I like to think of myself as somewhat of a relatively intelligent individual when it comes to the health and fitness industry. I don’t fall victim to fad diets and phony fitness trends. I don’t waste my money on shitty supplements whose companies spend more time and effort on their marketing gimmicks, then they do on the quality of ingredients that go into their actual products. And I rarely (that’s right rarely, I do compete in Bodybuilding Competitions half naked on stage after all) post scantly clad photos of myself online to help “generate more business” and provide me with a sense of self validation.

I call BS on Bro Science whenever I have the opportunity to do so. I grow tiresome when I hear of other trainers and fitness professionals regurgitating generic garbage to their clients and social media followers alike. And I become worrisome when I see people who are new to exercise and understand very little about diet and nutrition, listening to them!

Busting Out The Bullshit 

I’m going to be honest with you. Unless you have a thyroid issue or are taking a certain type of medication that is causing you to gain weight, it’s really not that difficult to lose body fat. Yes, you might have to cut back on the empty calories and overindulgence on sugary treats. Sure, you might have to spend a little more time in the gym. And I think we can all agree that you will have to be consistent with both your diet and your training if you’re going to notice any real significant results with both your health and your physique in the long term.

However, it can be done. And more importantly, it can all be done without overcomplicating the process.

Despite my straightforward approach to building muscle and losing fat, there are still plenty of trainers, coaches, commercial gyms and supplement companies out there that will tell you that it cannot be done so simply, or at least without their help. They try to tell/sell you on a theory that you need to eat and train a certain way. They try to overcomplicate the process of building muscle and burning fat by throwing around fancy terminology such as “Anabolic Window” “Intermittent Fasting” and “Fat Burning Zone”, to name a few. Call me too old-school or call me a simpleton, but when it comes to these fat burning theories and so-called muscle building “facts”, I just call bullshit.

Intense Training – A Thing of the Past?

In my blog last week I spoke about how I’m experiencing some difficulty keeping up with a fitness industry that is constantly evolving. However upon further review, thanks to all the misleading information on the internet about diet and exercise and the mindless meatheads at the gym who are building their bodies with steroids rather then building their bodies with squats, I think the reason I’m having difficulty keeping up is because this industry is actually devolving.

There once was a time when a person could go to the gym and not have to announce to the world that he or she was in fact “going to the gym”. There once was a time where a person could enter a gym and not have to wait 15 minutes to use a piece of exercise equipment because someone else was resting/texting 3-5 minutes in between each set. There once was a time where the squat racks were used for squats rather then used for selfies. Boy, do I ever miss those times……..

Lazy Dieters

If you follow me on Instagram or an avid reader of my weekly blogs, then you will know that I’m strongly against implementing the “If It Fits Your Macros” Diet, into any of the nutritional plans that I design for my clients that I work with. Quite frankly, I don’t give a shit if a person can eat a slice of cheesecake everyday and lose weight because it fits their daily macronutrient consumption. And I could care less if a doughnut contains less carbohydrates then a bowl of oatmeal. I don’t believe in incorporating unhealthy foods into my clients’ nutritional plans just because they can get away with it. Yes, you can lose weight if you stay within a certain caloric deficit for your weight and activity level. But what kind of weight are you losing if 90% of your diet is full of junk food? And what exactly are all these unhealthy foods doing to your internal organs, digestive system, liver and heart in the long term?

I think the real reason as to why so many people struggle with their weight is because they are lazy when it comes to their diet. Whether it be not taking enough initiative to prepare their meals ahead of time, or rewarding themselves by overindulging in simple carbs, processed sugars and trans fats, or justifying that they “deserve” an entire cheat day instead of just ONE cheat meal, in my opinion most people who are struggling with their health and weight are just becoming too lazy in the kitchen.

Everyone knows that it’s more convenient to order a pizza then to grill up a piece of salmon and steam up some brown rice. However everyone (or at least most people I hope) also know that it’s much more unhealthy for both our health and our waistlines to consume food like this on a regular basis. Yet, most people continue to choose the fatty greasy pizza over the lean, nutrient dense salmon and brown rice.

Why?

Again……Laziness

The Truth Hurts

I feel incredibly grateful to be able to work with a long list of clients who actually care about their diets and their training. People who hire me to assist them with their diets actually want to learn the science behind the foods that they are consuming. People who train with me on the floor want to know why we use certain training methods and want to understand how to maximize their results both inside and outside of the gym with both their physiques and their overall health.

As a fitness trainer/coach, it’s my job to motivate my clients. But as fitness professional, it’s also my job to educate them on the latest sports technology (as in training theories and methods, NOT fancy apps and gizmos) and dietary science. I don’t sugarcoat anything for anyone. I believe that if you want results, then you have to work extremely hard for them. I don’t believe in short cuts and I don’t believe in following Mickey Mouse routines either. The gym is not my happy place. The gym is a place to destress, learn, get fit, transform your body and stay healthy.

And in my opinion, if you want to maximize your results both in the gym and in the kitchen, then all you need is a little self motivation to stay focused, remain disciplined, ready to learn, a willingness to fail, and a constant desire to refuse to quit and give up.

In other words, all you really need to do, is keep it simple…..

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance