Author: Fernando Solis
In my time as a conditioning coach and personal trainer in Melbourne, I’ve seen many of the ‘latest and greatest’ approaches to weight loss come and go. Some are rehashed trends I’ve seen before while other new fads make the odd debut here and there.
Weight loss is always going to be on the wish list of the everyday person for 2 main reasons:
1. Dealing with a health complication
2. Improving appearance
Some of these weight loss methods present themselves in one of two ways:
1. A new piece of exercise equipment
2. A revolutionary new diet
Very rarely a combination of both.
The obsession mainstream society has with losing weight will guarantee an ongoing fat loss industry that fitness, food and pharmaceutical organisations will try to profit from. The ultimate success of these weight loss products and techniques lie with the consumer and the power of choice.
The bottom line for these products will depend on how companies advertise and market their products. The marketing will predominately target the laziness of a potential client by claiming that their product will lead to effort free results. Yes these marketers are banking on your laziness to make money!
The commercials are endless and needless to say I think most are pure garbage!
Most of the pieces of equipment are useless and the diets are usually ‘quick fixes’ that offer no real sustainable nutritional solutions or food education to achieve a positive long term result.
The simple truth is that it takes a combination of many factors to obtain good health and it isn’t going to be easy!
Ok then, what do I think works you may be asking? Well let me tell you by explaining the typical personal training client scenario.
As a personal trainer working in a Melbourne city club I am constantly coming across new clients that want a quick and easy result.
The 2 main questions I’m asked are:
1. How much weight can you help me lose?
2. How quickly can we do it?
As I go into detail about what is required to achieve their goal they realize it’s not going to be an easy process. The harsh reality is that most people are not seduced by the idea of taking on a challenge and working hard to come out a winner.
It takes commitment, sacrifice and discipline and it must come from within. A good personal trainer can only guide and support a client through the process but they can’t do it for you. The only limits you have on your success are those you place on yourself.
Clients would begin train with me for a couple of months then stop. At the start they were eager and enthusiastic but if after a couple of weeks there was no noticable change they would give up and begin to cancel sessions and eventually stop training all together.
A negative attitude that led to a load of excuses and eventually failure.
That’s the truth that others fail to tell – it’s hard work…..but extremely rewarding
Is it reasonable to expect your body to undo in weeks what it has taken months if not years to do? Can years of neglect can be undone in a matter of a mere few weeks or months?
The answer is no.
Still unhappy with themselves they’d quit on their goals because it was all just too hard. My main concern was that they would eventually encounter health problems if they continued to neglect their general health through improper nutrition and lack of exercise.
As a personal trainer it disheartened me greatly because I felt like I was failing my clients and I wasn’t good at my profession. But I know that’s not the case – so I went out to prove a point and answer the ultimate question. Could I really help someone who didn’t want to help themselves?
I decided to put my reputation, fitness knowledge and skills to the test and place myself in the shoes of a client. ‘I’ll show you all how it’s done’ I thought.
I simply set myself a goal, practiced what I preached, and hit it!
Read part 2 of this fitness and personal training article to see how I did it.