Media sends us lots of messages that can influence how healthy we are, here's how

to make it work for you.

Always keep in mind that most media makes its money from selling advertising and you're half done.

It surprised me to learn that T.V. remains the most consumed form of media for all ages. "In the 2008-9 season the average person (in the U.S.) spent a record four hours and 49 minutes watching T.V. each day." So it's probably also the most influential on our health.

ATTENTION PARENTS, check this out. It seems almost everyone watches more T.V. than they think they do;-)

So how is all that T.V. effecting us?

First, some of that 4 hours and 49 minutes of T.V. watching could be spent exercising. If you power your T.V. with an exercise bike, you could do both at once;-)

Second, eating is even more important than exercise for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. So the messages we get about food can make us healthy or fat. In 2005 kids two to 17 years old saw between 26 and 127 food ads for every fitness or nutrition announcement.

So T.V. has you and / or your kids thinking about food, but what kinds of food?

      34% Candy and snacks
      28% sugared cereal
      10% fast food
      9% sodas and soft drinks
      7% Dine in restaurants
      4% prepared foods
      4% dairy
      2% breads and pastries
      1% fruit Juices

T.V. isn't all bad though, it can actually be a good way for you and your family to learn more about your health while being entertained. Shows like

Grey's Anatomy increase viewer's health knowledge. While E.R. influenced viewer's health awareness and behavior.

Make T.V. work FOR your health by:

Watching less T.V., and replacing some of that media time with exercise time, or at least something more active than watching the tube.

When you're watching T.V. have tasty drinks like flavored teas, Jasmine tea, green tea, black tea, coffee or calorie free soda MORE HANDY than all the junk "food" being advertised. The best way to do it is to not have junk food in your house. Have washed and cut veggies ready before you get snacky. If it's easier to reach for healthy drinks and food, it's more likely you'll do it.

How T.V. and Movies Represent Getting and Staying Fit

If your goal is to lose fat aim for a weight loss of one to two pounds (450 to 900g)a week. My experience is that while 2 pounds a week is possible you have to be VERY STRICT and disciplined about your diet to make it happen. I suggest aiming for one pound a week, then celebrate if you lose two a week.

So if you want to lose 20 pounds of fat that's 20 weeks or almost 5 months. You can lose almost any amount of excess fat if you stay with a solid diet and exercise regularly.

If you want to GAIN weight (muscle or fat), plan for the same rate (one to two pounds a week). When it comes to muscle gain its realistic to expect 5 to 10 pounds a YEAR. There are few and rare people who can gain muscle faster than that without using steroids.

People can gain muscle much faster IF they are REGAINING muscle weight they had before.

Set realistic schedules for your fitness goals, no media real life;-)

Infomercials shows you a great body and popularity is just a phone call, email and credit card number away. The reality is a great body MAY be weeks away if you're near your goal TODAY. It's months away if you have 10 pounds or more of fat to lose. And a year or more away if your goal is to lost 50 plus pounds.

Fitness products including supplements, exercise machines, videos, exercise programs and diets promise results. A lot of diets and exercise machines DO actually work, if you keep using them.

Supplements May work, but most times a normal healthy diet with the right calories works better. Supplements should be considered a convenience rather than an easy solution. I use whey protein, vitamin and fish oil supplements all the time because they're convenient, not because they're better than a good diet.

Any supplement that promises easy, fast or superior results needs to be treated with caution. In my 27 years lifting weights I've seen so many "next big thing" products. I honestly don't know of ANY that have been proven to give superior results. Check out any supplement thoroughly online before spending a dime,especially if it's a "revolutionary" or "breakthrough" product.

The Good News:

You can get a great body with commitment, a healthy diet, and consistent, effective exercise. Many celebrities represent how fit most people COULD be with dedication, commitment and a strict diet.

It really is possible to make your body look like movie star or fitness model. If you have to work as hard and consistently at you fitness as they do.

It's work to have a great body, but it's also POSSIBLE for most people to have a great body.

What About Health and Fitness Information I See in Other Meida?

Media advertising, radio and T.V. news, newspapers and magazines are full of products and stories about health and fitness. Like all other media, they get paid by product advertisers. So how do you know if they're information is biased? It probably is:-?

The best thing you can do is understand that someone is getting paid to say, show or write whatever you are reading, seeing or hearing.

Go here for information on media coverage of health and science issues. The website says "SIRC aims to provide a balanced, calm and thoughtful perspective on social issues, promoting open and rational debates based on evidence rather than ideology."

The Health Media Watch gives you information on "How to evaluate health information in the media." The author says "I've written about health and medical topics for more than 20 years--mostly at TIME magazine. This blog is aimed at helping you to be a better consumer of health information."

Both of these pages will help you make good decisions on health and fitness issues. If you have questions about any health and fitness information or products and you can't find it, contact me here and I'll do my best to help you find what you're looking for.

The Short Version

      a) Watch less T.V. and Exercise / be More Active

      b) Have veggies and fruit READY to eat for when all the junk food advertising comes on the T.V. Don't keep junk food in the house.

      c) Check it BEFORE you buy it.If you buy it USE IT. Most fitness programs and equipment work IF you USE them.

      d) Tripple check supplements before you buy. Supplements are SOMETIMES more convenient than a healthy diet, they're almostnever BETTER THAN a healthy diet.

      e) Plan your goals and know how long they'll take. T.V. isn't reality. You (like MOST PEOPLE) CAN have a a movie star or fitness model body IF you put in the work.

Someone is getting paid to say it.

Check any information that seems too good to be true. Check anything that isn't obviously true. Check any information that seems strange or new.

Contact me if you can't find what you're looking for. I'll try to help you find it:-)