"Nobody likes a skinny chef…or a hardbody spokesman for Obesity"

Generation Excel Founder Gary Marino is an author, activist, film maker, motivational speaker and media spokesman on America's obesity epidemic. He encourages people to "achieve health and wellness at any weight and never give up the fight."

In 2004, on the heels of a 150 pound personal weight loss, Marino kicked off the USA's first ever cross-country obesity awareness walk. The 1200 mile Florida to Boston "Million Calorie March" was a grassroots, walking and talking tour of the eastern seaboard. Kicked off live on ABC's "Live With Regis & Kelly" in front of 10 million people, it set the nation's obesity epidemic before millions. With it's unique and inspiring message of hope, the "March" went on to raise $150,000 for the obesity fighting non-profit Generation Excel and reach over 70 million people through appearances in local, statewide and national media such as FOX News, ABC, USA Today and People Magazine, among others.

Marino's book, "Big & Tall Chronicles" was released nationally by Barnes and Noble Bookstores in the spring of 2005. Later that year, after completing the 109th Boston Marathon, Marino joined forces with Blue Cross Of Northeastern Pennsylvania to serve as spokesman & producer for the "Million Pound Meltdown". A two year media campaign focusing on weight loss and obesity awareness, the "Meltdown" challenge was designed to inspire and motivate the area's residents to get healthier. The campaign kicked off on June 8th, 2005 with much fanfare on TV, radio and print and resulted in over 52,000 pounds lost (confirmed by primary care physicians) by the end of 2006.

Much of 2007 was spent "off the road" and in editing and post-production studios on a film about Obesity In America, "Million Calorie March: The Movie". The 95 minute documentary is currently on the US Film Festival and health & wellness circuits and is a continuation of Gary Marino's mission: providing inspiration, motivation and education through unique, colorful and unconventional approaches. The film recently won an International "Freddie" from the health and medical media awards (a medical Oscar). A recent TV broadcast offer from a major national TV cable network suggests America may be inspired once again by "The Million Calorie March" in the near future.

In 2008, at the request of Blue Cross Of North Carolina, Marino and team Generation Excel "recreated" the Florida to Boston walk as a brand new walking and fitness campaign for that state. The 600 mile, 75 day, mountains to the coast "Million Step March" across North Carolina traveled 12 miles a day though seven media markets. On the road with Marino (and Blue Cross employees) this time was a mobile wellness tour which barnstormed the area with over 60 live events. In addition, an inflatable "Shoebox Movie Theater" screened an edited version of the "Million Calorie March" documentary to audiences at nearly 40 campaign stops. In the end over 6400 people joined "The March" to walk over a half billion steps.

2009 saw Marino spread his inspiring message of hope to new areas of the country from Texas to Harrisburg to West Palm Beach. He also teamed up with Generation Excel mentor and board member Dr. Howard Rankin to launch the "Inspiring Wellness Campaign" in Hilton Head, South Carolina. It offered 8 weeks of free seminars, film screenings, guest speakers, beach walks and weight loss challenges to area residents.

These days, when he's not on the road producing campaigns, Marino is also a busy motivational speaker, lecturing for various Blue Cross Plans and corporate groups from Seattle to Boston. He is also writing his next book, "After The March: Confessions of an Obesity Crusader".