Worst diet 'EVER'???!

This years most dangerous diet?

I had a spray tan for the first time at the end of last year but this blog is not about that, it's about a magazine I began to read whilst I was waiting for my beauty therapist to be ready.

There was a pile of copies of a long running and well know women's magazine in the salon and as I was waiting I noticed a front page headline talking about 'this years most dangerous diet'. I had to read it of course! I'd just started the article when I was called but as it seemed to be talking about my approach to eating I went out and bought a copy the next day.

When I did read the article in full I have to say that I was appalled at the standard of the reporting – although I have no idea of the general standard of this type of magazine article as I don't often read them – they may all be this bad! So, what was so bad about it you ask;

The use of the word diet – this is such a misused word. We use it to mean 'slimming diet' in current speech, which in itself is wrong. We're all on a 'diet', what we eat, whether slimming or not is DIET.

That, however, was not the worst offence that I found just a common problem with the use or misuse of language.

The worst thing to my mind was the approach the 'dieters' used – it appeared that the people on this 'so-called' protein diet were eating almost nothing but protein. They were eating lots of meat and supplementing with protein bars and shakes. This idea seemed to have come from the body-building world where competition participants use these techniques to bulk up just before competition and to reduce body fat – in the last week or two only.

It is not a sustainable approach – any body-builder or person reducing body fat for competition will tell you that. The people who were recounting their problems with the 'diet' commented about mood swings and poor skin tone and sleep patterns. Yep, the athletes that use this approach could tell you that too. They even complained that instead of losing weight that they put it on – of course they did, they were eating extra calories with all those supplements and bars!

So, why do I and others suggest protein with every meal as a way of losing weight then? Well, protein takes longer to digest and as it does not raise your blood sugar too quickly it does not force your body to release a great big dose of insulin in one. It keeps you feeling fuller for longer.

How do you eat protein safely? Firstly you do not just eat protein! Focus your meals around lean proteins and vegetables (especially green ones) and a small amount of fats. By simply avoiding processed and packaged foods you can also reduce your intake of sugary foods - see further blogs on the subject of sugar lower down the front blog page.

Protein can help you control your weight and it certainly is not the most dangerous diet idea - unless you use it in the wrong way.

Walking the walk (part one) - A blog for other PTs out there

Walking the walk (part 1)

So there I was in the middle of the square with a client who was working hard and enjoying the sun, we were both horrified when a trainer from a nearby gym came out on a break and lit up a cigarette.

How could I possibly train clients and encourage health and fitness objectives if I was a smoker?

I really don't think that anyone should.

Smoking is clearly a 'no-no' (to me) but is there anything else we should be thinking about when we're trying to tell others to lead healthy lifestyles?

I think that there is. We, as Personal Trainers, should lead by example. We are our brand and we should show our clients what to aspire to. I'm not saying that all our clients or indeed all of us need to be into power-lifting or fitness modelling or marathon running but that we should at least be physically fit and be eating healthily as an example to others.

What does that mean in practical terms?

You can't tell realistically tell clients to 'eat this, don't eat that' if you go out and stuff your face with pizza and chips every day. You can't tell them to reduce their alcohol intake if you're out sinking 10 pints every other night. You won't be trusted by clients if you turn out to be a hypocrite. However, you don't have to be perfect – we're all human and 'cheat' days are the stuff that allow us and our clients to stick the plan the rest of the time.

This all sound like common sense to you? It does to me to but clearly not to all – remember the PT mentioned in the first paragraph...

I guess what I'm trying to say is, all PT's need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk to be taken seriously and really help clients to achieve their best.