LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Fitness: Get With It, America! |
by Rick Moore |
You're all probably doing the same as I am right now. We just had a "surprise" snow storm/blizzard that dumped about a foot of snow on us. Then, even the weather bureau was surprised. Anyway, here I am getting some quality reading time. Newspapers, magazines, you name it. There's a lot of info out there for me to catch up on. While browsing through the state newspaper, I came across a really interesting article. Its headline is, "Uncle Sam Says: Let's Get Healthy, America." Well, duh! Haven't I been saying that for umpteen years? Here's a big shocker! They say America is overweight! And where have they been for the past 10 years or more? It seems the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, has become the latest in a series of people (Hey, I'm one, too!) extolling the virtues of exercise for a healthy lifestyle. Secretary Shalala, who happens to be the daughter of a gym teacher, wants all of Americakids and adultsto get off the couch and start walking, running, or doing anything that resembles exercise, and she wants people to get serious about it. She and Surgeon General David Satcher (personally, I really miss Jocelyn Elders) recommend that the U.S. population start eating more fruits and veggies, and that we adults engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Maybe they both saw one of my old columns. How flattering, since I've been saying this over and over. Shalala also thinks that one of the worst cutbacks in today's society is the lack of physical education programs in schools. She called the loss of these programs a national tragedy. She must realize that fat kids eventually grow up into fat adults. According to U.S. statistics, today only 15 percent of the population does any form of exercise. The government now has a 10-year plan to promote exercise in the population by using popular sports figures as examples. The plan eventually aims for 30 percent of Americans to exercise 30 minutes each day. In addition, the government wants teenagers to quit smoking (good luck), cut drug use, and either abstain from sex (oh really), or if they do have sex, use a condom (how handy). They say they're serious, and that they will be tracking this information so we can be fully informed. Shalala and Satcher want to ensure Americans not only add years to our lives, but that those years are healthy ones. Now, is anyone listening? According to Tracey Keller, (a local elementary school teacher), "In general, kids get a phys ed class once a week, and their recess time is spent at their desks." She thinks it's a travesty that kids' activities have been cut back severely. She also remembers a time when, after dinner, her parents sent her out to play with her friends. Gee, mine did that too, and I loved it! Nowadays, it's off to the TV or the computer screen. Tracey's physical activity has carried over into her adult years, and fitness is now a part of her everyday life. Tracey's husband, Hudson, is also a school teacher in another district of Sussex County. Hudson says he has high school kids who can't shoot a couple of basketball hoops with him because they get out of breath too quickly and have to stop. He's very disturbed about the physical condition of today's junior high school kids, and the fact they he sees them smoking way too much. Parents, are you listening? My background began in the physical education field, when I was studying to become a phys ed teacher in an elementary school. They were telling us then that the trend was to make phys ed elective, and that we might have a hard time finding a job. That was back in the mid-70s. It seems that the advice was right. And now onto a different kind of story I saw in a large local newspaper. Did you see the full page ad with the photo of Steve Allen (he's a TV comedian from way, way back)? It states in big, bold letters, "TV Is leading children down a moral sewerHow you and I can stop It." It's an appeal to parents, grandparents, and families who are as disgusted as he is at the filth, vulgarity, sex, and violence TV is sending into our homes. He asks, "Are you fed up with (now it gets good) steamy sex situations, filthy jokes, perversion, vulgarity, foul language, violence, killings, etc?" It continues with more railing. "Are you as outraged as I am at how TV is undermining the morals of childrenencouraging them to have premarital sex, encouraging lack of respect for authority and crime, and shifting our country down to the lowest standards of decency." What it all boils down to is an appeal to TV sponsors to look at the evidence of the tragic consequences of the TV programs that they (the sponsors) send into our homes. Gee, Steve. Pretty harsh words. You want us to join you in your fight? Hey, the best way anyone can fight is thisturn off the TVplain and simple. Grab the spouse and kids, and go join a fitness center or at least get involved in regular outdoor activities (weather permitting). Enjoy your times together for a good, wholesome, healthy alternative. A footnote to Mr. Allen. You've obviously not viewed European TV. Now, that's shocking! See you at the gym! Rick Moore is a personal trainer certified by the American Fitness Professionals & Associates. Check out his website at http://www.enrapt.com/ricksfitness, or give him a call at (302) 684-3669. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 1, Feb. 4, 2000 |