Fitness through the Generations
I’ve recently reflected on the difference in the generations attitudes toward fitness and thought I’d share my thoughts on the matter. In the 50’s, the men were the providers and worked hard to provide for their families. Women were held in high regard as the homemaker who provided a healthy meal and ensured the kids were safe. Kids in the 50’s weren’t distracted by electronic devices which encouraged a sedentary lifestyle and they were active after school. They ran and played outside, listened to the radio, danced, and they were creative in their playtime activities. Food supplied in the schools were prepared by loving hands and were home cooked meals prepared in larger quantities.
In the 60’s a change in the social environment started. Women started to break through the barriers of the steriotypical homemaker of the 50’s. The younger generation in the 60’s drove toward a more independent lifestyle, but still food was prepared in the home and children played for entertainment. Women started to learn about exercise as a way to stay fit and trim. Processed foods and convenience foods were becoming more mainstream in the 60’s as women exercised their independence and desire to get out of the kitchen.
The 70’s were a pivotal phase in the evolution of modern day health and fitness. The exercise craze was at it’s peak but so was the insurgence of convenience foods and restaurants. We were exercising more, modern conveniences were becoming more prevalent but we were eating more poorly. The moral dilemma between financial gain and supply of healthy food won in the favor of increasing profit margins.
The 80’s brought in the phrase “obesity epidemic” into our nations focus. Women were at work and naturally gravitated toward making an easy dinner after a long day. Kids fitness programs started diminishing in the schools, and school lunch programs changed for the worse. Less whole foods were prepared and more pre-packaged convenience foods were purchased and served all for the sake of saving a buck.
In the 90’s the true onslaught of the definition of a sedentary lifestyle was in full swing. Modern technology demanded more people to fill jobs which were sedentary in nature. Children’s fitness programs in the schools were diminishing and pizza became a normal lunch time fair. Walking to and from school was not permitted for fear of the child’s safety and once home, the child is left to his/her own devices as both parents worked outside the home. Fast food suppers were normal and the economy was booming while we were getting fatter.
The turn of the century brought in a new awareness to what we were doing to our health. The health care industry was booming as a result of “patching” up our failing bodies due to lack of proper attention. It became harder for people to break free from their conveniences of mobile phones, convenience foods, sedintary jobs, and easy entertainment while relaxing at home in the evening. Tired and stressed out American’s were overindulging and getting more obese. And what are we teaching our kids?
The damage is done and it’s time to reverse the effects of decades of overindulgance! The mantra should be to keep it simple. Don’t know how to cook healthy? LEARN. Don’t know how to exercise? LEARN. In this age of modern technology the internet is crawling with great advice on things you can do to change your lives around. Need to lose weight? EAT LESS and MOVE MORE. What to get healthy? EAT RIGHT and MOVE MUCH MORE. Want to feel great and eliminate poor health issues? EAT RIGHT, MOVE MORE, and DO IT EVERY DAY! Don’t get caught up in the next gimic or phase and a 10 week boot camp won’t change your life. Refer to my recipe for a healthy lifestyle and KEEP IT SIMPLE and it doesn’t have to be hard or cost you more money.
Remember, you are one day away from a healthy life. What you do today, impacts tomorrow so don’t put it off…make the necessary changes in your life to feel great and be healthy.
