Some of the Smartest Fitness Professionals Are Also the Most Dissapointing

Note: I made a follow up to this piece 12-hours later, please check it out http://thefitcast.com/i-made-at-least-4-mistakes-last-night-follow-up

This is a post that I wrote up in NYC a few weeks ago but it was too filled with emotion to post. I cleaned it up and added to it a bit, but before you go further know that there is no one individual that is the subject of this post, more of a common trend with fitness professionals that really disappoints me. I am sure that I will get plenty of crap for this, but something, something, something, it’s my website, etcetera, etcetera.

There are a lot of smart people in the fitness industry. So many great fitness professionals that are continuously looking for ways to maximize results in the fields of strength training, athletic performance, fat-loss, bodybuilding, nutrition, etc. Many are sharing this information with the goal of making it easier to understand for those that may be unfamiliar with the literature and/or techniques. It is so awesome to see that. People helping each other and sharing free information. An industry of fantastic people that are supporting each other and doing what they can to positively improve people’s lives.

But it is not all blue skies and rainbows. While there are many fitness professionals that fall under the description above, there is a growing trend of, and I am sorry I am going to be blunt here, assholes and bullies. Assholes and bullies that are fulfilling their self appointed duty of correcting every wrong article, blog post, or celebrity trend that they see. They are compelled to call out a training method, a movement screen, or another coach/trainer. It is like a really terrible take on the amazing Sam Beckett who goes back in time to put right, what once went wrong. Like if Sam Beckett was a huge dick. Which is impossible because the national treasure who played him, Scott Bakula, is one of the greatest humans of our time.

Doctor Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, putting things right, that once went wrong and hoping each time, that his next leap will be the leap home.

But Kevin, shouldn’t we be pointing out that bullshit, misinformation, ripoffs, and scams we see in the industry? Isn’t it all of our duty to clear up misinformation and irrational/irresponsible nutrition, rehab, and training recommendations?

Yes, we should, but that doesn’t mean we have to be self righteous, “I told you so” assholes about it. And you don’t have to call the people using said practices “idiots.” What does making the message negative add to the discussion? Can the same discussion and information not be relayed in a positive manner? Maybe it just feels good to be the smart ass?

Instinctively, unless they themselves are negative, people will avoid other negative people. They will unfollow you or unfriend you, and then you can no longer help them. But then you can say “they are too stupid and stubborn to be helped, they are not worthy.” You no longer have their ear, so you can no longer help them. That is your goal right? To raise the tide of quality in the industry and improve the quality of information?

Here is my point, how many more people could you be reaching and helping with a positive attitude and tone? Do you have to call all of the people using that technique or equipment you are bashing “idiots and frauds?”

What do you think makes for a better learning environment? One of hostility or one of respect and sympathy? The saddest part is that some of the best minds in the field are constantly wrapping their great information in a bundle of negativity that poisons the message.

On Episode 371 with Josh Hillis I brought up a tweet personal trainer and physique coach Bryan Krahn made earlier in the day that truly pissed me off. Before I post it, I don’t know Bryan personally and from the friends I have that do know him, he sounds like a stand up guy, but the tweet is still bullshit. If it helps, I am sure I am twisting his words to make a point.

What the f*ck? Seriously? Even worse, he isn’t a lone voice in the industry that thinks this.

I can not tell you how many fitness professionals I have talked to about this idea of “needing to get in or stay in great shape to ‘look the part'” in this industry. Myself included. I don’t have a 6-pack and I defiantly feel the pressure and am self-conscious when I am at a summit with 1000 other fitness pros, most of whom look phenomenal. So I should leave the industry? Am I incapable of helping others reach their fitness goals? Can someone who is overweight not help someone reach their fat-loss goals? They should just quit and leave if they have their own struggles to get/stay in great shape?

No 6-pack but I can crush a 48kg TGU

What if we looked at it this way? Can a mesomorphic male (and keep in mind I am not talking about Bryan, just using the tweet for the discussion) who has always been 10% bodyfat, never had problems putting on muscle of having to deal with excess body-fat relate to someone that has battled with dieting since they were a kid? Can that person understand what it is like to be scared to death to take their shirt off at the beach or have issues with emotional eating? Maybe a coach or trainer who struggled or still struggles with those are better equipped to help and understand the people they are working with? Or maybe those that haven’t reached their goals need to stop being p*ssys and have some accountability and willpower.

See, it’s not fair is it?Does it have to be so binary?

This is why I love the positivity of The FitCast and the guests that I get the opportunity to have on. People like Jen Sinkler, Jill Coleman, Brian Patrick Murphy, Rog Law, Mark Fisher, Josh Hillis, Dan John, Leigh Peele, Georgia Dow, Jon Fass, Tony Gentilcore, and on and on. They are all incredibly passionate and positive people. After talking to them it is like my batteries have been charged to 100% and anything is possible.

Brian Patrick Murphy is radioactive with positivity

I am not saying we have to be all bubbly, positive, motivational speakers. But, maybe before you hit “Post” or “Tweet” think about the people you want to be educating and helping. How are they going to receive the tone and contents of the message? Perhaps the quality of the discussion can rise up to the quality of the information you are trying to share. And be respectful. Can that be our new goal?