One of the factors sometimes overlooked by Personal Trainers, and I have been guilty of this, is that of adherence and readiness to undertake a particular programme of exercise.
I tend to work very scientifically. After the initial sessions, which focus on technique and adaptation, I tend to formulate a programme designed to achieve optimal results most efficiently. Generally this involves compound exercises such as bench press, military press, squats, dead lifts, leg press, lat pulldowns (or chins for those who are strong enough), dips (again if strong enough), bar biceps and a triceps exercise (often pressdowns unless the client can perform dips or lying extensions).
I usually start with fairly high reps for safety reasons and to perfect exercise technique. Gradually there is a move towards lower reps and more sets. At some point there is a shift to a split routine in order to accommodate the increased work load.
Coupled with this is an optimal nutrition programme. Those clients who have managed to adhere to both elements have shown dramatic improvements within weeks.
However, most clients are not ready to train this way. The majority have only just reached the "action" stage of change. They still need motivating, they need to feel good, they need variety, fun, and progressive achievement if they are to keep coming back.
I'm never really comfortable with this. I tend to work on the premise that the client should get the best results for their money. The downside, though, is that is the client isn't meeting all their other, psychological needs, they will never move to the all-important "termination" stage, where they become exercise junkies. If they don't enjoy the sessions, or if they work too hard at first, they simply won't continue. This situation is bad for them - they'll soon return to old ways, and bad for the trainer - your ex-clients will generally inform others that they tried training with you but it didn't work.
In the early stages of training almost anything will bring some results. Therefore I think the emphasis should be on variety and enjoyment. If the trainer is particularly attentive, they can tune in to what works for the client and make changes accordingly. As long as the trainer keeps records of the session progressive overload can still be planned for.
In summary, it is not always the best approach to plan only the most efficient programme of training. The client has to be ready for this, and some never are. Perfectionism is great for those who are ready, but in the early stages, at least, variety, fun, and motivation are the keys.
I tend to work very scientifically. After the initial sessions, which focus on technique and adaptation, I tend to formulate a programme designed to achieve optimal results most efficiently. Generally this involves compound exercises such as bench press, military press, squats, dead lifts, leg press, lat pulldowns (or chins for those who are strong enough), dips (again if strong enough), bar biceps and a triceps exercise (often pressdowns unless the client can perform dips or lying extensions).
I usually start with fairly high reps for safety reasons and to perfect exercise technique. Gradually there is a move towards lower reps and more sets. At some point there is a shift to a split routine in order to accommodate the increased work load.
Coupled with this is an optimal nutrition programme. Those clients who have managed to adhere to both elements have shown dramatic improvements within weeks.
However, most clients are not ready to train this way. The majority have only just reached the "action" stage of change. They still need motivating, they need to feel good, they need variety, fun, and progressive achievement if they are to keep coming back.
I'm never really comfortable with this. I tend to work on the premise that the client should get the best results for their money. The downside, though, is that is the client isn't meeting all their other, psychological needs, they will never move to the all-important "termination" stage, where they become exercise junkies. If they don't enjoy the sessions, or if they work too hard at first, they simply won't continue. This situation is bad for them - they'll soon return to old ways, and bad for the trainer - your ex-clients will generally inform others that they tried training with you but it didn't work.
In the early stages of training almost anything will bring some results. Therefore I think the emphasis should be on variety and enjoyment. If the trainer is particularly attentive, they can tune in to what works for the client and make changes accordingly. As long as the trainer keeps records of the session progressive overload can still be planned for.
In summary, it is not always the best approach to plan only the most efficient programme of training. The client has to be ready for this, and some never are. Perfectionism is great for those who are ready, but in the early stages, at least, variety, fun, and motivation are the keys.
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