Million Calorie March: The Movie
Million Calorie March: The Movie is a 2007
Synopsis
Million Calorie March: The Movie documents the Million Calorie March awareness and fundraising campaign and incorporates stories from Marino's 2005 book, "Big & Tall Chronicles: Misadventures Of A Lifelong Food Addict." Through flashbacks to his childhood, Marino documents the influences that led to his health struggles and his personal battle to overcome food addiction. The purpose behind Marino's film is the increasing awareness and acceptance of the diseaseobesity and food addiction throughout the United States and inspiring people to dig deep to fix themselves.
The 95 minute documentary premiered on September 21, 2007 at the
Motivation
Formerly 397 lbs, Marino had lost over 110 pounds between 2001 and 2003 largely by dieting, exercise and researching the obesity epidemic. Through his research as well as his own struggles with weight loss and food addiction, Marino became passionate about achieving health and wellness at any weight and wanted to make a contribution to the cause. He formed the non-profit organization Generation Excel in 2004 and created the Million Calorie March, the awareness campaign and fundraiser that became the film of the same name. The Million Calorie March was designed to be interactive with other walkers, wellness groups and media representatives, who were invited to join the walk at any point along the route. Marino also raised money by asking for pledges at each stop in his journey up the eastern seaboard.
Journey
The Million Calorie March kicked off live on national television from Jacksonville, Florida.
Book
Marino signed book deal with Barnes & Noble I-Universe Star division (one of the sponsors of the Million Calorie March) before embarking on the campaign. The book Big & Tall Chronicles: Misadventures of a Lifelong Food Addict was released during the final weeks of the March and distributed to audiences at events in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Nine months later in April 2005 it was released nationwide in store.
Results
The Million Calorie March reached over 70 million people through local, state-wide and national media coverage and raised approximately $150,000 for Generation Excel. Marino himself lost another 40 pounds on the march. The documentary Million Calorie March: The Movie received mostly positive reviews and was picked up for DVD distribution to colleges, libraries and schools thru-out the US and Canada. In 2009 the film was offered a 5 year broadcast deal from the TLC Network (The Learning Channel)
Events after the March
Marino launched a career as a motivational speaker in early 2005, donating all of his fees and book sales to the non-profit foundation, Generation Excel. Additionally he formed a running team to train for the 109th Boston Marathon with pledges also going to Generation Excel. “My goal is to simply complete this because the winner will be shaved, showered, have his check cashed and be on the plane back to Kenya by the time we hit the finish line,” Marino told Fox 25 Morning News the morning of the race. He completed the 42.195-kilometre (26.219 mi) race in 6 hours and 30 minutes.
Shrink & Shrunk
Marino also formed a business relationship with Psychologist and Wellness expert Dr. Howard Rankin. The pair recorded a radio pilot called The Shrink & The Shrunk and began making appearances together at seminars, conferences and health tours across the country.
Million Pound Meltdown (2005 & 2006)
One year after the Million Calorie March concluded,
With obesity statistics running dangerously high in Pennsylvania, the “Meltdown” kicked off with a three-week tour of the area by Marino and his team including radio, print and TV stops. Walking through all 13 counties in Pennsylvania, Marino and his crew made three campaign stops per day speaking to audiences and leading walks around the anti-obesity theme.
Throughout the “Meltdown”, Marino also hosted his own weekly TV segment called “Gary Weighs In” which aired on WBRE-TV (NBC affiliate) and WYOU (CBS affiliate).
The “Meltdown” wrapped up at the end of 2006 with over 52,000 pounds lost by Pennsylvanians. The Meltdown participant's Primary care physicians confirmed the weight loss as part of the weight loss contest held in conjunction with the campaign.
Million Step March (2008)
The following year
Inspiring Wellness Campaign
In early 2009 Marino again joined forces with Dr. Howard Rankin to launch the “Inspiring Wellness Campaign”, in
See also
References
- "Selling a healthy message, step by step". USA Today. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- "Gary Marino’s MILLION CALORIE MARCH". web.archive.org
- "'Million Calorie March' Movie Premieres In Boston". The Boston Channel. WCVB Boston. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- "Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.