Posted on: 8.13.2008 3:06:12 PM Posted by Debbie Polisky
An average person makes over 200 decisions about food on a daily basis. Clients overeat for a number of reasons, and not because they’re hungry. Have you ever stopped to think about the influence of all those cues that surround your clients every day — different shapes, smells, distractions, size of plates, family and friends in clients’ mindless eating habits?
Food psychologist Dr. Wansink sure did, and he proved it with numerous studies at Cornell University. Take, for instance, his experiment with stale popcorn at a movie theater in Chicago on a Saturday matinee. Most people who came to this show had already eaten lunch. Every person who bought a ticket was given a free soda and either a medium- or large-sized bucket of popcorn. An interesting fact: The popcorn was extremely stale, as it had been popped five days earlier! Once the movie ended, everyone was asked to fill out a survey.
Those who got the larger bucket had to reply to: “Do you think you ate more because you had the larger size?” Most replied, “Of course not!” Yet when weighing the big-bucket group, these had consumed an average of 173 more calories of stale popcorn. They ate due to the cues that surrounded them: people, the movies, emotions brought on by being in the movies, sounds and smells; the bucket size made no difference. This study was repeated in different cities throughout the nation, always with the same results.
Think about Your Clients
Your clients tell you they’re really taking care of their meals, planning a grocery list, adding fruits and vegetables and switching to low-fat milk. But do they eat quickly or slowly? Do they take the time to savor their food, or do they gobble it in under 10 minutes?
The goal of mindful eating is to really enjoy the present moment. In the case of food, this includes the environment, the smell, taste and look of food, the presence of some quiet time to indulge and take pleasure in the simple daily activities.
Should you just keep to exercise and let the nutritionists or psychologists deal with the emotional side of eating?
Comments:
Monday, August 18, 2008 12:01:15 PM by Anonymous
I think it's important for a trainer to be aware of their clients eating habits, so they can assist themand make them aware. If the client has deep rooted emotions, it would be wise to forward them to a nutritionist/psychologists while training & work as a team. As a trianer we have llimits & it's important that we remember that. Our main goal is our client and retention of the client.
Monday, August 18, 2008 12:23:52 PM by Anonymous
Mindless eating means being out of control. Usually the best recourse for the client is therapy. A nutritionist can teach one how to eat and the trainer can help with general health and fitness. But food can be a drug (and all the implications that go along with drugs)and the client has to be willing and able to seek help and do the work! This is a lifelong process.
Monday, August 18, 2008 12:37:21 PM by Anonymous
Take a financial planner, for instance. They look at your money coming in and living costs and tell you where to move your money, what to cut out and how to reach your goals. Oh if it were that easy! but then month after month you mess it up and can't meet your budget. Your planner notices that you have some emotional spending going on and you will never reach your goals if you don't get that under control. If the planner does not make you aware of the problem and give you tips on how to overcome the problem then you fail and it looks as if they have failed. If the tips don't help and you cant seem to get past the emotional spending you may need to seek professional help in that area while you continue working with your financial planner. Fitness trainers are no different in recognizing where clients "mess up" and making them aware, then trying to help them conquer the problem. Encouraging the client to seek professional advice that is beyond their scope of training.
Monday, August 18, 2008 1:23:17 PM by Anonymous
Portion sizes and food choices are way out of control. As a personal trainer and exercise physiologist, I try to educate my clients as much as possible on what having a "good eating pattern" entails. I also have them complete a 7-day food diary in which they journal everything that enters in their mouth, their feelings while they ate, who they were with, and where they were at. This gives me an idea of why they ate what they ate. Then, we have a one-on-one discussion about better habits and choices. If needed, a Dietician is referred, but usually all they need is just a jolt of realization...once they realize what they've ate, they are better at making healthier choices. Education and planning seem to help the most with their overall program.
Monday, August 18, 2008 3:04:43 PM by Anonymous
I think that as a trainer it is important to be aware of a client's eating habits. Training is much more involved than just the physical exercise, clients begin to trust and seek out guidance from trainers after a healthy relationship has been established. There are many factors that play into what a person eats not just the act itself. A good trainer empathizes, listens, and can be an excellent person to assist clients with the best way to gain control whether it be through a food journal, nutritional counselor, or psychologist.
Monday, August 18, 2008 8:23:01 PM by Anonymous
Eating habits are very important. However, we must maintain our scientific objectivity as well as really get to know our students (I prefer this term to "client", since when I work with someone, this is the true nature of the relationship) so as to not inadvertantly make a possible eating disorder that we may or may not be aware of any worse than it already is.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:46:49 AM by Anonymous
As a CSN, I have a guideline that I give my clients about eating habits as well as a daily intake requirement broken down into 6 meals and the recommendations for each meal quantity. I also stress the fact that Nutrition is the paramount factor in loosing weight and second is a solid strength and cardio regimin. I also stress if they don't loose weight, they either have a medical problem that needs to be addressed or they are not being honest. I am also a client of myself loosing almost 65 lbs. I have before and after pictures of myself. This seems to give me better credibility for nutrition advice.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 1:13:59 PM by Anonymous
As a child I was what is now called obese, when I was getting beat up after school, they just called me "fat". I am very understanding towards people who are struggling with obesity, but, I refuse to let my clients remain that way. I train them as hard as they can safely can handle, and encourage them to eat more healthfully. I offer suggestions on what helped me overcome obesity, because I know it worked. All of my clients are changing their body composition for the better. I only work with people who will listen and work hard, as well as not sabotage themselves with poor eating habits.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 6:51:06 PM by Anonymous
I think it is important as fitness professionals to address the nutritional aspect of our clients. With this said, the majority of us are not certified or licensed dieticians or nutritionists. Keep recommendations and suggestions within your scope of knowledge.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 7:34:49 AM by Anonymous
Absolutely trainers must address the issue of eating habits with clients, whether it is for weight loss or for optimum health and functionality. Nutrition must be discussed at every session. Some clients will need more some will need less, but they all need it!
