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Fit from sea to shining sea: as executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Melissa Johnson helms the effort to get Americans in shape
American Fitness, May-June, 2004 by Bonnie Siegler
Growing up in Corona del Mar, California, Melissa Johnson always had a passion for fitness. "I was a competitive gymnast from age 10 to 18," says the now 44-year-old Johnson. Continuing an active lifestyle--she's an avid dancer, weight trainer, cross trainer and yoga enthusiast--Johnson was recently appointed to the post of executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports by President George W. Bush. The 5'2", 112-pound fitness expert, who received a master's degree in health and fitness management, has since moved from sunny California to Washington D.C. "The way my path has been, this is the third time I've moved to D.C. But, I still dance wherever I am and the last couple of years, I've done spiritual interpretative dance, which has a different bent. I'm also very regular with weight training, walking, cycling, Pilates and yoga," states the self-professed gym rat. "Being active from an early age has carried over into many aspects of my life and increased my quality of life. I definitely think a healthy lifestyle can make people live healthier, longer lives."
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Q. Why do you think participating in various types of exercise is better than sticking to a certain routine?
A. For me, it alleviates boredom. Also, you hit all your muscles this way and it ensures you get cardiovascular, flexibility and strength training, which is what a balanced fitness program is all about. I work out five to six times a week.
Q. What are your nutritional staples?
A. I usually shop in organic, whole foods markets. Fruits and vegetables are my first stops. For breakfast, I'll have egg whites and some chicken sausage. I'm trying to have some protein in each meal because it helps stabilize my blood glucose levels. I try to eat a varied diet of lean meats, whole grains, flesh fruits and vegetables. I don't count fat grams or calories because I'm in touch with my body and have achieved a certain rhythm. As a young gymnast, I weighed 90 pounds and as a dancer, I counted calories, but I don't focus on them now because I don't want to psychologically. I focus more on health and what feels good.
Q. Do you take vitamins, minerals or herbal supplements?
A. I go through phases on that. I take a multivitamin and some anti-oxidants, but don't want to be a spokesperson for any product. In California, I went to a holistic chiropractor who gave me some things my body needed during certain phases. Right now, I'm working long hours at an intense job, am always on the go and don't sit down to healthy meals all the time, so I like to take some extra insurance.
Q. The president appointed you to your position. How does he want you to promote health and fitness to the American public?
A. President Bush launched his Healthier US Initiative almost two years ago. There are four pillars to it: nutrition, physical activity, prevention and avoiding risky behaviors. We're the physical activity component. In response to his call to action, we took the President's Challenge program and revamped it so it's now an interactive online program that is available to Americans of all ages. We offer presidential recognition to everyone, not just kids. Our motto now is that the President's Challenge has grown up. We have the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award, which encourages people to move five times a week, 30 minutes a session, for a period of six weeks. It's free at www.presidentschallenge.org and anyone can use it. We also have the Presidential Champion awards, which take a little longer.
Q. With our health care system currently in crisis, is there anything you can say to reassure Americans that their health will be taken care of?
A. Well, it starts with them individually. Each person is responsible for his or her health. The first step is to change behaviors and those four pillars are really important for our health and what the president's promoting--a nutritious diet, regular physical routine, taking preventative steps and avoiding risky behaviors like tobacco and drug use. We need to take responsibility for these things ourselves.
Q. What about the increase in children's obesity? The statistics are quite alarming.
A. It's very alarming and a huge concern to all of us. Fifteen percent of children are overweight or obese. Sixty-five percent of adults are overweight or obese. It has become a crisis. Type 2 diabetes, customarily an adult disease, is now appearing in children. Cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure are also occurring in children. This is the first time in history when this generation will probably not live as long as their parents.
Q. What are you doing to educate and motivate the public to get in shape and decrease this statistic?
A. As the President's Council, we do speaking engagements all over the country trying to motivate and encourage families because I think it's a multigenerational issue. The most successful way is for everyone to collaborate--not just adults and not just kids. We're constantly trying to motivate, educate and inspire people to make daily changes. We have to change our children's viewing habits--children watch television four to five hours a day on average. Physical education is no longer mandated on a daily basis from grades K-12, except in Illinois, so kids don't have the opportunity to exercise. That's where a lot of after-school programs come into play and we partner with those organizations to get the word out collectively. It's a multidimensional approach to solve this problem. The solution isn't in one package because it's environmental, social, psychological, physical, nutritional, socio-economical and cultural.
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