So which sports are ‘clean’? Equestrian? no, the horses are more juiced up than Marion Jones and Ben Johnstonwere. Golf?  two words – John Daley. Darts? too many recreational drugs and alcohol. Table tennis is looking a good possibility but the smart money would they take modafinil. Think about what performance and image enhancing drugs (PIED’s) can do for most people and tell them it may be the difference of a trophy or placing 5th, and guess what folks? Ms Sweetness with the big buns and totally fake and plastic knockers has probably cheated and justified it by the fact that everybody else does it. We still chuckle that silicone breasts, tattooed makeup, disgustingly fake tans and botox are considered OK for natural competition. We reward the winners and forget about ‘what’s her-face’ who placed 2nd. Hey! the men are no better. Calf implants, synthol in the biceps, and what the heck, why not follow the ladies and use botox as well?

The fitness industry has gone through many transformations over the years. The trend for the moment is still Crossfit. It wasn’t long before these that Tae-Bo, Les Mills, Pilates,  TRX, Zumba and the original good old aerobics  were the only keys to a great body. Occasionally you may even see a former fatty look deep into the camera and espouse that TRX was the ONLY way she lost her excess 60kg. Not only that, if you call right now they can deliver this you-beaut contraption at no cost for 30 days and of course you will never need anything else in your quest for the sleek slim look of televisions new beauty. She says that with her Californian fake smile and breasts, and doesn’t mention her bouts with anorexia and bulimia, so it all must be real.

I’m all for people taking up a training regime of any sort, but sweet-pea, it won’t work until you stop shoving those mega calories into your gut. Unfortunately even a crap designed workout will benefit many people despite the absurdity of empty promises from their $150/hour personal trainers…Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig don’t escape the criticism either. I know they don’t appear to be part of our industry, but for most part we are inter-twined in the skullduggery of parting the fools from their hard earned money. Bimbo Spice (Mel B), Kirstie Alley, Sarah Ferguson (The Duchess of Pork), Magda Szubanski are all fine role models for continued and successful weight loss. The men don’t escape either. How did Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) go as a Weight Watchers spokesperson? 

I see articles everyday by supposed Australian gurus selling the virtues of Blood Type diets, PH Diets, and Paleo diets, wait hold on, that one may have some reasonable evidence behind it, if nothing else it has evolution behind it.

Most supplements are wasted money. Medicine lives by the credo of ‘do no harm’ and with that most supplements probably pass the muster. Glutamine data has been extrapolated from studies on the frail and infirm while being injected intra-venously with mega-doses. Don’t tell the world figure competitors and body builders need 10g of glutamine with every meal. The data does not show that at all. WPI can be beneficial in increasing ones protein consumption but isn’t necessary. Creatine and HMB have a lot of supporting evidence behind them, due to multiple published papers showing significant benefits which by the way are the only supplements the ISSN recommend due to positive data in athletes.

So what’s next?  You’ve trained for 6-12 weeks and completed a weekend warrior’s fitness leader’s course and become a legendary boxing/MMA certified pad holder as well. So now you’re ready. Some dork sees a photo-shopped image of you on FB and says you’re a great inspiration to them. You’ve even put a series of short YouTube clip barking away with your raspy hoarse steroid voice selling yourself and you’ve made it! Celebratory trainer! Why not, you once spoke to a champion powerlifter in the gym and critiqued his horrible squat style. Motivator! Living legend!

What rot! Get your head out of the clouds, train another 5-10 years consistently, be open to continued learning and complete ‘real’ qualifications. Strangely enough, that will help you in the long term.

One organisation is doing great work with their recommendations and changing attitudes slowly.
The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) publishes consistently and focuses on the acute and chronic effects of sports nutrition and supplementation strategies on body composition, physical performance and metabolism. This should be an add on to your undergraduate degree and if you’re motivated enough, post graduate research in a related area is gold.

The Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (JISSN) is aimed at researchers and sport enthusiasts focused on delivering knowledge on exercise and nutrition on health, disease, rehabilitation, training, and performance. The journal provides a platform on which readers can determine nutritional strategies that may enhance exercise and/or training adaptations leading to improved health and performance. The (JISSN) is one of a few very good peer-reviewed scientific journals that focus on these particular categories.

If you think you know it all and can’t be swayed by the changing data backed by real science, you have no right or use in being a coach or trainer.