Through my training career, I have made countless mistakes on how to perform exercises and how healthy nutrition worked.
For lifting I’ve focused too much on how much I can lift and ignoring the form. Because of that, I had failed so many times that failure led to common injuries that you see or hear. With squats, I’ve injured my knees few times. With deadlifts, I’ve tweaked my back. Overhead press, I’ve damaged by shoulders and wrist. I never had a major injury that required any medical attention; however, those injuries did slow down my progress and how much I can lift currently.
This is same with my training and nutrition knowledge. Just like every other trainer you may come across, I too believed that I could make cookie cutter approach training that works for everybody. I believed that counting calories was the most important thing in eating healthy. I thought cardio was more important than learning how to lift. I thought carbohydrates were the only energy source that body could use. I thought salt and fat are the unhealthiest source that cause health issues when consumed frequently. What’s worst is I’ve preached it to my clients and received payment for those services. Looking back now, I was the worst trainer ever.
Luckily, I had a will to grow and to learn to become better trainer because all the above concepts didn’t work. I’ve also learned that it is ok to accept that I don’t know anything. It was hard for me to accept it at the time because I didn’t want to admit that I was wrong. Funny thing is when I accepted that fact that I didn’t know anything, more real information started to flood in.
First thing I’ve learned is every person is different and cannot have same program for everybody. Second, person who does not have proper understanding of blood chemistry and endocrinology should not be talking about nutrition. By the way, calorie counting is waste of time and useless. We are human and not machine. Third, although training program may be different, however, movement basics are same for everyone. They should be able to squat, push, pull, hinge, carry and if there is any issue, it is trainers’ responsibility to help the client to be able to do so. Lastly, doubt every information first but use it to find more information to have better understanding.
I have not accomplished everything that I want as a personal trainer. Yet, I do realize how much I have accomplished thus far. Accomplishment came because I’ve accepted my failure and learned that there is no such thing as perfection and need to keep on pursuing the excellence. Perfection to me is the dead end. Improving the perfection cannot happen. I much rather be an imperfect trainer so that I can keep on improving myself. Success is never in perfection but in striving for excellence. Whether it is your diet, workout, work, relationship, we can only do the best that we can do and learn from failure. Mistake or failure is given. It will happen. Learning from it is the option.
As the year comes to an end, you may reflect on what you have accomplished and what you have failed. Either way is our victory if we are willing to learn from them. At the end of the year, I share one of my favorite poems because I still do want to step up and this poem does encourage me to move on. With so many adversities surrounds us, I pray that you too will find the courage to move on.
Kota Shimada
Start Over
by Dr. Woodrow Kroll
When you've trusted Jesus and walked his way When you've felt his hand lead you day by day But your steps now take you another way, START OVER When you've made your plans and they've gone awry When you've tried your best and there's no more try When you've failed yourself and you don't know why, START OVER When you've told your friends what you plan to do When you've trusted them and they didn't come through And now you're all alone and it's up to you, START OVER When you've failed your kids and they're grown and gone When you've done your best but it's turned out wrong And now your grandchildren have come along, START OVER When you've prayed to God so you'll know his will When you've prayed and prayed and you don't know still When you want to stop cause you've had your fill, START OVER When you think you're finished and want to quit When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit When you've tried and tried to get out of it, START OVER When the year has been long and successes few When December comes and you're feeling blue God gives a January just for you, START OVER Starting over means "Victories Won" Starting over means "A Race Well Run" Starting over means "The Lords' Will Done" Don't just sit there. . . START OVER
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