ShapeFit.com

[sameey70]

Hello fellow "Shapefitters",

I am curious: how many of you out there have had nutrition education? It is not in the scope of practice for personal trainers to dispense meal plans, menus, etc. unless they are qualified to do so, and I see so much of this. Please refer your clients to qualified, credentialed registered dietitians (RD's), dietetic technicians, registered (DTR's), or those qualified to administer sports nutrition.

[swanso5]

i'm not nutrition accreditated in any way although my personal training course covered a module on it...i could get accrediated by waste money on something that won't teach me anything???? not big noting but i research my ass off to get my knowledge which is pretty extensive...diets are complicated, most people just need a simple plan to follow...obviuosly if they want more specific things than they wouldn't frequent a forum would they??

[sameey70]

Swanso,

So you feel that you are qualified to dispense nutrition information because your module had a section on it? So did mine, and it in no way compares to the extensive formal education that I have received through a college education. Like you said, nutrition is complicated so how do you feel that you can have extensive knowledge through a module or even research? How do you know what you have found through research is even accurate if you don't have the formal education behind you to determine the accuracy? Think about it. Most personal trainers are qualified to service "apparently healthy individuals." How about those who may have diabetes, hypertnesion, arthritis. Can you possibly give accurate diet information to those who have underlying disease processes. Protect yourself legally and those who you may service to those who are LEGALLY qualified. I'm sure your code of ethics of whatever your certifying organization you belong to states that fact.

[FireMyst]

not to flame or anything but i think there are too many stupids dispensing nutrition information (atkins and alike) so everybody has to be careful this said i think swanso provides basic insight that is quiet accurate and well suited to the audiance of this forum. i agree with him when he says that if you are looking for information on a online forum you don't really care much for its accuracy.

the least you can do is read books and study nutrition or better visit an accredited professional and now i agree with you and would recommend to many people to go to a legally qualified nutritionist like you so beautifully say it...

anyway, being 31 years old, quiet fit and quiet self learner... i think reading swanso is informative and motivating and it is far better than watching a mcdonald commercial or reading some stupid books - the one my ex wife loved to read like atkins, dr phisl and many alike... so his insight on this forum is very valuable - at least to me...

if i'd really need to be spot on my nutrition i'd visit a doctor... but that's not a priority for me right now... we don't have to be 100% exact to live well... think of the analogy of how people used to live before so much diverse food was available everywhere . in fact there are many other things in life more important than nutrition and you understand now how people eat so bad and don't care.

anyway i hope you two get along better... and sameey if you are a qualified professional you are welcome to comment and share your knowledge... you could help me improve my nutrition plan, and in case you are not legally qualified to help... well then try to get qualified or at least visit a doctor and don't worry too much about other people giving advice...

[Jonny]

Firemyst you're spot on concerning information and its accuracy on this forum. At the end of the day this is a forum. People share their opinions/experiences regarding health, fitness, exercises, sport and nutritional matters etc and undoubtedly some may be inaccurate. Whether you agree or disagree with members and follow their advice is quite simply a personal choice. Swanso and plenty of others have dispensed information which I bet plenty of people have reaped rewards from i.e. FireMyst.

It's uncalled for to question Swanso's credentials in the matter of nutrition as he's never claimed to be an expert in such a field. He's merely stating his opinion as have you. That's basically what a forums for...sharing views.

[swanso5]

all fair enough..i prescribed what i know has worked for me and what has worked with my client's...if they have an underlying condition i would still prescribe a little something but still say first to check with their doc or whoever...if they don't post it than i can't prescribe for what i don't know...as for your "college credentials", i've encountered many university (i'm in australia) graduates in human movement etc that are no where near as knowledgable as me...sure they may know origins, insertions and every muscle in the forearm but do they know what yeilds results in the real world? usually not even close...along with my extensive research and my own experiences (20% to 10% bodyfat with 1 x 4 week actual fat loss plan in 12 months) tells me i'm not bad at what i do...my female client who lost 5% bodyfat and gained 3kgs of muscle in 8 weeks would also agree with me

firemyst is my favourite member now

[sameey70]

Apologies to anyone who felt offended by my post. I am very passionate about what I do and it is hard for me to hold my tongue when I see information dispensed that may not be accurate or beneficial to the public.
Call it my "ethical duty." And by the way, most doctors don't specialize in nutrition which is why the refer patients to those who do.

Take care!

[SarahPT]

Actually, it may not be totally right to say that it's not in a personal trainer's scope of practice to give nutrition info. My PT training told me exactly what nutrition counseling was in my scope of practice and what wasn't. For example, people with certain health problems should be referred elsewhere, etc. A lot of PTs have had other training as well. I've taken many nutrition courses, as well as a lifestyle management program, which was all about counseling clients on nutrition.

Sarah

[sameey70]

I have no problem with personal trainers who give nutrition advice when they are legally qualified to do so. Most are not legally qualified but do it anyway. Personal trainers can give GENERAL nutrition information, not specific meal plans, macronutrient recommendations when they are not qualified to do so and this is what I have seen in these forums. I encourage those personal trainers who do not have a nutrition background to get it. I don't apologize for my views and will continue to voice them. There is a fine line regarding what personal trainers are allowed to tell clients about nutrition, one just needs to know where to draw it. I guarantee you, a personal trainer with liability insurance will not be covered if a client sues for malpractice regarding being given inaccurate nutrition information.

[swanso5]

these peope, aren't my "client's"...it's the same as rerasding something in a book and implementing it...does that mean the aurthor's liable if something goes wrong??? i don't think we'll agree on this at all so the posters can use the info if they want to or not...i'll still respond it doesn't really matter to me...i don't my recommendations are out of my jurisdiction...very rarely to i give out macro nutrient % but rather have people do the food diary thing, if you read the plans they are what everyone knows they should eat (fruit, veg, healthy fats and protein)...if anyone has problems with a food plan like that then it's not the plan causing the problems...how pwople follow or interpret it is not up to me

[sameey70]

OK Swanso... ok. lol!