Survey Results - Key problems with your Food & Fitness (Part 2)

Jonny Parr
Jan 22, 2019
3 min read

Hi guys.

How we all doing?

Following on from my last email, here are some other food and fitness challenges, and problems you identified from my survey.

Once again, thank you for your responses.

1. “I don’t like counting calories and don’t understand food plans”

A large number of you highlighted your dislike at counting calories and following food plans.

I see this problem often and actually dislike this food approach myself. In fact, as a trainer, it's been my experience that the majority of people who live everyday lives simply aren't able to sustain the strict guidelines and recommendations food plans and counting calories takes. Admittedly, food plans can work for a number of people but for most, it’s a difficult and almost impossible task due to so many restrictions and confusion. Here’s how those meal plans work: You input your statistics and food preferences, and someone (or most likely a program) spits out a meal plan, and you’re expected to follow it. Sounds good in principle. Sadly, only about 1 in 10 clients actually follow a customised meal plan for more than a few weeks. You see, for most people, meal plans simply aren’t practical. But let’s say you can follow a meal plan. That’s great, but how long do you think you can follow a specific menu? A month? A year? 10 years? 25 years? Would you even want to? While the meal plan method sounds good in principle, it’s not very useful in practice and the evidence is written all over the market. Trust me, if you followed a food plan previously and struggled, you’re not alone, so don’t feel bad about it for one second! 2. “I don’t like going to the gym”

Many of you mentioned you disliked gyms. The most common answers I received included...

The gym is unwelcoming and intimidating
I don’t know what exercises to do and if I’m doing them correctly
I don’t know how to use the equipment
It’s too busy

A number of you mentioned that you get so confused as to what to do that you usually just walk or run on the treadmill. There’s no doubting many gyms can be intimidating and unwelcoming. This particularly tends to be the case at peak times (usually around 6-8pm), where getting that piece of equipment you want takes an entirety. Before you know it, you’ve spent a half hour chasing the only two dumbbells that were the weight you needed. There also appears to be a lack of guidance from gym staff who may be underqualified or simply too busy (or lazy) to help you.

3. “There's too much confusing information”

Another interesting matter raised by you relates to the amount of information you read, particularly on the internet, which is actually causing you more confusion regarding what to do when you set foot in the gym. There is so much conflicting and false information available these days that we never really know if we’re following a program and exercising in such a way that it adheres to our goals.

This can be extremely frustrating, as who are you to trust? What exact methods do you follow?

Concluding thoughts... All the above problems and frustrations you’ve shared with me have offered a great insight into your current situation. Once again, thank you for all your responses as it really helps me understand the food and fitness challenges you face. Check back for my next blog tomorrow, where I’ll provide you with some quick and practical solutions to tackle these challenges. Thanks and have a good one. Jonny