Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Sedentary Files: Part 1


This week will feature a number of soap box statements and opinions that I hold based on the increasing problem of obesity and sedentary youth. This is a multi-faceted problem that has become so deep routed within our culture if we do not do something about it soon we will have a country of Java the Hut's sliding around. Just like global warming, obesity is a problem that sits right in front of us that we ignore and choose to do nothing about despite its implications. I would love to create some open discussion in the comments forum on each days topic and invite you to weigh in and add to the discussion points. Feel free to support or refute my positions based on your own feelings and ideas.
The first main issue that I see is the increase in technology. As much as technology can be a good thing, it also has the ability to have huge negative impact and fall outs on those who utilize and especially those who overuse it. Technology essentially improves and increases in order to make our lives easier and task completion more efficient. However, as this happens we have to use our bodies less and less to accomplish every day tasks. From getting up to manually change the dial on the television to how we plough fields, every day life tasks are more and more automated and we move less and less to accomplish them.
The second area where technology is continually coming back to haunt us is through kids play. At one point in time it was regular to see kids at the playground riding bikes and chasing each other. Playing tag, singing, jumping, falling, laughing we now see playgrounds as seldom used by youth and more so utilized by toddlers and parents looking to get their kids out of the house to have a break from a bored toddler. Most youth are now plugged in. They sit in front of television and computer monitors exercising nothing more than their fingers and the brain cells needed to solve the next level. With this lack of movement it is only a matter of time before the calories that we take in begin to catch up with us.
So what do you think. Please post your thoughts as to the effect of technology on obesity and sedentary youth.

This weeks WODS are the final installment of our short 2 week strength biased microcycle of training. Typically we would follow a longer strength biased style program, but it was an excellent opportunity to expose you to some strength based programming while allowing you to get back moving again. Come in and see what it is you are capable of doing. We have practiced form for a long time to be ready to lift some big weight for a 1 RM safely.

Monday
Deadlfit 1-1-1
Rest 2 minutes
21-15-9 for time
Sumo Deadlift High Pulls Guys @ 75 Gals @ 45
Box Jumps Guys @ 20" Gals @ 14"

Tuesday
Overhead Press 1-1-1
Rest 2 minutes
Rounds in 10 minutes for total reps
5 L Sit Press (Loads will vary)
AMRAP Sit Ups

Wednesday
"1/2 Barbara"
5 rounds for Time
10 Pull Ups
15 Push Ups
20 Sit Ups
25 Air Squats
rest 1:30 between rounds
*Score is calculated by the total wod time-total rest
**It is a great idea to record all your individual round times for comparison

Thursday
Squat 1-1-1
Rest 2 minutes
3 Rounds for time
300m run
75 Fist twists
Rest 1 minute
* Record each individual round time

Friday
Bench Press 1-1-1
rest 2 minutes
40-30-20-10 for time
Double Unders
Push Ups

8 comments:

Mike January 10, 2010 at 12:05 PM  

I agree fully that modern technology ---> change in the way youths "play", where today, play = being plugged into the PS3 or Xbox. Compared to 30 years ago, or even just 20 years, and play was completely different.

Not only video games have this impact, but even the way we communicate---through email, Facebook, online chatting---all require sitting physically sedentary. While information is at our fingertips, our physical capabilities suffer.

What can be done? Conscious effort from parents and role models to enforce healthy habits. The modern day world of technology isn't going away, so we have to adapt to it.

This is an excellent and important topic, Cory.

Anonymous,  January 10, 2010 at 8:53 PM  

It's all about balance. Japan is one of the leading technology nations in the world, but everyday I saw people riding bikes, running and playing tennis, and there weren't very many people who were overweight... never mind obese.
We need to get our kids back outside.
LS

Anonymous,  January 11, 2010 at 2:07 PM  

It's about respect too...there needs to be more respect in our society towards physical activity and less towards owning the newest computers and the biggest cars and TV's.

MB

Anonymous,  January 11, 2010 at 7:23 PM  

I was the overweight kid growing up. I think the causes of obesity are more complex than just technology and a sedintary lifestyle. There are complex lifestyle modelling that occurs in homes. With single parent homes or homes where adults are less accessible to kids there is little monitoring or fitness modelling that is occurring. Kids often are not part of their parents active lifestyle. Often, in this paranoid society, the safest place for kids is at home and not going out into the world. This parental disconnect contributes to the sedintary life style due to a lack of social learning and the lack of social/ familial rewards in active pursuits. I think one solution is to have parents make activity an opportunity for relationship building, thereby associating activity (even a walk) with a positive connotation. With few exceptions people inspire not push ups.

Stout

Anonymous,  January 11, 2010 at 8:30 PM  

Deadlfit 1-1-1 @ 215lbs
Rest 2 minutes
21-15-9 for time 3:45
Sumo Deadlift High Pulls Guys @ 75
Box Jumps @ 20"

AS

Anonymous,  January 12, 2010 at 7:53 AM  

Well said Stout - it's easy to forget that not everyone finds the automatic joy and reward from physical activity. Great comment on paranoid society.

Anonymous,  January 12, 2010 at 8:36 AM  

Deadlfit 1-1-1 @ 315-325-335
Rest 2 minutes
21-15-9 for time 3:50
Sumo Deadlift High Pulls Guys @ 75
Box Jumps @ 20"

TB

Checkerboker January 12, 2010 at 10:14 AM  

Monday
Deadlfit 1-1-1 (315-325-335lbs PB!)
Rest 2 minutes
21-15-9 for time (3:04)
Sumo Deadlift High Pulls Guys @ 75 Box Jumps Guys @ 20"