Exercise, eating and other addictions

Too often humans just sit back and wait for somebody else to take action, while we continue with our daily routine and complain about the problem without doing anything about it. This human habit rang true after the talk about steroids that was presented by a reformed addict.

Fitness professionals work in an industry filled with addictions from eating disorders (anorexia to binge eating) to compulsive shoppers (those girls who never wear the same gym gear twice) to supplementary drugs (fat burners to steroids). The biggest addiction is vanity as these people are punishing their bodies to look good and receive praise. They live for the compliments and enjoy the attention they receive when people admire their bodies. We are all envious of the girl with the six pack or the guy with the striations on their muscles that look like road maps, but every body comes at a price. While some of us are addicted to long term exercise and wellness, others are addicted to the quick fix of a fat burner or a finger down the throat.

As personal trainers, we are not equipped to deal with psychological issues, but we can have a strong moral standing about the abuse of drugs and the abuse of food. While we can offer advice about eating plans, supplements, vitamins and minerals we cannot take on the role of dietician, psychologist, councillor or mother. We should have a list of health professionals that we can refer clients to and we should trust these people and not be getting a financial kick back.

We can make a difference by refusing to deal with people who use steroids and stop referring our clients to dieticians who prescribe a pill before wholesome food. I cannot approach the muscle man in the weights area and tell him to stop injecting himself because I will get “dondered  or moered” (the Afrikaans word is so much more descriptive), but I can stop complimenting him on his physique as I will feel better than I am not stroking his ego. Another thing I can do is to educate myself on the effects of certain steroids and supplements and be able to explain the long term dangers to my clients when they enquire about supplementing their diet. These people who are taking the quick fix make the personal trainer’s hard work on clients seem like a long way to a better body.

The illegal personal training in our gyms can stop if we inform our clients about the need to check our qualifications and the rent we pay to be able to use the facility. We can also stop being two faced by not acknowledging this person who is making a mockery of our livelihood. The Tableview gym where I see my clients has a member-trainer-evangelist-hypocrite who irritates all the staff, yet people still speak to this man who has a different training partner every week and he is a different size every month.

Our profession will never be taken seriously if we do not show the world that we are professionals and that we do not believe in cheats, pills, short cuts or illegal substances. We should always endorse a lifetime of healthy eating, consistent exercise and balanced lifestyles and set the example in our own lives. Personal training starts with our bodies and minds and should show the world that we exercise healthy decisions and that we do not believe in cheating.