FITNESS MAGAZINES

I often read blogs and articles by fitness trainers criticising fitness magazines while in another breath they anxiously report being unable to 'break in' as an author for the same magazines they trash.

The prime complaints I have heard and read:

1. They advertise harmful supplements.

2. They present unrealistic bodies (meaning that fitness models usually lean out for photo shoots so their muscles will show) and of course tan to accentuate the muscles.

They are all airbrushed to perfection.

3. Their articles are boring and uninformative.

1. I think they are wrong. Sure they advertise all sorts of things - how else can they support the magazines. Have you seen a magazine without ads? I have seen my share of Cialis and antidepressant ads. I think readers will come across these supplements at many other venues and are adult enough to decide not to put garbage in their bodies.

2. Well duh....of course the bodies are gorgeous - I don't think it would be motivating to see unfit bodies in a magazine which promotes fitness. I don't even mind that most of the models are younger - at least Oxygen does a layout of Tosca Reno every so often which is quite motivating as well. They have to give what the readership wants.

Sure they are airbrushed. Photographs often bring out and accentuate flaws which are then frozen in time and not apparent in person when you see the three dimentional view of the person as well as their personality and character. Nothing is as mean as a photograph. The photographer puts the personality back in to some extent. Again, whether airbrushed or not, great bodies are motivating. I think we are mature and educated enough to know that perfection is rare rather than the norm. I think the muscular fit bodies are not as harmful as the waif model bodies of the past.

3. To the lay person (like me) I find the articles very informative and not the least boring. Fitness magazines have kept me going and have kept me informed in the absence of having a personal trainer. Only the stars can afford a personal trainer forever. It is not my only source of research but an important one.

During the beginning of my fitness adventure the personal trainer introduced me to a women's fitness magazine. Now that one was boring. I seached the shelves for alternatives and initially bought 3 or 4 different ones. Currently I only buy Oxygen Magazine because I like it. I have tweaked many of my own fitness programs with ideas from the pages of Oxygen.

So how do trainers break in to women's fitness magazines? Well first off quit criticising them publicly ! Or, provide constructive helpful opinions to the editor. Your blogs are public you know?