Personal Training? No Wonder We are Fat!

I must admit I have been incredibly frustrated over the last 18 months or so.

You see, I qualified as a personal fitness trainer in my mid-40's after a successful career in corporate business. Like every other new trainer, I was convinced I could make a huge impact in other peoples' lives.

But after decades in the entrepreneurial trenches my instincts were quick to prickle!

Something didn't feel right.

And it had nothing to do with the fact that most gym bunnies are paid a pittance for being little more than glorified rep counters.

Of course, everyone around me said "what are you waiting for?" Just get on with it. It's what you love ... isn't it? And to be honest, I've had that same conversation with myself many times over.

I have never been one for half measures and I quickly came to see personal training as a very small part of a much larger equation ... that of optimum health.

So I started to teach myself about other aspects of health and physical fitness. To me it seemed pointless working with someone in a gym for an hour or two every week just because that's what trainers do ... and expecting to make an appreciable difference to their knowledge of how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Come on ... not everyone wants to spent time in a gym. And what's the point if you can't also work with them on their other lifestyle habits? And when I looked at what others were doing to solve this obvious basic system flaw, I became progressively more disenchanted.

Lots of trainers sense that somehow they are near the bottom of the food chain in terms of professional respect and capabilities. So those of us driven to improve start to invest in our continuing education.

And I took courses in anatomy, physiology, body work, Gyrotonics, Pilates, Feldenkrais, fascial tensegrity, more anatomy ...

It just never seems to end. A personal trainer can always keep specializing. And one can always keep paying out money to hear the same stuff recycled in different ways, so we can develop more insight and get another gold star.

That's all well and good, I suppose ... but what's the point if we only ever keep sharpening our lazer focus on a tiny piece of the health puzzle? I also kept my eyes and ears open and one thing became increasingly evident.

No matter how many bootcamps, or celebrity experts, or new grades of qualification the industry came up with ... people were still getting fatter and more unhealthy!

So what was the point? What value were we adding? I always gauge a business by the value it brings to the table. All I was seeing was more and more opportunities to spend money gathering qualifications that gave me alleged credibility.

But where was the real value?

Funny thing, any trainer in the industry who reads this will either agree with me totally ... or get all flustered and defensive. But nothing changes.

So here's proof of what a crock this industry has become. And no, I'm not going to have a go at the "Biggest Loser". The rest of the industry seems to have finally sorted out where they stand on that one. Well done lads!

I received an industry newsletter from a well known and highly respected certifying body. Globally revered, in fact. I will not say who, because that would be unprofessional and of course I wouldn't want to jeopardize my career. But, from what I've been seeing lately, you can throw a dart and pick just about anyone of these industry authorities and they'll all be droning on about the same tired garbage.

Here's what caught my eye ... and got my goat even more than usual!

In amongst all the articles by "Mr PhD this" and "Mrs. clinical specialist that" was a recipe for "marbled pumpkin cheesecake".

This got my attention as I already was well versed in the anatgonistic reciprocators of the rectus chuck norris-imus minor and could always learn more about healthy eating.

Under "nutrition profile" (how's that for the grand-daddy of oxymoronic implication?) ... was a pronouncement of all the benefits. "Healthy weight, low calorie, low cholesterol and low sodium". Wow, hows that for ticking some boxes?

Perhaps some lab has figured out how to improve on mother nature?

So I read on ...

Ginger snap cookie crumbs, canola oil, low fat cottage cheese, softened reduced-fat cream cheese, sugar, egg, cornstarch, salt and vanilla extract!

Unsulfured molasses, dark brown sugar, ... I'll stop now! The list carries on with nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and unseasoned pumpkin puree. For taste, I presume.

Oh ... and some lemon juice. Must be for the vitamin C. Wonder if that counts as part of our 5-a-day?

I defy any nutritionist or professional body to stake their reputation on the nutritional value of the ingredients above. But this is being touted as "healthy" by the same respected industry leader that wants an application fee from me just so I can prove that I am continuing to invest in my education ... and am deserving of a professional association with their illustrious credentials!

And this is precisely why I cringe at the thought of paying out more money for the privilege of being insurable for another year. Just in case I want to rush out and show some nervous housewife the finer points of a body building split routine. Or how to "burn calories" with 45 minutes on the treadmill (remember your iPod luv).

Ladies and gentlemen ... this is a shocker!

And it's typical. In fact every day you can pick up a magazine, log on to a website with massive page rank, or listen to another self-proclaimed expert with bogus qualifications.

Until the industry wakes up and realizes it has very little to offer beyond motivation, clients will continue to be woefully short-changed.

And I want no part in that!