What Makes Us Thin? Why the gym should be a secondary focus.

What makes us thin? Of course everyone wants to know the answer to this question. The answer is one we often do not want to hear and certainly don't want to do. But here it is:

Behavior Modification

Yep! That's it. More specifically, modifying behavior with regard to food choices is the key to becoming thin. When we mention behavior modification related to food, a couple of things are assumed.

1 - that we're not talking about a quick fix short term weight loss
2 - that this is to be a lifestyle change not temporary change
3 - that you are participating in at least some regular exercise
4 - you are not genetically thin, but need to put effort into the process

Behavior Modification is the very thing the Personal Training industry is built on. Even still, most health clubs and trainers seldom mention eating at all and if they do, you will rarely receive a customized plan outlining the foods and food amounts you should be eating in order to achieve you goals. Of course there are exceptions to this and they are truly the shining lights within the industry.

Another thing we have to think about is exercise. With few exceptions, it's safe to say that exercise DOES NOT make you thin. Exercise makes your muscles toned, your body firm, it makes you feel good, gives you energy, it can increase metabolism, it reduces risk of disease, and on and on. The benefits of exercise are endless. But, with just a few exceptions, exercise generally does not make you thin. In fact, most of the time it makes you hungry and if you are not in the habit of choosing quality foods, you tend to eat more of the foods that keep the pounds on. Exercise certainly supports and promotes weight loss, but it is not the primary key to losing weight. Obviously tremendous amounts of exercise done each day will likely take the pounds off, but that type of training is uncommon and not healthy or effective over the long-term. Of course we hear about the girl who weighed 135 lbs. and began a training program with no changes in eating and lost 10 lbs. right away and looks great. Typically, this person is already eating pretty well and exercise is their limiting factor, not food. This article is directed toward the other 99.9% of the population that try to exercise to lose weight and don't. This population needs to modify food choices to reach their goals. This is the majority of people.

This is why the personal trainers and training companies that teach behavior modification stand out from every other trainer and training team. These professionals understand that modifying your behavior with regard to food is the key to becoming thin. When it comes to achieving a fit, toned and thin body, everyone knows that these trainers are more than exercise coaches, they teach their clients using comprehensive fitness programming.

They promote complete behavior modification and that is why their clients get results. Their meal plans are aggressive and challenging, but when followed, yield instant results. I personally have never had a client follow a personalized meal plan and fail to get results. That is a record I am proud of and one that I know supports your goal of creating a healthy, fit and vibrant body. Coupled with outstanding training methods, successful clients know exactly what is needed to get the body they desire, all they have to do is follow the program. All they have to do is modify their behavior within the boundaries of their comprehensive fitness plan.

So next time you're thinking about losing weight and getting trim, remember, your food is the thing that must change in order to achieve lasting success. The exercise will take that success and make it look awesome! Modify your behaviors regarding food and food choices and your success is guaranteed.

Jared T. Meacham, MS.Ed., CSCS.
www.jaredmeacham.com