JOUR 553
Katie Guinn
J553 Final Project Approach
When approaching the idea of weight loss or saving money, really the idea of cutting back on anything is intimidating. No matter the amount of weight we want to lose or cash we want to save, the hardest part is starting. Think to yourself, how many times have I gone on a crash diet and gained the weight back? Or said, “I feel like I am always dieting but I never lose weight.”
If you can relate to the statements above, you are not alone. According to the Nutrition Journal, a study conducted on college women concluded, “that 83 percent of them diet no matter how much they weigh.” Dieting methods for these women included consciously eating less, skipping meals and smoking.
Connie Diekman, director of nutrition for Washington University in St. Louis encourages those looking to lose weight to “make behavioral changes slowly,” rather than drastic changes they won’t be able to maintain. Diekman advises for dieters to “look at your current food choices. Try to adjust portions or make better choices.”
Simply put, to lose weight, one must burn more calories than they take in; however as personally being one of the women who can relate to the previous statements on dieting, this is easier said than done. Having been on crash, yo-yo and long-term diets, the problem is not restricting food or increasing exercise. If one has dieted before, one knows it is not a question of not enough willpower or lack of discipline, but rather the sacrifices we made to lose the weight were too great to maintain. The approach to weight loss should not be considered a diet but a change, simply put, a modification.
Americans already have an unhealthy mindset when it comes to budgeting and weight loss. Generally we see cutting back as a bad thing, but in reality, what’s so bad about it? The United States, with its values and ideals of, “more is better”, “get more bang for your buck”, it can be intimidating to cut back.
By modifying and planning out what we eat, one can save time, money as well as preserve their health. According to financialnut.com, the average American spends five dollars a day on eating out. This translates into $1,820 during the course of one year. By cutting back on the frequency and size of these meals, Americans can save thousands of dollars and calories. By choosing ones own meals, snacks or drinks prepared at home, Americans can prosper from the long-term health benefits of consuming less trans fat and cholesterol that is found in fast and pre-made foods.
Instead of automatically viewing cutting back as deprivation, we need to see it rather as modification; a change so small that the only time we notice the change is when we start seeing results. To represent this concept, shown in the video is the story of Stacy, the quintessential workingwoman. Stacy is busy, wants to lose weight and discovers an area of her life where she could modify to achieve her goals.
When shopping or eating out, it is easy to say no to buying the $100 dress, or order the salad instead of the pepperoni pizza. These choices are obvious, but do not get us anywhere, as these are infrequent and feel like more of a sacrifice. The difference by applying modification rather than diet deprivation is through our small daily decisions we may not even notice. For example, eating the last bite of the muffin, getting 2% milk instead of non-fat or racing out of the house without breakfast and grabbing something on the way.
By modifying and planning ahead, one can save money and calories they didn’t notice they were even spending. In the example of Stacy, the daily coffee break, once an unnoticed daily intake of 400 calories and the spending of four to five dollars, once modified to indulging in three days a week saved Stacy 11 pounds and put close to $300 back in her pocket.
After identifying with Stacy, assess where you can modify. What is your daily indulgence, or where does your money seem to disappear? Not spending that dollar or two here, and saving100 calories there, applied to one year will add up. The life of a workingwoman, or college female is so scheduled; it is easy to see where modifications can be made.
In reality, it should never be considered a negative thing to try and cut back on calories or unnecessary spending. My goal is to focus the mindset on modification of these things rather than deprivation. Today, people are used to instant gratification with big changes having fast and instant results. The goal of the concept of modification is the long-term impact of small adjustments.
By cutting down the size of what we eat, and increasing the frequency, one finds they have the opportunity to bring snacks with them and refrain from eating out or grabbing something on the run. Just think, what do you really need in that frilly drink? Is it the whipped topping, sugar, cream etc? When all one is really looking for is the caffeine for their morning pick me up? If you need the boost, get a coffee or drink with fewer additives, a smaller size or even a tea. By modifying the size and banishing the frills just a few days a week, this will transfer into large saving in waist and wallet.
Because we see food as something we need to survive, we are not as critical of how we spend it on food as we are on clothes for example. We can more easily walk away from the expensive shoes, but we do need that $7 or $10 sandwich or salad because we haven’t eaten all day or, its right there and you don’t have time to go somewhere else.
CRAFT A SIX WORD STORY/Tagline
1. Small modifications for a BIG life.
ASSOCIATIVE WORD LIST
Little
Small
Tiny
Insignificant
Light
Dismal
Lacking
Excess
More
Diet
Bite
Goodies
Menu
Nourishment
Nutrition
Snack
Exercise
Burn
Fat
Action
Activity
Movement
Discipline
Gym
Train
Run
Sweat
Tired
Drained
Hydration
Water
Muscle
Exhausted
Abs
Toned
Pain
Gain
Clothes
Shop
Petite
Dainty
Delicate
Slight
Little
Wee
Huge
Tall
Short
Thin
Fat
Squat
Round
Rotund
Glamorous
Model
Attention
Love
Lust
Want
Longing
Ideal
Dream
Fashion
Fashionable
Fit
Conform
Pretend
Excel
Accept
Self
Image
Beauty
Ugly
Conformity
Scale
Bulk
Chubby
Chunky
Paunch
Plump
Cellulite
Flabby
Lard
Surplus
Emotional
Indulgence
Supplement
Distraction
Device
Excuse
Sleep
Awake
Boost
Study
School
Sitting
Inactive
Complacent
Passive
Loathing
Neutral
Nonpartisan
Restrain
Undisciplined
Lazy
Poor
Self-respect
Idol
Idolize
Vicariously
Television
Inactivity
Life
Dependent
Conditional
Inevitable
Later
Procrastination
Terminal
Disease
Illness
Deprivation
Death
Later
KEY WORD LIST
Deprivation
Procrastination
Late
Busy
Restrain
Image: a physical likeness or representation of a person, animal, or thing, photographed, painted, sculptured, or otherwise made visible.
- Figure, form, icon, idol, likeness, model.
Procrastination: To defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost. (2.) To put off till another day or time; defer; delay.
- Delay, idling, frittering, frivoling, and loafing.
Dependent: Relying on someone or something else for aid, support, etc. Conditioned or determined by something else; contingent: Our trip is dependent on the weather.
- Clinging, counting on, defenseless, subordinate, reliant, inferior, secondary.
Lazy: Averse or disinclined to work, activity, or exertion; indolent. (2.) Causing idleness or indolence: a hot, lazy afternoon.
- Inattentive, dull, careless, comatose, sleepy, slow.
Undisciplined: Untrained
Disciplined: Activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.
- Defiant, unrestrained, lacking self-control.
Restrain: To prevent from doing, exhibiting, or expressing something.
AUDIENCE
The audience I want to speak to is middle class women ages 20-35. They are those who are either in college, grad-school or just taking off into the business world. Although they are at three very different stages in their lives, they are all beginning to be out on their own, focusing on school or work rather than weight loss. I want to speak to these women about America’s eating habits and relate it to their daily lives. Time management, budgeting and fending for oneself food wise are relatively new, unexplored and important concepts for my target audience, I think they would be most receptive to the message I am trying to communicate.
IMPACT
I want my audience to see weight loss through a new looking glass. Everyone has heard about and knows the general facts about weight loss, however I want to shock them and open their eyes to the mindset we have with food. I have related calories and saving money to modification as a means to weight loss. I think women will think twice about their food choices when they see it as more than just food. Ultimately I want my audience to apply modification to their lives and let go of their dieting their hang-ups.
http://www.financialnut.com/money_spent_on_fast_food/
http://news.med.cornell.edu/nyp_health/nyp_health_2006/most-college-women-diet-o.shtml
