Accountability
This is by far the most common reason our clients choose personal training. They know they need to work out in some capacity, but doing it is hard, and showing up is even harder. On top of that, starting something new that they have never done is a huge challenge. Think of the simplest task and how easy it is to put it off. No one is alone when it comes to procrastination. Knowing their trainer is standing there waiting for them to show up helps the majority of our clients show up. Our members tend to be schedule-driven, and they follow it to a T. When it’s in the schedule, they show up.
Accountability sounds like:
“Without our training session scheduled, I would never show up”
“It's nice to be able to turn my brain off and just do the work.”
“If you weren’t watching me, I would skip the last rep”
Unsure where to start
When starting in the gym, it can be intimidating to get the ball rolling again. Whether it’s our clients' first time ever going or their first time in over 5 years, it can be overwhelming. Having thoughts such as “What do I do in the gym?” " How do I use this machine?” “I’m not sure what has changed in the past 10 years. Are common and totally normal. We help each client by guiding them through that process, building their confidence by learning where they currently are. Each member's game plan is unique and must match their own needs. We bring each client through an in-depth consultation to make sure we start them right at the sweet spot. Not too challenging but also not too easy, just right!
Being unsure where to start sounds like:
“Even if I got a gym membership, I would not know what to do”
“I want to start working out, but I do not want to get in other people's way”
“I have used the gym before, but I need to learn what working out in my 50’s is like.”
Accelerated progress
After we find our clients' starting point, we build a plan that matches their needs. We help our clients maximize progress while providing the right amount of support and guidance. Because the program is based on each client’s goals, exercises are selected to match where each client is currently. We track everything, from the exercises our clients do, the weight they use, the number of repetitions they complete, and more. We do this because you can not progress what you don't track. Workouts stay similar long enough, and right as clients are about to stop making progress, we make slight tweaks to the sets, repetitions, and exercise selection to keep progress going. We also help with nutrition, adjusting calories as needed and helping them work through any challenges.
Accelerated Progress sounds like:
“I always do good for the first month, then seem to stop making progress after the first month or two”
“I always can lose the first 5lbs but never anymore”
“I could never do a chin-up or push-up before”
Nutrition
When it comes to nutrition, the fundamentals are simple but not easy. We work with each client to understand where they are currently at and where they want to go. We learn about their lifestyles, habits, and environment, which are key contributors to their nutrition. We then build a plan to help them based on their life. Each client gets individualized nutrition recommendations. We go over what foods are best for them and what we should limit. We also teach portion sizes and how much to eat to reach their goal based on their timeline.
We even have a handful of clients that are using GLP-1’s. While we let the doctor focus on the nutrition, it's extremely important to keep protein levels elevated and weight training regularly to maintain muscle.
Nutrition help sounds like:
“I don’t know what to eat”
“I eat healthy but dont lose weight/gain muscle”
“I honestly don’t know what eating healthy looks like”
Sift through the BS
There is so much information out there today; it is hard to understand what is actually worthwhile. Everyone appears to be a “guru” that loves to share what exercises are the best and which ones to avoid. Yet they know nothing about an individual or their goals. The same goes with nutrition advice. Yes, some exercises are a better bang for your buck than others, but each exercise should match the client and their goals. We help teach why our clients are doing each exercise for each goal. This helps them understand the why behind their personalized game plan.
Shifting through the BS sounds like:
“Hey, I saw this cool exercise that is supposed to help my glutes. We just need a band, a foam roller, two pigeons, and a waffle iron”.
“Hey, Jessie on Instagram said [Insert exercise] is bad for you; is this true”
“My neighbor told me if I do sit-ups I will lose my gut”
Form and technique
Injury is another common thing that our clients bring up. They don’t want to get injured working out. Trust me when I say we don't want our clients to get injured either. Our goal is to help each client make as much progress as possible. That is done with consistency. If our clients got injured, this would interfere with their consistency. I’ll be honest, you’re more likely to get in a car accident than get hurt in the gym. But that does not stop us from getting in our car every day.
On top of that, our trainers watch every single set and rep. They are there correcting and adjusting form and giving constant cues to make sure everyone is getting the most out of each rep. They choose weights for each client and slowly build up a solid foundation.
Being worried about form or technique sounds like:
“I want to get started, but I don’t want to get hurt”
“I’m not sure how to do all the exercises or use machines”
Motivation
We are the great motivator. Having someone there coaching reps makes sure you give your best effort. If not, we will know. All of our trainers have worked with 100s of clients and know what effort looks like. Effort is different for each of our clients at different stages of life. Effort at 46 looks different than 82 and different than 22.
We can also tell when our clients need an extra kick in the butt and when to let off the gas a little bit. The long term is more important than an extra 5lbs on their squat today.
Lack of motivation sounds like:
“My workouts by myself tend to be slow and I jsut get through the routine”
“I get a much better workout when. have someone with me”
If you were ever unsure if personal training was a good fit for you, hopefully this article helped you see if you’re a good fit. If you found yourself agreeing with at least 4 out of the 7, personal training will definitely help you. Could you do it on your own? Of course, but it's learning a new set of skills and a rulebook to follow. Most people are too busy to spend that time learning. Let a trainer help fast track the progress for you! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out below.
