My name is Ross. I am a junior at the University of Minnesota, majoring in electrical engineering with a minor in communications. I would personally like to thank you for checking out our blog on "fad fitness." I must confess that I do not consider myself a health guru, and my expertise on fitness and nutrition is probably no better than yours. That being said, I am someone with a keen sense of credibility, and I know BS when I see it. Years of learning science and engineering as well as my time on planet Earth have taught me that there are no free lunches (pardon the pun). If you want desirable results from something and if you want to achieve goals, you need to put in a considerable amount of time and effort. It applies to school, careers, and relationships, so why wouldn't it be the same for fitness? Many of the fad fitnesses we are going to be discussing try to lure people into the idea that you can get something for nothing, and I personally can't stomach these deceptions. I am also someone who is very critical of the entrepreneurial tendency of people exploiting others' weaknesses, desires, and fears in order to make a cheap buck. This is alive and well in the fad fitness industry, and so I am passionate about raising awareness about these diet shysters. Apart from all of that, I believe that your body is the most important thing you own, so working hard to get people to change their attitudes toward their bodies and lifestyles is ultimately worth it. I look forward to all of your responses and hope you all enjoy our blog!
Hey everyone I'm Stephanie. I'm in my second year at the University of Minnesota, getting my degree in clinical movement kinesiology. Most of you probably don't know what kinesiology is, so let me give you the cliff notes version. Kinesiology is a branch of physiology that studies human movement. Personally, I like to think of this major as the study of physical activity. Fitting with my area of education, I have a passion for sport and getting people active. I'm currently doing a directed study working with inner city kids to give them the opportunity to be active in a safe environment. I was lucky enough to be paired with the K-2nd grade students, and it amazes me how exhilarated the boys and girls can be by simply running. Often times there doesn't even need to be a point, they just love to run around. Somewhere down the line this changes for most people, and physical activity turns into something that is loathed and neglected. When adults find themselves ten years older and 20 pounds heavier, they wonder what happened. Two pounds every year doesn't seem like much, but it adds up, and now they look for a quick fix. This is where the scams of "fad fitness" come into play. I won't spoil all the details that are yet to come, but the bottom line is that we need spend more time being active; finding ways to put the fun back into fitness. I realize this may make it sound like I'm some model for perfect health but that is not the case. I like a bowl of peanut butter cup ice cream just as much as the next person, and some days I would rather stand on hot coals than go for a run. This blog is not to lecture but to motivate. There's something encouraging in knowing that others are in the same boat as you and will be working in tandem to make a life change. Hopefully Fad Fitness is a place where this can be accomplished.
Hey I’m Alexa and I’m a junior at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Communication Studies. Physical activity has always been a part of my life. I grew up playing every other sport (soccer, basketball, tennis, swimming, figure skating and softball). I currently work at a tennis center. However, I must admit, since entering college, my physical activity level has dwindled and I struggle just as much as the next person, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It can be a challenge and sometimes you just want to give up! We’re here to help you. We’re also here to show you how those “quick and easy” fad diets are not the way to go. There’s nothing quick and easy about taking good care of yourself. It’s a life-long process and we’re going to show you just how important it is!
Hi my name is Jordan and I'm a freshmen at the University of Minnesota. As of right now I am pursuing a degree in sport management with a possible minor in marketing or coaching. Personally, what background and knowledge I bring to the topic of "fad fitness" is a life long participation in sports and physical activity. (basketball, baseball, soccer, football, and track) I also took an interesting class last semester titled Food for Thought...and Action. In that class we covered the topics of food and health from three different disciplines: biology, sociology, and law. So I feel that I have at least some general knowledge about food, health, and the body. I am nowhere near an expert in the fields of fitness, fitness equipment, and health, but I do bring to the table my own personal experiences and knowledge that I have acquired during my short 18 years of life. The topics and subjects that will be covered in this blog are important to me because my health is important to me. One thing that I am really interested in learning more information about are all these "quick fix" fitness equipment because I myself have thought about buying some them. Lastly, I hope that the information that we present in this blog is not only interesting but also informative!
