The Fitness Guru

When last we left the Kardashian mega-opus, Fit Into Your Jeans By Friday, I felt I had said my fair share by applauding the professionals who helped Kim look good in the video, while at the same time, rallying against the marketing machine that feels the need to slap her…..face…..on the cover of a video box.
Evidently, someone named Wes in the Kardashian camp, didn’t feel that it was best left alone. He penned me this note:

I agree with Jennifer Galardi, give Kim a break. Are you dumb enough to think Kim Kardashian actually came up with all this on her own? Not that I’m taking anything away from her, but like Jennifer said, Kim is a marketing tool. Come on man, lighten up.

No Wes. You are the marketing tool. Kim is a very nice, well spoken young woman who has no business being the face of an exercise video. And my problem, young Wes, doesn’t stem from the fact that I can’t “lighten up.” It comes from the fact that, in a tough economy, people are going to spend their hard earned money to watch Kim exercise. If it ain’t about the money, then let her make it part of her TV show and people can get it for free. But the fact is that its all about the Benjamins. Jennifer and Patrick keep her together. Don’t believe me? Check her out on the View (best to fast forward to the 5 minute mark):

She is a lovely young woman but obviously has NO IDEA how communicate in fitness terms. Oh, she looks nice. And folks will want to look like her. But that’s the Emperor’s New Clothes, little Wes. And that is what has me all up in arms. Though I appreciate you taking the time to share your insight.

Meanwhile, not that it’s “pile on Kimmie” time, but I’m not the only one who had an issue with the View. Check this out from our friends at Fit Celeb.

Recently, I posted about the absurdity of Kim Kardashian releasing an exercise video. My problems with the video stemmed mostly from the fact that Kim is not a fitness professional and therefore has no place as an instructor. My post brought a response from Jennifer Galardi, one of the two actual professionals hired to put Kim through her paces. Jennifer appears with Kim in the video and her comments may be read at the bottom of the previous post.

[caption id="attachment_1049" align="alignright" width="100" caption="Patrick Goudeau"][/caption]

I continue to take issue with many points raised by Ms. Galardi including the fact that Kim was hired because she “sells” and that “by no means do the DVD’s imply that Kim is the one who created these routines or tries to teach them.” Unfortunately, that is exactly the implication, given the packaging and the marketing campaign. And, even though Kim is one of the “hardest working clients” she has ever trained and Kim “is really committed to this and now makes fitness a part of her life”, that is by no means any sort of qualification for what is gimmick marketing, pure and simple.
However, as insulting as I find Kim’s video to be, attention must be paid to Ms. Galardi and Patrick Goudeau, the other professional hired to whip Ms. Kardashian into shape. Here are two pros who have spent their careers improving their craft and dedicating themselves to helping others. The fact that they need to work on projects like this is simply business.
BUT both instructors have their own video lines and I strongly urge you to check them out the next time you are shopping for videos. Let’s put our consumer dollars toward people who have worked hard and deserve the support.
Here is Jennifer
and here is Patrick
Enjoy!!