Working within the fitness industry for almost two decades has allowed me to meet all different kinds of people. I’ve worked with athletes trying to improve their strength and stamina for their desired sport, fitness competitors who are trying to transform their physiques to look like Greek Gods on stage, to everyday people who just want to be more overall healthy, fit and improve upon their own aesthetics. Some people are more motivated then others. Some people are more disciplined then others. And some people train harder and more often then others. This doesn’t make these people more superior then the people who are not as committed to their fitness goals, it just simply means that they take their health more seriously. And there’s nothing wrong with not being overly concerned about your health and your physical appearance. Or is there?

Stop the Shaming!

I honestly cannot stand when I hear a Personal Trainer lecture his or her client on their diet or about not exercising enough. The majority of our clientele are adults. They do not need to be scolded or punished for not doing what we may want them to do. The same can be said when I see other fitness enthusiasts in our industry shaming people on social media for not making the time to workout, or have the strength and willpower to remain disciplined on their diet and nutrition. Who are they to pass judgement upon others? How someone chooses to live his or her own life is up to them. Even if I want my clients to achieve their health and fitness goals (in which I do), I can’t force them to do the work needed to accomplish the results that they desire. They have to be willing to put in the effort.

Finding Failure

I take precedence in helping of all of our clients achieve their health and fitness goals. How can I not? Our clients come to work with us because they want and need our help. We form a relationship built through trust, support, honesty and guidance. Therefore I take their goals just as serious as I take my own. However if a client fails to reach his or her fitness goal in a reasonable time frame, I don’t feel as if I failed my client. I know that I always do everything in my power to try and make sure our clients succeed. Regardless, if the goal is not achieved, there is no reason to pass blame or frustration on the client or the trainer for that matter. The fact remains that the goal was not achieved.  So what should we do?

Live Your Life

The majority of people I train – both on the floor and online, have worked with me for over a decade. Many of my clients have been with me since I first started in this industry. It’s extremely rare for a trainer to have had the same existing clientele base for such a long period of time. Most people who hire a personal trainer do so in thinking that they will only use the trainer’s services for a few short weeks or months, and then will be able to go off on their own and train and/or follow their own diet plan. And this does occasionally happen (although very rarely with our clients). I attribute our high retention rate to two reasons: 1 – Dedicated and Extremely Loyal Clients and 2 – Knowledgeable and Motivational Trainers. Now, not all of our clients reach their training goals, and not all of our clients even have training goals. And YES, FITNESS JUNKIES of the WORLD……..THAT IS OKAY!!!!

Goalless Goals

As I mentioned above, I work with many people who don’t really have any specific target health and fitness goals. I know, I know, according to the Personal Trainer manual, I should make my clients set SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely Goals). Well rarely if ever do I use any of the “information” given to me from an outdated textbook that offers generic advice and blanket statements. This is real life. In real life shit happens. There are going to be days and sometimes weeks where you don’t want to exercise. There will be times when you are too tired to lift heavy or intensely. And there will be stressful occasions and family functions that prevent you from eating a perfectly clean diet all year round. If you’re a client of ours, then it’s our job to make sure that these little hiccups in life don’t set you back too much with your health and fitness. Just because some of our clients may not have specific fitness goals, does not mean we give up on them or give them any less of a service.

The Bigger Picture

If you find yourself lacking the motivation to exercise or are having difficultly remaining disciplined with your diet, do not give up. Do not let anyone make you feel less of a person for not achieving or even having a target training goal. Remember, the number one reason why anyone should want to exercise and follow a structured diet plan, is for overall health, longevity and an improvement in the quality of their own life. Setting short term goals might be wise and can work for many people, however it’s not for everyone. And when it comes to exercising consistently and eating right for a better body and a healthier physique, it’s a lifelong marathon, not a short sighted sprint.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit