I agree - but the learning curve is a slow process sometimes. I lost 1 pound a week for 19 weeks before I ever joined this forum and another two weeks before I could stomach the concept of counting calories.
Some of us aren't so much idiots, just stubborn
Now, don't get me wrong, there are sometimes where someone will drive me bonkers - but over all, I think remembering the mindset of over weight people is important.
It is just not the same as training someone who is relatively close to their target point.
It's a long, long road and often times coming from complete ignorance or falacy stand points.
Ahhh, now you are comparing apples to oranges. Obviously someone who has tried everything under the sun and still gained weight is going to have a huge learning curve. Worse yet, someone who has never cared enough to even try dieting is going to have an enormous learning curve. And obviously, they are going to need more guidance than their more experienced counterparts. I never said or implied otherwise.
(Not that this is what you are implying, of course)
More often than not, I will take the time to educate these people, the best that I know how.
I am talking about ignorance though, in my above post. This is something completely different. There are plenty of people, even some residents here, whom, even after being handed the scientific facts on a golden platter repeatedly, still refuse to accept what is what. That is ignorance. I have no tolerance for this.
Sure, they don't know the difference between scientifically backed, sound advice and the last diet that they tried and failed miserably. But this comes down to that "personal greatness" thing I talked about in a post a few days ago.
We can go down the path of, "Oh, but they have suffered so long due to their weight that it takes a long time for them to catch on."
Certainly, there can be psychological issues at play here. However, that is not something for a trainer, or anyone else here on this forum to "fix."
If you are psychologically stable, helping yourself is a necessity. People in general are lazy. Not just with exercise. It is human nature. If you want mediocrity, this is fine. If you want to go above and beyond mediocrity (and this can be personal mediocrity, not a comparative measure to others) it takes persistence and consistent effort, even if you failed a dozen times in the past.
Personal greatness is determined by how you handle yourself when you are knocked down.
I am not a fan of "limited thinking." Demand more from yourself. Failed on 25 diets previously? Don't let that destroy your effort from trying something new. ESPECIALLY when the facts are laid out how they are here, on this forum. I would hope you wouldn't compare my advice and how I "package" it to some gimmicky diet that is being marketed today. You have to admit, people like me don't only offer advice. We educate too.
My point is, even if after you are educated, even if this education process took longer for you than the average, if you still fail to accept what is what, than my only conclusion is the plague of ignorance and I will most likely stop offering help.
I am being harsh. I know. But hopefully my point is clear. And I have been around long enough that you know that I handle each case differently and more often than not, appropriately.
