The Advocacy of Keeping Fit - Essay Example

Jo R. Ramirez Order #417503 4 March The Advocacy of Keeping Fit Who hasn’t heard about “The Biggest Loser”? Or Shaun T’s “Insanity Video”? Hip-hop Abs? South Beach and Atkin’s Diet? Or even Surgeon General’s Warning that “Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous to your Health”? Going on a diet, embarking on a workout program, and becoming health-conscious would have elicited not a few raised eyebrows had these been done 5, maybe 10 years ago. But times have changed, and however cliché-ic it may sound, change is the only permanent thing in this world. More and more people are coming to realize the benefits of healthy eating, a healthy lifestyle, minimizing stress, and avoiding pollutants / toxins to the body. Where before smokers would project an image of machismo, nowadays, smokers are kept at bay with the prevalence of smoking areas, which – quite notably so – are becoming lesser by the day. Regular alcohol drinkers are also now looked upon with dismay, unlike their glamorous contemporaries 3 to 5 years ago. These days, going to the gym or having a physical activity of some sort is no longer uncommon, anent is even encouraged. Where before, gyms were only popular among the rich, or those who could afford the membership fees, now, anybody can take his/her pick and have a workout anywhere he/she likes. Annual sports competitions like bowling, badminton, basketball and volleyball are but some of the more productive venues where companies promote sportsmanship, vis-à-vis camaraderie, among their staff. Advertising seems to play a major role in the changing perception of the majority. Unlike before, emphasis is now placed on the ill-effects of a vice/s to an individual’s physique, and with this transparency, the heads up as to whether a vice will be adopted or rejected is left to the consumer. In the same manner, the acceptable image of what is “sexy” or not is also glorified in ads. Open a magazine and what do you see? Full page ads of scantily-clad hunks and girls in seductive poses. Walk around the mall or simply drive along the highway and what do the billboards depict? Ladies in two-piece bikinis with their pouting lips, and gentlemen in skimpy trunks and their six-pack abs. Such images present a boxed-type representation of where one should fit in. With the regularity and increasing popularity of fitness programs on all types of media including the internet, it’s no wonder that everyone, especially the youth are now too conscious to a fault as to how he/she should look, dress up, act and interact with friends. This era is defined by innovation. It is fortunate that with the advent of the internet / information age, the youth of today are more knowledgeable with regards to facts which the not-so-young were deprived of some time before. This generation is bombarded with so much information from all over, thanks to technology and the omnipresence of the media. The options are right before their eyes; the preference is up to them; it is a choice which anyone of any age at any time can grasp and bring to actuality, or at least a semblance of such. A case in point of an excellent decision goes back to allowing the child to engage in sports activities. Here are some positive effects of engaging in physical activities: 1) Increased work capacity; 2) Greater profits and more job satisfaction; 3) Strengthened immune system; 4) Stronger bone, cartilage, tendons and strips; 5) Natural drainage of stress reactions. (Pettersorlie, 1) Furthermore, the venue of teaching Physical Education can be utilized to coach kids not just about sports but other, more essential tools in life. “Games and other activities incorporate teamwork, strategy, skill-building exercises and fun.” (Steve Bishop, 1) This statement is further strengthened, when considering that a child is part of a sports team – which, from the start has been motivated with the end goal of winning. Mental and physical focus is essential to attain a team’s objective of playing the game well. When working with a team, the child is made to think in a manner that would be favorable not just for himself / herself but for the team as a whole. Individual hugging of the limelight takes a backseat to team effort and cooperation. The value of keeping fit, and living a healthy lifestyle cannot be overemphasized. Not only does the child improve his / her self-confidence when he / she earns sufficient headway in sports. He / she gets to be more self-reliant, focused, self-disciplined, controlled, and balanced – beneficial qualities which are carried over to most other aspects of his / her life like academics, friendships, relationships, dealing with people and his / her way of thinking in general. The end product is that everything else in the child’s life just falls into place, even without any conscious effort on his/her part. When an individual elects to be healthy, an exceptional transformation takes place. It’s like what “The ‘Doer’ Oath for Health” affirms to him / herself – “I realize that the healthier, stronger and more energetic I become, the more productive and successful I become. I realize that by making myself a better person, I am also making others around me better at the same time. My contributions to myself positively influence my world and the world around me!” (John Abdo, 175) The above-quoted testimonial creates a domino effect – in the more constructive sense. It sets a person apart from his colleagues in that he/she knows what direction to take and uplifts not only himself / herself but everything else around. Getting fit lets a person attain his fullest potential, a goal which we all – ultimately – strive hard to achieve. Though there are some lucky ones who do not make any conscious effort to be healthy and still get to live long, they are the very rare breed who just have the right genes to get by. Most people just have to work harder in order to make it. Part and parcel of realizing the end-goal of being healthy also connotes eating the right foods. Health foods or foods which are supposed to promote health are gaining popularity by the day, with the capitalists gaining from this health-consciousness fad. Leafy greens, gluten, soy milk are just some samples of such fad health foods. As mentioned in the intro, Atkin’s and South Beach diets had their time; now they are both goners. “Boredom is the primary reason that restrictive fad diets don’t work.” (John Abdo, 131) What’s important is not that they are no longer “in fashion” or as popular, but the lesson learned – that is, being educated and aware of what is truly satisfying, and what really matches the body’s elemental needs. Everyone has been educated to eat a balanced diet, and yet each one is also guilty at some point or another of taking in unhealthy fare. Fats, sweets, coffee and chocolates are just some of the most common yet noxious substances which we allow our bodies to ingest. Notwithstanding, every individual has to eat right, stay healthy, get sufficient rest and recreation, and replace the bad habits with positive ones. Conscious effort should be exerted to adopt a better diet, and yet rewards or deviations must also be allowed to maintain the body’s equilibrium. Re-learn the basics if necessary. Be aware, get informed. After all, it’s your body, and what one eats is what one becomes. A close friend once went to the extent of starving herself for a week, religiously working out at every opportunity, and working overtime until 11pm. She basked in the glory of the first 3 days she accomplished. In the next few days thereafter, she had become grumpy, irritable and no longer approachable. She was back to her old self the following week, packed with a few extra pounds gained due to the feeling of deprivation she had to cope with. When asked about the experience, she says she would rather not relive those moments again, ever. In truth, and in the end, it’s really not the diet, nor the starvation, but the sense of balance, variety and personal satisfaction one has at the end of the day which counts. In essence, it’s still personal contentment and happiness that matters and is given more weight (no pun intended). To quote from The Little Prince – “What is essential is invisible to the eye.” (Wikipedia,1) It is also recommended that each person flush out all resentments, antagonism and anger one keeps in his/her heart because “ongoing bitterness, dissatisfaction, frustration, chronic anger and envy are the handmaidens and harbingers of disease” (Rosenfeld, 428). A negative and depressed mind-set will only bring you illness; illness will only make you weak – nobody would want that. Think positive – that is one good slogan to embrace. This piece does not intend to reinforce existing social biases against the overweight and / or plus-size populace but rather it aims to encourage a wholesome and balanced way of life that will redound to better health and longevity. In the US, it should be noted that the plus-size market is steadily increasing (Kim, 314) and other more complex issues are emerging from this subject (like discrimination against the overweight vs. the war against obesity waged by the federal government). Although the stigma of being plump / obese still exists in most cultures, it is slowly, but surely, gaining widespread social acceptance perhaps mostly due to the sedentary lifestyles brought about by the prevalent and pervasive internet /information age. Such findings denote an irony in that despite the pop culture’s preference for the “thinner” percentage of the population, and the sprouting out of gyms, health spas, and sports clinics everywhere, obesity continues to be a health problem. Continuing education and awareness of the health issues attached to obesity still leaves much to be desired. Perhaps an assessment of the eating patterns of US citizens (and other overweight persons for that matter) should be done. Vigilance should be the key. And this advocacy is a good start. Everyone wants to live life to the hilt. Each person wants to be happy. Each one wants to live long. But how can this be done? Be active – both in mind and body. Keep yourself physically and mentally fit. Practice mind-body techniques, like meditation, to fight off stress, anxiety and unnecessary worries which promote aging. Maintain a cheerful countenance, and try to keep stress levels at a minimum. Find your passion and make it your career. Learn how to laugh – with others, or at yourself when needed. Don’t take yourself too seriously because life is too short. Have enough time to rest and have some fun. Watch what you feed both your mind and body. Try to re-learn the value of reading, and be an active reader. Maintain balance in your life. Devote time to your family. Spend time on the most essential things. Pray. Enjoy life. Love yourself. As a final advise from the book Live now, Age Later “Instead of ruminating about your inevitable demise, concentrate on enhancing the quality of life you have now…” (Rosenfeld, 436-438) Indeed, it would be a lot better to add more life to your years than to just add more years to your life -- although getting both would be one glorious feat. Works Cited “Sports gives good health, and what impact this has on the mental health and quality of life”, Pettersorlie, 1 From Bukisa, 17 Sept 2009 “A Guide to the Importance of Physical Education Programs”,Steve Bishop, 1 “Make your Body a Fat-Burning Machine”, John Abdo, p.131, 175 “The Little Prince” from Wikipedia, p.1 “Live Now, Age Later”, Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D., p. 436-438 “Future Forces Transforming Apparel Retailing in the United States, An Environmental Approach”, Hye-Young Kim, Laura Jolly, Youn-Kyung Kim, Clothing and Textiles Research Journal 2007, Vol.25 No.4, pp. 312-315 Read More