I just stepped out of the office and saw a familiar face on the hyperextension bench. Since I did not want to interrupt her, I simply nodded. 

“Hello,” she said. 

I nodded again. 

“I don’t know why I can’t lose it.” 

“Uh?” 

“I can’t lose the fat,” she said, pointing at her stomach and hips. 

“Have you tried working those lagging areas first?” 

“Hmm?” 

“Work those areas at the outset of you workout, when you’re at the strongest.” 

“Interesting,” she murmured. “I have to bring my friend back to you, and I will probably let you train us both.” 

I smiled and walked away. I had heard it before and knew neither would come to fruition. I had trained her friend and restored her mobility. Although she sang my praises as Personal Trainer, she disappeared, without a trace. 

As for the aforementioned woman I had been talking to, there was no mystery as to why she wasn’t losing body fat. She confided in me several months ago that she frequents the gym every day. 

I was curious and recalled asking her if she exercised a different body part for each day. Imagine my shock when she told me that she did a full body workout each day. 

“When do you give your body a chance to rest?” 

“Rest, what do mean. I rest when I finish my workout.” 

I realized it would have been pointless to try and dissuade her from her misguided entrenched belief. So, it came as no surprise that she had not seen any reduction of body fat. 

It is amazing how individuals who get the first four pillars right fail miserably by neglecting the 5th . . . 

B.M.Booth (NASM-CPT)