So in my time, I have purchased quite a few books and programs and such. Some were worth it, some were rehashed piles of crap. Here’s my question. Are all fitness authors in some sort of club who share email addresses and customer lists?
I don’t mind looking at stuff but damn, who is labeling these people as experts? How does one earn the label of expert?
It may be only second to the financial hawks that send crap.
This is a semi-related point:
Not to be a prestige-whore, but I’ve always been curious about the educational pedigrees of article authors. They’re always from universities that I’ve barely heard of. I just never feel like I see any popular articles about, say, nutrition written by a person from Harvard/Yale/Johns Hopkins/etc.
I’ve come to realize that just because someone is published, or has e-books and a web site, it doesn’t mean that they are someone who should be listened to, especially if they have no proven track record in your specific arena.
Sure some of the ‘experts’ are damn smart cookies, a few with excellent client track records as well as their own proven histories, but with others, it sometimes seems that they take the CSCS test, pay for a web site, and tah-dah, a new fitness coach hounding every forum out there to publish their writing.
For the most part, I do like reading the folks who write for this site (why I’ve stuck around as long as I have), but even I will admit to a couple here and there who just had no place IMO of penning articles doling out advice.
S
I prefer to label them as self-styled experts. There are thousands out there. While its great to read different opinions if your goal is bodybuilding I don’t believe it is wise to listen to anybody who hasn’t trained several champions. Always ask the question, who did ___________ train? It weeds out these arm-chair professionals from the true experts.
[quote]ElevenMag wrote:
I don’t believe it is wise to listen to anybody who hasn’t trained several champions. [/quote]
personally I think this is bad logic. Champions are usually going to be that way regardless of who is training them. Coaches can make some difference but not as much as they might take credit for. Im far more interested in coaches who have proven track records of improving people with average genetics.
You mis-quoted me sir, as I stated if your goal is bodybuilding directly before that quote. As in the competitive type, not mere body composition change and looking better than the average population which if that was the case I agree with you completely. I assumed this because it was posted in a bodybuilding forum. I plan on becoming a champion bodybuilder and feel it is unwise to listen to anyone who hasn’t trained several champions. I feel that is a very logical approach to things, would you disagree?
[quote]jp_dubya wrote:
So in my time, I have purchased quite a few books and programs and such. Some were worth it, some were rehashed piles of crap. Here’s my question. Are all fitness authors in some sort of club who share email addresses and customer lists?
I don’t mind looking at stuff but damn, who is labeling these people as experts? How does one earn the label of expert?
It may be only second to the financial hawks that send crap.[/quote]
No names will be mentioned, but many are affiliates of each other. The cross-promotion is easy to spot.
[quote]roybot wrote:
[quote]jp_dubya wrote:
So in my time, I have purchased quite a few books and programs and such. Some were worth it, some were rehashed piles of crap. Here’s my question. Are all fitness authors in some sort of club who share email addresses and customer lists?
I don’t mind looking at stuff but damn, who is labeling these people as experts? How does one earn the label of expert?
It may be only second to the financial hawks that send crap.[/quote]
No names will be mentioned, but many are affiliates of each other. The cross-promotion is easy to spot.[/quote]
No names needed. Very few aren’t affiliated with a big collection.
What irks me is that these courses come with about 5 or 6 books. Then you look at the same canned glitter text…a $97 value…??? as valued by who?
There is actually a contributer often quoted here in the forums that had a book. I think it even had the name secret or advanced or some other schmaltz in the title. Someone sent me it to review. Total crap.
[quote]jp_dubya wrote:
[quote]roybot wrote:
[quote]jp_dubya wrote:
So in my time, I have purchased quite a few books and programs and such. Some were worth it, some were rehashed piles of crap. Here’s my question. Are all fitness authors in some sort of club who share email addresses and customer lists?
I don’t mind looking at stuff but damn, who is labeling these people as experts? How does one earn the label of expert?
It may be only second to the financial hawks that send crap.[/quote]
No names will be mentioned, but many are affiliates of each other. The cross-promotion is easy to spot.[/quote]
No names needed. Very few aren’t affiliated with a big collection.
What irks me is that these courses come with about 5 or 6 books. Then you look at the same canned glitter text…a $97 value…??? as valued by who?
There is actually a contributer often quoted here in the forums that had a book. I think it even had the name secret or advanced or some other schmaltz in the title. Someone sent me it to review. Total crap.
[/quote]
Well, I suppose one of the perks of being in such a network is the ability to artificially add value to worthless items…I mean, if they all say it’s worth $97, it must be…mustn’t it?
Review sites are in on it as well. They are always the ones that list a top ten of bodybuilding courses on the internet, and all the courses are affiliated at some level.
[quote]jp_dubya wrote:
who is labeling these people as experts? How does one earn the label of expert?[/quote]
Tim Ferriss has an interesting section in his 4-Hour Workweek book that talks about this. He basically makes the case that an “expert” is anyone with more experience and/or knowledge about a given topic than their target audience - that it’s a matter of perspective, since there’s no universal “expert” certification system.
I’m a brown belt in kenpo, so when I teach white belts, I’m an expert. Three hours later when I’m in the dojo as a student, the fourth degree black belt sensei is the expert. If I post in the Beginners forum and answer a question about a skinny 16 year old looking for a good program, I’m an expert. If I go into the Bodybuilding forum and start telling BushidoBadBoy how to design his supplement plan for his upcoming bodybuilding contest, I’m talking out of my ass. I get what you’re saying, but I think this makes sense, right?
[quote]The3Commandments wrote:
I just never feel like I see any popular articles about, say, nutrition written by a person from Harvard/Yale/Johns Hopkins/etc.[/quote]
I’d chalk that up to most Harvard or Yale graduates choosing not to get their degree and then say, “Okay, cool. Now I can continue on my path to becoming a personal trainer.”
That said, Dr. Mike Roussell graduated from Penn State, I believe Dr. Lonnie Lowery is from Kent State, Cressey has his Masters from UCONN, Mike Robertson got his Masters at Ball State. That’s not a list of liberal arts degrees from community college (not that there’s anything wrong with that.)
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
even I will admit to a couple here and there who just had no place IMO of penning articles doling out advice. [/quote]
But… but… but I’m tryin’. 
i try and stay with authors of the past like Gironda,Kubik,poliquin and some "newer ones like Tate,Wendler,Louie Simmons…
anyone can obtain a cert in anything and promote themselves as experts by starting a mass hysteria of web sites but still couldn’t tell you how to train.the older guys knew what worked and what worked fast.i’ll admit there are some pretty decent newer ones out there but think about it,how much info is just rehashed old school stuff with a prettier name attached to it?
here’s a catalog i get you may find useful: Bill Hinburns Super Strength Training.i’ve yet to order from it due to money being tighter than fish pussy right now but some pretty decent subjects in there.hope you find it useful…