Monthly Archives: September 2011

I have been working for years with clients who want to lose weight. A lot of them had great success but some have not. It is something that is not easy for a personal trainer to admit but we are not always successful. A few struggle a lot.

Over time I have seen a pattern evolve:

1. Client comes to me wanting to lose weight/body  fat
2. Clients has some initial success (10-25 pounds)
3. Client regains weight over 2-8 months
4. Client has trouble to lose weight again. They have a hard time to apply the tools they are given, may that be nutritional tools or exercise, and training plans.

In my experience and my research an eating disorder is often just a symptom for underlying emotional and psychological issues that need to get addressed. If you feel that this could apply to yourself I would suggest working with a counselor (some are even specialized in eating disorder). I know that many people feel like there is a taint attached to seeing a counselor but the success in context with it and the happiness with achieving your goals are definitely worth it.

If you feel like you repetitively hit a barrier with your goals and you see that you could improve what you are doing but cannot get yourself to do it, then this might be an option for you.

Please contact me with any questions you have,

Michael

Last year I had a pretty incapacitating overuse injury, starting around December I had metatarsalgia in my left foot. Running was not possible. For me it was horrible because  I had been on a good way towards a 7:20 min/mile Marathon. I still kept on training by using the elliptical, resistance training, martial arts, etc but the energy that I had was out. Needless to say I kept eating like I was still training for my marathon. I am an emotional stress eater and eating definitely soothed me.

I am back to running now, sometimes I feel like I am so slow that I run backwards, but hey, I am happy to run. My strength training has increased, my martial arts training is getting there and I am becoming a dad. Everything is moving along nicely.

Jonathan, one of my trainers, suggested a challenge: Each of us had to lose roughly 1% body fat by the end of the month. It was on. In case I did not make it I had to train one of his boot camps in the morning and pay him for it and he would steam clean my facility in case he would not make it.

During the next couple of days we tried to tempt each other and taunt each other with food when I realized: That is reality for most of my clients!

They make an effort lose weight and friends and family continuously offer them food and temptations, totally ignoring their friends goals. We did it intentionally, teasing each other. I claim family hopefully does not do that intentionally but it is still as damaging.

1. If you are the one wanting to lose weight. Tell your friends to get it together and not tempt you or offer anything that works against your goals
2. If you are the friend, then be a real friend! Be supportive and help them as much as you can. Do not bring cookies or anything else.

The summer vacation is up and the kids are back to school. Are you ready to get back to looking great, or did you even manage to keep your accomplishments from before the summer break?

Well it is time to get back on the wagon and I have seen a bunch of people come in again that seemed to have vanished during July and August.

Now back on track, quite literally we are going to look at your body just the way we would look at a high performance car.

1. Inspection

1. Are the curves still the way they are supposed to be? Meaning, have you put on the pounds and you are less than aerodynamic?
2. Do we have any structural damage after summer? What kind of injuries are plaguing you?
3. Check filters, etc! Well, have you had your yearly check up with the doc yet? Make sure you are well and healthy and ready to go!
4. Fuel! Are  you filling your gas tank with the cheap stuff (McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants) or are you putting the good stuff in (veggies, meat, unprocessed organic foods, low alcohol intake, lots of water)

1. Take a picture of a body that you like and that is achievable and put it on your mirror
2. Tell your friends of your goals and work towards it.
3. Talk to your trainer about your injuries and aches so that he or she can pay attention to them and help prevent more problems
4. Put a grocery list together and never go shopping while hungry, because all the bad stuff will find its way into your shopping cart.