How to tell if your trainer is a clown?
Almost 20 years ago I made fitness my career and was once asked at my first ever fitness consultancy interview, “Where would you like to be in this industry?" I responded, to the interviews surprise, “teaching trainers”. You see, most people want to own gyms but I wanted to be so good at being an “expert” that I could help and show others.
This is meant to be thought provoking for you and your trainers (yes I know some of you like to have many). Those trainers who are in fact Entertrainers will probably raise an eyebrow but those who resonate with this message are found to be more willing to guide clients in understanding how to sharpen their BS detectors.
10 things to help identify if your trainer is an Entertrainer clown
1) Does the exercises with you
Excessive demos is one thing but actually doing the full exercise with the client should be left for partner training sessions with advanced clients who have similar goals to the trainer. If your Entertrainer is training in their uniform, that's a certified clown.
2) Uses an RPE scale while lifting weights
RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) was once used by a trainer I know through the question "are you going to die". Achieving results is hard work and where appropriate, the training must match.
3) Does the same program every session for more than 6 weeks
The lazy comfort zone of PT. When you think there is some prolonged repetition in the approach to training without explicit explanation, it is because your trainer doesn't have one. One size fits all should be saved for baseball caps not PERSONAL training.
4) Is over encouraging
How can every rep of every set be a good one? If that's the case, your Entertrainer is in fear of training you hard enough to achieve results as that person thinks you will be scared away. Make sure they say what they see because tough love brings stronger, leaner and faster results.
5) Overuses technical terms
Trainers like to sound like they know their stuff which is great if they do, however most clients will politely ignore the use of fancy words for joint movement when that should be saved for when they actually accomplish said movement successfully.
6) Thinks that a one-off session can make a difference
Personal training is a journey towards achieving goals that one may not be able to achieve on their own. If you respect the process of change, embrace the hard work. Then the commitment and dedication to make those changes will help you understand that one session will do sweet FA towards that.
7) Rather talk about your weekend than your nutrition
One size fits all and coaching over training come to mind. Your eating and lifestyle plan/ homework should be evolving continuously. There should always be something you are following and doing that is tweaked with your coach. Comfort zones should be saved for when excellence has been achieved. Serious talking leads to serious action leads to serious results.
8) Cannot provide ways to monitor, assess and record achievements and failures
Programs should be kept for years, literally. If there isn't some form of tracking, how would you know where you succeeded and where you failed. Body composition should be measured every 1-2 weeks. Photos of not just of your physique but also records of flexibility ranges should be taken every 4-6 weeks. Strength testing should be done where appropriate every 2-3 months.
9) Is not in shape
Pretty simple, if they cannot even do it themselves, why would they be able to help you? I have also seen many at the polar end which have amazing physiques themselves yet lazy in transferring knowledge. No wonder your Entertainer has such great chat, they need it.
10) Has squats and deadlifts for everyone's program
If you can perform these lifts with correct form and zero deviation, you would be privileged to have these lifts in your program. If your trainer does not vary these exercises, either you are elite or guess what ... Entertrainer clown alert!
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