About
Written by Leigh Peele
I recently conducted 20 different surveys to 20,000+ people. They were asked questions that covered a large span of topics regarding personal views on health and fitness. Everything about diet, training, and the industry was asked. The results of that survey, mixed with experiences of my own life, led to to the creation of FLzine.com.
Details of survey participants:
Gender: M/F in even ratio
Age: 24-55
Education: High school or above
Income: 35,000+ a year household
Political beliefs: varied
Religious beliefs: varied
Ethnic background: varied
Survey #1
What is the one word that pops into your head when you hear the phrase “health and fitness?”
Top 5 answers:
Dieting
Exercise
Cheesy
Hard
Trainers
My Comments to this Survey:
Those are very telling statements about perceptions people have about health and fitness.
Survey #2
What is the one word that pops into your head when you hear the word “dieting?”
Top 5 answers:
Fads
Pills
Oprah
Exercise
Food
My Comments to this Survey:
I think the funniest answer is Oprah. It goes to show you how much power media has on our words.
Survey #3
What is the one word that pops into your head when you hear the word “weightlifting?”
Top 5 answers:
Weights
Bench (Pressing)
Men
Bulk
Steroids
My Comments to this Survey:
The mood and tone switch dramatically when lifting weights is introduced.
Survey #4
What is the one word that pops into your head when you hear the phrase “personal trainers?”
Top 5 answers:
Annoying
Strong
Cheesy
Fake
Hot
My Comments to this Survey:
Remind me to never again introduce myself as a personal trainer.
Survey #5
What is the one word that pops into your head when you hear the phrase “fitness magazines?”
Top 5 answers:
Models
Dieting
Lies
Celebrities
Pills
What are the first 3 magazines that come to mind?
Shape
Men’s Health
US Weekly
My Comments to this Survey:
US Weekly being noted as a fitness magazine was the cherry on the sundae of my depression.
There are more surveys, but the end result was clear. There was a glowing red button of panic flashing before my eyes. Pride gave me this urge to consider a new field. How could I be tied to a field that was considered so shady? Are these the labels that will define me in the future?
After 4 coffees and two packages of chocolate covered graham crackers it hit me that I didn’t just need to save the world from being fat. I need to save the industry from themselves. The world needs a makeover in the department of health and fitness.
The A-ha
Growing up I had a social atmosphere. I wouldn’t say outcast, because I actually had friends and a good amount of them. I would say I was selective to the creative. In order words, I took myself too seriously and listened to deep music about shaking your ass to Lou Reed songs.
I read a lot of books and see a lot of movies. Stories that at the time you praise for being good, but years later you realize that there isn’t anything overly brilliant about sticking heroin needles into infected arms, it’s just self loathing. Sure, I can appreciate the art of depression, but there comes a time in which you have to say to yourself “live sad or live large.” I choose the latter.
I had to bury the elitism and face the facts that my life sucked the way I was living it. I wanted a better life that included a better body, a better diet, and a better mind. The problem was, well…
The Problem
When you look at the industry as a whole, you can’t help but have it staring you in the face. At every turn are doochebag trainers, bright neon clothing, stupid exercises with balls, anal dietary habits, the laughing yoga guy, GNC pushers, and nutrisystem. Day by day you can’t avoid commercials about pills, belly fat, stress, muffins, corn syrup, light key lime pie yogurts, and husbands forced to eat something “plain.”
The “average” are getting fatter, the pretty are getting cockier, and the government is getting sneakier. Gyms are built on the fact that you aren’t going to go and diets are conceived on the notion that you are going to fail. It doesn’t matter if you are skinny, weak, or fat because someone is out to make you feel like a fool on a regular basis, and make money doing it.
Everywhere there are piles of b.s. information about your body, diet, and training. It doesn’t stop there either. You would be surprised to find out that most things you grow up thinking you know are false, or not in the manner you thought.
• Camels don’t carry water in their hump, it’s fat.
• People do not only use 10% of their brains.
• George Washington wasn’t the first president.
Every day you walk around with false knowledge and you spread it like wild fire. Everyone does it. Today while looking at my godawful cabinet in the kitchen I constructed the best method to remove it. Somewhere a carpenter wept small tears for the tragedy I was conceiving.
Somewhere out there, you are pissing off an expert in everything you do.
The choice of your clothes, your music, your car, your job, and your bank are all included. With most of your selections, it doesn’t matter. Taste is individual. If a man states “this album is the best album ever” and you decide to go with another one as your best, no harm is done. As long as your album is not David Hasselhoffs “Night Rocker.”
There are some choices or “tastes” that question safety. Doctors, spouse, job, gym, and diet are just a few. There is something to be said about how the “minor” things can affect the large. Is it possible that your music tastes will determine who you marry? I know for me it is a factor. Regardless of your eHarmony commercial in the future, the decisions you make about what you are going to do with your body are the ones that should matter most.
Why Not to Trust Me
I don’t want blind faith. Blind faith leads to problems and eventually disappointment. I want you to take the reins and learn how to apply logical and educated thought to dieting and training. It blows my mind the amount of people I know who listen to the best music, have great style, live to make their mark, and then fall for The Fat Smash Diet.
Why does your effort stop there? I assure you the payback of caring and achieving it is worth it. Take a quick look at these perks.
Hotter
Healthier
Better confidence
Better sex
Better marriage
Better friends
It is better all the way around. These are not shallow things. These are valid things to your life. People need people, and the desire to avoid that is the desire to avoid yourself. This site is going to break down the stereotypes. Health and fitness can involve truth, nobility, style, enjoyment, and taste. Trust me, you don’t have to trust me. You will be able to trust yourself.
The Forums
The site has two main working points — the articles/archives and the forums. You can’t comment on the articles individually, but you can say whatever (and we do mean that) in the forums. A community is crucial to a message and support.
FLzine believes in treating people with respect and using intelligence in relaying thought. There are certain sections were you can speak almost freely (we do not support bigotry or hate towards races, gender, or sexual orientations) on your feelings regarding site and life topics.
In the forums you can discuss training, ask questions about diet, recipes, articles, and more. You can discuss movies, music, clothes, and dating. You can expect honesty, but helpfulness. I do not believe being rude and pompous achieves change, but truth does. It is a line most cannot tote well, we here at FLzine are taking on the challenge to achieve that.
Articles and Features
Everyday new articles (and usually multiple ones) will be posted up. This sites main purpose and focus is on diet and training and the lifestyle that supports that. That is a wide open space in my opinion. I see no need to pigeonhole or dumb down. There is something here for anyone who studies of training and nutrition. That being said, this is not a site for those who are…
• easily offended
• don’t enjoy self education
• have little desire for change
• aren’t open to new ideas
Sometimes these articles will be original or guest articles. The rest will be “FLzine Features.”
FLzine Features are repeated subjects or columns that the writers of FLzine work on. The post amount will vary based on the feature and material. Below is an example of the current features and what they will highlight in their topic. These are subject to change in the future.
“5 Questions” is a weekly feature. It is an interview feature where the people interviewed are asked five questions on various topics in relations to their field of work/enjoyment.
“Fact or Fiction” is a weekly feature. Jamie Hale is one of the top training and nutrition guys in the world. He has worked with professional athletes and certainly has the notches on his belt. He succeeds often in debunking common myths and fiction in the industry and replacing them with fact.
“They said what?” is a recurring feature. It will highlight celebrities, fitness professionals, and doctors saying things that make you want to shake your head or kick them in theirs. No one is safe.
“Dinner Bell” is weekly feature. It’s focus is on tasty and healthy recipes.
“Get Some” is a recurring feature. It covers various topics about relationships and sex.
“No Bull” is a multiple weekly feature. I am not sure exactly what Nick is going to go off about, but I have a feeling it will be good reading.
“Cafe O’ Knowledge” is a recurring feature. Who knows what these guys will dish about, or what the underlining meaning will be.
“Fight!Fight!” is a recurring feature. Sometimes the best information comes from the worst (or funniest) of debates online. Please join us in watching the train wrecks unfold.
“For the Ladies” is a weekly feature. It will focus on female related topics only.
“Mike Rants” is a recurring feature. Be it good or bad, 5 words or 1000, Mike is going to let you know how he feels on things. Since Mike Robertson is smart and credible, it’s sure to be great at worst.
“Jets to Brazil” is a recurring feature. Travel and exploring are an important part of changing your life all the way around.
“Ask Leigh” is a weekly feature. Got a question? Need the (sometime brutal) truth on your training, diet, or relationships? Ask Leigh.
“You Heard?” is a recurring feature. It will highlight the best new books, dvds, and music that we think you need to know about.
“Retro” is a recurring feature. The “FL” in FLzine stands for “Found and Lost.” The retro feature is massively important because some of the best information out there, is already out there. It has been said, and said beautifully. Sometimes you don’t need a new article, sometimes you need to be reminded of how great the old article is.
The Store
The store will house both recommended and original material by FLzine. Quality control is key here. FLzine will only promote products that comply with the below requirements.
“All materials have been read/used/eaten by a member of the FLzine crew. The material has been deemed worthy of sharing with you the reader. We realize that nothing is perfect, but there is a certain standards and prerequisites for the material to make its way on the site. We are sorry if you are not included. This isn’t about elitism, it is about trying to eliminate confusion.”
I have a lot of friends in the industry, but even some of their material marches to close to stroking the myths of dieting and training. I can say that some people are updating their material due to these things.
The store also rotates material and items. It is forever changing, and you never know what will show up. It is best to check back often and keep updated with signing up for the weekly newsletter.
Contact
If you need to get into contact with anyone at FLzine you can use the forums or scroll down to the bottom of any page and look in the footer section of the site for the term “Contact.”
How can you help?
Get the word out. Link to us on forums, email articles to your friends, hit digg, get on twitter, and make a call for change. The only way that people are going to be helped is if the information reaches the masses. If you can send a forward email with dozens of cat pictures, you can send one with information that will break the dogmas and change peoples lives.
Closing Remarks
I realize that your first visit here may leave you with an overwhelming feeling about how much you know about your lifestyle, training, and nutrition. This site is supposed to be fun, and inspire you to open up to the truth and reality of others.
Email us, talk in the forums, and become a part of the community. We know this isn’t going to be a smooth ride, but the roads to change never are.
