#ForzaFam it happened yesterday. Right smack in the middle of my day, I received a call from a complaining client. After 6 years in my own business, I have never gotten a call like this. And even better, after 8 years working in the fitness industry, such an unsatisfactory statement was never brought to my attention.

Ready for it? The complaint was weight gain while working with a trainer!!! Ahhhh! How in the world is it possible to gain weight when the goal is to lose weight while under the guidance of a trainer? Damn those trainers must stink!

Really though? First, I’d like to clarify that it is possible to first gain muscle when first switching your lifestyle to include weight training. It is a positive impact on your body and yes may cause you to show pounds on the scale. But wait, how does your body look? See just because your number may be higher, the distribution of weight will look different. Your physique may appear tighter. Just as Linnea Zielinski describes the difference between President Trump and Tom Brady at around 239 pounds in her article here. Both showing similar weights and clearly different appearances.

Let’s go deeper… So because you see a trainer twice a week, you should keep off weight? Hello people, we can’t control what you put in your mouth the 23 and a half hours in the day you’re not with us. Let’s face it; you have to work hard, commit, and focus on what you are eating if you are trying to change your life and lose some serious weight. This has to be your priority. There is no excuse, short cut or easy way out. Your goal has to be reflected in everything you do. If this commitment isn’t there when using a trainer, I’m sorry to tell you that your goals just straight up won’t be met. No matter how hard your trainer will motivate and push you, ultimately it is your decision to eat crap or refuel properly. Let alone keep up movement and workouts in times you’re not with your professional trainer. According to the American Heart Association it is suggested to get thirty minutes of exercise in five times a week.

Leaving you with this shocking fact; Every pound of excess weight exerts about 4 pounds of extra pressure on the knees. This is coming from an article about obesity and arthritis. Can you do the math on how many pounds of extra pressure is on your knees and hips? If this doesn’t push you to dedicate yourself to your health I don’t know what will. You have to want to lose weight. You may not want to put the work in, but you have to dig deeper than that and put the HARD WORK in knowing your body will thank you. Nothing in this life comes easy, but it’s hard to be overweight and it’s hard to stay in shape. So which hard would you rather?

Before you complain about gaining weight with a trainer next time, ask yourself how committed are you? Ask yourself if you’re following everything that personal trainer is suggesting. And then check what you’ve been putting in your mouth daily!