2016

Little White Lies Personal Trainers Like to Tell

Little White Lies Personal Trainers Like to Tell
Moment of truth...

I've never been a very good personal trainer. 

[caption id="attachment_22044" align="aligncenter" width="335"]What's your 'why' for exercising?What's your 'why' for exercising?[/caption]

There I said it.

As someone who loves to coach and mentor people, I've never been one to sugar coat things.

I know many of my trainer friends struggle with being straight with their clients in fear that it will cost them a paying client.

That wasn't the case for me and was probably a big reason I wasn't a very successful trainer and coach in the early days.

My Old Approach to Personal Training and WHY it didn't work


You see, I took a different approach.

[caption id="attachment_22047" align="aligncenter" width="263"]Training in a community versus on your own - can it be done virtually? HECK YES!Training in a community versus on your own - can it be done virtually? HECK YES![/caption]

In fact, I remember the day I fired a long-standing client, John.  (and yes, the name has been changed to keep 'John's' anonymity)

John was an interesting client. He was extremely successful in his career, had an amazing family with a couple younger kids, a beautiful wife who loved him unconditionally and quite frankly, lived a life that any one of us would count as pretty awesome.

However... John didn't have his health. And that ate him up inside. He hated being in a state of ' unhealth '.

And to John's defense, he was once ' in shape '.

At one point in his life, before family, career and all that comes with the things as they are, he fell out of his active lifestyle. Focus turned to making money to support his family and so went the cycle for years and years until one day John looked in the mirror and couldn't recognize the man looking back at him. He wanted to change.

[tweet_box design="box_10"]What you eat and drink will directly impact how quickly or slowly you reach your goals.[/tweet_box]


And this is where I came in. John hired me to be his trainer. He told me he wanted to lose weight, put on muscle, feel better and get back to being the type of man he was in his 20's. He told me he was committed to the process, and that he is a man who gets what he wants when he sets his mind to it. He wanted a trainer like me to hold him accountable and to help him reach his goals.

I agreed. BUT, I don't think John knew what he was signing up for.

We worked together 3 times per week for an hour at a time. That meant there were 165 other hours where I couldn't be there to help. As a trainer, that's always a struggle. Fitness is the easy part, fueling our bodies to reach the goals we've set, that takes consistent effort and requires a lot of 'choices' made each and every day.

[caption id="attachment_22043" align="aligncenter" width="618"]Who's in your tribe? Who holds you accountable?Who's in your tribe? Who holds you accountable?[/caption]

Quick Tip:   Ask yourself the following question before you eat or drink anything while striving to meet a certain health and lifestyle goal:
"Is the food and/or drink I'm about to consume going to bring me closer or further away from reaching my goals?"

That's it. You know the answer.

If you opt to consume the food or drink, knowing full well that it is not going to further your progress, then own the decision and don't dwell on it. Don't point fingers to external forces that made you eat or drink it! (you know what I mean)

Now back to John.

Where Do the Wheels Fall Off for Personal Training Clients?


So John was fantastic for the first 3 weeks. He was showing up to do the work with me and when he was there, he WAS there. The intensity was great and he was coach-able. He was eating smarter and drinking lots of water , reducing his sugar intake and improving on his sleep , reducing stress and feeling good.

[caption id="attachment_22042" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Competing with myself - that's where I've learned the most about 'me'Competing with myself - that's where I've learned the most about 'me'[/caption]

It was awesome.

I thought John had it in the bag.

Another month passed, we did some re-testing and guess what, John lost the 25 pounds. He reached his goal... he had done it!

Then something happened.

John started to miss sessions.

When I asked how come, it was simply "work", "family", "stuff"...

Sounded like LIFE to me.

1 week turned into 2... which then became 3... and what was once 3 sessions per week turned into 1 session every other week.

I could tell that John was gaining the weight back.

[caption id="attachment_22045" align="aligncenter" width="660"]We all need a community to plug in to... especially when it comes to our health and well-beingWe all need a community to plug in to... especially when it comes to our health and well-being[/caption]

Limited Goals will Limit Your Beliefs (such is life, hey?)


John was very good at quantifying things. His goals were a number on the scale and notch on his belt. That was it.

Once the numbers were reached, he had nowhere else to go. I pleaded that we needed to get real with 'qualifying' his goals but that didn't jive with John.

[caption id="attachment_22046" align="aligncenter" width="340"]There always exists an opportunity to change your CHOSEN path.There always exists an opportunity to change your CHOSEN path.[/caption]

'It's ok, Dai, I'm back. I'm ready to refocus my efforts and get back to training so I can lose this weight again'... (while holding the roll around his midriff)  

Sorry, John. I'm not able to help you anymore.

I am choosing to no longer train you.

You KNOW WHAT to do now.

You KNOW HOW to do it too.

BUT, you're not willing to figure out your WHY for doing it.

And because of that, I will not be your trainer anymore.

John, you're fired. (well, I didn't actually say it like Donald, but I let John know that I'd be happy to support him, but could no longer train him personally)

Quantifying goals is fine and good, but when you QUALIFY your goals, we start to look at life and lifestyle. We ultimately make daily decisions based on the quality of life we want in the years as we age. After all, we all agree that it's not just about the years in our life - it's about the LIFE IN THE YEARS - so let's make them the best that we can.

Actuaries are in the business of quantifying our lives - but I'm in the business of QUALIFYING people's lives.

That's why I created the Whole Life Fitness Manifesto and the tribe of support.


If you are tired of just trying to reach a weight on a scale, a pant or dress size, then we welcome you to join us.

 

[caption id="attachment_22048" align="aligncenter" width="591"]I know how difficult it can be figuring out where to start, how to start and especially, WHY to start... I know how difficult it can be figuring out where to start, how to start and especially, WHY to start...[/caption]

 

Commit to 30 minutes a day (just 2% of your 24 hours) and commit t o yourself not tomorrow or next week, but NOW! 

You can opt in here to be kept in the know of when registration opens.

(and best yet, there's no cost to do so! Not sure I can promise it will be that way forever, however...)

If you want a coach or lifestyle mentor to hold you accountable to making lasting lifelong changes, I'M YOUR GUY and the Whole Life Fitness Manifesto tribe is your community.
If you want a trainer who will tell you:


  1. You've earned a cheat day.

  2. You've hit your goal, you deserve a break

  3. You're not allowed to eat.... You're not allowed to drink...


YOU WILL NOT FIND THAT WITH ME.

It's NOT okay to NOT DO what you said you would do!

I'm not here to lie to you. I know you can do whatever you CHOOSE to do if your why is big enough.

Let's discover that together.

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PS - I am here to help you meet the healthiest, happiest lifestyle you can get with 2% of your day. To help you reach a lifestyle goal that entails a lot of awesomeness!

[caption id="attachment_22057" align="aligncenter" width="710"]The Whole Life Fitness ManifestoThe Whole Life Fitness Manifesto... simple ideas worth living.[/caption]

But you have to give me your best 30 minutes each and every day for 28 days at a time... the program starts but it never stops. We're talking LIFE here.

Can you handle that? I have no doubt YOU CAN.

#JustDidIt mindset here you come...

Sign up here and let's do it!

Hoorah![/box]

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[caption id="attachment_22028" align="aligncenter" width="670"] Click here to order your e-copy of the Whole Life Fitness Manifesto Click here to order your e-copy of the Whole Life Fitness Manifesto[/caption]

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