Einstein could have been a great Personal Trainer

Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I think the same thing could be said about the weight loss efforts of a lot of people. Each year millions of people go on and off the same diet over and over and over again expecting it to give them the fabulous results they didn't get the last time. Do I think that dieters are insane? No. I think the diet industry is insane. Every trainer, dietitian, doctor, and Joe Blow off the street is too busy pushing their "perfect" plan that they don't see that they aren't right for everyone. We have this whole right at all costs mentality going on that is projecting the wrong image for diet and exercise. There are millions of people around the world that need our assistance in weight loss, yet they are made to feel like their lack of results is their fault because Trainer X's program isn't working. The clients aren't the problem. They are probably doing a really good job at sticking to the recommendations they are given. Physiologically, however, not every body responds to the same stimulus in the same manner. If they did, we'd have a cure for a lot more diseases by now. Trainers, nutritionists, and doctors, however, seem to have this horrible inability to admit that they (and therefore, their programs) aren't the greatest thing since sliced bread. Ego's get in the way of admitting that Program X works wonders for some people and doesn't do squat for others. Instead of telling clients up front that "this may work and if it does great, if it doesn't we'll try something else" they automatically assume that their plan is perfect and anyone who doesn't lose weight on it is in the wrong.

Einstein had it right. If Plan A doesn't work, you have to try Plan B. You can't just keep pushing Plan A as if it is perfect. There are so many things that can be different in people. Blood sugar levels, hormone levels, even fitness level can alter the amount of calories burned among people doing the same workout. (Sorry, but the more fit you are, the fewer calories you burn.) They can also alter the process of fueling those workouts from fat stores or glycogen stores, as well as any number of other processes in the body. You have to look at the food consumption based on the person, not the diet prescriber. I'm a proponent for high carb diets because they fuel activity better then anything else--for me personally. Does that mean I'm going to put a diabetic on a high carb diet? Not a chance! If I don't get enough carbs, I feel sluggish and sick to my stomach, symptoms of hypoglycemia. For someone who is diabetic, however, too many carbs can be deadly. Each person is different. Therefore, each dietary program should be different, too. The same differences in reactions can be seen in exercise as well. Different types of muscle fibers respond to different types of exercise. Some people have more fast twitch fibers and respond better to weight training. Others have more slow twitch fibers and respond better to aerobic training. Someone with a majority of slow twitch fibers will do much better with a running program and someone with a majority of fast twitch fibers will be much better with a weight lifting program. Like dietary programs, training programs should be different, too. Anyone who isn't willing to change your program if it doesn't work for you, doesn't need to be a recommending diet and exercise programs.

My recommendation is that all clients need to assess their own programs and ask for changes when they aren't seeing any results. And anyone in a position to help others with their weight loss efforts, including trainers, nutritionists, doctors, tv personalities, and anyone writing this weeks weight loss book of the moment, needs to get off their high horse and try different solutions instead of thinking of themselves as God like. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must dismount. ;)