Why the ‘Fitness’ Industry is full of helmets

…and other annoying stuff

“Nutritionists”
One of my main concerns with the fitness industry is the way people can do a 2 week course and all of a sudden announce themselves an ‘expert’ in the field of exericse & nutrition.  Moreover, terms and self-imposed titles like “nutritionist”, which aren’t regulated and protected give an impression of clinical importance and authority, when in many cases it is absent.

Many of the best personal trainers that I know, in fact most of them, do not have any academic (degree for example) qualifications in their chosen field.  They have built up a great deal of in-depth knowledge by training themselves and reading, and listening to others. This is great, but unfortunately, others see the lack of regulation as a chance to make some quick money, and in other cases, anounce themselves as an authority in the field, via a slick website and a good social media campaign.

Nobody knows if a study is sponsored by a pharmaceutical company (or another powerful company) or not
People seem to go around in circles in discussions (normally arguments in reality, thanks to some of the massive egos) about fitness or strength and conditioning, because you can’t back up a point you’ve made by referencing a study.  You can claim pretty much what you want to nowadays, because there’s no point in referencing a study, because apparently they are all rubbish and corrupt.
Please try and have some kind of scientific theory behind what you do and say.

Everyone has a different opinion, and everyone is 110% certain their way is correct
Back to the issue of massive egos.  There are many ways to ‘get into shape’, and trainers will dismiss methods that they do not use themselves as ‘rubbish’ or ‘b*ll*cks’ and remain narrow minded in their approach.

‘Expert’ British coaches spelling “programme” incorrectly
It’s “programme” unless you are referring to something computer related, not “program”.

Obsession with appearance & general narcissism it promotes
It’s like nothing else matters to some people.  They’ll post gym-motivation pictures about “winners never quit” or some other great line of infinite wisdom, and relate it to how big their muscles are. It’s not important!  You won’t change the world having big biceps.  Try learning about computers, or medicine or something.  And if you want to dedicate all of your time to something that’s a bit shallow, please don’t go on about it, constantly.
I mean it’s fine, and fun to go to the gym, but try and do it for ‘intrinsic’ values like enjoyment, and remember you’re not better than anyone if you have 16 inch biceps or a six-pack.
If you enjoy it, then do it, but don’t evaluate yourself and others by it.  It’s great to have a hobby and a passion, but not so great to get obsessive with your appearance and think it’s the be all and end all.

Motivational pictures
As explained above, I’m not a big fan.

First out, this guy is obviously on the roids.  Which is fine, but don’t make out you’re some kind of hero who has used mental strength only to build your muscles.
In addition, in my opinion anyway, building your muscles and ego is not something that’s tremendously valuable.
In reference to the above picture, you should be wishing and working for world peace, a happy life, a healthy CV system, well brought up children, an open-mind etc.  not a bloody six-pack.  Volunteering to help orphans or something is a great achievement, benching 150kg isn’t of much value, other than to your own ego. Ego & self esteem are important but don’t make them dependent on the way you look.
It’s similar with MMA I guess (many helmets around this sport too), in that you’re unlikely to change the world doing it; but at least there’s an emphasis on having no ego (at good clubs anyway), and it doesn’t make you obsessive about your appearance.  And there are less motivational MMA pics flying about social media:

Fruity profile pictures and cover pics of trainers/coaches/PTs
Just take a look on Twitter or Facebook for a personal trainer.  I’ve never seen so many greased up, homo-erotic looking men.  Which is fine, but not something I want to be bombarded with.
Maybe when I’m 40 and haven’t got time to hit the sweatshop…

Herbalife
Don’t get me started on this stuff, overpriced, to put it mildly.  Indicative of everything that’s wrong with the industry, full of bull and pyramid sales schemes.  Get your vitamins from zipvit.co.uk and protein and creatine from bulkpowders.com, branded stuff is a ridiculous rip off.

Cynicism like mine
Sorry if this all sounds a bit arrogant & judgemental, it’s an off-the-cuff rant on my dinner hour.  At the end of the day if you love fitness and the gym, then please carry on – and it’s your social media account, so share whatever pics you want to on there.

I often do all of the above (over-occupied with my appearance etc.), and if I still worked in the fitness industry I would probably refer to myself as a “nutritionist”.  I even have a fruity picture on my blog header; and have no doubt made several grammatical and spelling errors in this post.
Just be aware of some of the rubbish that plagues the industry of ‘health & fitness’.  It’s not health and fitness anymore, it’s vanity and boll_cks (and lots of shyt pictures of oily men on steds).

BOOM!