Conflicting opinion from gym trainer

caraherch
caraherch Posts: 34
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all! I recently joined a gym and part of the sign up was an assessment from a trainer. While I realize it was mostly to sell sessions, but I figured anything I could learn would be worth it! Anyhow, she gave me advice that was very different from what I've heard, and especially contradicts the macros that MFP set up for me. For example, she said anytime I eat a grain/carb food like bread, cereal, pasta, etc that I "wasn't allowed" to have anything similar for two days. But I work out in the early afternoon so I usually need those carbs for breakfast to fuel my runs and lifting (typically 1-2 hours after breakfast) and then for the rest of the day I focus more on protein rich meals. So, should I be taking her advice? And also, how do you gauge what advice to take and to ignore, considering there are thousands of different opinions? Thank you!

Replies

  • amandarawr06
    amandarawr06 Posts: 251 Member
    I eat cereal and bread and grains pretty much everyday and lose 1-2lbs a week steadily. Different strokes for different folks. Find what works best for you. I personally wouldn't listen to that trainer.
  • ZombieEarhart
    ZombieEarhart Posts: 320 Member
    A personal trainer is not a registered dietician, so I think you should feel free to disregard any/all nutrition info she gives you.
  • helpfit101
    helpfit101 Posts: 347 Member
    Hi all! I recently joined a gym and part of the sign up was an assessment from a trainer. While I realize it was mostly to sell sessions, but I figured anything I could learn would be worth it! Anyhow, she gave me advice that was very different from what I've heard, and especially contradicts the macros that MFP set up for me. For example, she said anytime I eat a grain/carb food like bread, cereal, pasta, etc that I "wasn't allowed" to have anything similar for two days. But I work out in the early afternoon so I usually need those carbs for breakfast to fuel my runs and lifting (typically 1-2 hours after breakfast) and then for the rest of the day I focus more on protein rich meals. So, should I be taking her advice? And also, how do you gauge what advice to take and to ignore, considering there are thousands of different opinions? Thank you!

    Actually you CAN eat something similar but only if you do a handstand in between.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    Don't take nutrition advice from a gym trainer. most of them have no clue. Mine used to talk endlessly about how I NEEDED to eat even a mouthful of ANYTHING within 15 minutes of waking up or my metabolism would stall all day. heh.

    ETA: I also enjoy the occasional fast day. Got told by my trainer that I would go into starvation mode and start breaking down muscle if I did that.
  • sunnycity
    sunnycity Posts: 1
    Keep in mind as well that depending on where you live, not all "personal trainers" are qualified. You want somebody who has gone to school and is well-educated in their field -- not someone who took a weekend-long course to get certified.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    sounds like a bunch of BS bro science…

    Ignore it and keep doing what you are doing ..


    Did this trainer also tell you to avoid deadlifts and squats? I am guessing yes...
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    Hi all! I recently joined a gym and part of the sign up was an assessment from a trainer. While I realize it was mostly to sell sessions, but I figured anything I could learn would be worth it! Anyhow, she gave me advice that was very different from what I've heard, and especially contradicts the macros that MFP set up for me. For example, she said anytime I eat a grain/carb food like bread, cereal, pasta, etc that I "wasn't allowed" to have anything similar for two days. But I work out in the early afternoon so I usually need those carbs for breakfast to fuel my runs and lifting (typically 1-2 hours after breakfast) and then for the rest of the day I focus more on protein rich meals. So, should I be taking her advice? And also, how do you gauge what advice to take and to ignore, considering there are thousands of different opinions? Thank you!

    Actually you CAN eat something similar but only if you do a handstand in between.

    And here I thought my trainer was working on me for a circus act.
  • Hauntinglyfit
    Hauntinglyfit Posts: 5,537 Member
    Trainers are not nutritionists. Some of them don't even need much to get certified as a PT, and unless they take the time to educate themselves, can be full of broscience.

    Ignore her.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    I am a PT.

    Don't listen to PT's about nutrition.

    You definitely shouldn't listen to me :tongue:
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I am a PT.

    Don't listen to PT's about nutrition.

    You definitely shouldn't listen to me :tongue:


    What is your stance on turtles sir?
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    I am a PT.

    Don't listen to PT's about nutrition.

    You definitely shouldn't listen to me :tongue:


    What is your stance on turtles sir?

    very tasty...
  • ereck44
    ereck44 Posts: 1,170 Member
    many personal testimonials from people using mfp guidelines losing weight and getting fit. How many people doing that doing your trainer's advice? Then do the math.
    I myself able to lose weight eating carbs every day. Almost 50 pounds in 2 years and able to keep it off using mfp guidelines.

    Good luck. I use PT myself and it is wonderful if you can hook up with a good trainer. If fact a couple of them guided me to here. So listen to advice and then gauge it.
  • Hauntinglyfit
    Hauntinglyfit Posts: 5,537 Member
    I am a PT.

    Don't listen to PT's about nutrition.

    You definitely shouldn't listen to me :tongue:


    What is your stance on turtles sir?

    very tasty...

    But does eating turtles make you burn fat and build muscle?
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Hi all! I recently joined a gym and part of the sign up was an assessment from a trainer. While I realize it was mostly to sell sessions, but I figured anything I could learn would be worth it! Anyhow, she gave me advice that was very different from what I've heard, and especially contradicts the macros that MFP set up for me. For example, she said anytime I eat a grain/carb food like bread, cereal, pasta, etc that I "wasn't allowed" to have anything similar for two days. But I work out in the early afternoon so I usually need those carbs for breakfast to fuel my runs and lifting (typically 1-2 hours after breakfast) and then for the rest of the day I focus more on protein rich meals. So, should I be taking her advice? And also, how do you gauge what advice to take and to ignore, considering there are thousands of different opinions? Thank you!
    I would NOT take her advice. It's silly. Carbs are not bad for you.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I am a PT.

    Don't listen to PT's about nutrition.

    You definitely shouldn't listen to me :tongue:


    What is your stance on turtles sir?

    very tasty...
    Chocolate ones are good too.

    Ever tasted turtle pie- the chocolate kind, not the one with a hard shell. :smile:
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,262 Member
    Was she wearing a tinfoil hat.:happy:
  • caraherch
    caraherch Posts: 34
    THANK YOU GUYS! I feel much better as it has been nagging me ever since. The grain stuff is where I truly struggle in understanding so it's a relief to feel like my instincts were somewhat right!
  • kazzsjourney2goal
    kazzsjourney2goal Posts: 56 Member
    Unfortunately some personal trainers really suck in their knowledge. I eat grains every day with at least 2 of my meals and it hasnt stopped me losing weight - I would ignore that piece of advice

    :)
  • luckygohappy
    luckygohappy Posts: 80 Member
    Don't take nutrition advice from a gym trainer. most of them have no clue. Mine used to talk endlessly about how I NEEDED to eat even a mouthful of ANYTHING within 15 minutes of waking up or my metabolism would stall all day. heh.

    Hmm, wonder what that trainer would tell me, considering I need to take medication on an empty stomach and wait at least 30 min before eating...
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    A personal trainer is not a registered dietician, so I think you should feel free to disregard any/all nutrition info she gives you.

    Yup. They might get the basics, but PT's aren't really qualified to hand out nutritional advice.

    I wouldn't listen to that, I eat grains pretty much everyday, often several times a day, as do many other people. We get on just fine.

    You can learn for yourself what's got some truth behind it and what is just BS, by reading around, doing some research for youself. TBH I wouldn't be surprised if they say all this to make you think "Oh god, really? I really don't know what I'm doing here" **Throws more money at PT.**
  • RECowgill
    RECowgill Posts: 881 Member
    Trust expert crowd sourcing over the advice of an individual any day. Many flawed brains are better than one flawed brain. ;)
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    Ignore her. If she can help you with gym equipment or proper lifting form, that's great and useful. But she don't know squat about nutrition.
  • PolacaFL
    PolacaFL Posts: 213 Member
    Trust expert crowd sourcing over the advice of an individual any day. Many flawed brains are better than one flawed brain. ;)

    :laugh:
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Hi all! I recently joined a gym and part of the sign up was an assessment from a trainer. While I realize it was mostly to sell sessions, but I figured anything I could learn would be worth it! Anyhow, she gave me advice that was very different from what I've heard, and especially contradicts the macros that MFP set up for me. For example, she said anytime I eat a grain/carb food like bread, cereal, pasta, etc that I "wasn't allowed" to have anything similar for two days. But I work out in the early afternoon so I usually need those carbs for breakfast to fuel my runs and lifting (typically 1-2 hours after breakfast) and then for the rest of the day I focus more on protein rich meals. So, should I be taking her advice? And also, how do you gauge what advice to take and to ignore, considering there are thousands of different opinions? Thank you!

    First of all, you can consider the source of the information. As a general rule, "gym trainer" and "diet advice" don't go well together. Another one is that "diets" that exclude food groups or that require odd/exotic meal timing are usually based on folklore and not science.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    there are some really great personal trainers out there...and there are some really ****ty ones...and the vast majority of them turn to the internez and bro-science for their nutritional knowledge...the vast majority are not in any way shape or form qualified to give actual nutritional advice. I know leaps and bounds more about nutrition than my PT...I go to my PT for him to help me with my Oly lifts, not my nutrition.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Ignore.
  • LoosingMyLast15
    LoosingMyLast15 Posts: 1,457 Member
    Hi all! I recently joined a gym and part of the sign up was an assessment from a trainer. While I realize it was mostly to sell sessions, but I figured anything I could learn would be worth it! Anyhow, she gave me advice that was very different from what I've heard, and especially contradicts the macros that MFP set up for me. For example, she said anytime I eat a grain/carb food like bread, cereal, pasta, etc that I "wasn't allowed" to have anything similar for two days. But I work out in the early afternoon so I usually need those carbs for breakfast to fuel my runs and lifting (typically 1-2 hours after breakfast) and then for the rest of the day I focus more on protein rich meals. So, should I be taking her advice? And also, how do you gauge what advice to take and to ignore, considering there are thousands of different opinions? Thank you!

    if your gut is telling you it's a crock of bull it probably is. kinda like the whole if it's too good to be true it probably is. same principle applied to this. you have to take diet advice with a grain of salt. what works for one may not work for you.

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