The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Four numbers are causing a lot of speculation across the state.

It's the "5320" campaign.

But what is the message behind the numbers?

Well we finally have the answer.

The 5320 launch event took place this morning in Oklahoma City.

Gov. Mary Fallin, with the help of State Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Cline and other notable state leaders, discussed the need for bold action to improve Oklahoma's poor health statistics.

"The lives of 5,320 men and women could be saved each year if Oklahoma simply met the national average for health measures," said Fallin. "The costs we pay in lives and the hundreds of millions of dollars our families and businesses pay in medical bills is a tragedy that continues to hold our state back. Oklahoma has the tools it needs to become a healthier, more prosperous state. It's time to start using them and to empower our citizens to live healthier lives where they live, work and learn."

Oklahoma currently ranks 46th among all states in major health status categories.

"Now that people know the '5,320' number and what it means, we hope they'll be just as interested in the next phase of the campaign called Shape Your Future," said Tracey Strader, executive director of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust .

The second step of the campaign, focuses on enacting policies to improve community, business and school health

Recommendations include:

-Restoring the rights of local communities to pass tobacco use prevention policies that are stronger than state law

-Assuring health education is taught in all state public schools in sixth, seventh or eighth grade

-Prohibiting the use of a hand-held electronic device while driving for all drivers under 18 years of age

The third step of the campaign highlights strategies to improve health outcomes for Oklahoma's children.

I think the campaign is a total waste of money.

The idea came from a high-priced PR firm that does almost exclusively partisan republican campaigns. They were reportedly paid over six figures for the idea, then another ten percent commission on all ad buys. Just google Tim Berney and VI marketing (Visual Image).

This campaign was just a way for politicians to pay back their friends by giving them business.

I decoded the number a couple of weeks ago and when I inquired around I heard that this was all a big push to promote the announcement and unlike "just say no," there is little-to-no continuing program. Posters and radio ads I get, but they did things like print coasters and sent them to radio stations. Who does that reach? Are they supposed to rub them on the microphone?

I'm a proud user of cell phones while driving since 1996 with no tickets or accidents.  Go me!

http://www.ktul.com/Global/story.asp?S=14027742&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter (http://www.ktul.com/Global/story.asp?S=14027742&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)

I'm a proud user of cell phones while driving since 1996 with no tickets or accidents.  Go me!

There are a lot of "drunk drivers" that never get caught or have an accident too.

Sounds like a strong advocacy of drunk-like driving.  Go, Team!!

No different than "Don't Lay That Trash On Oklahoma"

After three years in Tulsa I have noticed one thing, the additional 50 pounds I put on. This morning was the beginning of my workout to get rid of that 50+... It was not due to a sign on the road with a number, it was due to a mirror on a wall, and a wife that looks 30.

Put a smoking hot chick in front of a 250 pound man, tell him he can have her if he sheds some pounds. I bet that would work better.

After three years in Tulsa I have noticed one thing, the additional 50 pounds I put on. This morning was the beginning of my workout to get rid of that 50+... It was not due to a sign on the road with a number, it was due to a mirror on a wall, and a wife that looks 30.

Put a smoking hot chick in front of a 250 pound man, tell him he can have her if he sheds some pounds. I bet that would work better.

Rowing and cycling have worked quite well for me.  I am very kinetic when it comes to exercise, so outdoor exercise works best for me.  I've taken it a step further than most do though by racing quite a bit and doing endurance challenges.  With some goals I've got for this cycling season, it's required a lot of indoor time on my bike training rig this winter.  I've logged around 800 miles in the last five weeks, unfortunately about 600 of those have been in my dining room which now resembles a bike shop and training studio  ;)

One thing which has worked for me as far as sloughing weight and keeping it off effectively aside from 1 to 4 hour workouts is being ultra careful about cutting out processed foods and avoiding preservatives and other additives as much as possible rather than worrying about carbs, protein, or fat intake or strict calorie count.  I am fortunate I'm not a huge sugar craver so that is in my favor somewhat.  I lost 20 pounds quite rapidly last summer when I really started watching that and cooking as many meals at home as possible.

Look at it as a lifestyle change and it's a lot easier.  Look at it as a "diet" or "phase" and it gets a lot harder.  Those two words imply something temporary and some sort of sacrifice or extra hard work.

Best of luck to you.  Certainly, I've gone to the more extreme end, but I've always been competitive and have raced about everything imaginable under the sun so it was only a matter of time before I found something else I could race  ;) if I could go from being an overweight smoker to a somewhat competitive cyclist and rower after the age of 40, I think anyone is capable of it especially considering I was never really a very good athlete to begin with.

Hear hear.  We've started referring to him as "Sweetass" too.

Bike riding is fantastic stuff!  I stopped somewhere along the way and gained 40 lbs., too.  Yuck.

Guess I just need to get back with it.  Tulsa has an incredible riding/walking system available now that wasn't there when I was riding steady.  It is exceptional in the nation - my opinion.  Usual "bike trail" is a stripe of paint at the edge of the road.

Anyone ride Freewheel??  (I did the first 6 before stopping.)  Have several centuries and one century and a half.  Probably couldn't ride 5 miles today.

I enjoyed doing the centuries in about 7 or 8 hours.  Too much work to do it any faster.

Freewheel this year is going to be about 450 miles, plus or minus.

It was a lot of fun, with the obligatory major thunderstorm/tornado.  Don't know if the tradition continues today or not.