What Trainers Actually Do vs What Clients Wish Trainers Will Do

Many individuals can benefit from the services of a personal trainer just like we all need mental and behavioral health training or help or even self help book suggestions at times to help us navigate through life’s winding road.
Energy Fitness really understands the concept of reaching out to a professional to get the best results possible and to invest in yourself. A shift in the mind is imperative when we want or need our bodies and/or habits to change. I ask our clients all the time “What you are willing to do to create a lasting change?” Too many people are want results overnight or a quick fix. This of course is what leads to many with yo-yo dieting or frustrations that change isn’t happening fast enough.
When hiring a personal trainer and nutrition coach it’s interesting that different people have different ideas as to the extent of what we can do for them. Since we have trained well over 3000 clients in the past 19 years and counting, these are the top ones that come to mind.
What we believe as personal trainers we actually provide at Energy Fitness to our clients:
- ACCOUNTABILITY
- expertise
- creating realistic goals
- coaching
- form correcting
- motivation
- inspiration
- functional movement analysis and fitness assessments (height, weight, blood pressure, resting heart rate, flexibility, upper body strength, pics against posture grid, and other custom evaluations as necessary)
- supplement recommendations
- look at blood work, suggest nutritional changes
- perform a BIA (bioelectrical analysis) testing bodyfat, hydration, BMI, bone mineral content, basal metabolic rate
- injury management (Prehab & Post Rehab)
- fun (although not everyone thinks working out or changing their meal plans are fun)
- new ways of fitting exercise and healthy nutrition into your lifestyle and new ways to move your body
- progressive & customized programs based from assessments
- myth busting, keeping up and passing along current research, \habit change suggestions
- a sounding board/listener for barriers/obstacles/excuses that keep clients from reaching their goals
- adjust cables, machines
- demonstrate/explain how to do an exercise / movement
- stretch clients – sometimes, depends on trainer
- spot client
- genuinely care about the health and well being of the client
- have a passion for helping others
What some clients wish we provide: (this varies greatly across clientele)
- quick fixes
- 20 pound loss in 2 weeks
- just tell them what to eat (we give guidelines & meal plans. some follow and some don’t)
- rep counting (I don’t have 3 degrees to count to 12 !, let’s call this client works on cognitive training)
- dumbbell valet (part of the workout) get and put away your weights/toys/mats
- clean / disinfect after they sweat on machine (no body likes to swim in your sweat or cooties)
- that we will be the magical answer to all their health and fitness woes
- provide will power
- tell them exactly what cardio to do every time they do cardio on their own
- mind-reading of their goals (these change as client change in age and ability)
- that the session can be social hour with trainer or other clients while they barely do any work but yet expect amazing transformation
- diagnose, treat or prescribe injuries, conditions, diseases
- psychological counseling (this is outside scope of practice)
Some of these may be funny to some and eye opening to others. Remember, when hiring a personal trainer, nutrition coach or massage therapist that they need to stay within their scope of practice and knowing what they can and cannot do will help you get the most of our their services. Many can obtain additional certifications and training or cross over into two fields of study such as myself while others get what we like to call a weekend certification. In the end, research who you hire to be a coach for you and your body.
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Call or text us at 901-466-6242 to book a Free Consult (Value $87) by clicking here: Free Discovery Call
Tonya Tittle, M.S./ Owner
American College of Sports Medicine-Exercise Physiologist
Licensed Massage Therapist
Titlest Performance Institute Level 1
Metagenics First Line Therapy Certified
Energy Fitness, 898 N. Hwy 25 Bypass, Greenville, SC 29617 (Travelers Rest)
www.archive.energyfitness-sc.com
30 Minute Semi-Private Personal Training (onsite & zoom)
Nutrition Coaching – Massage Therapy – Reiki – Facials