Managing Expectations - by Art Rothafel

How often have you heard this:

"Your weight-management program doesn't work... I've been doing this for two weeks and I should have lost at least five pounds by now!"

Here's the problem:  While thousands of people are entering the "fitness environment" for weight-management (especially those who've already failed a dozen times at Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, etc.) they have not changed their expectations.  They still want to lose 20 lbs in 6 weeks!

You can't blame them really.  The media (TV, radio, web, print ads, etc) bombards all of us with daily messages of instant weight-loss through pills, restricted calorie dieting, etc. 

So.... A top priority for weight-management in the fitness environment is to MANAGE EXPECTATIONS.  Sit down with your client, look him/her straight in the eye and ask what he/she expects to happen.... and how fast.  This is the starting point for an "education-based" weight-management course.   

Knowledge is Power.... and perhaps among your clients, the Truth will set them Free!