One of my personal goals this semester is to lose weight and not gain the grad school 20 again! (Spring semester was a disaster and I packed on 25 pounds--eek!) I have been highly successful this semester with the help of a personal trainer and a personal goal to be lighter in body mass than when I started this semester. I continue to struggle with eating enough protein and finding the balance between too many calories and not enough. But, as with my goal for a second license in English, this goal will be realized with hard work, perseverance, and an overall view of health in my mind.
Throughout my struggles with weight loss and healthy eating this semester I have recognized that the mass media has jumped on the bandwagon to support a healthier lifestyle as well. It is no secret that America is in an obesity epidemic. Diabetes has skyrocketed to be the new "it" disease in all people across age levels, genders, and demographics. The food industry has put the man-made product, high fructose corn syrup, into everything, health care has had a major push from congress, and the Obama Administration is calling for massive focus on healthy lifestyles for everyone. Lastly, every medical doctor has stated that America is fatter now than in the last decade and this is costing insurance company trillions in lost everything except for pounds of weight loss. Truly, the mass media has highlighted this issue and provided every person with information that this is a concern of massive proportions.
"The Biggest Loser" has been on NBC for eight seasons starting in October 2004. The show has been highly successful with contestants losing over 1000 pounds of weight since the show started. But, the program is broadcast over the television which means that many people just watch the program and do not physically move any body part past turning on the remote. I am unaware as to how many people have lost weight because of this program, but I hope that the program has helped provide a motivation for some people to get out there and lose the weight they have. "The Biggest Loser" also provides simple tips for everyone to follow about nutrition, strength training, and weight loss for people. People can find links to the trainers' websites, cook books, protein supplements, and tips. This focus on weight loss is a step towards a better environment for everyone involved.
While watching the Colts/Texans Football game, the announcers stated something about "NFL60" during the game. The NFL recognizes that 60 minutes of play a day for children is necessary for health and to recognize that obesity is an issue for children. As I was looking at the NFL60 website, (http://www.nflrush.com/play60/) a video plays with Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints takes some students through a physical fitness routine on the front lawn of the White House.
The mass media reflects what is happening in society. What is happening in society is people are too heavy and this is costing companies too much money. Therefore, something needs to be done about this issue. But being told to exercise from Joe-Regular-Fitness-Expert is boring and uneventful. Thus, let's put together a television program about people losing weight, having trainers yell at them, and then they're voted off the island. OR, let's have NFL football players teach some students on the White House lawn doing a fitness routine.
Both approaches are steps in the right direction towards this issue, but if anything is to actually happen, it needs to happen with the values at home. AND be supported by everyone involved, not just certain people. Physical exercise is hard and the labors of all the effort take time in order to see results. Thus, the issue in this "gotta have it and have it now" society in which we live in. The delayed gratification from physical fitness is a long-term goal that we all need to strive for because our lives depend on it. The mass media can only help with this epidemic by continuing to put sports stars doing exercise and success stories of massive weight loss on the television. It can be done, but with plenty of sweat and movement that gets the heart rate up. I am not at my goal yet, but I continue to be in the gym six times a week. I've lost 30 pounds and feel great, but have a ways to go before I can accomplish my goal.
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