Ugh….. It’s 2019 and I am now officially a social media whore. I have become everything that I used to mock, ridicule, rant and rave about. I used to pride myself as being known as that analog man living in a digital world. Alas over the past few years I now find myself out there hashtagging, blogging and tweeting with the best of them. Entrapped in an cyber world full of impersonal communication, which in my opinion, very often leads to misguided misinformation, fake news, and can even fuel cyberbullying at times.

A Breeding Ground for Bro Science

As someone who has been heavily involved within the fitness industry for over two decades, I’ve seen ALOT of fads come and go. From Atkins to South Beach. From Paleo to Carb Cycling. From IIFYM to Intermittent Fasting. I’ve lived through it all. I survived the Crossfit Craze. I made it through Zumba mania. I outlasted Bar Method. And I currently sit here waiting patiently for Orangetheory’s flame to eternally burn out. My apologies if I come off as cocky and arrogant towards these “diets” and “training philosophies”, as that was not my intention. On second thought though, perhaps it was….

I like to think of myself as a fairly openminded individual. I always recommend to my clients that if they are experiencing results with a particular diet or training method, then they should stick with that nutritional plan or training program until they hit a plateau and stop seeing results. Even if I personally do not believe that eating junk food everyday is okay because “it fits” your macros, or that restricting a particular macronutrient for weeks to months at a time is healthy for your body and brain, if it’s working for you, then all the power to you. And regardless if I believe that Crossfit leads to some fairly serious and long term injuries for most people, if you enjoy doing it, then who am I to tell you to stop?

The Shameless Selfie Game

I’ve come to terms that selfies are here to stay. And to tell you the truth, I don’t really mind selfies now as much as I did in the past. I do however mind when certain selfies are used in the fitness industry to promote the ideal physique. No, having striated glutes, ripped abs and bulging biceps, should not automatically make you an expert in the field of diet and nutrition. Nor does being able to bench press 500lbs for reps or perform endless amounts of hip thrusts give you the credentials to create and design a training program for the average person who is looking to transform their physique and improve their overall health. “Booty Gains” are not accolades that define your accomplishments, and a decent looking physique does not necessarily give you the credibility to claim that your training and dieting theories are a proven success.

Everyone is unique and everyone is different. Therefore not everyone is going to respond to the exact same training program or nutritional plan. I’ve worked with hundreds of clients over the years and all of which I’ve had to take a different approach to help get them into shape while helping them lose fat, build muscle, and improve their overall quality of life. There really is no one size fits all program when it comes to diet and training. Some people have fast metabolisms while others have slower metabolisms. Some people can diet on lots of carbs and lose weight, while others may respond better to a low carb/high fat diet for optimal results. Some people will perform better in the gym on a 6 day training split, while others might need more rest days in between and respond better to a 3 or 4 day split.

The trick is to FIND out what works for YOU instead of being TOLD what works for YOU by a complete stranger who you follow on social media who knows nothing about and who knows absolutely nothing about you.

Finding The Right Coach

A good coach learns his or her client’s body by asking the right questions, trying out different training methods, figuring out what works for the person and what doesn’t. A good coach ignores the fads and focuses strictly on the facts. A good coach knows when to push their clients and when to back off. And a good coach only becomes a great coach from years of experience and knowledge and a willingness to keep an open mind while taking a more subjective approach to how he or she works with each client. A great coach is also always open and interested in learning new theories and methods to do and accomplish certain tasks and goals as they themselves evolve with time.

No More Fitness Journeys!

I’m about as big of a fan of these “fitness journeys” as I am about giving out high fives. I think they’re cheesy and distasteful. Getting in shape is not a journey. It’s a way of life. Performing a few push-ups or squats does not necessitate to slapping hands together for encouragement. It should be encouragement enough knowing that we are doing something good for our bodies each and every time we set foot in the gym. If you really want to get fit and become more healthy, then in my opinion, you need to take a more serious and practical approach to accomplish this. Zumbaing around in a class of 50 people or performing push-ups upside down on your head, might sound fun, but you need to ask yourself if these actions are going to help you reach your goals. Yes, you can be flexible with your diet, but do you really have to have that second helping of ice cream because it fits your so-called daily macronutrient allowance?

Be intense with your training. Be smart with your dieting. And be cautious of who you choose to hire and work with to help you transform your physique. Because at the end of the day, just like your money, nobody is going to take care of your health as much as you will and should.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance