COMMENTS

Posted by: Ryan Hogan | 10-Feb-2010 10:23 AM |

I completely agree with you Alisha. This heading of this article is misleading and sensationalist. The last thing Australia (or any country for that matter) needs is another reason not to exercise. Well spoken!

Posted by: Anonymous | 10-Feb-2010 10:44 AM |

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Posted by: Gray Australia | 10-Feb-2010 08:05 PM |

This article was obviously written with the intention of creating controversy. Its absolutely ridiculous, not to mention irresponsible of the paper to publish a story which devalues exercise when Australia's overweight & obesity rate is 60%. Shame on you Sydney Morning Herald. You have once again tainted your reputation as a credible source of information.

Posted by: raptfx systems | 10-Feb-2010 08:07 PM |

Good going Alisha, agree with you.

Posted by: Paul | 10-Feb-2010 08:22 PM |

HI. I find that Fitness Trainer Courses teach the same old fashioned Cardio principals. With 13 years experience as a trainer I have found with a large variety of clients, that cardio such as Crosstrainers, Bikes and steppers etc is largely a waste of time. It has its place so use it where it suits. The problem here is the definition of what is cardiovascular exercise. Surely it is simply the bodys ability to get oxygen to the working muscles. This system is worked in a high intensity program using strength or other movements.I feel schools are still teaching outdated generic cardio principles. Most people who focus on the traditional style cardio look stressed and weak. I think your article makes you sound like a religious organisation telling people what your views are. haha..So here's mine! Enjoy.

Posted by: Ian Boyle | 10-Feb-2010 08:41 PM |

I just wanted to chip in with the addition of some of the most recent research into aerobic exercise and it impact on brain function. My keynote from Filex last year captures some of these latest developments http://voicethread.com/#e453854. The physical benefits we get from aerobic exercise are simple beneficial side effects, what is so exciting about this new research is that we now know it enhances brain function. It helps neural development in the hypocampus which results in better learning and memory, it can reverse the effect of aging in our brain just to name a few. [see the link above for an overview] Aerobic exercise not only for your body but our brains! Ian Boyle

Posted by: Anonymous | 10-Feb-2010 08:52 PM |

The problem here Paul is not what is the definition of cardiovascular exercise, but rather what benefits are obtained from cardiovascular exercise. By your definition Paul we are performing cardiovascular exercise every minute of our lives as the body is trying to get oxygen to the working muscles, regardless of whether we are walking, sleeping or sitting thinking. You should realize that though as you would tend to find your heart never stops beating. Tell me Paul does a high Intensity strength program or other movements adequatley prepare someone for an endurance event, or a sport that has high levels of aerobic activity. You know maybe marathon runners looks stressed and weak, maybe Iron Men even look stressed and weak, but they are unbelievable athletes. Yes LSD methods of aerobic training are taking a back seat somewhat, but aerobic training and hence cardiovascular exercise Paul is alive and well. By the way Paul you would be an excellent leader for another competing religion against fitness network with your dogma.

Posted by: ROD | 10-Feb-2010 08:59 PM |

Everyone loves a controversial story. As we all know papers are sold on sensationalism. Rather then get into a web of nastiness why not attempt to work with the paper in getting more out of the story on educating the public. Work with the writer or editor to get a real understanding of the story and how they can assist or go to another form of Media. Channel 9 Today have been plugging health and fitness very heavy.....ha.....You know you will have a lot of advocates to push a positive message...So NETWORK STEP UP....GIVE SOME CARDIO EDUCATION...KEEP SPREADING THE WORD.....

Posted by: Helen Poulos | 10-Feb-2010 09:01 PM |

I feel that anyone who plants the seeds of negativity into the minds of people who may succumb to it are quite weak & cowardly themselves for being so negative in the first place. No, Aerobics is NOT a waste of time. I know of many people who wish for the days when Aerobics - yes - plain old Aerobics was back on the gym timetable, because quite frankly, alot of the new additions are intimidating for many to even think about giving a go. Aerobics is good, old fashioned, back to basic CARDIO workouts - & it really is up to the individual as to exactly what they wish to achieve from attending to do an Aerobic workout. ANY physical activity is a bonus in my eyes...if Aerobics were such a waste of time, why do Practisioners encourage 'Incidental Exercise'...? Because, as I mentioned, ANY physical activity is a bonus & really should be encouraged. So, anyone who wishes to have this arguement with me can certainly put it to me, as I am can debate about it till the cows come home. I lost a hell of a lot of weight from 'AEROBICS', combined with other things, such as a POSITIVE mindset to get me there, & to work really hard when I was in the Group Fitness Studio.

Posted by: Helen Poulos | 10-Feb-2010 09:14 PM |

Bring back AEROBICS for Natural Therapy!!! Yay!!! TRUE benefits of Cardio/Aerobics are transforming...ask me, I preach it because I know. Was a size 16, now a size 8...HELLO!!! Aerobics can be linked to living life to the fullest & being on a constant 'Natural High' for life...set your goals...you dont need to set out to lose weight if you dont want, but just GET ACTIVE & DO AEROBICS!!! Embrace the benefits of old fashioned back to basics!!! Seratonin....Endorphins...who needs to pop pills when you have these amazing natural therapies!!!

Posted by: Jared C. | 10-Feb-2010 09:39 PM |

Once again this article and the varying opinions being expressed here in the comment section provide support for the notion of 'context'. Perhaps if the article was titled ' Cardio is a waste of time for 20% of the population' it may be taken on board with less critique, however i did notice it said it was a waste of time for obtaining health benefits. There seemed to be nothing mentioned in regards to performance enhancement, though i know some people with make no distinction between both but i can guarantee you there is. But irregardless we all can see the article title is just a fancy way of attracting readers to make another excuse for why exercise does nothing for them. Im thinking i should write my own article 'Exercise causes more injurys than sedentary activity and why you should stop'. I could make thousands :D

Posted by: Michael B | 11-Feb-2010 12:28 AM |

Another headline which is not partial but misleading. Nothing worse than an article suppose to be reporting facts but instead swaying the reader not only on an opinion but an uneducated one. Creating contraversy because they have next to no knowlege on the topic. Unethical? Sure. All forms of exercise as long it is not dangerous to the participant serves a purpose. Depending on the very unique needs of all different sectors of society at different times. Aerobic exercise in any form is beneficial and much better than laying home on the couch. Not a black and white issue like the reporter makes out but very grey like the comments above clearly states Another bit of b, even c grade information from what I believe to be a c grade paper. Im in agreement with Alisha on the article being an irresponsible piece of journalism. Like the other fallacies we see on infomercials, there should be laws to stop manipulation of the general public. In order for corporations to make a buck or in this case sell a story.

Posted by: Daryll | 11-Feb-2010 12:46 AM |

Another piece of lazy journalism, easy to go for the headline instead of researching. Perhaps if the focus was on movement,anything more than normal is overload, then people would not be so discouraged. I agree that negative headlines such as this are an excuse for the hard to motivate not to move.

Posted by: Sean | 11-Feb-2010 07:05 AM |

Do you think maybe the article writer has tried and failed at exercise? perhaps instead of getting all bent over backwards about what happens everyday in the media (manipulation of information) you should all be offering your expertise to the writer to help them deal with their negative outlook on physical activity and give them the opportunity to experience the positive benifits of being physicaly active. We can only help the willing and those aposed to physical exercise already have the excuse not to do so. This article will only serve to reinforce their feelings, any competent reader will see that there are benifits in exercise and as fitness professionals you can help them fully understand what this article is suggesting.

Posted by: Anonymous | 11-Feb-2010 07:28 AM |

I'm just as annoyed as anyone with this article, maybe more so because I am both a fitness instructor and a journalist! For the headline we must blame the subeditor - that's not the journo's doing so we shouldn't blame them directly, however the lead (the first two paragraphs) are definitely sensational and inaccurate with the information given in the rest of the story. Rather than motivating those who aren't losing weight to try another form of exercise, such as resistance training, anyone skimming the article may just think: "well I'll stop exercising now, there's no hope...pass me the muffin!" It is reminiscent of an article in the Telegraph not too long ago about cardio making people 'fat'' because it made them hungry, binge eat but also slows down the metabolism. We know that cardio does slow down the metabolism for the direct time after exercise, which is why protein shakes and replenishing liquids are recommended, with a healthy meal to come later. These papers should be picking on people's poor dietary habits and leave our industry well alone! Articles like this should also come with a disclaimer like a pack of tablets: seek advice from your fitness professional before making changes to your regime.

Posted by: The Industry Insider. | 11-Feb-2010 08:44 AM |

Does it really surprise anyone that the Industrialist controlled Media came out with a story such as this? Alisha’s points were dead on. I fully support her views and agree that the story should have been titled “Irresponsible Journalism; A Waste of Time.” Good Job Alisha! Now please allow me to get on my soapbox and go a step further. First of all, it should not surprise anyone in our industry (or any industry for that matter) that big business sponsored media spews out Propagandist headlines. It’s a crime that journalists are nothing more than corporate puppets with no real skill, and they should all be ashamed of themselves. Journalism began as a way to monitor big business practice and hold the wealthy bourgeois class accountable for crimes against the poor ‘servant class’ majority, but has since been corrupted by corporate greed and bribery. Second, it is true that our genetics are the “Master Gatekeepers” of our physical potential. An Elephant, for example, will never be as lean or agile as a Cheetah, no matter what workout program he goes on, or how much he diets. But, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t try to be the best Elephant he can possible be. In fact, if he tried hard enough he may even come to be known as the Brad Pitt of Elephants! Third, when will we all move beyond our selfish Vanity and focus on the other benefits of consistent exercise and proper nutrition, instead of only talking about how skinny we are, or how our ass looks in a pair of jeans. Look, I know human vanity is the engine that drives our industry and that most people workout so their butt will look good in their Levi’s, but lets not forget all the other benefits. Start talking to your clients about having more energy, less joint pain, deeper and more restorative sleep, control of their Diabetes, less stress and mental deterioration…the list goes on and on. My point is, as long as we just focus on the Fat / Skinny argument, we will always be at the mercy of the corporate controlled media who throw out stupid headlines to confuse the uneducated masses and keep them listless and out of shape, so they continue to buy the Doritos and Budweiser that keeps CEO’s happy, and the expensive prescription medication that keeps millions flowing into the pockets of special interest and politicians. I mean come on, we are talking about money, and money is more important than people…right?

Posted by: Anonymous | 11-Feb-2010 09:03 AM |

You can blindfold a person and take them to the dump and most times they will still know or guess exactly where they are. When something smells as bad as this, you realise its garbage. The article was a blatant headline grabbing attempt from some poor understudy in a pathetic attempt to show the boss they are worthy of the front page. It’s an old formula" Misleading headline, contradicting facts within the storyline and attacking a minor industry along the way...receipt for selling papers. The editor should be ashamed for filling space in such a manner but of course he/she isn’t.

Posted by: Daniel Shakespeare | 11-Feb-2010 09:12 AM |

As a Cert III student, I am in no way claiming to be an expert on the topic however, it should be noted that this study has analysed the benefits of aerobic exercise in total isolation of other lifestyle factors. Any fitness professional worth their salt (or salt reduced as the case may be...) would not prescribe aerobic exercise in isolation and expect quality results, ignore the synergistic benefits achieved by coupling this with a quality nutrition plan, strength and flexibility training. The benefit this article may have for the fitness industry is that it gives the lazy, dim and unmotivated another reason to do nothing, allowing PTs to spend more time with those who are motivated to improve their lives, rather than fighting a losing battle against apathy.

Posted by: Sue Ramsay | 11-Feb-2010 05:38 PM |

I totally agree with the viewpoint of sensationalism, most media outlets thrive on making things up not talking to the right people who actually know what they are talking about then planting the negativity in the minds of people and there goes your motivation. Yes, everyone has a different body shape and I believe metabolism problems could have something to do with your genetic makeup in my case I know I have a very slow metabolism and I am missing a thyroid so I have to work extra hard with cardio workouts but if I didn't exercise then I don't want to think about the state of my body furthermore as we age exercise is very important to our quality of life. I hope the readers didn't take too much notice of the article.

Posted by: Anonymous | 12-Feb-2010 06:55 PM |

this is media hype at its best all i have to say is read "spark" by Dr john ratey and eric hagerman. aerobic exercise is more than just fitness of the body but of the mind.

Posted by: Anonymous | 15-Feb-2010 10:47 AM |

How typical of the fitness industry to get its knickers in a knot because some nobody said aerobic exercise is a waste of time. Do the words "fitness" and "professional" really belong in the same sentence?

Posted by: vfb.co.uk | 16-Feb-2010 10:10 AM |

You people are sheep, how can you be so ignorant!? I completely support the headline - cardiovascular exercise is boring and uncomfortable. If you want real results, please visit my website for a great deal on a vibrating fat burner belt.

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Posted by: Matt O'Neill | 02-Feb-2010 11:45 AM |

I'm cheering for anyone who want to lose a lot of weight to get healthy, but dramatic weight loss stuffs your metabolism. See Media Release on this here: http://tinyurl.com/y8lsgta. Given the downnsides I can only feel that people experience rapid weight loss, either (1) Because they need it for motivation or (2) Their plan is too restrictive (eg. shakes) and causes excessive losses. I present an alertnative program that focuses optimising metabolism with real foods and boosting nutrition skills. With these elements, you don't need rapid results because you feel confident to get results and keep them (without stuffing your metabolism). If anyone wants info - metabolicjumpstart.com. Twitter - /matthewoneill

Posted by: Sonja Falvo | 02-Feb-2010 11:54 AM |

I would love to share my media release which also expresses my thoughts about the Biggest Loser! Media Release: 2 February 2010 Could The Biggest Loser Be Sending Out The Wrong Message? Viewers across the nation tune in to The Biggest Loser, many of whom are overweight and desperate to find motivation and answers to help them also shed their unwanted body-fat. But is it realistic to let people think that 15kg of weight loss in one week is normal, or even realistic? We already have a society who want quick fixes and overnight solutions, add to this the pressure of having them feel that losing 10-15kg a week is ‘normal’ and they are more likely than ever to feel that they are failures when they can’t achieve these results. For every day Aussies that are not locked away for months on end with a personal trainer and chef’s, losing weight permanently requires a balanced approach and permanent lifestyle changes; changes that are real, that are simple and that are effective – not something that requires drinking their meals for the rest of their lives or having them feel hopeless or like failures when it doesn’t work. So, with over 7.4 million Australian adults classified as overweight or obese and those figures expected to increase by 50 per cent within five years*, Sonja Falvo (Director of Real Body Enterprises) has launched the inaugural National Fat-Loss-a-Thon. Ms Falvo sees this event as a necessity for our nation’s health and wellbeing. “I want to help build a healthier and fitter country, so I have set a goal to help 4,000 Australians lose 24,000 kilos and raise $250,000 for The Sports Rewards Foundation between 1 January and 17 May, 2010’,” MS Falvo said. Each participant in The National Fat-Loss-A-Thon will take part in a 12-week online program developed by Real Body Enterprises, with the chance to win more than $13,000 in cash and prizes. The event is aimed at improving overall health and wellbeing, assisting in weight loss and providing simple and effective lifestyle changes, Ms Falvo explained. “The National Fat-Loss-A-Thon will help to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits for the prevention of obesity, type II diabetes and heart disease” she said. Registration for the National Fat-Loss-A-Thon began on 1 January 2010 and entries remain open until 28 February, 2010. Participants will receive online access to information and guidelines on how to follow the 12-week Real Body Program, including recipes, meal plans and exercise programs. Ms Falvo wrote the program after two years of research and through her work with three nutritionists. Entry is confirmed with a $10 donation to the Sports Rewards Foundation and each participant’s 12-week program must be completed by 17 May, 2010. Winners are judged 50 per cent on their physical results (from their before and after photos) and 50 per cent on personal questionnaire answers. The National Fat-Loss-a-Thon is supported by the following sponsors: Real Body Enterprises www.RealBodyEnterprises.com PB Sports www.pbsportsnutrition.com Swish Events www.swishcorporation.com Strawberry Communications www.strawberrycommunications.com.au Westpac www.westpac.com.au Blooms Health www.bloomshealth.com.au Hound Dog Graphics www.hounddoggraphics.com.au Balanced Magazine www.balancedmedia.com.au For more information visit www.fatlossathon.com and http://www.healthyweightweek.com.au/index.asp * Australian Bureau of Statistics: Overweight and Obesity in Adults Australia 2004-2005, Catalogue 4719.0 -ends- For further information, images or interviews please contact: Johanna Baker-Dowdell Strawberry Communications P: 0423 969 661 E: johanna@strawberrycommunications.com.au W: www.strawberrycommunications.com.au Sonja Falvo Real Body Enterprises P: (07) 3392 0770 E: admin@realbodyenterprises.com W: www.RealBodyEnterprises.com About Real Body Enterprises • Real Body Enterprises aims to deliver a sensible, realistic approach to healthy eating and lifestyle to provide long-term fat loss, increased self-esteem and quality of life • Real Body Enterprises wants to reduce the global epidemic of obesity in children and adults through education, support and a program that is designed to deliver results to every person, every time • Real Body Enterprises CEO Sonja Falvo is an author of two bestselling books, keynote speaker and has a strong passion for helping people to improve their long-term health, wellbeing and self-esteem • Sonja Falvo was also Director of What Women Want Personal Training in Brisbane and National Fitness Manager for Fitness First in the UK • Real Body Enterprises: Level 16/120 Edward St, Brisbane, (07) 3392 0770 or admin@realbodyenterprises.com. About The Sports Rewards Foundation • The Sports Rewards Foundation is a not-for-profit entity • It was established to remove barriers to entry for children involved in physical activity and organised sport (to combat the childhood obesity epidemic) as well as to actively promote physical activity and organised sports to children and teens • The Sports Rewards Foundation aims to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity for better health in children and donate more than $2 million per year to grass roots sports. • Visit www.SportsRewards.net.au and click on Foundation for more information.

Posted by: Shaz | 02-Feb-2010 12:16 PM |

I love it. I loved it last night when they had to do their public speaking - very brave. I'm well aware of the dangers of such rapid weight loss and the damage it can do - but it also encourages larger people to start asking questions and asking for help. I know I have a feedback newsletter at the end of each week of all the questions my clients have asked during the week. As a person who battles with her weight every day of her life, I understand the demons that some of these people go through. However look at their fantastic achievements. The young man, Shannon, he had a major breakthrough last night by getting off the ground and continuing the walk. Good on these people for being brave enough to go on tv for help. Good on them for allowing us to hear their demons and see their struggles. Good on anyone else this show motivates to start looking after themselves. Any trainer worth their profession would obviously tell their clients that this is extreme and will not happen to them, but if it motivates them even more to get moving - that's a fantastic thing.

Posted by: Bel | 02-Feb-2010 01:08 PM |

I think this show is the greatest thing to ever grace reality TV. It's motivating sedentary people to get moving & proving that you can lose weight, no matter what your circumstances. Those that have been following the show for a while will know that losing 10kg a week isn't realistic for anyone in the real world but we have to remember that they have personal trainers/nutritionists on the show & are on tight food restrictions. They also work out more than the average person per day AND have a LOT more weight to lose, hence the massive losses. The great thing about The Biggest Loser is that It shows how emotional the journey to losing weight can be. The contestants are so inspirational & defy all kinds of odds to lose weight. Its not easy to get up in front of the whole country with half your gear off so everyone can see your body (during weigh-in). Massive respect for anyone that can do that, especially on TV. As a personal trainer, I get a lot of ideas from the show (although some of the exercises are not-so conventional). I think the trainers do a great job in coaching the contestants, both physically & emotionally. Long live Biggest Loser!

Posted by: Gabrielle Maston Dietitian and Exercise Physiologist www.changingshape.net.au | 02-Feb-2010 01:16 PM |

I think the underlying priciples of the show -using Diet therapy and Exercsie for weight loss is great. I do however disaggree with the intensity of exercise the participants undertake. Being obese places a large strain on joints and the cardiovascular system. Undertaking this type of exercise intensity can be very dangerous for these people. Far often than not there is a participant who injures themselves thats puts them "out of the game" for a significant period of time. This can be very discouraging for the participant, but also I believe shows professional negligence by the trainers. Often in new clients I see , I am disappointed when they complain how hard it is to lose weight. often referring to the biggest losers. They state that if they also had 6 hours to train they would be able to lose weight too. The show creates an unrealistic view on weight loss treatment. It causes weightloss to be viewed as a distant unattainable goal in ther circumstances. Encourage your clients to exercise moderatly and adopt a view on healthy eating and food. This is really all it takes. In good health - Gabrielle Maston- Dietitian/nutritionist and Exercise physiologist www.changingshape.net.au

Posted by: Joanne Butler | 02-Feb-2010 01:53 PM |

I'm not sure whether I love or hate it because there are parts I think are too much and others, like the fact that it motivates so many to give it a go, that are spot on. I think any one of us (fitness professionals) can take bits and pieces and use them as motivation for those already on their journey or for those that are yet to begin. Anything that can help motivate people to change to a healthier lifestyle is great in my books. I love the way they use both nutrition and training as the means even though sometimes I feel that the workouts themselves are not quite appropriate. But then again, what we see on TV could be totally different to what really goes on. Jo

Posted by: Nick Whiley | 02-Feb-2010 02:29 PM |

I love the show, and the good health practices it actively promotes and encourages. To suggest it creates unrealistic expectations because of the amount of weight lost each week is like suggesting I would get an unrealistic expectation of how much money I can make if I read Bill Gates' biography. I believe the show does a great job of presenting solid old fashioned healthy habits (diet and exercise, with appropriate supervision) methods of losing weight. It makes no claim that viewers can achieve similar results without similar focus and effort, and frankly I don't think people are that stupid. Of course the production wants to make the show competitive, so we'll see some people achieving dramatic results. I believe that over-achievement serves more to inspire than mis-lead. OK, I'm off to make $35billion in business now! Surely it can't be THAT difficult. ;)

Posted by: Anonymous | 02-Feb-2010 04:17 PM |

Could it be that these people really need to see someone about their Psychological problems before they attack their physical one?

Posted by: patricia mclean | 02-Feb-2010 07:56 PM |

as per above yes you can not loose weight and ikeep it of until the psychological demons have been addressed, i know this from perrsonal experince. so maybe there neds to be a psychologist attached to the show, the trainers do address this issue, but i do not think they are trained in this feild, though all personal trainers do act as councellors to some extent

Posted by: Michelle H | 02-Feb-2010 11:52 PM |

I love it - being in the fitness (& personal development) industry I am fully supportive of the contestants and trainers. It really emphasises that with consistency and determination, you can achieve whatever you desire. There may be health risks associated with rapid weight loss but can it be any worse than where they started? Good onto them and providing motivation to those that need it.

Posted by: Gary Hoffman | 03-Feb-2010 02:12 AM |

Yep fitness - good, yep healthy eating - good, yep weight loss for obese - good, biggest loser - good? YEP FOR RATINGS! Lets not lose sight of why this show exists. TV RATINGS! think about it, if someone on the show had a heart attack from the exessive strain they are put through and could not be saved the show would be axed, if ratings declined the show would be axed. 'Reality' I think not, as a trainer and assessor for the fitness industry (first qualifed in 1987 - upgraded as recently as 2008 and constantly upskilling), I do not like the message it sends out! Question: would all those above saying they 'love it' risk their own clients life (do you have a medical team standing by?) in this way????

Posted by: Clayton | 04-Feb-2010 12:07 PM |

It's a love hate relationship really. But having said that, anything that gets people interested in losing weight or fitness or just generally getting of their backside and starting to move is a plus. While the situation they create on TV is hard to emulate in the real world, ie. food prepared by chefs, the whole drama of the situation and the endless props necessary to entertain people into exercise, ignoring the medium is foolish as is trying to discredit the show. Have to agree with Matt's comment also... Nutrient rich food, sensible eating and exercise is a sound way to get into shape NO MATTER WHERE YOU START FROM. There are no pills, shakes, etc. required to lose weight. Regards, Clayton Adelaide Personal Trainers http://www.adelaidepersonaltrainers.com.au

Posted by: Elissa | 10-Feb-2010 07:29 PM |

So totally agree with Anonymous. All I see is a mass of emotional/psychological trauma...

Posted by: Esther | 11-Feb-2010 10:47 AM |

As a personal trainer ... all the show does for me is create a false impression of massive rapid weight loss. I am finding it difficult for my clients (those that actually watch the show) to understand that there never is a quick "fix solution" to weight loss and maintaining that weight loss.

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Posted by: Simon Hall | 18-Jan-2010 12:04 PM |

Club owners and managers in Australia also feel we have an issue with the quality of qualified staff. The 2010 Australian Fitness Industry Survey reports that "finding good staff" and "the quality of qualified staff" are major concerns facing our industry. Over 420 club owners managers and 7,500 club members responded to this years survey. The 2010 AFIS report will be released at FILEX.

Posted by: Dorian | 21-Jan-2010 03:39 AM |

How are you. I don't think about risks much. I just do what I want to do. If you gotta go, you gotta go. I am from Germany and , too, and now am writing in English, tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "A moderate educational contact goat can consider you from spending a moderate health of people and can react about of the cable of installing what to manage about case students, form facilities, local attorney, fitchew robocalls and the like, norco." Thank you so much for your future answers :p. Dorian.

Posted by: Jim | 26-Jan-2010 10:38 AM |

Yeah.. what Dorian said.. although I'm not sure about the goat. But whatever works I guess. These look like great ideas and I hope there is some work done locally on incorporating them. Too many gyms in my area are focussed on memberships and not results / educating the clients.

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Posted by: Keith M | 10-Dec-2009 12:54 PM |

This is an old story. I read it a few months ago in Australian Leisure magazine.

Posted by: david kennedy | 01-Feb-2010 12:03 AM |

I studied for two years full time 30 hours / week face to face and then about 40 to sixty hours a week at home to pass a diploma of recreation fitness. I spent another year studying massage part time to gain a cert 4 in massage. I started work in a gym working with people who had little or no idea. Most had done short courses to gain accreditation, read a book and find the answers. Some had studied online and others had done a short course over a couple of weekends. I was then asked by my employer to join fitness Australia. Because I had waited more than 2 years to join after finishing my diploma they would not accept it and told me I would have to do it again. Every time I visit a gym I see people doing things under the supervision of trainers that are wrong and have the potential to coarse injury, but they all have accreditation with fitness Australia. The problem is not with the waivers or indemnity forms it is in the training provided to trainers.

Posted by: Anonymous | 02-Feb-2010 01:52 PM |

I run my own outdoor personal training business Tonezone. I have been operating for over nine years..I too have had clients that have been incorrectly assessed and trained in the gym. The point that all trainers were advised once completed the certificate four course was that refer if any question is raised to the clients ability to train. In this case the assessment on the initial application indicated prior injury. A qualified trainer would be able to generally asses weather the client falls in the "at risk" category. Once viewed as refer on...the trainer should have referred on, even if the gym did not want to do so. Upon assessment from a medical representative, the exercises in rehabilitation would have been commenced until further review from the medical professional. Then gently and progressively you would increase the repetitions to enable the full use of the knee. I have contracts with my clients and continually refuse to train the area under review until the medical professional has signed off full use of the limb. I have learnt "Cover your own backside" as when you are taken to court, quite often or not you are on your own as your industry wil not stand by you. They will use you in an example after the fact as in this case. United we stand and divided we fall

Posted by: Kristy | 03-Feb-2010 10:18 AM |

A classic case of the fact there are so many young personal trainers out there who have done a short course to get their qualification and then think that they have the knowledge and skills to be a personal trainer and give people advice on how to train properly and safely, the fact is they don't and this just shows that. I think it is to easy to get a job as a personal trainer and should be made a lot harder and have proper training before they are allowed to administor advice to someone. Been a personal trainer myself i know that in my first year i had limited experience and relied on my knowledge from my studies which is good but the more experience you have the better and i feel is safer in the long run when dealing with clients. What it comes down to it, young inexperienced trainers shouldn't be training people until they have been given the go ahead from their manager that they can safely deliver a training session.

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Posted by: Anonymous | 03-Dec-2009 06:28 AM |

No this will not have an impact on anything as people will always go for the cheaper way. I have been a registered personal trainer for the past 6 years and I still see gyms and private clients hiring non registered nor certified personal trainers because they feel this is the cheaper way. In most cases it is the cheaper way not the experience, not the degree, not the registration that counts. (cheaper, cheaper, give me, give me) Sad but that is the plain truth.

Posted by: Mark Richardson | 03-Dec-2009 08:27 AM |

Anything that regulates an industry that has been (and still is to a certain extent) open to rougue operators is a great thing. How else can the public determine an experienced, multi talented trainer from someone fresh out of an 8 week course with "Personal Trainer" on their shirt? As long as Fitness Australia publicse this system, then it should be a good move.

Posted by: Vanessa | 03-Dec-2009 09:32 AM |

I think it's definitely a good thing but it perhaps doesn't go far enough. 2 more CECs isn't much but also there should be a grading of course quality in the future. I think there are too many cases of CEC provider courses passing people simply to get money through the door and then become known as a 'passable course' for reregistration. I also don't really agree that a Cert IV newly qualified trainer is intermediate. Cert IV itself needs a bit of an upgrade - I don't think 8 weeks is enough to then go out and train the general populace whom in my experience come at you with many injuries, complaints and problems. Perhaps there should be an internship period at a gym with experienced instructors? There being another problem around consistency of trainers in gyms and everywhere. The industry is constantly evolving and this is definitely a step in the right direction. There will always be those that take the easy way around but hopefully as conscientious trainers become more and more skilled they will be easily shown up and have a further developed REPs program to support them.

Posted by: Rachel | 03-Dec-2009 10:25 AM |

There needs to be an upgrade, 8 weeks courses qualifying someone as a Cert IV isn't enough for the varying health concerns trainers are faced with in the fitness industry. I personally have decided to go the AAESS route. I also think a degree and industry experience needs to be taken into account for FA Registration, if someone can be deemed qualified after an 8 week course then a 3 year (or more) university degree should be recognised automatically.

Posted by: Anonymous | 03-Dec-2009 10:55 AM |

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Posted by: Anonymous | 03-Dec-2009 03:36 PM |

This new system, if introduced could prove to be inequitable for several reasons. It appears that this is yet another example of how education and the money that buys it will be given preference as opposed to experience and or knowledge from that experience. Due to the fact that I dont have a degree, I will be scaled lower, recieve less recognition and therefore earn less money as opposed to those who do. I am confident in my ability to help clients achieve their health & fitness goals based on my experience in personal training. This 7 years experience I believe would put me ahead of many people coming out of university as new trainers.

Posted by: Mandy Reed | 04-Dec-2009 06:23 PM |

No matter which avenue re-registration takes, you are always going to get the knockers that don't agree. I have been teaching freestyle aerobics in a country town for 20 years. I have gained my appropriate CEC's for re-registration (and believe me, thats hard in the country), I do not have any university degrees, but I have 20 years experience.....it should count. There will always be the dodgy personal trainers/instructors, it happens in every profession. Its up to the client to obtain authenticity. Don't make it hard for the genuinely dedicated trainers/instructors, weedle out the men from the boys.

Posted by: Anonymous | 04-Dec-2009 07:04 PM |

It seems to me like another FA money grab, to put people who have done an 8 week course on the same level as people who have a degree is a joke. I don't believe the general public will care I have been a trainer for four years and have never once been asked my qualifications by a client. I moved from overseas and Fitness Australia has already down graded my qualification to the equivilant of a cert 4 which is a joke but all they care about is the money and the money they get from the large fitness chains. Apart from insurance I don't believe FA does much for the average trainer except take our money. The cec system is so flawed anyway you could become an advanced trainer by doing cecs on the business of PT how does that help your skills with clients? cecs should be based on science related advances in our industry that are specific to our specialities. If you don't own a large or medium sized gym what has Fitness Australia done for you lately?

Posted by: Clayton | 06-Dec-2009 07:07 PM |

Some good points here and they all have merit. One thing I don't particularly like however, is writing off any change as hopeless and the attitude that "they are just in it for the money". To me that reeks of a poverty mindset and doesn't contribute value to anyone. The changes to the CEC's are maintained has to be flexible as so many trainers do their own reading, study, attend courses which aren't necessarily approved by FA but are still very worthy of recognition as it develops the trainer into a better and more knowledgable one. My experiences with FA have all been good, sure its not perfect but show me a system that is. Great article and will be interesting to see further outcomes. Kind Regards, Clayton. Adelaide Personal Trainers http://www.adelaidepersonaltrainers.com.au

Posted by: Michael Alder | 08-Dec-2009 12:27 PM |

CECs are a complete waste of time. Experience is a much more important indicator, even more so than qualifications. I do not need someone to check on me to see how many workshops I have attended and how many magazines I have read. I have been teaching Yoga and Pilates for over 12 years and never bother with such a ridiculous and unneccesary system but this has in no way affected my practice.

Posted by: Anonymous | 08-Dec-2009 01:10 PM |

Yes, I have comments. The new registration rules even more than before penalise against aqua instructors, who work solely as own traders for various health organisations in hydrotherapy pools. The amount of CEC points has been virtually impossible to attain, and there appears no acknowledgement of years of experience and/or of amount of weekly courses presented. I am a holder of CertIII and CertIV Aqua for Older Adults and have 12 years experience in this field, while presenting 15 regular weekly classes, with ca. 120-150 participants in total. But I have a hard time to qualify for re-registration next April. There are virtually no workshops or courses which enhance my knowledge in my special field and also give me bonus points. The new rules do nothing about this situation as far as I can see.

Posted by: Wayne Wilson | 08-Dec-2009 01:27 PM |

This industry has serious issues, Its all about marketing and making money out of trainers , CECS WTF , ok i went to school i learned the alphabet ,i know how to construct sentences, do i now have to go repeat this every 2 years ? what we get taught is the same old, same old with a new name label and price tag, much of whats taugh is not truth anyways,the myths and dogma and misinformation just keep getting passed on,i do not see a change when the answers are in front of us and are so simple, so what are the cec courses about if not generating money for a small minority, Granted many pts now days do not now the alphabet , competency based learning NO ONE FAILS , whats that, The average trainer is well under equiped to be dealing with a human being period !! i remain staggered at the level of this incompetance, When the cert 4 was first bough in and i needed to get it to continue to do what i alwys have , i rang the appropriate organisation, oh i can get it competancy based as i have EXPERIANCE ! then a fool at the other end of the phone say oh you need some more knowledge in the area of postural assesmaent and rehabilitaive exercise prescription mmm i bors my friggin neck at a building site and was told i may never walk again and i have gone on the win over a dozen bodybuildoing titles ! needless to say once i enlogtened this gentleman and verbally gave some insight on how to do this, he sent me a cert 4 , whith a bill fo it !! jesus these clowns are running the show ? I am a very competent knowledgable trainer and have not found the righ place to work , since rellocating from the golcoast to melbourne,i worked for fitness first for years , they are a sales company period ,thats all they are interested in, I contantly learn and purchase huge amount of information from the states as i love what a good trainer can do for a fellow human being, but ooh its not fitness australia acredited , pfft, I if any one is interested in what i am saying or perhaps having a trainer on board that cares about peolpe over money you are welocome to contact me , I have been in the industry training since before it had a name, 25 years , by the way the changes i have seen have not lifted the standards in fact they have gone back wards !! Regards Wayne wilson http://waynewilson.com.au/home/

Posted by: Jack | 09-Dec-2009 08:38 AM |

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Posted by: Anonymous | 11-Jan-2010 06:38 PM |

It will all end up as corrupt as the N.Z. Reps crowd, which is just full of marketers trying to suck a living out of hard working personal trainers. While giving nothing back.

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Posted by: Gill Australia | 03-Dec-2009 01:18 PM |

A National Sarcopaenia Week is truly valid in the face of our increasing longevity and the need to have a functional body for the additional decades we want to live independently. The programmes we have introduced to combat sarcopaenia have a 95% adherence/attendance in the 50-85 year demographic. Done in small, supervised groups with a professional trainer at set times and using equipment that provides both concentric/eccentric phases, the activity is seen as fun and the results are impressive. Posture, global movement, ability to do daily living tasks well and general strength all measurably improved. Same programme used for diabetics and pre-diabetics addresses the body fat/vital tissue compositon balance that influences carbohydrate metabolism and insulin sensitivity. So, yes to a special week to recognise the need to hang onto every bit of muscle we can. Victoria

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Posted by: @JTActiveMgmt | 09-Sep-2009 07:28 PM |

I have to agree that TRX and suspension training has a huge future! This will be an awesome resource for group training in a club and also for PTs! I am currently with Zumba instructor in India and she raves about the program. Dance in recent years has re-invented itself and so I agree that the fitness industry must embrace dance and use it for good and not evil! That is, embrace it in clubs. Kranking . . . energetic, enthusiastic and potentially dangerous. After watching this product at IHRSA this year, it was super popular. I would be very cautious of putting in a club owing to potential injuries. There is absolute anecdotal research that proves Group X improves retention. The Round Table clubs around the world have statistics to prove what power Group X has on a club's retention. You have missed a powerful trend for improving retention and sales . . . social media! Using the various social mediums are low cost and far reaching. Watch this space . . . Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and more will change the face of the fitness industry and our communication with members and potential members.

Posted by: Taylor Ryan | 26-Oct-2009 11:47 PM |

Great piece. I haven't seen kranking yet here in the US but I think my gym is a bit behind when it comes to their spin program. It sounds killer though. Just out of curiousity what are some trends going on in Australia that aren't so dominant here in the US? I do women's workout training and Australia seems big on online personal training.

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Posted by: Patricia Cameron | 21-Aug-2009 12:22 PM |

What a heap of hogwash!!!!! I have been running exercise to music classes for more than 20 years (now weightbearing and chairbased with the much older adult who sing the praises about how they feel after the classes each week). As for the weight issue, I have recently retired from a job as features editor for the local paper, where bums on seats were the order of the day. In the last four months after working in the garden, walking down the end of a long drive to get the mail and helping run our farm, I have lost more than 5kgs in weight. Simply moving does the job and classes which target age groups and fitness levels in a concentrated dose must do it more effectively. I bet the writer of the article sits at work, then at home and weighs in at more than 100kgs!!!!

Posted by: Bec Josey | 21-Aug-2009 12:57 PM |

Definitely aimed at getting the empathy vote from readers. A very similar article was published in one of the Australian national papers last year and was brought to me for clarification by one of my clients! My opinion was much the same as yours and at least as fitness professionals we are in a position to debunk such myths. Fortunately, I think such articles are in the minority.

Posted by: Anonymous | 21-Aug-2009 12:59 PM |

I cannot believe TIME magazine would write such crap!!! What does everyone from TIME magazine look like??

Posted by: Sharyn Wright | 21-Aug-2009 01:03 PM |

Unbelievable article written by an irresponsible journalist! No wonder we are facing an obesity epedemic with sceptics like him around. I can vouch that exercise does help to lose weight - one example is a 62 year old client of mine who hasn't been active at all for the past 30 years and over the past 3 months has been exercising 5-6 days a week including weight training. Her weight is dropping, energy levels have soared and her old 'injuries' are slowly disappearing. Why aren't more articles written about the results of 'real' people to encourage others to take up exercise? It is a much safer form of weight loss than fad diets, medication and surgery.

Posted by: Jamie Hayes | 21-Aug-2009 01:11 PM |

If the article is coming from Time magazine, you would have to assume that it reflects the worldview of many readers. Ironically in the same week Scientific American Mind (July/Aug) had a cover story "Fit Body, Fit Mind - One more reason to workout: it makes you smarter. The fitness industry has the collective challenge of selling both the benefits of exercise and specifically the benefits of exercising under the guidance of a fitness pro. At the same time it has to be careful to tell the truth about exercise and its role in weight management. We have attempted to do that at http://www.healthyinspirations.com.au/ebook-8mins/. By the way, at Healthy Inspirations we say to new exercisers that "you don't pay the price (having to exercise) - you enjoy the price (enjoying exercise)". Being fitness evangelists is not enough. We need to empower our members and clients to become evangelists. We also need to be PR gurus in our community to get the positive spin out there. Time wants to sell magazines. We need to be clear what we are selling and then shout from the rooftops.

Posted by: Benjamin Hoffmann | 21-Aug-2009 01:15 PM |

Ah hahahahahahahaha, OMG, you have to exercise AND eat right to lose weight? Who would have though. The author of the mentioned Time article ruins his own argument by saying he goes and pigs out after "exercising" (and I would question his definition of exercising) and then wonders why he can't lose weight? Being present in a gym does not then provide an excuse to lard it up cake boy. Seems everyone is looking for reasons to stay fat rather than face the fact that they actually have to put in some effort and sacrifice to save themselves from a heart attack at 35. "I've tried everything". Balls, try harder cupcake.

Posted by: Kearton Australia | 21-Aug-2009 01:25 PM |

This guy has completely missed the point about nutrition. You can exercise all day if you wanted to, but if you're eating cupcakes/french fries at the end of it then it's a lost battle! I can't believe that there are people out there that think this way! I guess it's our job to change that! I just hope that people don't get sucked into what this guy has written.

Posted by: Helen Quinn | 21-Aug-2009 01:28 PM |

Anybody knows that exercise won't help you lose weight over night and that it will take determination and effort over many months to lose weight there is no quick fix, if their was a quick fix we would not have an obesity problem around the world.
If we exercise we must watch what we eat, because if we don't eat properly we will continue to stay the same, I am a personal trainer and I battle with my weight and when I do battle with it, it's because I don't eat the right things even thrugh I train 4 to 5 times a week either in the gym or swimming.
If you go to America or Canada you'll find that even through people might do a lot of exercise over there, they will also be overweight because of the type of foods they eat. I was recently over there in June this year and I will be honest, a month over there, I put on 4 kilo's and I am still trying to lose that 4 kilo's and tone down, but I know if I do this quickly I'll just put it back on again. We also have to be realistic when we make our goals and our eating plan, we need to plan exercise we know we will stick to, make it similar to our every day tasks, when changing our eating plans, don't do it all at once, change or try one new thing a week and do it gradually so we just make it apart of our every day life style.
We must exercise, cardio to get the heart pumping, resistance and weights to help build and strengthen our muscles and bones and we must remember to eat correctly and be mindful of what we eat. We can allow ourselves to indulge from time to time, but not all the time or your weight will remain the same no matter how much you train.

Posted by: Ben | 21-Aug-2009 01:29 PM |

As a GE instructor who in a former life weighed up to 140kg I can tell you it is not the excercise more the intake and diet that stops you from losing the weight. For many a year I went to the gym spent hours in classes for no or little impact on my size. Change of diet and intake levels and what do you know!!! There is alot of mind games also I think a degree in psychology would help every PT & GE instructor.

Posted by: Janice Jones | 21-Aug-2009 01:33 PM |

I really feel sorry for 'John Cloud' as he has really missed the plot with his article on exercise & weight loss. Exercise & movement to me is like waking up in the morning & without exercise everyday I wouldn't feel ALIVE. Makes the blood pump & sweating cures all those 'head noises'. The weight control that goes with exercise is just an added bonus to me!! When I look around at the obesity amongst us, I thank god that I am addicted to the high of moving often & fast.

Posted by: Scott Sanders | 21-Aug-2009 02:05 PM |

What a good read (both the Time article and the response from Jonathon). I agree with some of the points Mr Cloud is trying to make, however his article is written in such a way that these messages become lost in all the negative comments directed towards exercising. He does make a good point though of highlighting a problem that many people have – and that is their dietary intake. This is a common problem, with many people either being unsure of what is healthy to eat, or having a misconception that they lack the time to eat healthy. Now before you jump on this statement allow me to expand further. The next time you are out take a look at how many fast food outlets are around, especially in shopping centres close to gyms and schools. Now take a look at the marketing we see from these places - just about everywhere now has “tasty low fat” options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The temptation is there for people to stop in here for a quick snack and order one of these so called "healthy options", thinking they are doing themselves good. Whilst it is easy to sit back and criticise this with our knowledge base, for the average person out there who does not have a degree\fitness experience behind them, they have to use information from the media to make their decisions as to what is good and bad for them. This is why it is important for anyone in the health\fitness industry to inform people of the facts. The best weapon you can arm someone with in the fight against anything is knowledge – the more they know the more they will question what they read and hear from different sources. This is the reason why this article has generated so much interest and debate – if we didn’t have the knowledge about diet and exercise already we wouldn’t be questioning what the author has written. So whilst we will each have our own thoughts about the author, it has presented the opportunity to discuss this further with clients, friends and family to educate more people, so the next time something like this is published they will be the ones questioning the reliability instead of industry professionals.

Posted by: Riddle Australia | 21-Aug-2009 02:07 PM |

WOW!!! After reading the said article, which is backed by all those references to studies and damn statistics that the author quotes, I am not surprised he has come to those ill conceived conclusions. Quite simply - stop eating and you'll loose weight and yes, you don't HAVE to exercise to do it. No mystery. But, that is not what the Fitness industry is about. We are here to have our clients improve cardio, skeletal and musculature structures. It is not just about weight loss. Improving fitness is a conversion process that requires some physical and mental commitment to an overall improved self. People that have a high BMI have got themselves that way by overeating, not by lack of exercise. Change of dietary habits together with prescribed exercise will reduce body fat and improve physical health and appearance. What is the problem here, if you want to loose weight – get your calorie intake below your daily requirements. If you want to get fit, look and feel better, live longer healthier – exercise!

Posted by: Emily | 21-Aug-2009 02:45 PM |

I haven't read the article, but do think that nutrition is more important than exercise in body fat reduction. That is, while both have their place in a fat reduction program, it's much easier to eat calories on than exercise them off (hence the people who can hit the gym for years but with no impact on body shape). I would add this: we have so many sound bytes in the fitness industry that have either not been empirically proven, or which are extrapolated from results in extreme or limited populations. For instance, we claim that through exercise we can increase metabolic rate, reduce the risk of various diseases, etc - but there are studies questioning many of these claims. I think it's important we keep abreast of the research, and not just apply mickey mouse science about the connection between exercise, nutrition and health.

Posted by: Nicole Burnett | 21-Aug-2009 02:45 PM |

The poor man is really quite confused isn't he! Of course exercise alone won't help you loose weight - especially if you go and eat fries straight after a work out! Although the majority of my clients find that they want to eat healthier after a workout because of the way they feel - could it be that the endorphins that are released while exercising are replacing the need to comfort eat? Lifestyles have changed, workplaces have changed, people have stopped moving because the world has demanded it, plus has thrown fast food into the mix. The average person has about 84 waking hours in the week, approximately 40 hours of this is spent sitting behind a computer... I am fairly confident in saying that the remaining 44 hours aren't spent moving.

Posted by: J Middleton | 21-Aug-2009 02:56 PM |

The author contradicts himself making a point that most people don't have the will power to resist the appetite increase from exercising. If they can't handle a little bit of hunger pain post exercise, I'm sure they'll do just great sitting on their lounge eating two celery sticks per day.... However, my hat goes off to him. Before today I've never read a Time magazine article. Controversy definitely sells. Unfortunately, after reading that I wont be reading any more Time magazine articles.

Posted by: Laura | 21-Aug-2009 02:56 PM |

I totally agree with this article and it's criticism of what the Times published. The degredation of "exercise" was very offensive to me. I only hope members of the general public who read it do not feel tempted to shy away from their exercise regimes based on the information in that article!

Posted by: Rod FARDELL | 21-Aug-2009 02:59 PM |

This reaction is perfect. One it sells ( the magazine ) like so many things that aren't true and people love reading about it and how many magazines and books are there out there like this. Secondly it questions beliefs sometimes that we just take for granted because someone else has told us. Fortunately there is enough evidence to back exercise on all levels as a human form we were built to move. There is no doubting that and the consequences of not moving in any shape or form is also very evident. NETWORK congratulations because you have also drove people to your website another very smart and lucrative move to make people aware of you.

Posted by: Helen Quinn | 21-Aug-2009 03:25 PM |

The article is just stating what a everyday lay person would think. It brings us fitness trainers back to reality, the fact that we need to educate people to make them realise. You are what you eat, even if you do exercise.

Posted by: andy gibbons - personal best fitness | 21-Aug-2009 03:47 PM |

A Personal Trainers Response to the Article: The myth about exercise in Time magazine. I think the article provides a thoughtful review of the relationship between fat loss and exercise as is increasingly being understood. Science is best served by a scrupulous examination of all observations and hypotheses, not by a blinkered assumption that we know what is right! The fact that you deride the researchers who quote in the Time article, “In general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless!", in the second paragraph of your response without any supporting evidence, means Ryan, that you are as guilty of making the same broad brushstroke statement that you accuse the article of. It appears to me Ryan that you and the fitness industry are doing what members of established societies often do when confronted with a radical new concept: they attack both the message and the messenger. You yourself say that “as fitness professionals we are clearly biased towards the benefits of exercise”. Did you and the other seven respondents actually read the same article that I just did? Or were you all put off by the horror that someone had dared question your belief in the all pervading benefits of exercise? The article actually provides a thoughtful summary of a lot of the results coming from research into diabetes, obesity, nutrition and chronic disease. Currently there is no compelling scientific research that shows you can significantly change body composition with exercise. This is supported by 150 years of scientific literature, by clinicians who actually work with obese individuals, and from such hard core exercisers as the crossfit community. Sure there are lots of reasons to exercise and any personal trainer worth their salt will be able to quickly compile a list of 100 reasons to exercise – the author of the time article has a couple of paragraphs on the benefits of exercise – but change body composition - no!. To change body composition (lose fat and/or gain muscle) you have to bring insulin under control with your nutrition. If you don’t do that no amount or type of exercise will help you lose weight in the long term. Guess what – that’s exactly what the Time article finishes with: “I would reorient toward food and away from exercise” and ‘Its what you eat, not how hard you try to work it off, that matters more in losing weight” The fitness industry would better serve its trainers, and more importantly the clients that come to see those trainers, by providing up to date information back by good science rather than this classic knee jerk reaction. A good place to start would be to read Gary Taubes 2007 book “Good Calories, Bad Calories” and find out what the science actually shows about weight regulation, nutrition and exercise. You might be surprised!

Posted by: Katrina Dolahenty | 21-Aug-2009 03:49 PM |

the underlying problem is 'education' about food and energy. It has never changed... output > input = weightloss... The 'average Joe' who is trying to get fit, lose weight thinks you can train all you like and eat whatever you want and it will all equal out... unless you have the metabolism of a race horse, sorry... also, generally people are too focused on what they weigh... its only your gravity on the earth.. does not tell you if you are strong, toned etc... people forget if they had 2 women standing side by side in a bikini, 1 size 8 never exercised, eats whatever and 1 size 12 .. who has always watched what they ate, exercised regularly.. I can guarantee the size 12 would look better.. toned, shapely, walking billboard of health.. YOU can have 'skinny fat people'... also, you don't go into a dress shop and ask for a 60 kg dress... our clothes are in measurements... I think a lot of people regard healthy eating and exercise as a "beauty issue'' instead of a mindset of living better... longer

Posted by: Daniel Beveridge | 21-Aug-2009 03:53 PM |

What a world we live in. To have adults making statements like that. What a sorry sorry example we are to our over weight youth. Im afraid Time Magazine - your comments are both jurrasic and laughable. Expenditure vs consumption. Kilijoules in vs kilijoules expended. Its actually factual - daaaaah, are they stupid???? Expend (EXERCISE) more K's than you consume and you lose weight? Its not rocket science.

Posted by: Jessica | 21-Aug-2009 04:26 PM |

This article is a joke! It's encouraging bad habits and it's giving overweight people another excuse to stay overweight, not exercise and keep eating bad foods...because it's just easier. Of course loosing weight and keeping it off is hard work. There wouldn't be a need for Gyms, fitness professionals and nutritionists otherwise. I am so surprised that Time magazine even allowed this to be published. *Shocked!*

Posted by: Emily | 21-Aug-2009 04:35 PM |

Further to my earlier post: I have now had a chance to read the Time article properly, and have to agree 100% with the remarks made by Andy Gibbons. In my opinion, many of the comments on this blog: (1) are testimony to the reluctance many in the fitness industry have to considering new or opposing theories; and (2) misread or take out of context some of the points Cloud was trying to make. My reading was that Cloud is questioning whether vigorous exercise is optimal as a population-wide prescription to encourage weight loss, and has come to the conclusion that it is not. He backs up that argument with reference to many studies and theories about why for some people, formal exercise may have no impact or even cause them to gain weight. As fitness practitioners, should this not be of interest to us? How many participants or clients are we training harder and harder, thinking if only they sweated more they would meet their goals? Could it be that these people would benefit from less formal exercise, and greater encouragement of movement and incidental exercise? I think this research could really help us to develop better programs, which achieve better results - but are we open-minded enough to consider changing?

Posted by: Jessica | 21-Aug-2009 04:38 PM |

I message to Andy Gibbons - personal best fitness I see where you are coming from on this article, you make a really good point. But I don't think a lot of people would perceive it that way because that point is not that clear. There is too much negativity towards exercise in the article which over powers that point. I agree with you wholeheartedly that your food first has to be altered before you body can function at its optimum. So many people out there with allergies, food intolerance's (to name a couple) that can slow the metabolism down. When these problems are addressed then the rest - exercise and eating the right should be easy.

Posted by: Robyn | 21-Aug-2009 04:51 PM |

I too bought the mag. thinking TIME was a pretty reputable mag. Never again. I laughed outloud as I read the article. I am testimony to the fact that exercise definately helps weight loss. I have lost about 16 kg only with the help of a switched on PT. I have a anthletic fit looking body and have keep the weight off for over 2 years!! I look younger, dropped my cholesterol into normal range after a 6.8!! I have the flatest tummy after 3 kids and have gone froma nonexerciser to seasoned triathlete!!! and now a PT!!! If only diet alone could yield these results!!!

Posted by: Stone Gye | 21-Aug-2009 04:56 PM |

The article written by Time magazine was not entirey accurate. However, the comments have caused significant discourse on the subject. It is positive that we engage in conversation especially when it can lead to actions which transform the nature of our health in a positve way.

Posted by: Taku Taylor | 21-Aug-2009 05:18 PM |

I think we have focused too much on the headline and not the essense of the story, It does promote the health benefits of eating less and moving more which is how we should be every day. Is also says that an hour burst in the gym doesnt do as much as incidental exercise did for us prior to modern time saving devices which mean we sit on our asses all day and think that half an hour of exercise now and again is going to help. He advocates everday movement not just structured exercise in gyms. Yes, exercise makes you hungry. Its true. But its not a free ticket to eat everything you lay your eyes on which is the mistake people make all teh time - been there, done that. Its unortunate that everyone will only read that exercise sucks and if it does suck, he needs to try someting different.

Posted by: Shane Philpot, Personal trainer Workout Indooroopilly | 21-Aug-2009 07:11 PM |

I have major concerns with an article that puts the idea into people's minds that you don't need to exercise to loss weight and that having a PT is something that is gruelling and unpleasant. Having been a client of a amazing personal trainer who helped me lost over 50kg (yes it was done with diet but also exercise!) and also showed me what a difference one person can make TO others lives that I became a personal trainer. We have the chance to improve people's lives everyday and that is what makes it so wonderful. We would all agree that exercise alone is a very hard way to lose weight so yes we do need to control the calorie intake but without exercise you don't get all the other bonuses that come from exercise. A strong body makes for a strong mind and with that you have the power to make the changes to your life to acheive what you want.

Posted by: Amy J | 21-Aug-2009 09:31 PM |

It is so disappointing and frustrating to read articles such as this that creates a negative picture with the general public. Any fitness professional will agree that exercise combined with a nutritional diet helps with weight loss. I am amazed at the blatant claims in the article in a highly esteemed magazine as times. I wonder who the American researchers are that is quoted in the articles? As PT, Group Fitness professionals we inspire, motivate people and create life changing experiences. Exercise is without a doubt a extremely important aspect of anyone life.

Posted by: Donna Hutchinson | 21-Aug-2009 11:17 PM |

The recipe for weight loss is a complex subject to tackle. There's no one right way to secure a permanent loss but often a combined approach of solid nutrition, exercise, mental focus, hormonal balance and chemistry. What works for one individual will almost certainly be different for someone else. Can someone lose weight without exercising, sure? Can this same individual lose weight with exercise alone while still eating junk food, hard to say but not likely. But why are we focussing on weight loss alone? The bottom line is that the body is meant to move so we should move it and fuel it properly. Articles such as this just make it harder for fitness professionals to do their job. Now there's going to be people raising their hands up and saying "see I told you I don't need to exercise". The article fuels the fire for the non-exercise to say they don't need too when clearly they do. I enjoy a good cookie and yes even a chocolate bar from time to time. I've even used exercise to justify the fact that I was about to eat a high calorie, high sugar, low nutrient value food. Here's the kicker, I don't have a weight problem, I eat well 90% of the time and I get and hour of exercise on most days. My body can handle a treat from time to time. However, this isn't the case for the majority of the population who eat well only 20% of the time, don't exercise, have sky high stress levels, carry extra weight and are prone to disease due to an unhealthy lifestyle. In summary, all I can say is that I'm speechless to understand Mr. Clouds' position on exercise. However, as an industry I'm glad that it's disturbed enough of you to want to comment. We need to raise our professional credibility and counter any negative claims, images or stereotypes associated with our profession. I commend all of you for taking the time to comment.

Posted by: Allison McMaster | 22-Aug-2009 04:27 PM |

Obviously TIME isn't selling many mags these days. Of course they are writing this rubbish because their readership is dropping. The people who read TIME- are meant to have a little bit of intellect. I can't wait to hear the feed-back the article gets from TIME readers themselves.

Posted by: Anonymous | 22-Aug-2009 09:42 PM |

Thinking outside the box here is another perspective. What was the agenda of the writer when this article was written? I know for a fact that certain individuals write in a certain manner to push their own agenda and/or axe to grind and/or to deceive the public in general. The content being based on truth with a good dose of inaccuracy.

Posted by: Anonymous | 23-Aug-2009 02:53 PM |

One of my clients actually gave me this article to read last week and I found it really interesting and it could have been a really informative article had it been a little better written. I think the point that Cloud is trying to make is that if you are going to the gym in an effort to lose weight and are not seeing results, maybe you should also take a look at the type of food or how much food you are eating and stop 'treating' yourself with unhealthy foods on the way home. And if you don't like exercising vigorously at the gym for an hour a day, why not just try to increase the amount of incidental exercise that you are doing. He does mention a few times some of the health benefits of exercise, so he's obviously not totally anti-exercise. I guess, like many others out there, he just feels a little jaded that in order to sell memberships many gyms market the weight loss benefits that can come from regular exercise without educating their clients with sound nutritional advice. Hopefully as PTs we are giving a more personal service and ensuring that our clients are informed that if you want to lose weight yes you should eat healthily and may be a little hungry sometimes. This article is obviously aimed at overweight people who don't enjoy exercising and he's offering them a valid alternative way to lose weight - increase incidental exercise and eat more healthily. It's a shame that this point wasn't made more clearly and that he didn't go a little further by providing some sound nutritional advice or references to where people can go to get this advice. Many obese people find it very challenging or even painful to exercise, so losing weight through diet and more movement throughout the day is a much more realistic approach for these people.

Posted by: Adrian Woods | 23-Aug-2009 07:58 PM |

Many fitness professionals wil tell you its all about 'burning calories' in the gym. This is crap ( just consider how many Ks on the treadmill are required to 'burn' 2 or 3 Tim-Tams). Diet, and particularly the way it effects one's hormones (most notably insulin) is the key to weight loss. And by the way, fitness trainers should concentrate on fitness ( strength, speed, endurance etc.) and not on weight loss- skinny is just skinny.

Posted by: Anonymous | 23-Aug-2009 09:06 PM |

I think if everyone took the time to read the article properly it actually makes sense. Its not that the author was saying dont exercise and you will loose weight. The point he was attempting to make was dont exercise like you are possessed, just move more and more often and you are more likely to be able to control what you eat. Also exercising to "keep fit" and exercising to "loose weight" are 2 very different animals. Maybe a few more so called fitness professionals and personal trainers could actually listen and learn a thing or 2. In the end doing what meets the clients goals and not what they themselves like doing is what matters.

Posted by: Michelle | 23-Aug-2009 10:17 PM |

Finally an article to make some of the PT's in our world come back to reality! this was written by a person that actually spends time and money to see one of us! This should be a big wake up call to all exercise professionals - we are in the perfect place to guide our clients thru the mine-field of "health & fitness" but in terms of what it REALLY means to our everyday client - NOT another Fitness professional. Promotion of health activity, understanding food energy better and support for our clients. Come on guys, we know this stuff and we should be doing a better job of getting it thru to our clients - even if it is one client at a time! If we already are, then we have our work cut out for us as there are more and more people in need of our knowledge....

Posted by: lizzie | 24-Aug-2009 08:39 AM |

Health is a major concern and improving fitness levels is undoubtedly going to improve your health, and this should be the number one priority, followed by a weight loss in clients. Obesity has been termed one of the biggest risks of cancer according to the Australian Cancer Council so we should be encouraging all types of people to exercise, and to relish the exercise challenge....of (may I say --only temporary) blood sweat and tears ......and come out a better person. Surely we can't forget that you can't put a price on YOUR health. Everybody knows how important thier health is, it's just some choose not do do anything about it (hey Y'ALL maybe this reporter wants an excuse to stop getting healtheir!!??) . Despite the NO BRAINER choice, we should be encouraging clients to stay on top of what they are more than capable of achieving in terms of their fitness and life.

Posted by: Lloyd Shaw | 24-Aug-2009 02:49 PM |

What gets me is even in today's "educated" world people still get people hooked up to CO2 tests to try and find out how many calories they expend during some forms of exercise. So far there is no known way of testing how many calories are consumed in Resistance Training / Vibration Training / Sprinting etc.. Is this done so some " academics " can pretend to look useful, because it serves no scientific purpose I know of. The whole article was like reading something from someone who is uneducated and overweight and happy to stay that way.

Posted by: Kev | 24-Aug-2009 04:05 PM |

It is "lose" weight, not loose weight, you twits.

Posted by: L Widdup | 24-Aug-2009 04:10 PM |

As a fitness professional and mother to 2 young boys (aged 1 and 2) I strongly believe exercise and nutrition play a huge role in weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. The big problem here is people who eat foods with no nutritional value (high in fat, salt and sugar) and expect small amounts of moderate to high intensity exercise to result in weight loss. A lifestyle change is needed - a focus on both nutrition and exercise. Cut out the diets and make changes that are to be continued for LIFE! If someone doesn't like going to the gym then they should find activities that they do enjoy and do them more often. Not everyone finds exercise to be a chore - I go walking most days with my young boys, even in the rain, and we all love it. I do prefer higher intensity exercise but for now it has helped me back to my pre-children weight and has helped to maintain my fitness even when I don't have time for a structured exercise program. I must say here that I do not eat junk food so although I eat more when exercising it isn't a huge problem. I view exercise as a very important part of my life and want to pass the enjoyable experiences onto my children - along with education about healthy eating.

Posted by: Marder Claire | 25-Aug-2009 04:58 AM |

The articale published in the Times magazine is an outrage, to say the least! From 5am in the morning until 7pm everyday, I am educating people and training people how to exercise and eat healthily. After studying 4yrs at university and studying the human anatomy and physilology, one would hope that you have enough knowledge to have such a career. Personal training and anything related to healthy and well-being is the most needed industry in this world, because of articles of absolute rubish that people write about. Exercise is hard work, and even harder is losing weight that has taken years to pile on, but these people will see benefits if they stick to a healthy eating plan and have the right exercise program. Artcles like this should be banned from publishing! More so, the author should be fired for producing such crap. Totally disapointed in the Time for allowing this article.

Posted by: Kitchingman Australia | 25-Aug-2009 11:51 AM |

Oliver is the editor for Australian Fitness Network.

Here’s an interesting rundown of Time’s various ridiculous scaremongering/ circulation-chasing stories of the past few decades. Time may be shedding readers, but as this link shows, the latest fitness/fatness piece is not the first controversy-seeking piece they have written…

http://www.reason.com/news/show/134038.html

Posted by: Anonymous | 25-Aug-2009 07:59 PM |

The fact that the author, John Cloud, starts talking about exercising to "turn fat into muscle" a few paragraphs in to this biased and ridiculous article should make him lose all credibility with anyone, I would think!

Posted by: Mr. Fitness | 26-Aug-2009 07:59 AM |

What do you expect from a Magazine looking to sell advertising to drug companys like Merck (see Vytorin ad in same issue page 15). A nice story outlining how useless exercise is goes a long way to improving Merck's bottom line. Look, here's the deal, if all you want to do is lose weight it's simple STOP EATING. You'll lose a lot of weight real quick and you'll be real skinny, and then you'll die, but who cares, as long as your skinny right? Now if your goal is to improve your health, lower your blood pressure, decrease stress levels, improve mood, fight depression, sleep better at night, get off all your prescription medication, prevent Diabetes, remain strong and independent long into old age, and have a better overall quatlity of life, then keep exercising. Every organ in your body was designed to perform a function that will enable your body to keep moving in its quest for nutrition, stop moving and you give those organs no reason to exist. essentially, you let your internal organs down when you refuse to move, so don't be surprised if they let you down in return. Weight loss is one small side effect of exercise. You should Exercise because it makes you feel better and it gives your body a reason to exist, not because you want to be skinny. If your extreme vanity only cares about the weight loss effects of exercise, save yourself some time and money and move to Ethiopia, there's no overweight people there either.

Posted by: Uno Riis-Olesen | 26-Aug-2009 02:36 PM |

It is very well known that hard yakka exercise increases your hunger (appetite), we only have to visit real life people who make their living on exercise, Body Builders, powerlifters, Olympic lifters, footballers, gymnastics and the list goes on, it is also well known "if someone would bother to ask" that if theise proffessional athletes lived in JUNK foods there is no way they would ever have made it to be a top athlete. I am very shocked that any one person has the GUTS to print such nonsense in a world wide magazine like TIME moreover the shck is even hgher when the editor of the magazine approved this RUBBISH.

Posted by: Jillian Tunbridge | 26-Aug-2009 09:42 PM |

I love the exercise I do which is poledancing. It promotes having SO much fun and also feeling sexy while working out and getting fit and healthy. Combining this with healthy eating I have gone down two dress sizes in a matter of months. This without starving myself or completeley avoiding treats.

Posted by: Saghar Zonouzi | 29-Aug-2009 11:05 PM |

Well, as things are not just black or white and everything in moderation and moderation in everything works, I agree that keep being active most of the day (In any possible way) instead of just spending one or two hours a day on some days of the week and dividing the meals moderately during the day instead of having a whole meal at once will lead a better way to lose fat! I also agree that having fun during work out ( Like taking part in Lesmills group esercises) will lead to a better result for loosing fat instead of making the body exhusted by putting too much stress on the muscles.

Posted by: Jesse W | 31-Aug-2009 08:46 PM |

I don't know where the facts for this article came from but they are totally incorrect. You basically just need to burn more than you put in (simple equation). I usually eat what i want on the weekends, the only catch is i have to excercise 3 hours a day on weekdays. When i get under 5% body fat I drop down to an hour a day (it's a simple principal even cars run on). I started up the extra exercise a month ago recently and have lost 7kg (not hard if you put in the effort)

Posted by: Ramsey Macdonald | 07-Sep-2009 03:04 AM |

Cloud seems to be writing from an everyman perspective, using literary techniques to vilify exercise and use the fact that it increases your hunger as a scapegoat for his post workout junk binge. He does cite some research in the fields of obesity and diabetes that have shown that exercise is not mandatory for weightloss with respect to the subjects tested. Not being an endocrinologist, i have no actual proof, but one would have to think that, given obesity is now classified as a disease, (as well as diabetes) that there might be a reason that exercise is ineffective for these people. As a fitness professional or even a gym junkie, you know that exercise provides a release of chemicals that make you feel good, these then go on to affect other chemical reactions in the body that allow for the physiological adaptations to exercise. Take a step back and note that people with diabetes and obesity have not got properly functioning hormonal responses and voila, there is the problem with exercise, if you are insulin resistant your blood sugar is going to be abnormal and exercise may or may not help it, people with type two diabetes seem to have a good reaction, in regards to insulin sensitivity, when they exercise. Yet if these people are 'diseased' you get thee impression that everything isn't going to be working properly, that may have some impact on the ability of exercise to affect them, maybe Cloud should go and have a blood sugar test done, given that he has a gut that overhangs his bel and that abdominal fat is the LEADING indicator of a possible health problem it might be worthwhile. To lose weight, one needs to have a negative energy balance, this is true, but if this causes your blood sugar to fluctuate too rapidly it will wreak havoc with your hormones and you body goes into starvation mode and starts going scrooge on your bodyfat reserves. A maintained negative energy balance, one that does not severely drop calories, maintained over a longer period of time will eventuate in a significant drop in bodyfat. To say that exercise is not necessary for weightloss is a fallacy, that would never stand up to professional scrutiny, as exercise can be defined as any activity in which the body is not at rest. So a negative energy balance can be acheived by eating hte same calories but increasing the energy output, that way you don't have to starve yourself. The other problem, which everyone else has touched on for the most part, is that what you eat is 90% of the problem, your body makes all of your hormones from the macro and micronutrients we get from our food. Proteins to repair and build cell stuctures, carbohydrates to provide an enegy source for our cells to function and fats to provide cholesterols and triglycerides for cellular membranes, neurotransmitters, hormones and a host of other vital functions. The consumtion of nutrient poor calories in the highly processed foods that we eat are largely to blame for these diseases. Unfortunately there are large fortunes built on the supply of the masses with cheap and convenient foods, especially ones that taste good or are highly satisfying, as most fatty foods are upon ingestion. The obesity pandemic that is suffocating the world one blubbery roll at a time is something that needs to be addressed and not quarrelled over in media and magazines, the aethetics of glamour nad fame are retracting from the purpose of it all, quality of life, looking good generally follows if you feel good and a healthy lifestyle is going to wonders for that. To put it plainly, have you ever seen an obese sprinter, marathon runner, cyclist or other athlete? No, you don't, so i'd be putting my money on the bet that exercise, whether intense weightlifting or a 30 minute walk, is going to contribute to weightloss and overall wellbeing, especially if you are eating healthy.

Posted by: Anonymous | 17-Sep-2009 03:14 PM |

The best way to loose weight is to become addicted to nicotine to suppress your appetite and get your calories from alcohol, which also suppresses your appetite. Is it healthy? NO. Do you feel good? Yeah, as long as you’re not trying to walk up a flight of stairs or just exist in a normal world. Live fast, die young. Shame about your kids being orphans though. My husband and I were competitive kayakers for a few years. The funny thing was that after an event, I craved popcorn, he craved KFC. The thing is, it was a once a month event, so it didn’t matter if he pigged out on something unhealthy. I think we have made fat loss too complicated. Just take out all the processed foods from your diet, minimise meat and eat a huge variety of fruit and vegies a day…not servings just try to eat 15 different types a day. As for exercising being hard work -- I think he needs a new personal trainer. Exercise should be fun. Why would anyone want to do something they don’t enjoy for a long period.

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