I’m not sure how this topic recently came up. It was probably one of the many conversations I have in my personal training studio, but alas, I can’t remember who I was talking to. It probably wasn’t one of my older personal training clients since I’ve explained this numerous times…not that that has ever stopped me before.

I just remember making note of it.

Right now as of writing this, we are just getting into the holiday shopping season. I haven’t decorated, but I did get some Black Friday shopping done. Right now fitness and being in shape is probably not on the top of people’s minds but it’ll come up in the new year. Especially since 2020 was a rough one.

So when people review their fitness goals, they’ll probably say something to the effect of “I need to lose weight.” then they’ll come up with a plan along the lines of “I’ll run around the block a few times, then a few times more.”

And yes running can help you lose weight, in fact it’s a component of the Amazing 12 Body Transformation program (I’m hoping to be able to run that again by March 2021 when I can train more than one personal training client at a time).

It can be used yes, but there are better ways of doing it. With Amazing 12 it’s only a component because all the other boxes (weight training, metabolic conditioning) have been checked off.

Now do you need to run to get great results? Nope not even close, in fact most of my personal training clients don’t run. Most of them only run to quite simply be better at running.

It’s the old SAID principle. SAID stands for Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands or in other words you get good at what you repeatedly do. To be a good runner, you have to run, to be a good lacrosse player, you have to play lacrosse. To be good at bending steel you have to bend steel.

Now if you want to lose weight, get on a sound nutrition program and lift weights. When it comes to weight loss, diet is the more important component. The weight training will help support it, and signal your body it needs to keep muscle tone to prevent it from burning that up.

I try to get people to think of them as being separate, even though they work very well together.

If you need my help with this, I have a free trial membership at my personal training studio on Main Street in Boonton. Though I don’t much available in the mornings, I have some in the afternoons. Just text me at 973 476 5328 and introduce yourself to see what time slots I have available if you are interested.

Eric Moss is a world-record-holding modern-day professional performing strongman, author, motivational speaker, and personal trainer. In the tradition of the strongmen more common during the turn of the century, he performs feats of strength such as bending steel and breaking chains as part of a show and speaks on goal achievement for corporations, nonprofits, government as well as for schools and universities. His personal training studio is located on Main Street in Boonton New Jersey, and is close to Mountain Lakes, Denville, Montville and Parsippany New Jersey.