the problem. Cleanses can be a fantastic kickstart. If you read Dr. Oz's blogs or listen to the videos that's what he is saying. The problem and the confusion is he has a new one each week, combined with every other health expert having their own.
So what's the answer? Getting back to our roots. Plain and simple. Go outside and play, walk, and interact with nature. Get your body moving and the blood flowing. Select food that is natural, and grown close to home. If you need to lose weight, get moving instead of watching TV. Eat food that will feed your body the vitamins and minerals it needs. If it's in a box, make it a treat. Don't make pre-cooked and frozen food your main source of fuel. Start making sure your body gets as much vitamin and minerals as you can give it.
Our goal is not to be a cover model, our goal is to be healthy, happy and able to meet each day with energy and health. If you find yourself run down, sick, or missing out on life, look at your eating habits and exercise. That's the key to being healthy.
