Cause and Effect of the Fitness Movement In our ever-changing society, the one common thread that now every American seems to possess is a desire to have a body that is not hour-glass (1950’s) nor waifish (1990’s), but one that is lean, trim, and can physically go the “extra mile”. I speculate that the all-around athletic look is so popular because it is probably one of the hardest body types to achieve. In earlier times, hour-glass figures were the product of genetics and corsets, and the emaciated Kate Moss look could simply be achieved by starvation. To be physically fit inside and out is something that every person can control and achieve, but only through strong self-discipline. “The $52.9 billion fitness industry is constantly coming out with activities and products designed to get and keep us interested in working out” (Whigham-Desir 84). Two of these types of work-outs, specifically Tae-Bo and Spinning, were created just for the purpose of keeping “us” interested in working out. Despite this revolution in the fitness industry, many false preconceived notions about losing weight persevere and impede the movement. As the media bombard the American public with unrealistic images, a new obsession with fitness has hit the markets. With more and more people aiming to lose weight, the fitness industry has been pressured to accommodate the high demands for efficient and entertaining workouts. This greater variety of work-outs hitting the market is a result of the diverse types of people who are trying to get in shape. Health clubs are no longer only for those 20-30 year olds who are in competitive training or those who need to be fit as a job requirement. Instead, these facilities are now packed with people of... ... middle of paper ... ... because people eyeing a certain place on their body that they consider hard to get rid of--say the “love handles” --exercise without seeing this area diminish in size. They don’t realize that in order to lose fat in that area, they have to lose it everywhere else first. Misconceptions such as these lead to the disheartenment of many trial gym-goers, creating an even larger gap between those who are in shape and those who aren’t. All in all, the rise of the fitness industry has impacted almost everyone in America, whether it means being more health conscious, body conscious, or fitness-a-phobic. This new fitness movement, if it continues growing at the rate it has been, will keep coming out with innovative ways to motivate the unmotivated into leading more active lifestyles. Ultimately this will lead to an American public that enjoys longer, healthier lives.
Instead of trying to persuade customers to buy what the LA Fitness has already produced, the marketing department has decided to produce a product for families not just individuals. The corporation has decided to do this through research. Consumer needs and wants became the firm's primary focus. This consumer-orientated marke...
In the article “Fitness Culture: A Growing Trend in America by Sheila McClain, it speaks in detail why American have increased their interest in health and fitness. Sheila conducts a comprehensive research of the subject and provides strong statics and information from others. Since, we are an age of technology and everyone is more involved in learning we have learned that fitness matters and is a key link to good health.
Trisha, a member of an elite fitness club, spoke about the moment she realized her weight loss goal needed to be reevaluated. Trisha weighed almost 300 pounds and was only 5 foot, 4 inches. Her work out partner, Rebecca, was the complete opposite when it came to looks. Rebecca was almost 5 foot, 11 inches and around 120 pounds. Trisha envied Rebecca’s body type and would give anything to trade bodies. Based on their heights and weights most people would look at them and automatically assume the thinner person would win if they raced against each other. After 6 months of working out together Trisha started to realize how much more she could do of everything! She could lift more weight, do more repetitions and stay at a harder pace on every cardio machine they used. One day while on the Stairmaster, Rebecca once again had to completely stop the machine and take a breather while Trisha was at a fast pace nearly jogging up the st...
Women’s fitness magazines are supposed to inform females how to get fit and be healthy; however, they continuously send messages to women that they have to fit certain standards of flawless skin, sex appeal, and dangerously low amounts of body fat. Women in their twenties and thirties are feeling the pressure from society to conform to body images seen in magazines, such as Heidi Klum who is 5’9.5’’and 119lb, Carmen Kass who is 5’10.5’’ and 114lb, and Elsa Benitez who is 6’ and 125lb (Magazine Dimensions 153, 162) (supermodelguide.com). (Are these the healthy bodies that we should be trying to obtain?) Fitness Magazines need to revamp themselves and give women healthy, realistic images and informative articles so they can help women become healthy.
Routine physical activity may be difficult for those with low income to achieve. Firstly, people who have low income generally must work longer and laborious hours than people in the high and middle income rankings in order to have enough money to get by. Low-class Americans simply do not have the time or energy to exercise their bodies. Also, an individual’s economic status can be the cause for several obstacles of achieving physical fitness. For instance, the lack of transportation to and from the gym could be a major problem, as well as being able to pay gym membership fees or gym equipment. It is further explained, “A lack of good transportation choices is the most important single issue that limits routine activities such as walking, biking, and transit use by low income people.” (Squibb 2) Poor economy is only one of the ways low-income individuals are limited to physical fitness.
In the United States, a mere fifteen percent of the population regularly weight trains. This percentage shows just how few of us actually take part in weight lifting. The lack of participation may be a big contributor to many of this country’s health problems because it acts as such a fantastic “prevention system.” A few of the health problems it thwarts include osteoporosis, diabetes, colon cancer, heart attacks, and physical injuries. It’s a very advantageous training that everyone that’s capable of doing it should take part in it actively. An increase in muscular endurance, prevention of many health problems, and reversal of the natural decline of the body’s metabolism are all great reasons for people to start doing this exercise (“Few Americans”).
Troxler, Howard. ?Much Mind Exercise and Too Little Physical Education Cause Flab.? The Times. October 2013.
Today, the ideal physical image is desperately sought after by Americans. Women seek to have a size two waist and model-thin hips. Men seek to have “manlier” facial hair and bigger, stronger muscles (TEEN TRUTH: BODY IMAGE Trailer). The ideal has not always been like this. In the 1800s, the voluptuous, plump women were thought to be healthy, wealthy, and beautiful. Even in the 1950s, people like size-fourteen Marilyn Monroe were venerated. It wasn’t until the 1960s where underweight women became ideal. In the 1980s, emphasis on fitness and dieting became more popular in the media (“Dissatisfaction”). Up to this day, the many factors of influence have caused most Americans to feel they are inadequate.
Fitness and weight loss have grown in popularity for Americans due to the high rates of obesity which is prevalent in the United States. The obesity rate grew from 1987 to 2007. All states except for Colorado consider at least one fifth of their population obese. Further, about one third of the United States population, which is over 72 million Americans, are considered clinically obese. Therefore, there has been a major growth in the two main sectors of the industry, fitness centers and weight loss solutions (IHRSA, 2013).
Entertainment has been an established part of the American culture almost since its founding. The types of entertainment that most Americans enjoy in today's world are going to the movies, going out to eat, and exercising. Different forms of exercise vary from running and playing sports to weight lifting. Those who enjoy weight lifting can choose to do so in the privacy of their home, in a community center like the YMCA, or in a health club. At a health club one can expect to find a wide variety of people; however, some of these people add to the downside of working out at a local health club because they can be annoying and obnoxious. Three types of these annoying, obnoxious people found at the weight room of a local health club are the show-off, the know-it-all, and the wanderer; these types can be identified by their physical appearance, their social behavior, and their attitude.
However, overcoming barriers is not an issue for newcomers but experienced fitness enthusiasts as well. There is always an obstacle to overcome, a new wall to jump over, and just like it is in other aspects of life, it is no different when it comes to exercise. Therefore, application of certain methods that have been proven effective elsewhere can be beneficial when incorporate...
“Do you even lift bro?” has become the new slang phrase in this period where fitness has become a popular trend across the globe. It has become apparent that fitness, for the most part, dominates many aspects of social media – from infomercials on the best workout videos to the plethora of “how to” fitness videos on YouTube. However, the cause of this fitness boom has been debated for quite some time. Many people assume that the rise in fitness occurred because of its correlation to longevity, but I believe that fitness became popularized through social media. Through the help of celebrity-athletes and the advancement of social media outlets, the public’s perception of fitness (mainly aesthetics) changed from being only for the select few to the obtainable goal of the average citizen.
America is one of the most obese countries in the world, with so many technologies making life easier for people no wonder why so many people are gaining weight in larger amounts than in the past. There are endless amounts of things people do to get out of doing actual physical work. An example would be the grocery store down the street. 9/10 people would most likely drive 1 mile down the road instead of getting up and going for a nice walk. Another technological advancement is the computer, Television, and the biggest one, video games. Kids and even adults seem to just stay indoors way more than just going outside and playing sports with their friends or family. America is slowly becoming the most obese and laziest nation in the world, what a great reputation the most powerful country in the world is getting isn’t it. Although there are a lot of lazy people out there, there are good amounts who venture out of their homes to go to the gym. People think they will become fit and healthy just because they’re going for at least an hour and running and lifting some weights. But going to the gym once or twice a week and not keeping a steady pace schedule and changing things up week to week will not get anyone to their peak physical levels. Now don’t get me wrong, going to the gym is progress and will get people healthier, but if someone wants to reach higher potential, lose weight and gain muscle then there are more things that someone needs to do in order to get a the full effect of a healthy workout each and every day.
There is growing evidence that our physical health is directly tied to our physical activity. Although people of all ages suffer from an environment that is poorly designed for physical activity and mobility, the young and the old, and those who care for them, bear the brunt of the problem.
Targeted Customers: Fitness is very important to live a healthy life style, as we all know a very famous saying "health is wealth" so without health we lose our abilities to live to the fullest. And thus Ideal Fitness make our customers attentive of their health condition and make them realize how important is to take care of it, we target our youth who is the most willing and enthusiastic to stay fit and we encourage them to do so by providing them with the best facilities in the district. WE motivate them so no matter how hectic their daily routine are they will still take some time for exercise as we all know we have to be regular for maximum fitness results. That is why we keep reminding our customers that "SEVEN DAYS WITHOUT EXERCISE MAKES ONE WEAK". Secondly we believe there is no age limit and thus even persuade the workaholics who do sense their h...