October 1, 2001. That was when my career officially started at The Woodbury Life Time Fitness (thanks Dan Kelly).



I had a pre-med biology degree from St. Scholastica, most of which actually focused on exercise physiology. Soon after, I got certified through ACE and NASM, and then got my Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.



I thought I knew all I needed, to save the world from obesity, and to help people regain the strength, stamina, and balance of their youth.



I mean, what 24-year-old doesn't think he's got it all figured out?



Today, just shy of my 40th birthday, I'd like to knock my younger self upside the head. What an ego!



As Albert Einstein said,



The only source of knowledge is experience.Albert Einstein



Fifteen years after getting started, I'd have to agree.





Here are five of the biggest lessons I've learned.



1. Managing emotions helps you make good decisions.



Emotions hijack the brain, and often shut down any logical thought or action.



It's why you might curse the woman that cuts you off as you turn into the drop-off area at the school, while your young and innocent child sits in the back seat.



It's why I choose to eat pizza and ice cream (gluten-free and dairy-free of course) when I'm in a bad mood, rather than a salad.



It's why many of my clients had a hard time choosing to follow their programs.



I didn't fully appreciate how difficult it was for my clients to make healthy decisions. I knew they often had emotional issues they were dealing with, but didn't understand the impact they really had.



And I certainly wasn't equipped to understand them.



So, I did what I know a lot of other trainers do. I patted my clients on the back and said, it'll work out. Just try harder.



I'd offer tips on how they make better choices when dining out. I'd give them a pedometer to hold them accountable to moving, even when they were too tired to do so.



I'm even ashamed to say that I'd make them do extra lunges if they didn't log their food.



I can only imagine how much more stress I added to my clients minds.



I know better now. If I were starting over, I'd make two things a regular recommendation in my programs.



Counseling or coachingAromatherapy



Personal trainers are not equipped to work with their clients' emotional issues or disempowering beliefs. They're not equipped to help them handle the mental and emotional challenges we have from the past, from careers, or from marriages.



I believe that when people change their beliefs about themselves and their situations, it opens a world of possibility. It also makes them more capable of handling the changes in their lifestyle and nutrition necessary to get healthy and lean.



I also mention essential oils because their effects on supporting a good mood are well-researched.



The oils won't resolve the emotional turmoil that's going on. But they can provide some temporary relief.



In my opinion, people don't make poor nutrition and exercise choices from a deficit of knowledge. They make the poor choices because that's what makes the most sense in their emotional state.



Before moving on, this point isn't just for health and fitness. When we get our emotional state under control, we become more productive, we treat others better, we have more fun, and we're more fun to be around.



2. Losing weight shouldn't require a degree in nutrition.



I love reading nutrition research. I mean, I really LOVE it. However, a PubMed research paper doesn't entertain most people the way an episode of Scandal or How to Get Away With Murder does.



And yet, I can reflect back on countless conversations with clients where I talked about the difference between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, or the importance of training at just the right zone to maximize heart rate.



Some of my clients really enjoyed learning about metabolism,