Destructively

Fit:

Demystifying eating disorders for fitness professionals

In a world full of opprobrium, covetousness, and ideology- we put ourselves,

mentally, in a state of constant dissatisfaction- our brains never catching a breath.

Do these clothes make me look fat?

I wish I looked like a Victorias Secret model.

I need to push harder at the gym, Im getting chubby.

It is not just one person. It is our society as a whole, assaulting our mental

health, and melting away any perception of normality. We see it with those suffering

from depression and mental illnesses, such as eating disorders and excessive

exercise.

Jodi Rubin, founder of Destructively Fit, shares these statistics:

25 million American women are struggling with eating disorders

7 million American men are struggling with eating disorders

81% of 10 year old girl are afraid of being fat

51% of 9-10 year old girls feel better about themselves when they are dieting

45% of boys are unhappy with their bodies

67% of women 15-64 withdraw from life-engaging activities, like giving an

opinion and going to the doctor, because they feel badly about their looks

An estimated 90-95% of college students diagnosed with an eating

disorder are members of fitness centers



Jodi Rubin- with her BA in Psychology, Masters in Social, NASM

(National Academy of Sports Medicine) certification, and 15 years of work, in her

own private practice, as a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and LCSW- observed,

with years of successful observation, the harsh truth of some gym-goers.

As a Certified Personal Trainer, Jodi witnessed everything from gym

obsessiveness, people running endlessly on the treadmill, and others feeling

distraught when not able to attend the gym. After years of her own surveillance, Jodi

determined it was time to exploit this taboo. With so much desire in her, for others

to recognize what she had, Jodi constructed a course called Destructively Fit.

 Destructively Fit

The Destructively Fit courses are used to educate personal trainers in the

fitness world to recognize and react, in an appropriate manner, to any destructive

behaviors demonstrated in the gym. In fact, on Destructively Fits website, they

highlight this: Every fitness professional knows that a healthy mental approach is

the key to physical results. This can be a tricky thing to navigate for those with

eating disorders.

 Eating disorders come in an array of colors, rather terms and definitions-

Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Excessive Exercise, Bulimia Nervosa, etc.

While some individuals are more apparent than others, being able to recognize the

early signs of those who exhibit potential destructive behaviors is key to prevention,

rather catch the problem before it becomes a problem.

Testimonials
"I have worked in the fitness industry for nearly 30 years and when Jodi Rubin
approached me about her project called Destructively Fit, I realized that there was a
void within our professional fitness community regarding the topic of eating disorders.
We have all suspected at some point or other, that individuals who participate in our
training programs or attend our classes or are members of the clubs that we work in
may be suffering from an eating disorder.
With all the education I have received, there has been some mention of these
conditions, but never has there been ANY detailed training on how to recognize and
then cope with individuals who may be suffering from this potentially devastating
disorder. Jodi has created a presentation that fills the educational void for our industry
and provides concise information to help the fitness professional recognize potential
issues with individuals that may suffer from eating disorders and practical strategies
that help both the professional and the fitness enthusiast.
Destructively Fit: demystifying eating disorders for fitness professionals opens the
door to this historically taboo subject and empowers the fitness professional to take
the appropriate steps in helping those who may suffer in getting the help they need. It
also impacts a fitness professionals programming for those afflicted to minimize the
damage they may already be creating in their bodies. If you havent taken Jodis
workshop, it is certainly a must and is definitely a requirement for my fitness staff."
- Terrence Fister, Fitness Director for CLAY Health Club and Spa. He holds a degree
in Physical Education and Dance and is professionally certified by Marymount
Manhattan College, ACE and NASM. He is a Master Trainer and has taught group
exercise for some of the most prestigious fitness centers in the country
(Testimonials).
Destructively Fit covers a topic that no other personal training course would touch:
eating disorders. While eating disorders and body dysmorphia are ever-present in the
dance and fitness world, few people dare address them. Jodi not only addresses the
subject, she educates her students with courage and grace. Her knowledge is extensive.
Her course, Destructively Fit, can provide even the most seasoned professional with
useful tools for identifying, addressing and even training someone with an eating
disorder. I was one of the first people to take her class and I look forward to a part
two."
- Kym Perfetto, SoulCycle Master Instructor, Fitness Trainer +
Blogger www.kymperfetto.com (Testimonials)

 Works Cited

http://www.destructivelyfit.com/index.html

Destructively Fit. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 July 2017.
<http://www.destructivelyfit.com/index.html>. (Stats)

Destructively Fit. N.p., 2012. Web. 30 July 2017. (Testimonials)