Derby Season

Well, it is Derby season here in Louisville and that means the Mini Marathon. I understand the thrill to run continuously for that long as much as I understand Calculus two (I got a D in calculus two and it was the end to my "math major" days). I can appreciate the challenge and I commend those who take it on but for those who make this their life, I question you...Anyway, I want to say congrats to two of my clients for completing the mini marathon this morning and doing it in a time that surpassed their goals. Nick and Mary Beckmann have been training with me for close to a year now and decided to take on the challenge of the mini. They did an amazing job with all of their training and it showed today. Mary has a sprint triathlon in June and then it is time to get them both back into the strength game. Lifting heavy and doing intervals...that's what I understand. But again, congrats to them and I am proud of them for taking on the challenge and crushing it!

On another note, Derby season also means my birthday...I accept presents of all kinds.

Deal of the Day!

I was browsing my Facebook news feed the other day and I noticed a post and conversation about bootcamps. Being a fitness professional and business owner I continued to read the conversation and realized there is a thought process that is misled throughout much of the public. I will preface all of this with this statement: I am extremely proud to say that the public image of fitness is shifting in the right direction and the thought of "all cardio all the time" is starting to lessen. With that being said, people are still not exactly sure on the correct route to good health and strength and many mistakes are being made. This was the case with this Facebook conversation I witnessed. The post read something about being excited for bootcamp; From there friends began to ask where the bootcamp was being held. It was a business that ran a "deal of the day" ad and was for a month trial. More people began to discuss the "deal of the day" fitness ads they had purchased and how they were going to try other "deal of the day" ads as they came. None of these people planned on staying with the same trainer/business/program for more than 6 weeks. Don't get me wrong, I am cheap as can be and love to save money when I can and I love these ads as a consumer and business owner. However, as a fitness professional, I hate to see people jumping from one program to the other month after month because of the next deal. There are a number of things wrong with this.

The biggest problem with people jumping from one deal to the other is the lack of program design. I am not saying that these companies posting the deals are not good at what they do, they are; people are just not giving them enough time to see it. Strength and conditioning programs (good ones) are just that: programs. It's not about single workouts but the program as a whole. Each day builds upon the last and each month is a progression from the start. If you look at athletic training programs, they are built into months and even years. The coach looks at the year as a whole and develops it into specific periods and focuses. If an athlete was to do 6 weeks and then start something completely different they would not see the benefit they get from a consistent set-up. Fitness programs need to be given time so that they can progress to where they need to be and continue the challenge. The worst thing one can do for their body is bring inconsistency with workouts and do all zumba one month, bootcamp the next, and Pilate's the following. That will get you no where in terms of a strong healthy body. Each can play a role but they must be coordinated specifically, not by whats cheapest.

Another problem with deal jumping is a lack of connection. Getting a trainer or coach is like having a new relationship. Similar to a doctor, it is important that one's trainer knows specific details about that person from causes of stress to injuries to motivational techniques to even personal problems. All of these factors lead to better programming and better coaching. I don't think there is anyone out there that would switch doctors every month and start fresh. That would be crazy, and so is switching trainers. If there is a lack of connection with a trainer or a lack of performance, then a switch may be needed. But once you find a good trainer, why switch just because of a cheaper price? Get to know a trainer or coach and give that relationship time to develop. A good relationship will lead to better results, I promise that.

The third problem I see comes more from a business aspect. If someone is switching programs month to month, it seems to me that none of those programs are delivering an experience worth staying. Just as I talked about above, the training experience is just that, an experience. A solid program is extremely important but also the ability to give knowledge to the clientele about why, how, what, and when is just as important. If people don't know why they are doing what they are doing then they have no reason to stay. It needs to be explained why it takes more than a few weeks to get the full benefit or why there can't be switching of programs every month. Trainers and coaches need to make sure they are building a relationship based on care and knowledge. I believe if this is given early on and its sincere and correct, people will have no reason or desire to leave.

I want to make this clear: I have no problems with "deal of the day" ads or people who buy those. I have used these sites before both as a consumer and a seller and I plan to use them again in the future. These sites are a great place t find new local businesses and get great deals. I just want to urge people to avoid jumping from fitness program to fitness program each and every month or each time a new deal comes a long. There are a ton of businesses promoting on these sites so its hard to choose, but do some research and learn about the programs. If it fits, try it out. Like it, then stay with it. Let these professionals develop you and the program where it needs to be. I know with us and Everyday Athlete it is a constantly progressing program where each month builds upon the last. It is all about creating longevity and strength. Give it at least 3 months and see why its called a "program" and not just workouts.

Trainer or Coach...What's the Difference?

The fitness industry has grown exponentially over the past couple of decades. More and more individuals are seeking professional help to aid in reaching fitness and physique goals. At the beginning of this fitness craze, not a lot of thought was given in picking a professional; however, with more and more exposure coming to the forefront; prospective clients are taking it more seriously by using a specific process. What should we be looking for when trying to seek help and what are the red flags? Is more education better? Is it the amount of letters that follows the name of my future trainer? Or should it simply be what a trainer looks like that makes the decision because I know if I am trying to improve my looks, my trainer better be walking the walk as well…

As a fitness professional, I have seen a variety of markets: from collegiate strength and conditioning to physical therapy centers to big box gyms; I have had coaches and I have had trainers. Each had a different vibe, both good and bad, and taught me a lot about a holistic approach to fitness. There are two types of fitness professionals: trainers and coaches. Picture both of these people in your head. Trainers tend to be viewed as the gum chewing, rep-counting, airheads that can’t stay out of the gym so they get a job there. Coaches are portrayed as an older gentleman with a whistle and a stopwatch yelling, “drop and give me 20!” In reality, both of these are wrong; I do believe, however, that one is better than the other.

From my experience, the trainer is the one who has a new workout every session, counts every single rep out loud, and has a mission to make you feel exhausted and run down by the end of each day. Truthfully, if your only desire is to lose some weight then this method will work. If you want to improve your life all around by getting stronger, leaner, and pain free, this will not get the job done. You can only go all out for so long before your body decides it has had enough and begins to break down. Not to mention, why would you want to go back to the gym if you threw up twice last week and almost passed out the week before? I know I wouldn’t.

There are over 150 personal training certifications out right now and many of them can be obtained by taking an online quiz with payment of  a small fee. Truthfully, all the letters after a trainer’s name do not mean a whole lot. At the same time, an individual can read every textbook and double major in exercise science and biomechanics, but if that person doesn’t understand how to apply their knowledge then it means absolutely nothing. This is not to say that education is not important, because it is, but real world experience is where actual knowledge is found.

Coaches are those who do exactly that, COACH. They take the time to make sure each exercise is perfected, that the client’s progress is monitored, and they understand how to adjust and tweak a training program based on outside factors such as illness, stress, or even just “one of those days.” A coach plans out a program, consisting of weeks, months, and even years. There are goals that a client comes in with and there are goals that a coach will have that take into consideration the health and strength of a client. It’s not just about the number on the scale; it is about creating a body that can function easier for a longer period of time. It’s about helping an individual achieve things they never thought possible. When a client deadlifts a couple hundred pounds for the first time, it is an amazing feeling for both the client and the coach. Trust me, I have been on both sides.

So when it comes down to it, seeking a professional’s guidance is a costly thing, both monetary as well as personal. You are putting your health and body into the hands of another. Do some research and make sure you know whom you are going to be working with. If you just want to drop pounds and want a quick fix, a trainer can get you that. If you are looking for a life change and want to reach goals you have only imagined, get a coach. I have worked with a lot of trainers and I have worked with a lot of coaches, and not to knock anyone, but the coaches I have worked with have taught me a lot more and had a much wider view of their clients and athletes than any of the trainers I have known. I will simplify it with this – a trainer has techniques and tools that can only get you so far, a coach has a philosophy that can change your life.