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Written by Network and select guest authors, this blog is designed to keep you up to speed with everything fitness industry related. Contribute and help shape the industry.

Pilates and back pain, is there a link?

by Ryan Hogan | Sunday, October 18, 2009

In a recent edition of the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, an article was published with the title: Core Promises. In a nutshell it discusses how Pilates can either strengthen your core muscles in an effective, strong manner or it can cause back pain, even in conditioned participants. The difference between the two outcomes can sometimes be very small and involve the most subtle changes in how you engage the most important muscle group in your body, your core. ...read more

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An industry response to the article: The Myth About Exercise in Time Magazine

by Ryan Hogan | Thursday, August 20, 2009

On a recent trip to America, I was browsing a newsagent at the Seattle airport and came across TIME magazine with the following title on the cover: "The Myth About Exercise. Of course it's good for you, but it won't make you lose weight. Why it's what you eat that really counts." And to top it off, there was a massive picture of a woman on a treadmill eyeing a cupcake! Of course, I had to immediately buy the magazine and read the article. ...read more

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COMMENTS

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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Is CrossFit Training for Everyone?

by Ryan Hogan | Monday, May 18, 2009

The following post is written by Lori Eggers from PTontheNET.

Type in the word “CrossFit” into any search engine, and you’ll see literally hundreds of entries for CrossFit programs in various cities, states and countries around the world.

Developed by a former gymnast in California, the CrossFit program is designed to “deliver a fitness that is, by design, broad, general and inclusive,” where the same routines are used for “elderly individuals with heart disease and cage fighters one month out from televised bouts.” ...read more

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Posted by: Adam Stanecki | 02-Jun-2009 10:43 AM |

This post doesn't actually answer the question in the title. I can answer it (although you may consider me biased as I am affiliated). CrossFit is safe for everyone. It is fully scalable. It is not simply "stringing together some difficult drills/exercises". There is validity and empirical evidence behind the program. Do not judge it based solely on internet posts and videos. CrossFit is contrary to many common fitness models and therefore causes discomfort among many in the industry. Different doesn't mean wrong. If you want to try it for yourself, I'll provide a free trial at my gym. Go to http://www.crossfitvictoria.com for more info.
Regards, Adam Stanecki.

Posted by: Williams Australia | 04-Jun-2009 09:44 AM |

I own and run Australia's current Personal Training Business of the Year and have sat on the Board of Fitness Australia ACT branch, and whilst i am a big believer in variety to people's training, i am still not sure that Crossfit is safe for everyone. I have been and tried it for myself and i found it quite extreme even after training and competing for 15 years. The problem i believe we are and will see, is trainers setting themselves up wanting to do CrossFit training with their clients,but they lack enough experience to be able to cater for a variety of clients and to be able to scale it back to suit the various fitness levels they may come across. I am not 100% sure on what training or qualifications are required at this stage to be a CrossFit qualified trainer, but i am sure it is something that can be addressed to make the trainers more qualified and to be able to offer lower impact options of the training.
Time will tell if it will take off in Australia, and at this stage it is not something i will tell my clients to try unless they have a very high level of fitness.
I run a Mini Commandos style of training for around 20 primary schools per term and at this stage i will not teach it to our youth, preferring to focus on developmental fun exercise programs.
With time, better training and more understanding of the CrossFit style of training, it may be something that can be taught down the track.

Posted by: Graeme Beath | 18-Jun-2009 09:49 AM |

Like Adam I am biased but I think there is a perception as relayed by Scott that CrossFit is always intense or extreme. I condust mostly outdoor PT sessions & am a CrossFit Cert 1 trainer but I don't train people in a Crossfit gym (yet - it a goal). My own training is Crossfit & i'M 55 so it's not just for young fire breathers. I would also comment I pretty much beat most new younger people coming out of a globo gym environment untill they build up real firtness.
CrossFit training is functional; really functional not just standing on a bosu. Technique is paramount and a very large amount of time is spent getting proper movement before anyone is released on an exercise program. Workouts are infinitely scaleable and the most intense routines can be modified for 80 year olds & 8 year olds. I use it on most my squads but they don't know it. I've also had disabled people doing movements they didn't think possible simply because no one showed them how. I currntly have a rehab client from car accident.
The intensity comes at each level.
Check out Adams web site & you'll find links to other affiliates around the country. Go, look & talk to the trainers & don't always think about hard core. Once you are hooked though you will want to go hard & you'll accept ripped hands from pull ups, scraped shins from Oly Lifts & general soreness. The guys who opposse it have generally never tried it or talked to anyone who has given it e serious evaluation.

Posted by: Anonymous | 18-Jun-2009 10:38 AM |

I agree with Adam. I've experienced Crossfit and it was an extremely hard, satisfying workout - due to my own commitment level. I think the problem is that it is actually hard to push yourself to that level alone as yes, it is uncomfortable. By the same token yes, it does get results (provided you know when to stop i.e. when your form fails). I've seen some videos that perhaps don't support this style of training as the subjects push passed the point of losing their technique and it all looks a little too painful and potentially dangerous) but based on my personal research and experience I would suggest Trainers try it for themselves before making a quick judgement. The principles behind it are sound and so I think easily scaleable across a variety of populations.
I am a PT and regularly use this style of training with my clients (ranging in age from 20-something to 70-something). I don't think it's a particularly new concept rather the intensity level that attracts attention. That said, I don't just throw Clients in at the highest level of intensity or I'd never see them again. It's a matter of introducing the principles at an intensity hard enough to get results but at a level they can cope with so they don't go away sore to the point that it interferes with their life and they don't want to come back.
I think pushing the intensity as high as you can during your workout while maintaining correct technique is very much optimal training.

Posted by: Anonymous | 20-Jun-2009 04:19 PM |

I am a PTI in the Army and have been for 21 years, the crossfit phenonenum has its place. Where I work we conduct crossfit for all ages, but at a level they can cope with also. I have tried it and my strength gains were excellent, that said I did not look at the times or reps of other people on the web site Crossfitfx.com and rested between each bout of sets when fatigued. You can make up your own and work your way into it, alot of people start off hard and unprepared and consequently receive an injury or accute muscle soreness. My suggestion work in slow and set achievable goals.

Posted by: Brendan | 22-Jun-2009 06:06 PM |

As above i'm all for Crossfit. As a holder of a Crossfit certification I can honestly say that anyone that is willing to bag this type of training has not tried it. It is fully adjustable to suit all ages, genders, fitness and functional levels. In the words of Crossfit " the only difference between an elite athlete and a elderly trainee is one looks for functional dominance the other looks for functional competence " Crossfit supplies both camps with the required level of fitness over a broad range of modalities, that is a broad level of general fitness.
As for the comment about "bad form" All afilliates and trainers conduct a foundation course teaching the core movements and correct technique to all the various exercises used in the Crossfit workouts. This has to be completed before any trainee is let loose on any workout.
To my knowledge not many Globo gyms teach their clients how to Clean, Press, Snatch or swing a Kettlebell safely? Signing a direct debit seem to be the only pre requisite to training.

Posted by: Anonymous | 06-Jul-2009 02:31 PM |

Is it for everyone? Training's about being holistic,working on all muscle groups,flexibility, imbalances, food,stress,educating clients about their bodie etc.So pick a series of exercises that are well balanced for your client ,work them hard, safley and at their level, this is Cross training,been doing it for 15 years.

Posted by: Darryl | 04-Sep-2009 11:54 AM |

i am have been doing both the main CF and the navy seals CF as part of PT for my employment. i'm not a big believer in it and still thinks its dangerous, and to some degree, even pointless. i believe a lot of injuries are caused by this random approach, and the mixing of exercises that should be seperate. eg, doing high reps of heavy lifts interspersed with other activities. we shouldn't be doing heavy lifts after completely wearing yourself out on other activities, as form naturally goes out the window. and i dont believe in the notion of training body parts that are still stiff and sore from previous workouts, but thats what invariably happens as the workouts are random. we have a certified CF instructor at work, and he suggests sacrificing a small amount of form to ensure you push the barrier and make improvements (which was taught to him by coach glassman on his course). in my experience, after doing CF for some time, a new person to CF can walk in and complete and even beat regularlt CFitters. people who do conventional weight and cardio programs seem to have absolutely no difficulty completing ANY of the WODs, which suggests to me that CF trains mediocrity, or a very poor standard, in the fitness domains it promotes. i am currently in a tactical police unit and have subjected myself to some very rigorous training programs. i gave CF and long trial, and my strength and cardio decreased dramatically. we have had shoulder and knee injuries, not to mention more than 1 hernia case. all this from people who are very active and very well trained. physcially and mentally. also, the CF website has SOOO many photos of these really muscular guys. marketing ploy? i think so. if anyone thinks those physiques are gained by CF alone are sadly mistaken. that only will come from long, dedicated weight training, genetics, and a well balanced diet (not the cave man diet). as i said i trialled CF for a long time with a very open mind. im not trying to offend anyone involved in it, im just putting forward my opinion and experience. cheers

Posted by: Darryl | 04-Sep-2009 11:54 AM |

Posted by: James H | 10-Feb-2010 09:32 PM |

I personally think there are ups, and plenty of downs to Cross fit. DOWNS A cookie cutter approach to exercising multiple people is dangerous. No concern for technique, even though they say scale it down, the competitive aspect allows people to push well beyond their capabilities The only safeway to train an INDIVIDUAL is to thoroughly assess them and then program design accordingly, crossfit does not do this UPS The community it has created on local, national and global levels is pretty phenomenal. The concept is great. Charles Polequin is surely one of the most highly respected people in this industry and he has a lengthy article highlighting his thoughts you can read it here.. www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance/question_of_strength_vol_47 Cheers.

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Exercise proving positive effects on cancer patients

by Ryan Hogan | Sunday, February 15, 2009

The following post was written by Kat Weihen, online trainer for Network's ePT course.

Cancer, in all forms, is one of the leading causes of premature death in Australia; however, more than half of all cancers diagnosed in Australia are successfully treated and survival rates for some common cancers have recently increased. ...read more

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Posted by: Suzanne Shardlow | 18-Feb-2009 09:54 AM |

I am a Breast Cancer Survivor of 12 months and am very interested in this concept. I am currently completing my Cert III Fitness Instructor - for 2 reasons. I have always been involved on a personal level in fitness and needed a career change from a stressful office position after my diagnosis, and my Oncologist said to me that there is no better little white pill than Exercise. I would love to be able to pass on my knowledge and experience to others who are on a similar journey. I dont think the concept is blurring the lines, but rather adding another dimension as part of a holistic approach to support Cancer Survivors. For instance, we have Breast Care Nurses on hand, who already prescribe specific exercises for women who are recovering from surgery - why not include a Fitness Specialist as part of the Cancer Support structure. I am all for it, and would love to be apart of it!

Posted by: Anonymous | 25-Feb-2009 04:41 PM |

Response from Kat Weihen, author of the blog post. Hi Suzanne, thanks for your response on this topic. I found it interesting and definitely a topic relevant for trainers seeing as cancer is so common and with the advance medical treatments, more and more people are surviving. That is great news that you would like to pass your knowledge onto others who have had a similar experience. Perhaps that is an angle you could target with your personal training especially as you can relate to what those people who are recovering cancer patients. You could even link up with those nurses who currently prescribe specific exercises for women recovering from surgery and establish a connection with those patients and help them with their ongoing treatment and physical exercise. Thanks for your comments Suzanne. Kathryn

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The benefits of Self Myofascial Release

by Analee Matthews | Wednesday, November 12, 2008

At the recent Network 08 On Tour event, exercise physiologist, nutritionist, personal trainer and fitness educator, Paul Taylor, explained the benefits of Self Myofascial Release.

Self Myofascial Release (SMR) is reported to increase neuromuscular efficiency, alleviate the effects of overactive muscles and influence the autonomic nervous system. ...read more

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The results of Network's first ever PT Survey are here!

by Ryan Hogan | Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Look after your clients and they will look after you.
In Network’s recent PT survey it came to light that personal trainers rate attracting new customers as their greatest sales and marketing related challenge. This is perhaps not surprising, though surely if they had higher retention rates then attracting new clients wouldn’t be such an issue …? ...read more

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Posted by: Eddie S | 09-Nov-2008 03:16 PM |

WOW! It's a great eye opener to see what the salary levels are like for PTs. I would have thought that it would have been more per hour, but that must be the demographic I live in. Also very interesting to see no formalised sales processes. I personally do have a process that I follow and it works quite well.. Anyone else have the same?

Posted by: G | 11-Nov-2008 01:18 PM |

Interesting that most PTs don’t really have a marketing plan nor really care about having one!! They faired a bit better on structured selling, but I guess the word “structured” may be interpreted that they have a list of rates that give different rates for multiple uses per week or for more than one person at a time, rather than they use a sales process …. Yet 42% of them are independent business owners!!! …. Hmmmm....

Posted by: Ryan Hogan | 20-Nov-2008 10:25 AM |

We note that the majority of you nominated “attracting new customers” as your single greatest sales and marketing challenge, however the overwhelming majority of you (73.2%) spend only 1-2 hours per week on marketing related tasks. We’d love to hear from you – is this a matter or prioritising a much needed activity, have you been underwhelmed by the results of your previous marketing activities so are less active, or perhaps you simply feel there is no time to work on the business due to the time you spend working in the business? We’d like to know what your marketing challenges are and perhaps we can all gain some insight into this important, yet seemingly underdone activity. Any thoughts?

Posted by: Anonymous | 23-Nov-2008 09:25 PM |

I am one of those PT's who probably don't spend enough time on marketing my business. Though I have just put up a website and blog so I am planning to get things going in 2009! Mostly I want to attract people to my group sessions as that is what I like doing most and then you don't have the no cash problem when your 1on1 people go on holidays or get sick etc. I like the idea of this network blog for exchanging ideas/information - good work. LC

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Barefoot training, yes or no?

by Ryan Hogan | Wednesday, October 29, 2008

In the last twelve months or so we've seen a huge increase in interest in the concept of barefoot training among both personal trainers and fitness enthusiasts. While the idea has been around for some time now, it has only recently exploded onto the scene at local fitness facilities. ...read more

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Posted by: Alisha | 31-Oct-2008 11:22 AM |

Substantiated studies are few and far between, so i'm definitely hesitant to recommend it. Of the clinical studies that do exist, most actually reported a higher incidence of lower leg injuries in shod populations, but i feel that it's important to point out that most barefoot populations have only ever known bare feet. Their tactile and proprioceptive responses would already be conditioned to accept this style of training. While i've always been a fan of my spunky new trainers, i did take the advice of a fellow PT and try a barefoot run- and it hurt! I believe that going barefoot, like all training, needs to be progressive and appropriate to the profile and needs of your client.

Posted by: Anonymous | 31-Oct-2008 12:03 PM |

Funnily enough, the Fitness First mag is running an article about this very topic in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue. Soooo ahead of the game, Network! :)

Posted by: Tim | 03-Nov-2008 09:23 PM |

Nope - I won't do it. I'd rather train in shoes (which is what we wear all day long) and become accustomed to using shoes, then grow muscle blobs for feet which don't work in shoes.

Posted by: Anon | 05-Nov-2008 10:02 AM |

Personally I can't believe that some people wear those five fingers things, simply because they are so ugly! I wouldn't be caught dead in them. Tim you hit the nail on the head, why would we condition our feet for barefoot training when we spend most of our lives in shoes? Silly I say...

Posted by: Anonymous | 14-Nov-2008 08:50 AM |

This is silly. Bare feet can deposit and pick up all sorts of filth on a well-used gym floor and even feet in socks can be badly damaged by tacks, nails, weights and other people. And after a long day at work, bare feet may not be very nice to exercise next to. If you want muscular feet go walking on the beach or do a yoga class. Stay tuned for the next stupid gimmick. Tony

Posted by: Becky | 14-Nov-2008 09:58 AM |

Yeah, I also tried barefoot training outdoors for a while, I did feel like I worked up gradually to it, but just the sheer biomechanics of my type of strike and foot stability led me to a shocking case of plantar fasciitis and shin splints. If you were to try this type of training I would highly recommend consulting your podiatrist first!

Posted by: Carol | 17-Nov-2008 03:54 PM |

As a martial artist I have trained barefoot for 17 years. I feel my balance is much better in bare feet as I can spread my toes and get balanced more efficiently. Shoes actually feel cumbersome. Training is done on wooden floors and appears quite safe. However as a personal trainer I do like my clients in a good shoe that provides good support and cushioning. I sometimes threaten to slap a defect notice on some peoples shoes when I have a hold of their leg for stretching their hamstrings and see the tread on their shoes.

Posted by: Caroline Wade-Martens | 04-Dec-2008 02:26 PM |

This same argument has been playing out for some time in the 'equestrian' arena. Barefoot v. shod, with similar arguments over today's requirements of the athlete (either equine or human) and the environment they operate in. I decided to trial 'barefoot' on my beach runs, and did find that my running performance/action appeared to improve - but, perhaps changing my biomechanics in this way precipitated my calf muscle tear - or maybe not? I guess every type of training has merit - and there is certainly merit in the thoughts that the muscles in our feet need to be exercised as well as other muscles in our body - but again, common sense must prevail and short bouts of changes need to be carefully integrated into the whole part of the program.

Posted by: Johnny Pneumatic | 17-Dec-2008 01:30 AM |

I think it is pretty silly to suggest that barefoot running is some sort of hippy fad that should be dismissed out of hand. Homo sapiens evolved over millions of years and this was, sorry to say, barefoot. Sadly most people wear shoes and so their perspective is that it 'isn't normal', 'crazy', 'dirty' or even 'impossible' . I was able to transition to barefoot running by walking barefoot on rough surfaces whenever I could, and running short distances on grass and later pavement. After a while, my calf muscles adapted to my newfound forefoot strike, and my soles thickened. Soon I was running 10, 20 and over 30 km barefoot and recently competed in a half-marathon. I'm a pretty average 32 year old male athlete and if I can do it, I'm willing to bet most other people could do it too. The key is to be patient...jumping into barefoot running without preparation will definitely lead to problems.

Posted by: G | 11-Mar-2009 03:06 PM |

Having a few Achilles injuries & ankle sprains over the last 3 years I was getting a bit frustrated of training for 4 months, then sitting out for 3 months.
What to do? What to do?
What has worked for me in more ways then one is bare foot running (Grass athletic track). Combined this with eccentric work on the calves, I am feeling stronger in the ankle region.
So to say I am a fan of it, yes I am. Note that I do this once a week. For normal runs it is always shoes. As Johnny P said the Key is patience.

Posted by: Kylie | 12-May-2009 08:15 AM |

As a dancer and martial artist my feet are my foundation and my tools. While I acknowledge the contribution of footwear to provide protection from the impact of the unnaturally hard surfaces we have created in the modern world, the problem is that we are now relying on footwear to provide a false support for what is already a brilliantly designed and very effective foundation.

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Welcome to the Network Blog

by Analee Matthews | Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Welcome to the Australian Fitness Network Blog; your newest, weekly online update of what’s hot, happening and heavy in the Australian fitness industry. Right here is where you can sort the fact from the fiction and the grit from the gossip. In our first post we thought it important to provide you with a picture of the industry you work in. ...read more

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Posted by: Ed | 16-Oct-2008 03:08 PM |

If you consider the high quality of facilities and standards of personal training and instruction evident on the gymfloor and in group exercise classes within Australian health clubs, it's not surprising that other countries have used the Australian system to influence the development of their own education and registration systems.

Posted by: Craig White | 21-Oct-2008 10:58 AM |

Great to see the blog up and running. What a credit it is to those who have contributed to the cutting edge content that goes into the framework formulated by the government. All the more kudos to you Network for leading the way!

Posted by: Ryan Hogan | 22-Oct-2008 12:17 PM |

Being Canadian and having worked in Canada in the fitness industry for years, coming to Australia and immersing myself in the industry here has certainly been an eye opening experience! The high level of standards in both education and regulation have certainly changed my whole perspective on what the fitness industry can be. Kudos to Network for leading the way!

Posted by: Leon | 27-Oct-2008 12:59 PM |

Hey- I love the blog- its a coup for network and a great way to meet peers. Anyway- has anyone seen this new metabolic testing product in action at fitness first? Its very cool and a new way to design cardio programmes.

Posted by: | 14-Nov-2008 09:10 PM |

I think there are some problems with the initial training in cert3 and cert 4, the couse I did was very mickey mouse, but since graduating three years ago and with all the educational opportunities available I feel that the system works well. Those who are keen and interested will collect their CEC's and keep progressing. It was great to see in the survey just how much time most people are putting in to continued education. WEll odne to the industry

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