Be aware of wellness centers

Although a great concept for today's ever so health conscious better off layer of society, they really are just another type of business that ride on a popular theme and are out to take you for all you've got. Or a good chunk of it. But before I start on my rant I want you to know that I have no personal interest nor anything to gain by giving this negative review and my honest opinion about something that is supposed to be a support facility and work hand in hand with training and fitness prescription. In a perfect world. Not around here.

As clever individuals have discovered, health has now become one of the leading industries to generate income for those who see the need for addressing various issues and providing guidance and measurement for anything health and fitness related. Hence fancy name expensive retreats and all medical technical and colorful wellness facilities. I have now had several clients who have gone and spent their monies to gain knowledge and much sought after expert advice and came back with nothing, or worse, with something unfitting and major issues left unnoticed! I was appalled, and I am outraged! And I will explain why.

A team of doctors and nutritionists and trainers and therapists and masseuist are found in one convenient place to evaluate the unsuspecting client who brings back print outs of pictures and basic information about calories, nutrients, body composition and such. We already know this. The only useful and harder to attain information I have gotten (for my client) was hormone levels and resting metabolic rate. Two paragraphs, if that. The other 4 pages are fillers. The scope of the results was crafted to sell additional services to get a more thorough evaluation of what additional services the client requires. No, it's not a typo. It's all about hype.

Meanwhile, I have already assessed a low metabolic rate and possible hormone irregularities but OUR main focus was to increase calorie expenditure (with interval training) and decrease caloric intake while revamping the quality of nutrition and finding an acceptable routine which works together with the fitness program that also has to raise cardiovascular endurance. Adding muscle,however, is priority while staying injury free. I am merely a trainer with not a lot of A.B.C.s after my name. I, unlike 90 percent of this industry, have and use my common sense and take a genuine interest in my clients' success. I am highly sensitive to all information (let that be comments, habits, concerns, indications or any signal) that warrant a cause that is part of the problem and impacts the results. What does that mean? I basically use my Gypsy powers to get the missing information that will aid my witchcraft when devising programs. No, not really. I just listen. And feel. And relate and care. But I digress, I haven't started this post to brag about self, though it feels good to know that I can...hee hee

Another example of a facility's purposeless existence is actually quite disturbing... I am not going to describe this in detail, but I will tell you that if a person is struggling with an obvious issue, such as an addiction or a self-distructive behavior, you bet your life I'm not going to prescribe any kind of fitness program till we address the underlying problem, or at least admit it and try to get it under control - in other words, CANNOT AND WILL NOT IGNORE IT! We wouldn't get new upholstery in a car that doesn't have an engine, right? Or buy pretty windows for a house that isn't even founded? What the h...? How can than well paid professionals let people slip by but take their money for something they don't even need, yet let them go home to their prisons and possible deaths???!!! Becaue that is what it is, when we are talking serious behavioral issues! Whose job is it to intervene? Who should take interest? Is it not a person's health even if they don't complain about it? Of course they won't like the confrontation but aren't we as bad as handing a drink to an alcoholic if we simply don't do anything to stop them?

I don't know... I am going to ask my readers, yes, both of you, to give me feed back and vote. I have changed the setting to not have to register when you answer a poll so go ahead and tell me if I'm wrong. I want to know.

So, in closing, I advise you health conscious people to find ONE professional who cares about you, let that be your yoga instructor, your running shoe sales guy or your dentist, anyone, and they will refer you to the appropriate source for guidance with your other issues. For instance: I always send people to the right store, the right doctor, the right therapist, the ones I have tried and know and respect, the ones I go to and use myself. Or else, go and have fun at those all in one service places with their beautiful facilities but just take it for what it is, their service may not be as valuable as they claim...