As fitness professionals we often tend to paint a pretty picture of life in the fit lane. We love working out, and for many of us, gyms are our second homes.

Our first encounters with the health and fitness industry perhaps occurred such a long time ago that we sometimes forget what it’s like for those taking those first daunting steps. It can be hard to understand that our home from home, and the trimmings that go with it, are actually strange and alien environments for some.

Coaxed on by the sales talk that makes it all seem oh so easy, and armed with a rosy buttered-up picture of what lies ahead, some of us proceed into the unfamiliar world of wellness with expectations that may be a little misguided. For many, the pitfalls we never expected tend to crop up, or it all gets a little harder than the flyer said it would.

When our initiatives to get fitter and healthier finally fall by the wayside, the finger of blame comes out of its holster faster than a Smith and Wesson revolver in a classic Clint Eastwood film.

While we all embark on our weight-loss initiatives at this time of year, struggling to wipe away the post-festive wobble, many euros and much of our precious time is spent on the numerous wellness products out there on the market today, many promising maximum results in exchange for minimum effort.

Let’s not allow any of it to go to waste, and endeavour to paint a more objective picture of what the weight-loss industry has in store for the unprepared. With a more realistic view of the possible pitfalls that may await you, you can make a more informed decision as to which of your fat-busting options is most suitable for your personality and orientation.

So here are some weight-loss pitfall warnings.

Gym memberships. The first port of call for many fat fighters is the local gym. Of course, gyms are all too happy to do whatever it takes to sign you up, especially since in Malta, the system is to pay for your membership upfront, and not through regular payments which could be discontinued should you become unhappy with the product.

However, before you part with your money I would like to share with you the most common grievances expressed by people who lose faith in their gym, and I’ve heard a few in my time:

‘The instructor showed me how to use the machines on my first visit, but nobody ever spoke to me again after that.’ If I gained a gram of muscle for every time I heard this, I would look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime.

Lack of cleanliness, or simply getting bored also rank highly on the list of common grievances.

To tackle the first issue, when not delivering inductions, good fitness instructors will fill their time by supervising the gym floor, interacting with members, and ensuring everyone is happy with their exercise programme. A good instructor will also offer support and updates/modifications to your programme when necessary.

However, fitness instructors are not personal trainers, so they are not obliged or even qualified to supervise and programme each and every workout of each and every individual member.

It is also logistically impossible for one instructor to give constant personal supervision to each of the sometimes hundreds of members exercising in the gym on any given shift.

This is why personal training exists as a separate service that comes at an additional cost. Personal trainers are generally more experienced, more qualified, and offer their services on a specialised and personal level.

An experienced and seasoned fitness professional will be capable of operating in a gym and filling both roles effectively, delivering fitness instruction and support to members, and personal training to clients who pay for it.

Therefore, your success in the gym depends not only on a good fitness instructor, but also on your ability to diligently follow your programme without constant supervision. If you do require constant supervision, then it might be worth your while shopping around for the right personal trainer at a price that is affordable for you.

Also, it is worth mentioning here that if you are clinically obese or suffer from a serious condition or injury, then personal training is not just a good idea; it might be a necessity.

So before you sign on the dotted line, if nothing else, ask members about the instructors who work there, and check if the cleanliness is up to your personal standards. Asking just one member may give you a biased view, so if possible, ask several members.

Another one of our favourite fat-fighting strategies at this time of year is the dreaded diet. Fad diets that are followed for only short periods of time simply cannot lead to permanent fat loss. The only diet that will work is the one you can stick to indefinitely. Think lifestyle change, not diet change.

Also, avoid falling into the trap of following severe diets without exercising. You will just lose muscle along with body fat, cripple your metabolism, and end up putting on more fat when you stop the diet than you had in the first place.

The final category of weight-loss product is the weird and wacky fitness gadget. Fitness gadget manufacturers are experts at appealing to our lazy side. They normally promise incredible results in exchange for just a few minutes a day, by performing just one movement that is so fun you won’t even realise you’re working out.

There are, of course, great products out there, but if you are serious about working out at home, consult a fitness professional for advice before you buy anything, or stay tuned and check out my article next week on setting up your own home gym.

In short, try and go for permanent changes to your lifestyle, not temporary measures; and, however easy something is made to sound, always take responsibility for your goals.

info@noblegymmalta.com