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I hate it when friend/acquaintances reach out to me and ask me to help them with their diet and training.
 
I don’t want to give them a cookie cutter answer because everyone has different individual needs as far as nutrition, training, time management, scheduling genetics, and dedication
 
So…. I take my “personal” time preparing their nutrition and workout schedule only to find out that they have not even attempted to change their lifestyle…
 
This makes me so mad to the point were I don’t want to help my friends/acquaintances anymore… EVEN FAMILY!!!
 
Then they complain 1 month later that they have not lost any weight, and ask me basically the same questions which I already wrote up for them………
 
What are your experiences with helping people out??

Yeah, that’s one of the biggest problems I face as a fitness professional. I have family and friends bug me all the time asking for advice and plans, and even worse they expect them for free! I think they would even be offended if I asked them to pay for the service, even though they know I make a living doing this. They might actually follow through with the stuff I gave them if they invested some money in it instead of just asking to give my time for free. I agree that it’s super annoying!

I have similar experiences to you Gymclass.

Helping people as a professional is really very difficult if they are not ready for change. In my RD classes we learn to “try” to identify what “stage of change” each individual is in and give them appropriate information there. 

But it is extremely difficult, and I often find that free doesn’t mean I do a bad job, but that THEY do a bad job of following it!

I agree Jemim!! I think the people that want something for free tend to put it off because it has no value to them… however they do not realize that the time you spend trying to help them has value… this drives me nuts..
 
People will change only when they are ready and realize this is a LIFE style change and its WORK.. When I see that someone is motivated for change then I have no problem helping them.. I can tell the difference between BSers and people who mean business.
 

You are correct.  This is all about self-motivation…with a dash of inspiration.  Reading about a woman older than me in excellent shape made me get started again.  I asked no one for help.  I just did a lot of reading and research.  When we want something badly enough, that’s what drives our motivation.  I’ve noticed that similarity in all successful athletes.  The most we can do is to continue to be good examples which can inspire others to join the club.

Spoken wonderfully. I didn’t realize that fully until just a year ago or so. But people really are in charge of their own destiny, and while some people might even be experts in their respective fields; they can’t inspire to make a change, that does come from within.

You certainly can not change people… People need to be hungry for any type of lifestyle changes… Unfortunately in most cases it takes someone to hit rock bottom before they realize change is needed…  
 
One thing individuals fail to do is make a lifestyle change fun, enjoyable, and tailored to fit their life/schedule… I always try to make my workout and meal plans fun, realistic and creative…  
 
A lifestyle change does not have to be a cookie cutter plan… the key is research and experiment with what works for you… Read up and ask questions about new workout plans, diets, recipes, supplements ect. and find what you enjoy!!  
 
You are supposed to enjoy your life and be comfortable in your own skin!! 

it’s probably safe to say that some people are lazy when it comes to fitness / nutrition and are always seeking that magic fix / pill that will give them instant results…lifestyle changes are not made overnight.

what works for someone else, may not work for everyone else.  being a beginner myself, it’s great to get on here and gain knowledge from the muscledog experts…keep it up!