First Family Fitness

The fitness industry has long used spokesmodels to hawk its product. Whether they're oiled-up hardbodies at trade shows or smiling, trim "afters" in commercials or ads, spokesmodels are historically effective marketing tools. They showcase the results of fitness in a way no words ever can.

But finding the perfect spokesmodel is no easy task. It takes more than a low BMI and muscle definition to get the job done. A spokesmodel has to connect with consumers and also project an image that makes them someone consumers aspire to be.

It's a tall order.

Luckily, thanks to the 2008 election, the fitness industry now has the ultimate spokesmodels: Barack and Michelle Obama. He is a basketball fiend and she has to-die-for arms that have inspired articles and fitness programs. They are riding a wave of immense popularity.

And the best part? They aren't charging us a dime.

No Time to Exercise? Tell that to the President

With the election this week, it should be comforting to know that our current President, and both presidential candidates, set good examples of leading healthy lifestyles, even with their busy schedules and high-stress jobs.

President Bush regularly exercises six times per week, including doing cardio, resistance training and flexibility exercises. At the recent Club Industry National trade show in Chicago, the keynote speaker was Dr. Kenneth Cooper, who also happens to be Bush’s personal physician. Cooper said that, when he asked Bush about his personal stress level, Bush replied that it is “moderate” (not “high” or “extreme”). Bush attributes his ability to keep his stress level in check to his regular workout.

Senator John McCain likes to hike and swim, and says that his worst health habit is coffee drinking. Senator Barack Obama is a regular runner, and was recently “spied” on while performing a full-body resistance-training workout.

While I’m sure we’ve had great past U.S. presidents who weren’t in the best of shape (any history buffs want to contribute here?), a healthy president is a great example for the rest of the country. If the president has time to exercise, most of the rest of us have no excuse.

Fit to Lead

Pummeling the presidential candidate you hope will lose? Sweet! Kudos to Washington Sports Clubs staff who came up with a creative way to sweep up its members in election fever! Known as VOTERobics, the circuit training classes are held to patriotic soundtracks, and include moves with coined terms such as “jumping Johns” and “bouncing Baracks.” Participants can even take a swing at their least-favorite candidate whose plastic masks have been attached to the top of a heavy bag.

Fitness should play a role in this election, both in what we’re doing in our facilities and out. Of course, it would be best if our industry could find some way to convince our politicians that more attention needs to be paid to the role of fitness in society, starting from the top. As the obesity problem continues to plague the United States, we need healthy role models now more than ever. Is it so unreasonable to expect, then, that our presidential candidates be fit? Especially as leaders who set an example for our nation’s children, and who serve in a job that is demanding and stressful?

This issue was recently talked about in the article, Health of candidates called a legitimate issue. Over the years, the landscape has been changing. It’s been a long time since we’ve had an obese president (William Howard Taft weighed more than 300 pounds), or one with a serious medical condition. These days, it is expected that candidates release their medical records and tout their fitness regimens to the media so they can prove their fitness for the job. After all, the public has to worry about enough without having to worry about our president-elect keeling over due to some illness caused by an unhealthy lifestyle.

In this election, the 25-year age difference between Obama and McCain clearly plays in Obama’s favor. But, both have strikes against them. McCain has his limitations due to his history of skin cancer and injuries he suffered as a prisoner of war. However, his doctor and campaign staff let it be known that he has a “strong heart” and he participates in light exercise. Obama was a smoker up until 2007, just a year ago, but he now sticks to a strict fitness regimen and is depicted as a jock. In short, they both want to be known as candidates who think fitness is important.

Fitness may not be a major issue in this election, but the fact that it’s being paid attention to more is a positive thing. I’m glad McCain and Obama are taking it seriously. Of course, I still wouldn’t mind taking a smack at … .

Striptease Exercise too Sexy for Tennessee

From gun stores to smoke shops to adult video stores, city governments have banned certain types of stores ever since someone first realized that this stuff sells. Based on moral grounds or to “protect the children,” some of these laws are there for a good reason, and have helped to “clean up” neighborhoods that were going downhill.

However, some cities take these laws too far. One of the best examples of this is in Bartlett, Tenn., where the city won’t allow an exercise studio to open because code enforcement says it’s an “adult business.”

Eccentric Studio planned to offer "Strip to Fit” classes, which use stripper poles and striptease dancing techniques. But the city of Bartlett did not approve of the studio, and issued a stop work order on the business.

Studio owner Rachael Vint rightly says that her facility is not a sexually oriented business. No men would be allowed, and women would remain clothed at all times.

Striptease exercises classes are growing in popularity across the U.S., and anyone who is unsure about what it is can surely find this type of class in a near-by fitness center or on DVD. The powers that be in Bartlett took their “moral ground” too far, and are hurting Bartlett citizens by denying them what could be a successful business — both financially and in the way it could help women get fit.

When Vint tried to explain her business to the city, mayor Keith MacDonald told her that it would take a court order for her to be able to open.

This whole thing seems like a joke to me. I don’t know anything about Bartlett, but I’m sure its citizens wouldn’t object to a small fitness studio opening — even one that offers a new type of exercise that includes stripping-type moves. Heck, many traditional group exercise classes could be thought of as provocative! (In fact, in some places, they are.)

So, as the common argument goes, where will this stop? Will the city of Bartlett outlaw all fitness centers that have “suggestive” classes? Will children be barred from fitness facilities? Bartlett leaders need to get off their “moral” high horse and allow its women the option of getting a great workout — even one that involves holding onto a pole.

Insurance ≠ Healthcare

When I think of healthcare — the actual act of caring for my health — I think of good nutrition, exercise and a measure of happiness. I don’t think of surgery, medicine or x-rays. Which leads me to ask an important question, especially in light of the upcoming presidential election:

Since when does health insurance equal healthcare?

Healthcare is a big issue with Clinton, Obama and McCain, and it’s one area where they all manage to disagree (to varying degrees). However, one aspect they all do agree on is the way to achieve a healthy America: through better health insurance. But while health insurance is important, it’s not the only way to secure better health for Americans. I’ll argue it’s not even the best way to get — and keep — Americans healthy.

But try telling that to politicians — especially those in this election. Once the Democrats cleared out of Pennsylvania, John McCain (Rep.) came for a visit. He told a group of about 300 Lehigh Valley Hosptial-Cedar Crest doctors and nurses all about his ideas for health insurance, which included this statement:

''I would like to see everything from insurance companies rewarding clients for wellness and fitness to employers rewarding their employees if they join a health club.”

Well, that would be terrific. But I don’t think it would do much to help Americans care for their health. For it to be a motivating factor to exercise, then all Americans would have to have health insurance, and they don’t. They’d all have to have easy access to a fitness center, and they don’t. The truth is, the health insurance industry would be far less stressed if there were fewer illnesses brought on by obesity and poor fitness.

All the health insurance in the world isn’t going to get America any fitter.

So what is the solution, if not through health insurance? Government-subsidized fitness centers? A magnetic strip on the back of a Health ID Card that tracks gym visits and reports the data to the Bureau of Exercise and Fitness Activity? Yearly visits from dreaded Fitness Auditors? My ideas seem a bit too Brave New World, so I’m curious — if you were on the candidates’ speed dial, what would you tell them? How would you help them get America to care for its health?