The Journey to better health and better athletic performance is not easy, but it is worth it
If you spend any time on social media these days, you are bound to notice there are some strange and often alarming trends growing in the fitness industry. I have been in the business for over 35 years, and over that time I have seen a lot of come and go. It seems like every day, there is a new “innovative” way to achieve your health and fitness goals. “Get-fit-quick” programs promoted on all corners of the internet that promise a 6-pack in a week. Trendy new equipment that guarantees fast and easy results, and potentially the most damaging; bizarre and unscientific diets, “miracle” pills, supplements and yes, even weight loss gummy bears and lollipops!
If that’s not enough, you have these new age trainers that try to make a name for themselves in the industry by encouraging ridiculous, clickbait exercises for their clients. However, in order to do them, you have to be trained somewhere that looks more like a Cirque du Soleil facility than a traditional gym. Maybe the more impressive the exercise seems, the more attention the trainer will achieve and grow their brand. Who cares if the workouts don’t achieve real results? Who cares if your clients are put in positions where they can potentially injure themselves? Its all about the attention, right? That is, until the client breaks a hip.
All these fitness trends have one thing in common; they offer an easy and struggle free path to fitness but in the end, leave those who try them without results and questioning if they will ever achieve their fitness goals. The truth is, these internet trends, “online experts”, easy weight loss solutions and wacky workouts will always come and always go, but a long-term commitment to proper nutrition and a dedication to discipline, hard work and pushing yourself is here to stay.
What happened to working hard, discipline and long-term commitment? What happened to working with dumbbells, barbells, and using your own bodyweight? Oh! I know, it’s too hard. In todays world, everyone wants that quick and easy solution so, instead, let’s take this supplement, lets try this trend, lets just jump on this piece of equipment that promises to do all the work for us. But in the end, does any of that truly work?
Here is a pill that some may find hard to swallow: exercise is not supposed to be fun. It’s not supposed to be easy or comfortable. Real results don’t happen overnight. If you put in the work and go down the right path, you will sweat. On occasion, you might puke. You will drop a few F bombs, maybe even at your trainer every now and then. But you will get results. It is possible to get great results from your training, but you will have to work hard for them. If you are lucky enough to have a trainer with knowledge and experience, your workout will be safe and well designed. You will be taught great form, and your workouts will change at the right time to avoid plateaus. To achieve great physique and cardio conditioning, you will have to leave the damn cell phone and Fit Bit in your car. Pay attention to what your trainer is showing you. Stop whining, and work hard. Big box gyms create a different fitness culture. I guess when you have 20 or more trainers competing in a gym, they must aim to outdo each other when trying to stand apart from the rest. But what about being known as the trainer with a great reputation for getting good and safe results for your clients? At the end of the day, it’s the results that count. That’s why we come to the gym in the first place! The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, its greener where you water it.