personal trainer confusion!
Replies
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Unless the personal trainer has a BS or MA or PhD in dietetics or nutrition, then he shouldn't be giving diet advice. A clinical dietitian or professional nutritionist can do that for you. Make sure the are a registered dietitian (RD) or have a degree as mentioned above.
Exactly this.
Personal trainers aren't necessarily trained to give advice on diets. I am not sure what it is like where you live but over here every 3rd ad on the radio is advertising a 12 week course to get qualified to become a personal trainer so I wouldn't put a lot of stock in what most of them have to say about anything apart from form when lifting weights.0 -
Sounds like rubbish to me. I have used whole, skim, and 2% milk. I normally use skim though. I have a son who is overweight and has to go see a registered dietitian. She has said you never want to drink your calories. Juice, whole milk, sodas are all out. I know sometimes they say foods high in fat or protein fill you up, but milk doesn't fill you up. I had a 1 year old that needed whole milk, and for awhile that's all I bought until I realized that my son had gained 3 pounds with no other change than switching to whole milk.hey everyone,
ive just paid alot of money for a personal trainer at the gym. im very confused as i told him my main goal was to lose weight and yet im being advised to swap from skimmed milk and loq fat subsititues to organic everything and whole fat milk..cook with butter or goose fat....i am so confused as how i am meant to lose weight whilst eating a whole load of saturated fat.
should i try what he says or do you think its a load of..well rubbish. any thoughts would be very mich appreciated as i feel ive wasted a lot of money!
I would ask the trainer where he or she got your diet plan information. The dietitian we have always is willing to give me the information of why she is telling us to do something. Then you can decide with more information.0 -
He DOES know what he is talking about. STAY THE F AWAY FROM LOW FAT FOODS!!!!!
This! :flowerforyou:
If you've just started with him perhaps he's wanting you to start eating clean, then maybe he'll suggest counting calories? I agree that you need to speak with him. But also, if full fat milk makes you feel sick (I don't like it either) then don't drink it. Oh, and stay away from the margarine!0 -
Remember he is working for you. You are paying him , and whilst you are paying for advice, you don't have to take it or follow it to the letter, you can use it selectively to fit in with your life and goals.
If you are not happy about anything he tells you then follow others suggestions and question him on the thoughts behind his regime.
Does he have testimonials from other clients? Or can he put you in touch with other clients?
I see two different PT's and whilst they push me really hard in training I don't follow everything else they advise to the letter about my diet i try and go on the 80/20 rule.
Good luck - having a PT to push you is addictive !!0 -
Now I'm showing my lack of knowledge:
"Orange juice has a lot of natural sugar, and a lot of unnatural sugar"
I know fruit juice has a lot of natural sugar so the sugar content is surprisingly high, and calories to match.
But unnatural sugar?
Do you mean orange juice that has added sweetener? Surely pure orange juice doesn't have unnatural anything or am I being naive?
I'm not picking holes, I'm genuinely asking.
Orange juice is a fruit juice, so yes it has a lot of natural sugar (fructose), but if the container says 100% juice it doesn't have any other sweetener added to it. Blended juice drinks often have added sugar or high fructose corn syrup, and only have 10-15% juice in them. The reason juice isn't as good for you as the whole fruit is that the fiber is taken out of the fruit in the juicing process.0 -
ye he did explain that..i have bought whole milk but ivexdrank skimmed for years and it made me feel sick. i think im just worried im on a body builders diet. its so different from what everyone else and the media is saying about lower calorie intakes and lower fat. hes told me not to bother counting calories also.
so many different views on everything i dont know whats right and whats not.
If I want most things I go with full fat, just better calorie choices. The only execption is I use 1%milk. I would get a second opinion though, something doesn't sound right.0 -
A bunch of rubbish I think, best thing is to log cardio time every day. Then when you are comfortable with your cardio, do some circuit training. Core and legs one day, then upper body the next. This is how I lost 50+ pounds. Of course you need to watch your calorie intake as myfitnesspal says. Keep in mind do cardio every day you are at the gym. It is a good warm up before anything else.
Good Luck.0 -
I'm a certified personal trainer - and here are my thoughts:
I DO cook with real butter - but only about 1 TBS a day. Maybe two if I did a leg workout (I'm also a weight-lifter). I would NEVER advise anyone to use margarine - it's one molecule away from plastic!
Furthermore we were also instructed about the benefits of using reduced fat dairy products as opposed to full-fat dairy products.
Your body DOES need a certain amount of fat in order to survive.
Personal trainers are taught about nutrition - but are NOT nutritionists!
Telling you to NOT count calories?!?! RUBBISH! How in the heck are you supposed to use the "eat less/move more" principle if you don't know what you're eating?!
That's just from my learning and experience. If I were in your shoes (and I have been) I'd drop him like you wish to drop your weight!! Or, if you're locked into a contract, present him with your own information and explain to him that you've hired him to be a personal TRAINER, not a personal NUTRITIONIST as he is not QUALIFIED to give you that advice.
Best of luck to you!
Just because someone is not qualified doesn't mean they should not advise people. I know lots of trainers who advise a) using full fat foods and b) not to count calories and they have amazing client transformations.
You telling the OP to drop him just because he doesn't teach the way you teach is very naive. Not all trainers are the same as not all cleints are the same.0 -
Now I'm showing my lack of knowledge:
"Orange juice has a lot of natural sugar, and a lot of unnatural sugar"
I know fruit juice has a lot of natural sugar so the sugar content is surprisingly high, and calories to match.
But unnatural sugar?
Do you mean orange juice that has added sweetener? Surely pure orange juice doesn't have unnatural anything or am I being naive?
I'm not picking holes, I'm genuinely asking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_juice
"The largest producers of "not from concentrate" use a production process where the juice is placed in aseptic storage, with the oxygen stripped from it, for up to a year. A flavor pack is added in the final step to give the juice flavor.[7] According to the citrus industry, the Food and Drug Administration does not require the contents of flavor packs to be detailed on a product's packaging."
I don't drink bottled OJ anymore. The whole process disgusts me. What is so hard about producing real orange juice.0 -
I too have a trainer and she hasn't told me that. I can ask her for you if you like?0
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cook with butter or goose fat.
That's freaking disturbing, you're right that does sound like a bodybuilder diet, because from everything I've heard/read and been told by an actual chef that was teaching at Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food, you should use Pure Olive Oil to cook with...
So you've never heard of Paula Deen? Olive oil is a great cooking oil, but butter has it's place too (like on turkeys). There is nothing wrong with the suggestions he's giving you, except I would wonder to what end he doesn't want you counting calories. I'd have another discussion with him on that point. Besides, a lot of low fat foods have added sugar. pretty much 2 things make flavor: fat and sugar. Fat is more satisfying.
Paula Deen was also came out that she had Diabetes not that long ago, shes also overweight herself, everything is ok IN MODERATION, but for everyday cooking and living? no thanks.0 -
if u could ask i would appreciate it! i am still confused by everyones comments. i understand cutting out prpcessed foods but tbh i always cook fresh eat lots of veg and fish chicken turkey mince. i did eat crisps whicj i now cut oit. im just worried about one putting on weight as im finding it hard to shift anyway but two clogging up my argeries with too much saturated fat. ive paid a whoppin 250 pounds which if i felt i was gettin sweaty n workin hard i wudnt mind but i feel lole ove been rpbved! ive obly had a free session and one paid for session atm. my own fault i sjudve done a pay as u go but im quite easily persuaded n i wanted to lose weight for my friends hen do.
i still dont no wot to do he also sed if im hungry eat even if irs before bed. eat. then a suggestion was steak and cheese. i dnt fink he has a pjd or rd as u said but he has done nutrition course. whatever that means good or bad i dont know. i just feel hes ignoring me losing weight.
i have said several times..ok so im defo gona lose weight ye? n he sed ye ur body shape will change n then the whole bone debsity n muscle mass weighing more...its all jargon to me!0 -
apologies for all my spelling mistakes!0
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Now I'm showing my lack of knowledge:
"Orange juice has a lot of natural sugar, and a lot of unnatural sugar"
I know fruit juice has a lot of natural sugar so the sugar content is surprisingly high, and calories to match.
But unnatural sugar?
Do you mean orange juice that has added sweetener? Surely pure orange juice doesn't have unnatural anything or am I being naive?
I'm not picking holes, I'm genuinely asking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_juice
"The largest producers of "not from concentrate" use a production process where the juice is placed in aseptic storage, with the oxygen stripped from it, for up to a year. A flavor pack is added in the final step to give the juice flavor.[7] According to the citrus industry, the Food and Drug Administration does not require the contents of flavor packs to be detailed on a product's packaging."
I don't drink bottled OJ anymore. The whole process disgusts me. What is so hard about producing real orange juice.
That's very interesting!
I wonder if that process applies to juice sold in the UK? Hmm... We normally have some decent laws on labelling but the odd loophole does get through...
I know the stuff that is not 100% juice has all sorts of sweetners and nasties.
In the UK stuff like that has to have "drink" added to the end of the name. So I avoid anything with "drink" added to the name.
eg Orange and Mango Juice Drink may be only 15% juice. but Orange and Mango Juice has to be the real deal.
Am going to look up the UK rules on the stuff that is 100% juice not from concentrate...
Thanks for the heads up!0 -
if u could ask i would appreciate it! i am still confused by everyones comments. i understand cutting out prpcessed foods but tbh i always cook fresh eat lots of veg and fish chicken turkey mince. i did eat crisps whicj i now cut oit. im just worried about one putting on weight as im finding it hard to shift anyway but two clogging up my argeries with too much saturated fat. ive paid a whoppin 250 pounds which if i felt i was gettin sweaty n workin hard i wudnt mind but i feel lole ove been rpbved! ive obly had a free session and one paid for session atm. my own fault i sjudve done a pay as u go but im quite easily persuaded n i wanted to lose weight for my friends hen do.
i still dont no wot to do he also sed if im hungry eat even if irs before bed. eat. then a suggestion was steak and cheese. i dnt fink he has a pjd or rd as u said but he has done nutrition course. whatever that means good or bad i dont know. i just feel hes ignoring me losing weight.
i have said several times..ok so im defo gona lose weight ye? n he sed ye ur body shape will change n then the whole bone debsity n muscle mass weighing more...its all jargon to me!
It's like everyone always says, you know your body better than anyone, a nutrition course is a basic breakdown that's basically a half an hour course from what I understand, if you're having doubts about him and his ability to look after and help you, back out of it now, you need to be able to have a solid relationship with your pt, and not worry that he's screwing you over.
Good luck on your weight loss journey whether you stick with him or not :flowerforyou:0 -
Yes you should. You should be eating whole food. Start to read your labels, check out the sugar contents in low fat. Also if there is something on the label you can't read or know why would you put it in your body. There is good fat and bad fat. You have to some some fat in your diet and he is telling you to go for good fat. Congratulations on finding a trainer who is wanting to you eat real food,.0
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IMO you should tell him thanks for the advice that you shouldn't log what you eat (and calories) on MFP but you'll pass on that one. That way if he is an idiot, and you don't see reasonable results, you can take your business elsewhere. You need to know how many calories you're eating.0
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i dont think i can get outcof it. ive signed a contract. not that je gave me a copy. i do qv a bad feeling about it tbh. i understand eating whole foods but tbh his workout was more chat ten working. explaining why we do this andxthat. couldve done that while i was doin sumthin tho in my eyes. arghh i dno how i can get my money back!
thanks for all your feedback!0 -
I know a few people are slating him for saying not to count your calories, but I know quite a few programmes (particularly some groups run by the NHS) recommend not counting calories, and gaining a better understanding of the food you eat to make healthy options. I'm a nurse, so I don't really have much nutritional experience, but it sounds to me like he's trying to encourage you to eat less processed foods, and to develop a positive relationship with food.
My advice is to ask him the reasons behind it, if he's giving this information out he should have evidence to back it up that he is able to show you. You don't have to be confrontational, just explain that it goes against what your instinct is, and you were wondering about the research base for it.
Hope that helps!
ps. Person saying that a chef told you to only cook with olive oil ever... that's a bit odd, olive oil is too strong flavoured for some things for a start!0 -
He may be getting ready to drop the hammer on you workout wise. Maybe he just wants to make sure that you are fully fueled?0
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thanks, im doubting his commitment now tbh. im taking a lot of what he has advised on board n i am going to eat whole foods but i yhink to a certain degree i should be still counting calories so i dont over eat. still havent had my diet plan sent to me 4 days later. to me thats a whole week of could have losy weight wasted.0
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i hioe he does drop the hammer!
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what does he look like .is he fit?and does he eat what he is telling you to eat?My personal trainer,he is also a friend ,tells me exercises and nutition the same as he does and he is very fit,also he has been doing it for 20 years +...0
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actually english is my first language i just use my tiny touch screen phone which with long nails is rather hard to hit the right buttons 100% of the time.
during my consultation on monday he did explain the science behind the whole food things mentioning about all the bad stuff you wouldnt want to put into your body. when he bought up changing me from low fat cheese and skimmed milk to whole fats etc i did ask him as i was baffled. i also asked so if i change all this i will definately lose weight? to which he said you probably wont lose weight but your shape will change..which i can understand as long as my clothes fit better thats fine. I still personally dont think eating alot of foods in such high saturated fat will be good for my health?
the reason i am panicking is because it is now thursday and after a reminder in person and several emails he has still not sent me this specific diet plan with foods to avoid and foods to have and recipes etc.
my workout yesterday (after already having a free consultation which involved teaching me to warm up do squats and stretch which to add my squats were perfect ) involved me warming up on my own as he was late. then we did 3 sets of squats with a barbell weight ranging from 18 - 25 reps. Then a hamstring dead lift or something cant quite remember. again 3 sets of 25. and then we stretched. this is in an hour?
i feel my session was wasted and coming on here and positing is reassuring me that i am right and i am not expecting too much when i am paying alot of money. support and opinions is exactly why im posting on MFP.0 -
Right.
It's hard to judge them, or their qualifications, because we can't see the big picture.
It's possible for a trainer to have qualifications in fitness, exercise instruction and nutrition.
It's also possible for them to have none.
It's possible that they are tailoring an exercise program and specific changes to your diet and lifestyle that will suit you.
It's also possible they're just talking buzzwords.
If they're making very small, easily adaptable changes, specific to your life, that are achievable and taking you on a path to a healthier lifestyle, they're probably qualified or know what they're talking about.
If they're making broad, sweeping statements, regardless of your current diet/lifestyle/work or family commitments, that they give to all of their clients, they're probably not qualified.0 -
my workout yesterday (after already having a free consultation which involved teaching me to warm up do squats and stretch which to add my squats were perfect ) involved me warming up on my own as he was late. then we did 3 sets of squats with a barbell weight ranging from 18 - 25 reps. Then a hamstring dead lift or something cant quite remember. again 3 sets of 25. and then we stretched. this is in an hour?
i feel my session was wasted and coming on here and positing is reassuring me that i am right and i am not expecting too much when i am paying alot of money. support and opinions is exactly why im posting on MFP.
Just break up.0 -
My PT has a thing about fruit - he thinks it is the food of the devil!
However - I don't pay him for nutritional advice, and whilst I am happy to show him my food diary, as long as the weight is coming down with my combination of training and eating better, I'm happy.
I pay for his specialisation which is posture correction, and rehab pain management.
For that he's great - everything else I take with a pinch of salt!0 -
cook with butter or goose fat.
That's freaking disturbing, you're right that does sound like a bodybuilder diet, because from everything I've heard/read and been told by an actual chef that was teaching at Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food, you should use Pure Olive Oil to cook with...
I think Jamie Oliver has shares in Olive Oil. He uses sooooo much of it in everything. I even saw the other day he'd made a lovely butternut squash soup, served it up, then poured oil all over it. Why? WHYYYY?0 -
I have two thoughts about this:
With no disrespect intended, although some of the people here are qualified nutritional experts, most are not, so surely the line about the trainer not being qualified or well qualified, followed by that persons advice is a little hypocritical?
That said, I don't think qualifications are the only thing that gives someone authority on a topic, it's possible to gain knowledge through informal studying and experience.
My second thought is that at this stage, it's almost irrelevant if the guy is right or wrong you've built up so much negativity and doubt towards him, that it's unlikely to work out well.0
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