What you say is very interesting. You indicate that it seems to be a lack of education and a rigid plan that is the principle cause of failure. Would you agree ?
I would 100% agree Colin. Let's take an example...
Cindy is 35, 5'4, 180lbs and 31% body fat. She went to an online community and was told she should be taking in 1200 calories a day and doing cardio 5 days a week at 45-60 mins. And light resistance training 3 days a week for 45 mins. Cindy is a tough girl and usually achieves what she puts her mind to, so she has decided to stick with and follow this plan.
Now Cindy thinks that in order to lose that weight she will have to devote at the least 360 mins a week or 6 hours to exercising alone. On top of that she is only going to be eating 1200 calories to get energy for all that activity. What is her estimated caloric needs for maintenance in this situation. Well given her BMR of roughly 1574 x 1.5 for that activity level we reach 2361. That is as well if her job she has is a desk job, if it is higher in physical demand than that this number could easily rise. With that number she is in a deficit each day of roughly 1161 calories. Now sure for a while she will lose some WEIGHT quickly, some may be fat, some may be water, some may be muscle. It is a toss up really. But after a while of working that hard even if will power isn't an issue she will plateau. So she goes to ask advice and what does she get, "bump up the cardio, make it longer and more intense".
So now our hero Cindy is down to 162 and working out 400 mins a week still at 1200 calories a day. Cindy is going to break down soon, she will start to cheat more here and there, her body will be more prone to injury, basically she is setting herself up for "failure". So she has dropped down to 156 but has been stuck there now for 4 weeks. Her body fat % has changed from 31% to 28%. So she has lost some fat but she has bags under her eyes, her hair is starting to thin out and overall she feels tired and fatigued constantly. She figures that 156 is good enough for her and calls it a day because she can't possibly workout anymore than she is, she has kids, she has a job and she doesn't get to see her friends anymore. So of course Cindy goes back slowly to her natural eating habits, gains back 4-5 pounds very quickly because her BMR had dropped so low during the course of her dieting. She feels like a failure, is disappointed in her lack of "will power" and a year from now will most likely be standing in line at a Weight Watchers meeting.
Now had in the beginning she been told the right methods of fat loss none of that would have occurred. Had she had the proper education all that time and energy wouldn't have been wasted.
Do you believe that it is not possible to diet alone?
I think it is extremly possible to diet alone. Some people want someone like me in their life to help guide them. NO ONE NEEDS IT. Self education is key to anyones success. If you have the right education and will power there is nothing you can't do own your on. No one NEEDS a personal trainer. We are here merely to help educate and guide you through the process the best we can. Some people don't have time or desire to do that, they would rather have you do it for them, that is when we usually come in or they have been given so much information that just need someone who will give the right information.
Am I naive to believe that I can write something and expect that people will read it and try it or must there be some personal contact?
No not at all. You don't HAVE to have personal contact, but you do have to have human interaction. These message boards alone are chalk full with every kind of case and person you could ask for. If all my experience was just working with people in person I don't think I would be where I am now. The internet gives you a huge barrel to sift through and to understand causes, reactions, what works, what doesn't and who needs what. Research yes, personal contact no.
