NOT ALL FITNESS TRAINERS TRAIN THE SAME WAY.

I had a chat with a woman the other day about personal training. She stated that she had a bad experience with a trainer in the past, and she ended up quitting after only a handful of sessions. 

It reminded me of when I had my own trainer years ago before becoming a trainer myself in 2016. If I wasn’t stubborn, and decently educated beforehand, I definitely would have been in the “giving up on trainers” ship. Although I am glad I didn’t, because that experience is what drew me to want to become a trainer myself.

It breaks my heart that so many others tryout personal training, have a bad experience, and give up on a trainer all together. Having a trainer is the BEST decision you can make, especially when you are new to working out, or you are not seeing the results you want.

Let me tell you right now…NOT all trainers train the same.

I have learned that by personal experience, and having the opportunity to grow in my own personal training career surrounded by other trainers with different training styles.

Through my years of training I have learned that people are individuals, and individuals need different personal training styles so that they feel comfortable and capable. Creating those two feelings are a trainers most important job. Unfortunately, not all trainers have learned to adapt their personal training style to fit the client, but instead press upon their clients the need to become like them and workout the way they do.

As a trainer I have had some clients who want the “Drop and give me 100 you ****” approach. However, I found that many want a slow progressive “doable” approach that has room for growth and is gentle on the ego.

My husband is definitely the first style. He jokes around all the time and says, “I man. I pick heavy things up and put them down. Arrgg!” (in his most impressive caveman voice). He wants someone to make him go heavy, sweat and yell at him…though when I try to do this as his wife…he sure doesn’t hold back his complaints. 🙂

90% of my clients want the gentle approach though, especially starting off. They are still eager to sweat buckets, but having them puke the first week is definitely not the experience they want.

Whichever training style you are will yield you the results you want. It is important for you to be upfront (if you know) about which style you are to your trainer, or for your trainer themself to dig it out of you that first week.

Everyone’s intensity level is different depending on what season of life they are in. Just because you start off your workout lifestyle journey with a simple routine with lighter weights (which will still seem heavy to you) does not mean that gains are not being made.

Actually, there is more potential for growth, because (A) you are taught proper form so you do not end up being out of the gym for an injury and (B) you keep coming back for more because you feel empowered and like the program is something you can handle.

With all that being said, you will come across trainers who do not understand that a workout’s intensity needs to be driven by the client themself.

I have spent numerous hours giving advice to other trainers, some whom I worked alongside and some whom sought me out. They would come to me confused that their retention rate was so low even after being a trainer for longer than I was at the time. They would ask how I was always completely booked up with long time clients and had a 9 out of 10 closing rate during consultations.

Our chats would always begin with me explaining that when a person walks through the gym door, or contacts you personally for training, they are coming to you in a vulnerable state. They tried “this and that” and it isn’t working; They have hit a plateau in their training; They do not want to keep going to the doctor and the doctor giving them bad news; or They want to go on a trip with their family and feel good not depressed. A trainer needs to reassure them that they are in safe hands emotionally as well as physically.

Most trainers have their “ideal client”, but that ideal client rarely ever comes through the door. There may only ever be one client, out of all them, that has been training a long time and is advanced enough physically to do just about anything given.

Most of us trainers are NOT training Olympic Athletes! 

We are training the average (or past injured) everyday person that wants to live a healthy life and feel good about themselves on the daily. Looking back, I have had to alter numerous plans to work around a client’s tightness, past injury, limitation that they didn’t even realize was there, and the list goes on. And that’s okay. It’s my job.

Over time a client will adapt and will want to be pushed farther and try more difficult exercises. Right off the bat is not the time for tough love or to give them more than “they think” they can handle. Most just want to learn, to sweat, to work out their abs, and to leave feeling like they accomplished more than they could do on their own.

The biggest things I pay attention to the first weeks working with a client are making sure they feel comfortable with each training session and that I am developing a routine that fits their personality. I ask myself after the initial workout and chat, “What workout style would best suit them, what level are they starting at, and did they seem to enjoy the first workout?” The normal reply of “I hate you for making me do those 10 extra decline ab crunches” does not count.

There are NUMEROUS workout styles to choose from. Sometimes you pick the correct one right off the bat, and other times you have to play around with it until you find the right fit.

If you choose to get help from a trainer you need to click in some way from the get-go, or within a few sessions at least. You will be spending potentially three times a week with this person, which is the best option when starting. I like to joke sometimes, and say that I should have gotten my degree in psychology for all the heartfelt conversations I have had with my clients over the years. Understanding that people want to be around someone that they feel comfortable opening up to is important, because a health and fitness journey has its ups and downs, not just because of the program, but because people still have their normal lives going on too. There are ways to be kind and loving and also professional.

I have had the great opportunity to meet people of all personalities, body types, abilities, careers, and I have helped each one become more confident during their daily grind. They have taught me so much, and being able to be a helpful stepping stone in their life has been a blessing.

It is important to find a trainer that makes you feel like you are becoming your best self, helping you branch out of your comfort zone slowly, make you feel cared for, and also like they know what they are doing.

Don’t make judgements too quickly. Definitely give your workouts and trainer time, and be open with them. A trainer cannot know if you are getting what you want out of a session if you are not vocal about your feelings. Don’t just do workouts that you don’t enjoy, without at least first bringing it up to your trainer. They will either tell you why they chose to do that type of workout program for you, or will make alterations. If you get to the point where they are not listening to you, then hunt for a new trainer.

Are you going to come across trainers that do not know how to adapt? YES.

Should you give up on a trainer all together? NO.

A great trainer can help you achieve more than you ever thought you were capable of achieving.

Let me know in the comments section if you got anything out of this article. I want to hear from you! Also, if there is a topic, or question, you want me to discuss in a future post… mention it!