Becoming the Biggest Loser

Written by Jon Williams

Last week Kyle wrote about junk food and eating choices and told you about some related titles your patrons might find interesting or helpful. With obesity rates at an all-time high, there’s no doubt that health is in the public consciousness like never before. However, diet is only one part of that equation; the other is exercise.

NBC has turned exercise for weight loss into a form of entertainment with its hit reality series The Biggest Loser. Currently in its fourteenth season, this competition features contestants spending several weeks exercising and undergoing a series of physical challenges as they vie for the $250,000 cash prize. They have the opportunity to work out and learn about healthy living under the watchful eyes of celebrity trainers like Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. My wife is a fitness professional, so this is appointment TV for us each week. If you’ve never seen it, it’s a compelling show; the contestants must deal not only with the physical struggles of losing weight and getting in shape, but also the emotional obstacles that led them to becoming overweight in the first place. With the season finale on March 18, the five remaining competitors have already undergone incredible transformations. Who will take home the prize?

Each trainer on The Biggest Loser brings a distinct approach and personality to the competition, and sometimes it takes a while before one of them (or a combination) can figure out exactly how to get through to someone. Sometimes they can’t get through at all, and those are usually the contestants that go home early. Likewise, not all trainers, and thus all fitness videos, are right for all viewers. Here are some options your patrons may be interested in checking out.

Dancing with the Stars: Another reality series has spawned a series of fitness DVDs. Dance is a popular fitness option because it allows the participant to have fun and forget that they’re exercising. Zumba is another dance fitness craze, similar to belly dance, that is hot right now, as are ballet workouts.

10-Minute Solution: For patrons who are pressed for time—and who isn’t these days?—these videos are a great option. Each DVD contains a selection of complete workouts that can be done in just ten minutes, or combined on days that allow a little extra time.

Sit and Be Fit: For senior citizens and others with physical limitations, finding an exercise routine can be extremely difficult. Here is the answer. With these DVDs, viewers can learn how to exercise even while seated, limiting impact and pressure on joints.

Yoga is another popular fitness routine that can be gentle, with many options for modifications as participants become more advanced. Well-known fitness expert Denise Austin offers one well-rounded program suitable for beginners, while celebrity yogi Mandy Ingber encourages viewers to advance in their practice.

It’s never too early to get started with healthy habits, and with that in mind, there are even workout videos designed for children. Denise Austin offers a yoga video designed with kids in mind, and the Kideosyncrasy series combines music and movement to teach kids that exercise can be fun.

These are just a few of the fitness options Midwest Tape has available for you and your patrons; there are literally thousands more. SmartBrowse ‘fitness’ on our website for a complete list of what we have to offer.

Diary of an Omnivore

Written by Kyle Slagley

I have a confession to make: I love Cheez-Its. And Pepsi. And occasionally, even a Whopper or some Chicken McNuggets. I, like millions of other folks out there, have fallen victim to that dreadful predator that attacks when you’re at your most vulnerable, hungry, and pressed for time – the junk food industry. Last week, The New York Times Magazine published an article that explained to me just how much engineering, research, and food chemistry has gone into cultivating my love for those little orange crackers.

I happen to be one of the lucky ones with taste buds that shun sugar, salt, and grease for the most part, and living with a vegetarian also has a positive effect on my diet, but while I have only a handful of vices when it comes to processed food, the research that has gone into Cheez-Its has certainly paid off with me.

Now, I’m not here to tell you what to eat or what not to eat, but this story and a couple related ones regarding public health that have come out in recent weeks may make your patrons curious enough to dig deeper into the hidden secrets of what they eat. Worry not; we can help!

Food Additives – Let’s start with the basics. In this video, Learning Seed shows viewers a straightforward history of food preservation and then leads into an explanation of various flavorings, colorings, and preservatives contained in tons of things we consume on a daily basis.

Eating for Your Future – Discovery Education also goes for a direct approach in this video that details how eating choices affect quality of life. Geared mainly toward teenagers, viewers will learn that eating well does not have to be a chore and that there are numerous ways to make a healthy-diet lifestyle fun.

Junk Food Wars – Cambridge Educational gets a little more defensive, arming kids and teens with some knowledge on how to ward off the dangers of too much junk food. With positive reviews from Video Librarian, School Library Journal, and Booklist, there is enough information in this video to help kids develop a strategy for healthy eating.

Fast Food Nation – Reporter Eric Schlosser puts the fast-food industry directly in the crosshairs now. Attacking everything from how the food is prepared to how restaurants market toward kids in an effort to groom them into lifelong customers, this book may make you think twice before super-sizing your fries.

Born With a Junk Food Deficiency – Not only does Martha Rosenberg go after junk food, she goes after big pharmaceuticals as well. Rosenberg doesn’t pull any punches, resulting in an expose that targets every level of public health. If this title seems controversial, it’s because it is, but it’s also bound to generate discussion within your community.

Workout Video Sales Step Up In Popularity

Written by Nedda Pourahmady

The fitness DVD industry has made tremendous strides in spite of the recession. According to research conducted by IBIS World, the popular trend of joining the gym to stay fit is shifting to a more convenient alternative.

Consumers are choosing to conduct their workout regimens from the comfort of their own home. Instead of running to nearby fitness facilities, avid exercisers are frantically purchasing workout videos hosted by professional gyms and their expert instructors.

Based on data collected by IBIS World, fitness DVD production revenue increased significantly in 2012, climbing to nearly $265 million. These high-intensity programs feature extreme-interval training sessions, appealing to fitness fanatics across the nation.

Commonly used by motivated gym members to expand on traditional exercise techniques, fitness DVDs have turned routine regimens into unique, interesting experiences. By replacing models or actresses as video hosts with professional fitness gurus, more consumers are starting to take programs seriously and abide by their advice.

In addition to appearing in numerous households nationwide, workout videos are frequently used by famous celebrities. Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez are known to use fitness DVDs when starting up their vigorous exercise programs.

To browse our full collection of workout videos, visit our website and search “fitness.”

Which workout videos, if any, would you be willing to follow?