Do you want me to stir up the pot? Well sure, why not! For 15 years, I have studied
and mentally assessed and re-assessed the fitness industry. Over and over have I
seen the same crappy abdominal commercials and narrow minded points of view in
articles and magazines! They all seem to have one goal in mind! Make you feel
utterly and totally helpless without their pill, potion, tonic, ab machine, or
convincing sell of their ‘expertise’.

Personal Trainers: Purported “trainers” trying to make up your mind for you.
Another one of my favorite pastimes; watching muscleheads convince the public
that they are qualified or have any scientific sense of what they’re

talking about.
Those single-minded points of view that have mislead the people that I work hard
to help. Those arrogant points of view that highlight only a one-way train of
thought. That dogmatic approach that continues to force consumers into a full
cirlce and about face when it comes to achieving results or improving wellness.

I have seen trainers become trainers through the weekend and believe that one
certification and a bodybuilding title qualifies them to teach others. “TEACH”, I say
loosely. These individuals aren’t really TEACHING anything! They merely take their
clients through the gym, pick the equipment or exercise they enjoy, and ‘go to it’!
RIDICULOUS! And

don’t even mention ‘continuing education’ because for some,
these two words don’t even belong in the same sentence.

The next best scenario is the bodybuilder teaching you to be ‘healthy’ when they
themselves are doped up on various types of ILLEGAL anabolic substances while in
pursuit of their illustrious $35 trophy. Isn’t this not unlike a priest that goes out
drinking all weekend and sleeping with married women?? Ask yourself: If my
trainer takes the fast, easy road to attain that which they covet, will they make that
same decision for me? How could you possibly follow the instructions, guidance,
advice, or take someone seriously that is using drugs behind closed doors? Life is
about

choice, I understand that. But, your ‘trainer’ is making a very conscious
decision to use UNHEALTHY agents to pursue their own narcissitic goal. How can
that person convince you to go the tough, long road when they themselves choose
the quick easy path?? I guess I leave that one to you! (Did I mention that steriods
were ILLEGAL??)

Moving on: Curves, Cuts, Workout Express, the many 30 minute centers or even
your local gyms are just INNUNDATED with these people. They’ll take you round
and round, not really TEACHING you the how’s or why’s to exercise. They’ll just
hold your hand (if you even get that much attention to detail)

to increase your
dependency on them, not unlike a crutch! But don’t you worry, they’ll still stroke
their own egos and convince you that they are worth $75, $100, or even $200 per
hour because they won or placed high in a national bodybuilding show!!

Now don’t get me wrong, not every trainer is this way and not every commercial or
‘fitness personality’ is trying to screw you over. Moreover, I train my share of people
that only want the ‘guided tour’. That is fine. Some only want to receive your
guidance and/or your company. Par for the course. BUT…that is only my select
few. The masses receive the true path to performance;

one paved with knowledge,
application, wisdom, determination, and the tools of understanding what to do and
how to do it! Yes, I’ll admit, we do laugh our ASSES off along the way; LAUGHTER is
a cure-all remedy.

BEWARE your ally; The Fitness Industry and those trainers with a single certification,
no certification, or the presentation of their many bodybuilding titles or ‘modeling
shots’ as their ‘credentials’. A bodybuilding title or ’sexy’ body never came with
TRUE knowledge or know how. Their single minded knowledge and lack of
educational diversity may be the beginning of your path to the dark side. Their
desire to sell you the quick and easy path to aesthetic beauty and immortality

may
be your first step down the dark path. A dark side plagued with injury,
demotivation, and eventually attrition from your new fitness lifestyle. Embrace
those of whom view a much larger picture of you, your lifestyle, and where you aim
to go! Ergo, your path to enlightenment shall be realized!

Phil Sottile, Fitness Specialist

ACSM HFI-Certified, NSCA-CPT, FT, CFT, CPT, PRCS

PROFESSIONAL OVERVIEW:

Phil Sottile, the director and owner of Intelligent Fitness/Athlete s Edge, has 15 years of experience in the health club industry having pioneered two previous fitness companies (one taken to IPO) and owned his own fitness centers. He has co-hosted his own broadcast of INTELLIGENT FITNESS on 105.3FM and 540AM Radio, has appeared on

NEWS12 LONG ISLAND as Personal Trainer to Long Island s Kids and has been reported on by several local magazines, newspapers, and bodybuilding periodicals. Additionally, he is a drug-free bodybuilding competitor and at 29, was the youngest Promoter of two popularly growing bodybuilding shows, The INBF Natural Long Island Experience and All Natural Revolution.