Okay so this is the third post of the day, but I'm looking at different articles to write a paper and quite frankly, they're making me livid! We spend so much money on education and put so much pressure on students to be smart and make good grades, yet our society seems to be getting dumber by the minute when it comes to the choices we make about our health. I guess we can't blame them, according to the article from the New York Times.
"And therein lies a problem, Dr. Dishman and other researchers say. The public health message about exercise is that any amount is good and that walking is just fine. Everyone has been told, repeatedly, that regular exercise improves health and makes people feel better, happier, more energetic. Nearly all Americans say they have heard those messages. They know that exercise is good for them and that they should do it.
Yet they do not.
About 40 percent of Americans report that they never exercise, a figure that has remained steady for decades. They will not even do the easy stuff. "
Gina Kolata says that the message is what's faulty, not obese Americans. Yes, getting out and walking is good, but it can only do so much. No one should solely rely on walking for 30 minutes a day to keep them in shape. It's just not possible. You don't burn enough calories to maintain or loose weight. Now, thankfully I keep up with all of this health information. I do my research, as should those millions of Americans who are looking to loose weight. They need to consult a physician, talk to a personal trainer WITH certifications and nutritional certificates (not just the 20 guy that you see hitting the gym hard every day). They will tell you what you need to do to loose weight. I will attest, they DO know what they're doing. When I did the set they gave me to work out, I most definitely saw an improvement in my overall fitness and physique. Oh, but when I went and did my own thing (like walking 3 mph for a half an hour) I wasn't seeing ANY results. It quite frankly made me want to give up. So I get it--a person seeking to loose weight researches in the Health section of Cosmopolitan Magazine and starts doing their "7 minute workout" that helps you drop 20 pounds in a month (yeah, right). And not to mention you only have to do that 7 minute workout 3-4 times a week. Yes, I'm making this up--but you know there's plenty of magazines that get people to buy just because of their "miraculous diet and workout plan." Anyway, back on track. They start doing this phony workout, and they don't see results. So back to their old ways they go. Trust me, I GET IT. I've done these a million times. Tried every trick and trade I've found on the Internet. They have never worked. What works is what the professionals told me.
So the message to those millions of people about to make a New Year's Resolution to loose weight, start with your doctor, PLLLLLEASE! They actually know what they're talking about...duhh, I hope they would after close to a decade of higher education.....
That's all for now. Muahh
Tory
Links I referenced:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/updating-the-message-to-get-americans-moving/?ref=health
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