In my opinion, when it comes to diet and exercise, there is nothing worse then unsolicited advice. I honestly can’t stand when I see people who think they’re health and fitness experts using their social media platforms to preach and lecture others on how to eat “properly” and how to train “efficiently” to be able to develop and transform their physiques for the better. Sure, some of this advice is actually helpful and useful. But honestly from what I can tell, the majority of this “information” is just mindless dribble and ridiculous rhetoric used to attract followers, gain likes, and/or promote an inferior service or low-grade product or device.

As it happens every so often, this analog man has grown tiresome and annoyed with this digital world and has resorted back to a world in which he knows best. A world in which experts are actually experts. A world where we respect and appreciate brains rather then butts. A world in which separates fact from fiction. A world in which Drake is not considered to be an artist. A world where girls and guys don’t post photos of themselves half naked online for validation from others. A world which is simple instead of a world that has become moronic. A world that produces results, rather then a world that promises fabrications.

Fuck The Fads

I don’t do Intermittent Fasting,  I don’t like Ketogenic Diets, and I don’t even want to begin to understand how Intuitive Eating has now actually become a thing. I refuse to follow a “plan” that allows me to eat anything and everything I like, as long as it fits my daily macros. I cringe at the thought of having to use an app to tell me what I can and cannot eat throughout the day. And I get a migraine when people tell me that their “juicing” and are now following a Juice Diet.

As much as I may loathe the majority (okay all) of the fad diets listed above, I can’t argue and say that they don’t work. Because quite frankly, if followed correctly, for the most part, they actually do. Yes, these diets can actually help people lose weight. Sure, some of these diets do help people feel better and feel more energized throughout the day. And I’m positive that most people reading this blog have actually experimented with at least one of these diets in the past and have achieved some fairly decent results from following it. However part of me wonders how many of these people have been able to actually sustain these results in the long term. And I’m not just talking about for a few weeks or a couple of months, I’m referring to at least a few years or a decade plus.

Sustaining Success

By no means do I claim to be an expert when it comes to weight loss and nutrition. Yes, I do help people transform their physiques through diet and exercise, and yes, I do have a proven formula and systematic approach that has helped my clients achieve success with both their fitness and their health. But I can’t, I won’t, and I never will, take credit for these results that my clients have achieved. My clients are the ones that have put in the work in the gym. My clients are the ones that have made the sacrifices with their diet and nutrition in the kitchen. My clients are the ones that wanted to make that initial change with their health and their physiques. All I can do is provide them with the tools needed to achieve their target training goals.

With that said, it’s my job to help my clients achieve success, however it’s also my job to ensure that they sustain this very same success as well (at least while they’re working with me anyways). Therefore whether I’m training someone in the gym or designing their diet for them online, I have to make sure that whatever approach I’m using will create a long term, lasting effect. After all, what’s the point of following a diet that will help someone lose 30lbs in 30 days if all it’s going to do is mess up their metabolism, slow down their thyroid and cause a nasty rebound effect when they come off said diet? And why would I have someone ever follow a “No Pain, No Gain” approach to their training if they are actually dealing with a serious injury or chronic physical limitation? Wouldn’t this just risk the possibility of creating additional injuries which would ultimately result in discontinuing their training in the gym all together? And as for supplements, steroids and fat burners? Sure, sometimes more is in fact better. But rarely if ever is this an approach that I will use when creating a supplement protocol for a client. I’ve always used the “Less is Best” approach when it comes to proper supplementation and have therefore always relied more on intense training and strict dieting to get the job done.

Perfecting My Point

My point is that if you’re going to embark on any new diet plan, training program or supplement protocol, just make sure that it makes sense! Don’t just take the advice from someone who has a decent looking physique and has a million plus followers on Instagram. Do your research! If you’re going to hire a Personal Trainer / Online Coach to help you, then ask for credentials and look for testimonials from other clients who have experienced success with your potential Trainer. In this day and age, with a few simple clicks on your mouse pad, you can find out if the Trainer you wish to hire is a fraud or is in fact the real deal.

Lastly, don’t forget to take some responsibility for your own results (or lack of results) as well. If you truly want to make a change with your physique and improve your overall health and wellbeing, then it’s up to you to make that change. You know that saying “No one is going to look after your own money more then you will”? Well the same can be said for your body, because at the end of the day, nobody is going to look after your body more then you will.

So start looking after it and don’t let the the temptations of short term gratifications get in the way of achieving long term satisfaction.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance