So, here we are in 2016
You’ve decided that this is the year that you’re finally going to get into the best shape of your life by taking your health and fitness seriously.
In today’s fitness world, I can only imagine how difficult it can be to find someone that you trust to help you achieve your fitness goals. I’m sure a lot of people who first start out looking for a strength coach/personal trainer probably ask themselves the same questions:
The problem with this approach is that although these may all seem like viable options, how do you determine which one is right for you? How do you select someone that is going to make sure you’re progressing properly without taking a trip down to injury-ville?
Hopefully, this article will help guide you in the right direction as to what qualities to look for when seeking a qualified strength coach/personal trainer. In the paragraphs that follow, I will provide you with a list of dos and don’ts that will help sort out the guesswork for you.
NUTRITIONAL APPROACH
Your coach/trainer should be able to adjust your meal plans according to your lifestyle preference.
I think we can all agree that the best meal plan for you is the one that is the most sustainable. Let’s say I have a client named Sally. She’s a mother of two and enjoys eating three meals a day. If I were to force her to eat six small meals a day compared to her preference of three on top of all that she has to juggle already, the chances of her sustaining that approach are about as likely as “Zoolander” winning an award for Best Drama.
A good coach/trainer should be able to modify your nutrition plan so that it allows you to stick with it while hitting all of your macronutrient and caloric needs.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
You should want to work with a coach/trainer who’s always striving to become better in their field.
Early in my career, I made the mistake of being afraid to travel to attend workshops, mentorships and seminars, because I assumed my clients would think that I wasn’t fully committed to our time together. What I realized is that the more workshops, mentorships and seminars that I attended, the more my clients valued our sessions. Ultimately, my urge to attend continuing education demonstrated my overarching commitment to my clients, because I was able to apply the things that I’d learned.
Even if your coach/trainer doesn’t have the financial means to travel to such seminars, there are tons of credible books and DVD’s out there that promote self-education and professional growth.
PROGRAM DESIGN
Your coach/trainer should be able to design a training program for you based on not only your goals, but your specific needs.
What do I mean by that? I’m talking about postural and movement assessments.
For example, let’s say I have a 45-year-old male client named Frank who wants to lose fat but sits at a desk hunched over all day, and complains of lower back pain along with hip and shoulder tightness. Having him jump right into heavy barbell back squats on the first day probably isn’t a great idea.
Why you may ask? Well, this complex exercise would place a lot of undue stress on his shoulders, back, and knees, given his limitations. If you have limited range of motion in certain parts of your body, other parts of your body will likely compensate for what’s lacking. This ultimately causes you to incorrectly perform the exercise, and your risk for injury significantly increases.
A better alternative would be to work on mobilizing his hips and shoulders, stabilizing his core, and having him perform goblet squats which places less stress on your shoulders while promoting better squat mechanics. Your program should allow you to achieve your fitness goals while minimizing the chance of injury and correcting your movement impairments.
FULL INVESTMENT IN YOU
The person that you decide to work with should take the time to get to know you on a personal level.
We’ve all heard of the saying “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care,” and that definitely holds true in the client-trainer relationship. Nothing is worse than working with someone who’s clearly just collecting a paycheck and checking out as soon as your session ends. After all, we are in the people business and clients end up investing in a relationship, not just the credentials, necessarily.
As a coach/trainer, I find that the sooner I can connect with a client, the easier it is to develop rapport with the person, gain their trust, and have fun and productive sessions.
COACHING SKILLS
You want to find someone who has great coaching skills, and I view that as someone who has the ability to communicate well with others.
I take pride in being able to not only educate, but simplify things for my clients without getting too scientific. That may be using just two or three verbal cues when coaching a deadlift, or using layman’s terms to describe how this exercise benefits them. The last thing you want is someone giving you ten different cues to focus on all at once, especially while he’s explaining to you the origins and insertions of your biceps — when really all you want to do is get bigger arms!
Now, if you’re the type of person that wants to know these types of scientific things, then that’s a different story. The takeaway point here is simple, your coach/trainer should be able to explain how to perform the exercise, why it’s beneficial, and how it helps you achieve your fitness goals in a manner that’s accessible to you.
BALANCE
Don’t make the assumption that coaches/trainers have to be in great shape to justify that they know what they’re doing.
Some of the smartest and best coaches that I’ve met don’t even look like they lift. Now, while you don’t need to look like the Incredible Hulk, I’m not saying that you should settle for Homer Simpson, either. If you can find someone who has a nice balance of being knowledgeable and is able to practice what they preach, that has#winning written all over it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In the end, it’s really up to you to do some due diligence to find the strength coach/personal trainer that’s right for you.
But, if you apply these key points that I’ve just laid out for you, you’ll be on your way to accomplishing your fitness goals in a more efficient manner.
Cross-posted on Mobility 101