Diet is like religion. Therefore I don’t offer my opinion unless I’m asked.

Training is like politics. Therefore I don’t give my views unless requested to do so.

And the fitness industry is like a ponzi scheme. Therefore I don’t get involved with the fad diets and workout gimmicks unless I’ve been provoked.

Unfortunately this bear has been poked far too many times lately. The gas has been poured on my fire and I’m ready to ignite. I need to unleash on these fitness phonies. I have to release on these diet gurus. I must expose these fads and the gimmicks for what they truly are. And I probably should do it quickly before my blog gets swiped, deleted or scrolled through in your newsfeed.

Bearing in mind that I’m now competing in an IG world, I’m going to try and keep this week’s blog as short and condensed as possible. So rather then go into grave detail about the following subjects, I’m going to keep things brief.

Alas with further ado, I bring to you my list of…….

The Things I Hate in the Fitness Industry

DIET:

IIFYM Diet – Eat whatever you like as long as you stay within your daily macronutrient requirements.
My Opinion – Eat like crap, feel like crap.
Verdict –  Crap

Intermittent Fasting – Fast for 12-16 hours each day while giving yourself an 8-12 hour “window” to eat whatever and however you like.
My Thoughts – Unsustainable and unrealistic for long term success.
Verdict – Sustainably Shitty

Keto – Carbs are bad. Carbs make people fat. Take out carbs and lose weight.
My Views – Carbs don’t make people fat. Poor eating habits make people fat. Ketosis works in the short term but will ultimately lead to failure in the long term by creating a sensitivity to carbohydrates once they have been reintroduced into a diet.
Verdict – Proceed with Caution

TRAINING:

CrossFit – Makes you strong, agile and fit. Promotes a sense of “functional training”. Challenging, rewarding and fun.
My Opinion – A very complex and comprehensive style of training. High risk of injuries caused by explosive movements that are typically completed in a ballistic type fashion. Should only be performed by advance lifters who have developed a strong mind to muscle connection through years of hard and intense resistance and cardiovascular training.
Verdict – Not Suited for Beginners and/or Weekend Warriors

Bar Method – An exercise routine that’s based on the routines used by dancers to maintain long, strong muscles, flexibility and good posture.
My Thoughts – The key word here is “MAINTAIN”. Bar Method is used to help dancers maintain their physiques. Any reputable and aesthetically pleasing dancer will tell you that they BUILT their impressive looking physiques through hours of dancing and training in the gym with REAL weights! Not 2.5lbs dumbbells!!!!
Verdict – Bar Won’t Build a Booty

Boot Camps – Motivating and cost-effective solution to get fit when short on time and working with a budget
My Views – Generic workouts. Weak exercises. Poor communication due to overpopulated class sizes being taught by only one instructor.
Verdict – You Get What You Pay For

A Penny for Your Thoughts

You have no idea how good that feels to get all of this off my chest. I felt as if I was holding a static wall squat or one legged plank for weeks on end. As always, it’s not my objective to offend or upset anyone when I offer out my opinions, thoughts and view points on certain subjects. In fact, I honestly don’t take any of this seriously so neither should you. If you enjoy the flexibility that the IIFYM Diet and/or Intermittent Fasting offers with your daily schedule, then stick with it. If you feel you get a good workout when doing CrossFit or Bar Method, then all the power to you. And if you want to send me a rebuttal to dispute and discuss some of my claims, then you know where you can reach me.

“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; an argument is an exchange of ignorance.”
Robert Quillen

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance