Personal Fitness Professional - September 2008 - (Page 27)

Why Not Try the Popular Diets? Hey, why not? Who hasn’t given it a try? It sounds simple, yet most of our clients forget about consequences as they search for instant gratiﬁcation and immediate results. The question is: “Which one can get me there the fastest?” For the most part, these diets often serve as a stepping stone in trying to ﬁnd the solution to healthy weight achievement. Somehow, somewhere, someone has to be blamed. Popular diets have the best expectations from the authors and are usually designed with two things in mind: extrapolation, which means “one size ﬁts all,” and who is to blame. Are carbohydrates the enemy? What about fats? How about the glycemic index? All too often, it’s about elimination of food groups, as opposed to moderation. This type of eating plan can lead to serious health-related issues, including nutritional deﬁciencies, increased disease risk, ketosis, lean tissue loss and dehydration. The body is not designed for rapid weight loss or to run on alternative fuels besides carbohydrates. This can result in a suppressed appetite, the incomplete breakdown of fat and the use of amino acids from muscle protein for energy. These are not optimal fuel options and normally cause a drop in metabolism, increased water loss and lean muscle tissue reduction. A realistic approach of a focused plan in a timed setting will ultimately have a higher success ratio in the long run. First, start with some obtainable goals that are speciﬁc and measurable, such as creating a caloric deﬁcit of 500 calories per day through diet and exercise. Your initial weight loss goal should be one to two pounds per week. Encourage your client that slow weight loss is likely to be longterm weight loss. Always be realistic about energy intake, and maintain a caloric intake of at least 1,200 calories a day. Low calorie diets (less than 1,000 calories per day) and very low calorie diets (less than 800 calories per day) are typically done only under physician supervision. Extremely low calorie diets may lead to feelings of deprivation, and too often these diets label food as “good” or “bad.” Avoid extreme exercise programs as they lead to fatigue or injury. Refrain from overwhelming your client with too big of an agenda. Start small by focusing on changes that can be sustained, and never make all the adjustments at once. Unfortunately, many popular diets have no emphasis on behavior modiﬁcation. Educate your clients about the diet’s criteria. Discuss the crucial components: ü The author’s credentials ü The basic premise of the diet ü Calories, foods and supplements allowed ü Sustainability ü The expected amount of weight loss ü The reason for the weight loss ü Scientiﬁc basis and research You have a professional obligation to clients, associations and organizations to work together and uphold the highest standards of care. The lack of quality information can contribute to confusion, frustration, liability risk and the possibility of harm to clients. Remember: Your professional knowledge increases your credibility! Scott Josephson, MS, RD, is a nationallevel conference speaker who provides continuing education lectures and is frequently published. In addition to several certiﬁcations, he holds a masters degree from the University of Miami and is on the advisory board of the American Fitness Professionals and Associates. He can be contacted at sjosephson@hippocratesinst.org. ● lift up your business! ﬁtness, wellness, nutrition and health care business consulting services what we do best 30% oﬁft f to rs 20 clients • Give you an insider perspective of what health, ﬁtness and wellness consumers really want and need. • Collaborate with your team to develop new products and concepts. • Bring clients to you rather than you being a salesperson. • Provide an opportunity with a small investment for a new business. • Make Money. our success story A little over a year ago a 30-40 client gym in a cramped basement is now a full service ﬁtness center with 180 clients and growing. It has a stable cash-ﬂow, low overhead, and trainers focusing on their love of helping clients get in shape and lead healthier lives versus having to sell sessions. (847)322-5667 empoweredconsultinggroup.com · empoweredconsulting@yahoo.com SEPTEMBER2008 · WWW.FIT-PRO.COM 27 http://WWW.FIT-PRO.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Personal Fitness Professional - September 2008

Personal Fitness Professional - September 2008 Contents Letter from the Editor, Writers Adding Pilates and Yoga to Your Clients' Workouts Combating Youth Obesity Prescription for Success NEW! The Balancing Act Technical Necessities Product Profiles Current Controversies Mark Your Calendar Coaching Your Client's Diet Life Coaching 101 Exercise Spotlight Product Profiles New on the Market [Spotlight] Gregg Miehle

Personal Fitness Professional - September 2008

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