If the claims fitness trainers made were true, surely the Western world wouldn't be facing this crippling obesity and diabetes crisis.
But every training fitness website site is packed full of those before-and-after photos.
As anyone who has ever been to the gym a few times knows, these stories are rare - the exception rather than the rule.
WHY ARE FITNESS TRAINERS SO UNSUCCESSFUL?
Basically, they fall into 6 categories
Trainers who train clients according to their own personal genetic preferences such as Rhiannon, the yummy mummy with the flat brown tummy. She recommends her personal cocktail of aerobics, but is the kind of skinny bitch who you could lock in a cake factory for a month, and would still come out having lost weight.
Bob the body builder, who can't wait to get you into a pair of teeny posing briefs and get you bicep curling while thrusting protein powder into you as if its going out of fashion, with a fascinating array of supplements and chemicals on offer.
Cathy the child sports star. She gave up in her teens, and now "focuses on my clients' needs", but basically doesn't understand how stuff she found so easy to do, you find so hard.
The clueless but charming Charles, the McDonald's interview failure who thought a career in fitness was probably easier than burger flipping.
Oscar the overqualified. Did you know you can graduate with a sports science degree and have no idea how to squat, swim, lunge or wobble on a swiss ball, and that most British Fitness courses endorsed by the government do not teach or test the ability of their instructors to teach competently complex moves such as squats or pull ups?
Ernest the disciple. There are some great internet names in fitness - Greg Glassman, Charles Poliquin, Paul Chek to name but three. It's too easy to study with one and become a clone. As in life, one philosophy rarely has the whole answer.
As a general overview, many fitness trainers are not particularly gifted in the brains department which means they latch on to (someone else's) overly simplistic training concept and idea.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT ME?
Hi, firstly my name is Andrew Stemler
I am an eclectic teacher: I love all types of training so I can switch from aerobic to sprints to gymnastics to martial arts to boxing to wobbling on a Swiss ball to Olympic lifting to power lifting to military fitness (running around a park in fatigues pretending to be a member of the SAS), to kettlebells. I can train light, I can train heavy. I can do moderate and extreme.
I learned every physical skill after turning 37. The only thing I had natural schoolboy talent for was acting and smoking, so I really do know what its like to be gasping for breath 2 minutes into an exercise session (I was a 100 a day man). Nothing I teach I think is easy. It all needs to be broken down and taught appropriately and with empathy. In fact, for years I thought I was a natural "uncoordinated klutz". It was a pleasure to discover that with proper progressive teaching, it meant even I could train in a gym along with other normal people. I also found out that training with natural athletes, or former child stars was the most unrewarding experience ever.
I love teaching and spend ages developing my own skill and train others how to teach (30% of my client base tends to be other trainers) I make sure that I receive 4 to 15 hours of training a week (at the moment that's studying for my third Degree, guitar practice and ballroom dancing) I'm always being reminded what its like to be on the receiving end. I'm still a critical student (not a mindless disciple) of many of the world's leading fitness gurus.
I have to admit that, like most trainers I had a fairly successful adult martial arts career (but I had to fight for my Micky Mouse black belt, rather than do pretty dances) and still compete in Olympic weight lifting.
I'm also, allegedly, funny and nice and patient. I have so many teaching and fitness qualifications that it would be showing off to list them now*.
WHY ANY OF THIS MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO YOU
The very best teachers I had were the ones who sought to get the best out of me, regardless of their own discrimination and personal preferences. I think I can offer you that same opportunity in helping you build the best level of fitness that you can achieve.
SO WHAT AM I PROPOSING?
book a session with me at the Crossfit London Training Centre
Arch 9 Gales Gardens
Bethnal Green
E2 OEJ
(30 seconds from Bethnal Green Tube station)
its £45 for one session, £390 for a series of 10.
SAFETY
I have a full first aid certificate, I'm insured for £2 million worth of damage, and I'll get you to fill out a health questionnaire and probably see your doctor for a check up before we even get to the first session
HOW DO I CONTACT YOU TO ASK PROBING AND RELEVANT QUESTIONS?
Drop me an email on andrew@crossfitlondonuk.com
(* Im not that modest, they are listed on the home page)
The new Crossfit London HQ
and training venue is
Unit 9
Gales Gardens,
Bethnal Green,
London
E2 0EJ
for more details