The evolution of the exercise world (and how I plan dealing with it!)

4/29/08 Posted in Grinnell Training System  |  0 Comments

By Justin Grinnell

I am fresh off a fantastic trip to Chicago where I attended a Perform Better 3-Day Functional Training Summit at the McCormick Center. This event brought together some of the best trainers in the world. I was included in the event as one of the top trainers in the Midwest and was excited to learn about all the new trends and scientific research findings.

And why wouldn’t I? Some of these trainers had a clientele base that consisted of NFL and Olympic athletes, yet still managed to relate to the everyday athlete. I was impressed. I was excited to see such great presentations, but so overwhelmed with the massive amounts of information. What would I do with all of this information? What types of methods do I take back to The Michigan Athletic Club to show my clients? What is right and what is wrong? Do I take it slow, or just start changing all of my training methods right away?

I have been a trainer for six years—since I was a sophomore in college. I’ve changed my training philosophies more than 10 times since then. I could easily change it again with the techniques and philosophies I learned at this event. But is that OK? Should I stick with the same methods if they work? Or, do I continue to change as time goes on and scientific and practical evidence makes things more clear?

These are questions I ask myself everyday as I train 40-50 clients a week, along with the many other teams and Boot Camps that I have each week.

One thing I can tell you for sure is that I am committed to providing my clients and teams with the best training possible. I pride myself on continuing my education by attending conferences and classes to keep up my certifications, as well as reading for at least 30-60 minutes a day so I can keep up on all the latest and greatest trends, and educate myself about the not so great exercise and nutrition information.

When I talk with people I understand their frustrations. Here are some of my most asked questions:

• “What is the best way to lose weight?”
• “Do I perform more cardio or lift more weights?”
• “Is core training the way to go?”
• “Yoga or Pilates?”
• “Joint stability or joint mobility?”
• “What are the best foods to eat?”
• “High carbs or low carbs?”
• “High protein or low protein?”
• “What do I do Justin? Please help!”

Well, with this column I am here to set the records straight. I have great confidence that I will provide the best and most up to date information on all aspects of exercise, nutrition, and overall health and wellness. This is my passion, and I will continue to relay the best possible advice to my clients and to the general public. I do not marry myself to one Dogma. I keep a very open mind when it comes to these complex topics, so you can be sure you will not be receiving any biased information. I am going to keep it real.

I would like to thank Healthy & Fit Magazine Publisher Tim Kissman for giving me such a great opportunity. I am very excited to write for such a great publication, and I look forward to presenting the readers with the most up to date and information possible.

Check back often for new columns and workout tips. You won’t be disappointed!