*New Article up at Figure Athlete.com*

I was in the grocery store the other day, and in the checkout line in front of me I noticed a guy reading an issue of Men’s Health while chewing on a Double-Stuffed Oreo he took from the box but hadn’t yet paid for.

I found the irony of the visual quite excellent.

I have a habit of browsing other shopping carts out of curiosity, and the Cookie Monster in front of me had all the goods. Chips, cookies, doughnuts… it was a trainer’s worst nightmare! Now, I’m not exactly judging his food choices. What I was struck by was the recurring thought in my head, “Well, at least he is eating.”

He can try to change his ways. But we all know his true instincts.

I actually confused myself! So I took a second and wondered why, when I looked at his bountiful cart of trans-fat and sugar, I didn’t think, “Holy crow, this guy is a heart attack waiting to happen. I hope he’s got a will prepared.”

Could it be because I spend so much of my day trying to convince people to eat? Could it be that I’m hoping for a client who, before they come to me, has actually been stuffing herself with three big meals, daytime snacks, and a nightly dessert?

In a time where obesity is the (not-so) secret killer around the world, why do I find myself eager for a gut-busting, jean-popping client to train?

Stop Dieting. Start Living.

When people come to a trainer to lose fat, it’s usually as a last resort. We usually get a client who has already hit rock bottom with frustration, despair, and an almost-complete loss of hope to lose their fat.

By the time they get to me, they’ve tested Weight Watchers, bought Turbo Jam, tried Atkins (twice… once to learn it, and then once “for real”) and they usually have enough Ab Lounges, mini-steppers, and Gazelle walkers to start their own small gym.

Yeah, baby? How about noooo, baby!

By the time most people finally hire a trainer they’re cynical, untrusting, and about to scream at the world. And why shouldn’t they be mad? They’re hungry, they’re tired, and they’ve been repeatedly lied to by TV commercials and magazine ads.

Why is it then, when I tell my clients, “Guess what? You get to eat more and workout less!” They get mad and argue with me?

I get so perplexed! I sit there completely dumbfounded that they don’t turn to me and say, “Thank you, Leigh, you’re a lifesaver. I’m so hungry and tired, I just don’t think I could have lasted any longer.” Nope, this isn’t the response I get. Instead, I usually hear one of three things:

Excuse #1:

“Well, I’ve already lost weight doing things my way and it seems to work for me, so I don’t think I need to eat more.”

My immediate response is, “Okay then, no problem. Thank you for your time.” They look very confused, until I follow up with “If it’s working, and you’re happy with it, then you don’t need my help.”

Of course, that’s a bit of reverse psychology, but when they hear me say it, they realize that it either isn’t actually working or it won’t continue working for long. They can’t starve themselves or they’ll be stuck at their current weight.

They know, deep down, that something isn’t right about what they’re doing. It’s why they came to me in the first place; they just needed me to point it out.

Excuse #2:

“Honestly, I just couldn’t eat any more than I do. I’m not even losing weight right now.”

The act of dieting triggers a lot of different hormones in the body. Some of these hormones, when they become slowed or when triggered, can blunt appetite stimulation. For some, this is a good thing, and it’s what you want because it makes the dieting easier.

The problem comes when you’ve suppressed hormone function to the point of slowing its overall process, which leads to slower fat loss. Next thing you know, 1,200 calories a day is all you need, and anything more than that will now be seen by the body as a surplus. It’s your body’s natural defense mechanism to a lower caloric input.

Your body’s other defense mechanism… a quick left hook.

You will see some weight loss on such low calories, but it isn’t healthy, and at some point, a change will have to happen. That change can either be you totally giving up and going back to “normal” (non-training, non-dieting) habits, or you can approach your nutrition in a smart and healthy manner. It’s up to you.

Excuse #3:

“I know I should be eating more, but I’ve also heard that when you increase your calories, you just regain the weight quickly. I can’t stand to put any weight back on.”

I get it, really, I do. It’s hard enough going through all this, and then to be told that the only way you’re going to continue losing fat carries a chance of gaining some weight back. However, you don’t have to gain fat while upping your calories.

There really isn’t any kind of argument you can give me for starving yourself and overtraining that I won’t shoot down. The science and experience speaks for itself here. This goes beyond opinion.

It isn’t just fat loss ability or metabolism we are talking about here. It’s nutrient needs, immune system requirements, and bacteria growth, just to name a few. A lot of things come into play with extreme cuts in calories.

Why, then, are people still arguing with me about not wanting to eat?

The Smart Decision… E-A-T

Picture this… in front of you, there are two tables. One table has a big plate of herb-spiced chicken, a side of seasoned brown rice, and a bowl of fresh, mixed green veggies. The other table has a container of store-bought, “healthy,” low-fat (which means high sugar) yogurt, and few carrot sticks.

One’s the smarter choice, the other is what some will choose anyway.

Now, if I tell you that the chicken, rice, and veggie meal will be better for your fat loss and overall health, are you really going to turn to me and say, “No thanks, I’d rather have my cup of sugar-filled yogurt and some carrot sticks?” I know that some of you actually will, and I also know the most common reasons why.

Reason 1: “They” Told You To Do It.

Who are they? “They” are misinformed doctors, old school dietitians, and lousy personal trainers that want results, but care more about getting a paycheck instead of your health and well-being. “They” are your friends who absolutely swear by the results they see from the latest new diet, even though they just finished regaining all the weight they lost from last year’s fad.

It’s a safe bet that ANY diet advice this guy gives, is useless.

“They” are the media, with fast-acting fat loss infomercials, shows about the biggest losing celebrity fat camp, and news channels that keep us informed about which celebs are anorexic and who just got gastric bypass surgery. All of them preach overtraining and undereating to get the most out of their time slots.

Reason 2: You’re the Exception to the Rule.

We like to think that we’re special. That somehow with all of the science and all of the research, we’re just more unique than that and the rules just don’t apply to us. We all like to overlook the problems that put us in the 1% category because, hey, someone has to be that genetically-gifted 1%, right?

Great genes or not, hard work is always rewarded.

I do want you to believe in your gifts. I want you to be encouraged by the things that make you, you. But that still doesn’t mean you defy the laws of science. Sorry, babe.

Reason 3: You’re Afraid.

We all have some fear. We’re afraid we’ll gain the weight right back and we’ll have to start all over. Or we’re afraid to actually lose the weight, and then we’ll have to put our self-esteem issues elsewhere.

Don’t be a wuss. It’s not a monster; it’s just a piece of plastic with some electronics inside.

Maybe it all won’t work, and we’ll lose all the hope that keeps us going. Maybe we’re afraid that we’ll anger those we love by changing ourselves for the better. Or we could be afraid that eating better, and eating more, will just lead to making bad food choices.

We can’t let any of these reasons get in the way of our goals. Every one of us is special – special in our strength, special in our character.

The Final Word: In the end, eating will lead to your goal. Proper nutrition is the key to getting the look you want, and if you are finding yourself stalled over and over again, it may not be that you’re eating too much, it may be that you’re eating too little.

About the Author

For more information on Leigh Peele, check out her latest releases The Fat Loss Troubleshoot and The Metabolic Repair Manual. Leigh Peele specializes in training and research that involves repairing and reaching peak metabolism performance and fat loss advancement. You can find out more information on her and her work at www.AvidityFitness.net or www.FatLossTroubleshoot.com.

Featured Images

Camouflage boxer: Lisa Marie Bickels – www.LisaMarieBickels.com

Red bikini: Sharon Van Der Horst – www.SharonVanDerHorst.com