Not all Personal trainers are not qualified to offer nutritional advice.
Yes, you heard it! In some countries, you can call yourself a nutritionist and give basic nutritional advice. But you can’t call yourself a dietician! Registered dieticians have to complete an accredited degree in nutrition and pass a registration exam. They are also required to stay up to date with the latest research. You shouldn’t be offering nutritional advice for cancer or diabetes, for example, without being a Registered Dietician. That’s a big no-no.
Here is what you could do instead:
Make sure that tell them you are not a registered dietician, but you can give them some healthy eating tips that have worked for your clients. Another option is to educate yourself by reading books or taking courses on nutrition.
They provide their client with a diet that worked for them.
This is a mistake for several reasons. First of all, every single person is different. What worked for you might not work for your client. And secondly, you don’t know what your client’s dietary restrictions are.
For example, you might be able to eat a lot of dairy because you’re not lactose intolerant. But your client might be! If you give them a diet that includes a lot of dairy, they could end up sick or in pain. If the shoe doesn’t fit, so don’t try to force it!
Here is what you could do instead:
Talk and listen to your client. Find out about their dietary restrictions, allergies, and preferences. Then, you can create a meal plan together that will actually work for them.
Offering fad diets or miracle supplements as the solution to all of their client’s problems.
One thing you should not do is offer fad diets or miracle supplements as the solution to all of their client’s problems. If a client asks about the latest diet trend, tell them you don’t recommend it and explain why. The same goes for supplements. There are a lot of snake oil salesmen out there selling supplements that don’t actually do anything.
Here is what you should do instead:
Tell your clients that supplements and fad diets are not necessary if they are eating a balanced diet and getting enough exercise. However, if you do what to offer supplements then do your research first and make sure you are only recommending ones that have been proven to be effective. The same with diets. There is a lot of nonsense on the internet and social media these days so watch out! Not everything you read or see is true!
Not always up to date with the latest nutrition research.
When it comes to nutrition, things change all the time. What was once considered healthy could now be unhealthy and vice versa. That’s why it’s important to stay up to date with the latest nutrition research. Don’t just give advice based on what you think is right, make sure it’s backed up by science.
Here is what you should do instead:
Make sure you are constantly reading and learning about the latest nutrition research so that you can offer your clients the most up-to-date advice. There are a lot of ways to stay informed, such as reading scientific journals, attending conferences or taking continuing education courses.
Giving advice that is not backed by science or research.
When it comes to nutrition, there is a lot of misinformation out there. Some people think they know everything about nutrition just because they read it on the internet. But just because something is on the internet doesn’t make it true.
Here are some of the worst nutritional advice I have every heard in my life:
“You should avoid carbs if you want to lose weight.”
“Eating fat will make you fat.”
“Detoxes and cleanses are the best!
“Bananas are bad”
And so on! Some of these are just ridiculous! It is really a shame what the fitness industry has become.
Here is what you should do instead:
Educate yourself! Make sure that any advice you give is backed by science or research. If you’re not sure about something, say you’re not a nutritionist and recommend they speak to one. Don’t try and play smart, it will only make you look bad in the long run.
Conclusion
So there you go, those are some of the biggest mistakes personal trainers make when giving nutritional advice. Make sure you avoid making these mistakes and you’ll be giving your clients the best possible advice!
