Embarking on a fitness journey can be daunting. With countless workout routines and diet plans, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But sometimes, all it takes is a few key insights to transform your approach and unlock lasting results. We’ve gathered life-changing tips from leading personal trainers, offering guidance that goes beyond conventional wisdom.
Focus on Mobility First
For years, many fitness enthusiasts, and even trainers, have focused solely on strength and speed, often neglecting the crucial element of mobility. Ackeem Emmons, a coach at Tonal, shares how prioritizing mobility revolutionized his training and coaching.
“It was not until I matured, started training others, and kept getting injured that I learned to appreciate mobility,” Emmons explains. Incorporating stretching and flexibility exercises into his routine led to significant improvements in how he felt, coached, and looked. His pre- and post-workout routine now includes dynamic movements like the “World’s Greatest Stretch,” squat to stand, and scorpion stretch.
The takeaway? Don’t let a lack of mobility hinder your strength goals. Prioritizing mobility enhances body awareness, prevents injuries, and ultimately improves overall fitness.
Ditch the Fitness Tracker Obsession (Sometimes)
In today’s data-driven world, it’s tempting to rely heavily on fitness trackers. However, Laura Thomas, a holistic movement coach, advises against blindly following their dictates.
“Sometimes, we must not listen to our fitness trackers and do what feels good right now,” she says. Your body’s signals are often more accurate than any device. Before a workout, check in with yourself: How are your stress levels? How well did you sleep? What did you eat?
Pushing through a challenging workout when you’re fatigued can be counterproductive. Instead, consider mobility work or gentle yoga. Learning to listen to your body and prioritize its needs is a game-changer.
Embrace Individuality
Each person’s fitness journey is unique. What works for one individual may not work for another. Effective personal trainers recognize this and tailor their approach accordingly. They understand the importance of a personalized approach, and a customized exercise program.
Instead of prescribing generic routines, they take the time to understand their clients’ goals, preferences, and limitations. This might include allowing clients to choose variations of exercises they prefer, giving them a sense of control and increasing their motivation.
Small Changes, Big Impact
Many people try to overhaul their lifestyles overnight, which often leads to burnout and failure. A more sustainable approach is to focus on making small, incremental changes over time.
As one trainer with 10 years of experience notes, dramatic changes are rarely sustainable. Instead, find the smallest change you can make to start moving in the right direction.
The Power of Mindset
Physical fitness is only part of the equation. Mindset plays a crucial role in achieving lasting results.
Personal trainers are increasingly recognizing the importance of addressing clients’ relationships with exercise and food, rather than solely focusing on workout programs and food logs. By supporting clients in making better decisions and staying active, trainers can foster a positive mindset that leads to more consistent results.
It’s Not Just About Exercise
Losing weight and body fat are common goals. The challenge is that people try to make too many lifestyle changes too quickly. What is needed are small and manageable changes.
Consider that you sit a lot. You work at a desk, watch TV, and play video games. If you’re not moving, you shouldn’t be surprised why you’re not losing weight. It doesn’t mean you just go out and run. Try picking up an activity that requires you to move around, such as a sport or anything you can think of that requires movement. If you are on your lunch break, get off your butt and move around.
Build a Community
Community is a strong motivator.
Personal trainers are building communities to encourage and motivate clients.
Be Patient and Positive
Quick fixes don’t work, but a positive attitude does.
Personal training clients are investing in a trainer who can help them maintain a positive attitude and stay motivated to achieve their fitness goals.
Redefine Success
Traditional metrics like weight loss or muscle gain don’t always tell the whole story. Personal trainers are helping clients redefine success by focusing on non-scale victories.
This could include improvements in energy levels, sleep quality, mood, or overall well-being. By shifting the focus to these less tangible but equally important outcomes, trainers can help clients stay motivated and engaged in the long run.
Embrace Rest and Recovery
In the pursuit of fitness goals, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overtraining. However, rest and recovery are just as important as exercise.
Personal trainers emphasize the need to prioritize sleep, manage stress, and incorporate rest days into training schedules. Adequate rest allows the body to repair and rebuild, preventing injuries and maximizing results.
Focus on the Process
Many clients are fixated on achieving specific outcomes, such as losing a certain amount of weight or reaching a particular fitness level. While having goals is important, it’s equally crucial to focus on the process.
Personal trainers encourage clients to enjoy the journey, celebrate small wins, and embrace the challenges along the way. By shifting the focus to the process, clients are more likely to stay committed and achieve sustainable results.
Continual learning
The fitness industry is always changing. It is important to stay up to date by reading often and spending an hour a day reading legitimate training or business material or watching an educational video.
Care
Care about your client’s health, adherence, and attitude. Take responsibility for your clients’ adherence and compliance. It’s easy to give clients the full blame, but trainers should always ask themselves what they could have done differently to keep a client enthused about a session.
Be Human
Be yourself. You don’t need to share personal information, but you can give honest opinions, be a little goofy, and otherwise show your personality. There is a very human element to what you do, so be human.
Lasting Change
The advice from personal trainers boils down to focusing on improvement, and not perfection. Good habits, not quick fixes are what matters. Fitness is a marathon, not a sprint.
