Which Fitness Advice to Trust

I love how social media and the internet have made it so much easier to find fitness information and inspiration. But with so much coming at you from your phone, at the gym, from friends, and even your trainers, how do you know which fitness advice to trust? I get frustrated with the industry sometimes because there is so much bad information out there! It’s frustrating as a professional because I worry people will hurt themselves; it’s even more frustrating as a beginner because it’s overwhelming to know which advice is the right advice for them. 

Tips on Finding Fitness Advice to Trust

To help you sift through all of the mixed fitness messages out there, I have some tips to help you along the way. 

1. Avoid the Extreme. I love to push myself, but exercise and nutrition should be about keeping your body feeling good, not punishing it! If something seems too extreme for you, it probably is. Red flags for me are ideologies like go hard or go home, that you have to be dripping in sweat every workout, or no pain no gain. I like to be able to walk after my workouts, thank you very much! 
2. Check Credentials. Did you know that you do not have to be certified to be a personal trainer, Pilates teacher, or fitness instructor? Most facilities only hire certified trainers, but not always. I don’t doubt that many uncertified instructors are knowledgeable, but I personally would not risk it. 
3. Fitness Instructors Aren’t Nutritionists. To become a licensed dietitian or nutritionist, you have to get a formal degree. Fitness instructors may have taken a weekend course on nutrition, but we are only allowed to give out advice based on Canada’s Food Guide. So if you need advice on any of the below, you should be seeing a licensed professional nutritionist, not consult your fitness instructor: 

• Individualized meal planning/recommendations
• Evaluate individual nutrient needs and status
• Specific recommendations for intake or specialty diets
• Nutrition counselling
• Recommended nutritional supplements

4. See a Medical Professional. Your fitness instructor probably has a lot of great knowledge they’ve picked up over the years. I know I do! But as a personal trainer, I have rules that I need to follow. That means referring clients with conditions I’m not accredited to manage to a professional who can. Physiotherapists, osteopaths, and massage therapists are just a few who come to mind. 

Who Can You Trust? 

Now don’t get me wrong! Every fitness professional I’ve ever met truly wants to help people feel and do better, and none want to hurt their clients. Still, over the years of learning and working in the fitness industry, I’ve become more picky about who I’ll go to for a trainer or coach. It drives me batty when I see an instructor not correcting a client’s poor form, or doesn’t know how to help a client regress or progress an exercise to suit them. I should be less critical because I’ve come a long way from my bouncy, high-impact aerobics instructor days. It takes time to learn these skills. 

When it comes down to it, we all need to move our bodies and find something we love to do. So which fitness advice do you trust? The advice that comes from a professional, that aligns with your abilities and goals, and that puts you in control. That means you should always feel in control of your movement and body, but also be able to notice when something feels off. And if it does, speak up! Ask if you are doing the movement correctly or if there are modifications you should be doing.   

My Favourite Fitness Advice

No matter what type of movement you choose, remember that balance is essential. To echo tip #1, “avoid extremes” and be sure to maintain balance in your training. I know how exciting it is to find an activity you love, but focusing only on that one thing could lead to imbalances and injury. 

This means if you take up running but do nothing for strength, stretch, or mobility, you’re going to end up with aches, pains, and tightness. If all you do is lift weights, you’ll again end up in the same spot. Finding a balance can be hard if you feel like you need to add more workouts on top of your chosen activity. If that’s the case, switch out one day of your usual workout for some Pilates or yoga. Another option could be adding five minutes of stretching and mobility work each day. 

Fitness shouldn’t be complicated, it should be fun! So listen to your body (another great tip!), keep moving, and if you need help, reach out to a qualified professional for guidance.