1. It's marketed as an aesthetic endeavor - Most health, fitness, and nutrition programs are selling you a certain "look". If you find yourself jumping into a program to just look better, it's my experience that it won't be sustainable. Especially if the promise is attached to a timeframe like "Get shredded in 90 days".
2. There is too much information - it's too easy to get lost in the weeds nowadays. The problem with too much information is that it paralyzes a lot of really smart people who want to do things "the right way". When "the right way" is elusive, it's a problem because you'll always have an underlying sense that you're missing something. This can be maddening for really smart people.
3. The "Science" is shaky - Much of the science that is being pushed out in terms of health, fitness, and nutrition is funded by organizations that NEED studies to sell their solutions. There is a lot of room for corruption in science (look it up) with the intent to get you to spend your money on dumb shit.
4. The rise of legal steroids - Have you noticed the massive push for men to get on Testosterone replacement therapy? I find it mind blowing how easy it is to get a prescription for this stuff. Clinics are popping up everywhere and here's the plan...sleep like shit, go in for a Testosterone test (it'll be low), then get your RX. Boom! You're a legal steroid user wrapped up in a cloak of superior health.
5. We have the wrong "Experts" leading us - Most health, fitness, nutrition experts nowadays fall into one or both of these categories...The PHD or The Six Pack Savage. The PHD's spend most of their time in labs doing research on mice and small human trials while reading (and understanding) research papers. These PHD's then disseminate information to the public for us to use. Cool, but not as helpful as you may think. The problem is, most of these PHD's do not have actual in the trenches experience working with others to build their health and fitness. Think of it this way - Would you rather learn how to run a business from a college professor with a PHD who's never run a business in his life - OR - would you rather learn from someone who has run multiple successful businesses himself AND helped others build successful businesses?
The "Six Pack Savage" gets his credibility by the way he looks with his shirt off. No need to elaborate on this one. I think we all understand why this may be a problem. Buying workout programs, coaching, and diet plans from lone wolfs on the internet is rarely a good idea.
In my experience the BEST practitioners are the ones IN THE TRENCHES working with individuals on a daily basis to help them build. Most are so frickin' busy they don't have time to become an influencer or read endless scientific journals. But if you want the best path forward, you NEED one of these guys (or gals) on your team.
6. There is no agreed upon definition of what it means to be fit - The closest measure we have today for "who is fit" is largely based on aesthetics. the leaner and/or more muscular you are, the fitter you must be...right? In my experience - not true at all. Some of the best looking people are not that fit (or healthy). I am basing this accusation on what I believe fitness should be...A measure of a persons ability to perform, period.
7. The belief that to become fit and healthy you need to be perfect - Playing the long game is NEVER perfect. You do not need to be perfect in your diet or exercise to be in the top 1% of healthy, fit people in this planet. If being healthy and fit is important to you, accept the idea that you will make mistakes. The real goal should be to make more good decisions than bad for long periods of time. This is what success looks like.
8. Hiring a coach will solve your problems - If you're lucky enough to find a legitimate coach who is willing to work with you, it's not enough. You must be willing to do the work. As an example, If I choose to work with someone, the batteries must be included. in other words, you must be putting in some effort before you get to me. Real practitioners are not cheerleaders trying to motivate you to move your ass. The batteries must be included.
9. People saying that lifting weights can be dangerous - Have you ever heard, "The risk is not worth the reward"? In my experience, this is 100% false. The real problem is not lifting weights; rather, it's not knowing how to move heavy stuff properly. In the lab (gym), we are able to use precision instruments like the barbell allowing us to move heavy stuff biomechanically correct. When you know what your doing, the risk of injury is negligible. Most people I work with are stronger than they ever thought was possible. There is too much fear based messaging around "older" people and strength building. You are NOT a china doll.
10. Thinking that you need to cut calories to lose bodyfat - If you're goal is to lose weight, cutting calories works. If you want to lose bodyfat, you may be able to shrink your fat cells while still eating the same OR MORE. Based on my experience, it's possible to lose bodyfat and build muscle simultaneously. I have records of clients with DEXA scans, food logs, and INBody's as proof. How this works exactly...I'm unsure. I have theory's, but I'll leave it up to to the PHD's to figure it out. Here is how you can do it as a healthy person (I have found this does not work as well for diabetics). EAT QUALITY FOOD, lift heavy things, and elevate your heart rate and respirations often. Do it for weeks, months, and years. It...just...works...
Hope you enjoyed this. If you'd like to brainstorm your health and fitness future and discover the value of having the structure and guidance of an actual "in the trenches" expert at your side, schedule a time to chat.
