I thought I'd share a conversation I had with someone on another forum. See if it stirred up an interesting conversation here.
I originally posted a link to this article about Jillian and said, "It's about damn time.":
The other person's words will be in quotes and mine will follow...
She's not how you got into shape. Your effort got you into shape. She may have motivated you and offered advice... but don't discredit the real driver here - that being you.
I'm sure Jillian is a great person and I do think she's actually passionate about helping people.
However, some of her actions speak differently as she sells out with gimmicky products just to make a buck. She has also proven many times in her writing and instructions that she's not very intelligent on the training side of things. That doesn't mean she can't get results. It simply means she puts herself out there as expert in things she probably shouldn't be calling herself expert in.
And here's the biggest kicker - just because someone helped you obtain results doesn't mean they're honest, qualified, etc. Sure, results are what matter most to you and most others. But I'm a professional in the industry and it's tough seeing her act as a spokesperson for it. Just a different perspective is all.
I wish they only applied to most DVDs. Sadly they apply to most books, products, professionals, etc. in this field. Sure, most fields/industries have their fair share of BS... but I've not encountered an industry quite as bad as this. No integrity whatsoever which stems primarily from the lack of oversight.
It's a very valid concern/question. I like to think I prove myself in my every day actions. I come onto the web and help people for FREE. Some people dislike what i have to say as I speak the truth. Many love it though. It's why I've such a following. I invest a huge chunk of time educating folks about how to detect BS. And here's the kicker... I don't care about reputation. I'm not selling any products like our friend Jillian here and so many others. My advice is unbiased. I'm in the business of applying evidence-based advice.
My passion is education and science. Not making money and conning people. Where I learn, others think of new ways of making money. I only do one thing - get my clients results safely and effectively using evidence-based practices.
Granted... that's not 100% proof of my intentions. But it's impossible to prove undoubtedly what you are asking.
Just look at Jillian's community. You have to pay to be an active participant. I have a free community. No strings attached. I didn't make a name for myself by being thrusted into the limelight. I made a name for myself dedicating my life to the pursuit of knowledge in the context of exercise science. I'm not knocking Jillian per se, though I do think she's dishonest based on what she attaches her name to... I'm more knocking the lack of barriers to entry in this field. Who can and cannot call him or herself a professional. What products can and can't be offered. What claims can and can't be made. All of these things are free to be used against the ignorant consumer.
Started where I am? Where's that in your opinion?
Look, it's really simple - I'd never do the things Jillian and most other hucksters do in this business. I've been asked to and offered endorsements to write two books. I've been asked to do local television/radio programming. The problem is, the people backing these projects weren't up to my standards of doing business in the fitness industry. That standard is really very simple - don't sell bullshit. Offer evidence based information. Don't tie yourself to any one product. Don't preach the "program mentality." Tell people what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. Don't find new ways to make money. Rather find new ways to reach people.
I'd rather starve than lose the integrity I've spent over a decade of my life to develop. Very few "public fitness professionals" can claim the same. Jillian sure as hell can't. Unfortunately her personality growth has outpaced people's bullshit detection and hence you see cleanses, pills and anything else being offered by her that will help fatten her wallet.
I'm sorry... but if you can honestly say that’s the sort of person you’d like representing your industry (whatever that might be) I’d seriously have to question your moral compass… no offense intended.
I don't believe that "if you're stupid enough to get ripped off you deserve it." I work with very emotionally sensitive people who've not been taught fitness as you or I might know it. They will put blind faith in people who build an image that appears trustworthy and honest. Let's face it... very few people can rationally and critically assess the soundness of information and products in this field. Unless you've been formally trained in the sciences that apply to exercise and weight loss along with research methodology, there’s a lot of confusing and complicated factors.
And the fact that there are 1,000 dishonest people vying for their wallets for every 1 ethical person… well it’s easy to fall victim to bullshit.
I never claimed that Jillian was a bad person. I don’t know her to assess her goodness as a human or citizen. I am only assessing what I see in the context of the fitness profession… a field I’m intimately familiar with. And qualified... you think Jillian is qualified? Under what basis? Have you read all of her books? Watched all of her instruction? And also, are you in a position to know what a qualified or unqualified professional looks like in this field? Not bashing you... just curious?
Jillian, like so many others putting themselves out there as "trainers", would fall into the unqualified category based on what I've seen from her. Granted, her celebrity status has reached millions of people and motivated them to get off their asses. And there's something to be said for that. We need that as a country. I just wish the front person for my industry was more interested in morals, education, and science along with the integrity of it. I’m trying hard to see where you’re coming from as a consumer of her stuff. She helped you toward your goals and that’s fantastic for you – I understand your defense of her.
Maybe you can put yourself in my shoes. Someone enters your industry and uses nontraditional means of establishing him or herself as qualified. She then uses these means to mislead customers you work so hard to educate/help.
What then?
I originally posted a link to this article about Jillian and said, "It's about damn time.":
The other person's words will be in quotes and mine will follow...
She's not how you got into shape. Your effort got you into shape. She may have motivated you and offered advice... but don't discredit the real driver here - that being you.
I'm sure Jillian is a great person and I do think she's actually passionate about helping people.
However, some of her actions speak differently as she sells out with gimmicky products just to make a buck. She has also proven many times in her writing and instructions that she's not very intelligent on the training side of things. That doesn't mean she can't get results. It simply means she puts herself out there as expert in things she probably shouldn't be calling herself expert in.
And here's the biggest kicker - just because someone helped you obtain results doesn't mean they're honest, qualified, etc. Sure, results are what matter most to you and most others. But I'm a professional in the industry and it's tough seeing her act as a spokesperson for it. Just a different perspective is all.
I wish they only applied to most DVDs. Sadly they apply to most books, products, professionals, etc. in this field. Sure, most fields/industries have their fair share of BS... but I've not encountered an industry quite as bad as this. No integrity whatsoever which stems primarily from the lack of oversight.
And how do we know that you're not a part of the under qualified? Why are we to believe that you are any different then the rest? Just saying....
It's a very valid concern/question. I like to think I prove myself in my every day actions. I come onto the web and help people for FREE. Some people dislike what i have to say as I speak the truth. Many love it though. It's why I've such a following. I invest a huge chunk of time educating folks about how to detect BS. And here's the kicker... I don't care about reputation. I'm not selling any products like our friend Jillian here and so many others. My advice is unbiased. I'm in the business of applying evidence-based advice.
My passion is education and science. Not making money and conning people. Where I learn, others think of new ways of making money. I only do one thing - get my clients results safely and effectively using evidence-based practices.
Granted... that's not 100% proof of my intentions. But it's impossible to prove undoubtedly what you are asking.
Just look at Jillian's community. You have to pay to be an active participant. I have a free community. No strings attached. I didn't make a name for myself by being thrusted into the limelight. I made a name for myself dedicating my life to the pursuit of knowledge in the context of exercise science. I'm not knocking Jillian per se, though I do think she's dishonest based on what she attaches her name to... I'm more knocking the lack of barriers to entry in this field. Who can and cannot call him or herself a professional. What products can and can't be offered. What claims can and can't be made. All of these things are free to be used against the ignorant consumer.
Started where I am? Where's that in your opinion?
Look, it's really simple - I'd never do the things Jillian and most other hucksters do in this business. I've been asked to and offered endorsements to write two books. I've been asked to do local television/radio programming. The problem is, the people backing these projects weren't up to my standards of doing business in the fitness industry. That standard is really very simple - don't sell bullshit. Offer evidence based information. Don't tie yourself to any one product. Don't preach the "program mentality." Tell people what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. Don't find new ways to make money. Rather find new ways to reach people.
I'd rather starve than lose the integrity I've spent over a decade of my life to develop. Very few "public fitness professionals" can claim the same. Jillian sure as hell can't. Unfortunately her personality growth has outpaced people's bullshit detection and hence you see cleanses, pills and anything else being offered by her that will help fatten her wallet.
I'm sorry... but if you can honestly say that’s the sort of person you’d like representing your industry (whatever that might be) I’d seriously have to question your moral compass… no offense intended.
I don't believe that "if you're stupid enough to get ripped off you deserve it." I work with very emotionally sensitive people who've not been taught fitness as you or I might know it. They will put blind faith in people who build an image that appears trustworthy and honest. Let's face it... very few people can rationally and critically assess the soundness of information and products in this field. Unless you've been formally trained in the sciences that apply to exercise and weight loss along with research methodology, there’s a lot of confusing and complicated factors.
And the fact that there are 1,000 dishonest people vying for their wallets for every 1 ethical person… well it’s easy to fall victim to bullshit.
I never claimed that Jillian was a bad person. I don’t know her to assess her goodness as a human or citizen. I am only assessing what I see in the context of the fitness profession… a field I’m intimately familiar with. And qualified... you think Jillian is qualified? Under what basis? Have you read all of her books? Watched all of her instruction? And also, are you in a position to know what a qualified or unqualified professional looks like in this field? Not bashing you... just curious?
Jillian, like so many others putting themselves out there as "trainers", would fall into the unqualified category based on what I've seen from her. Granted, her celebrity status has reached millions of people and motivated them to get off their asses. And there's something to be said for that. We need that as a country. I just wish the front person for my industry was more interested in morals, education, and science along with the integrity of it. I’m trying hard to see where you’re coming from as a consumer of her stuff. She helped you toward your goals and that’s fantastic for you – I understand your defense of her.
Maybe you can put yourself in my shoes. Someone enters your industry and uses nontraditional means of establishing him or herself as qualified. She then uses these means to mislead customers you work so hard to educate/help.
What then?