Ask An Expert

Monitoring fitness goals have come a long way, thanks to technology, and wearable fitness trackers are one of the many new gadgets that have become super popular in the past few years.  They have taken the old school pedometer to a whole new level in terms of tracking goals and staying motivated outside of the gym.

Depending on which device your client is using, it can track stats such as number of steps taken and calories burned, to flights of stairs climbed, heart rate, and sleeping patterns. Some even have a built-in display screen, are waterproof, and have ‘smart’ sleep alarms.  The tracker can sync all of this data with various apps to further assist in keeping track of goals.  

Although it’s true that some clients are able to motivate themselves to stay on track with their health and fitness even when they are not physically with you, there is another subset of clients on the opposite spectrum that may need a boost of inspiration to maintain their focus.

Of course, we want our clients to maintain their physical health, which they’ll do so through regular exercise, healthy nutrition, and sufficient sleep. However, emotional health is also an important factor in overall wellness. As the World Health Organization clarifies, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In other words, our clients’ health depends on more than just strong muscles and not getting sick.

Hi FitPro Family,

Trainer Lisa here, wishing you a happy and successful 2016 in both your life and business!

So! You have your marketing piece, you know who you’re targeting and have gotten in a ton of inquiries regarding your services, but know you’re wondering how you should price yourself for training both individuals and groups and how they differ! Here are a couple of scenarios:

Self-sabotage is a very common behavioral issue to address with clients, although it can manifest itself as different forms. First, let’s understand what we are talking about when we say “self-sabotaging behavior”.

According to Psychology Today, a behavior is said to be self-sabotaging when it creates problems and interferes with long-standing goals. This type of behavior results from a misguided attempt to ‘rescue’ ourselves from our own negative feelings. In other words, your client is “getting in their own way” from achieving their goals. If it sounds counter-intuitive, that’s because it is! No one thinks they would intentionally sabotage themselves but it happens quite often.

Ah, motivation. Depending on whom you talk to, motivation can be one of the finest tools for achieving success or just a downright intimidating word that prevents anyone from achieving their goals. It’s vital for the fitness professional to remember that every decision we make starts within ourselves and where our mindset currently resides. Motivation is found in what inspires us.

Creating and maintaining motivation for our clients can be challenging, therefore, I have designed this three-step “R” system that will help guide you in helping your client achieve the most success possible while they remain motivated throughout.

Hi Fit Pro,

TrainerLisa here, Happy Holidays and I hope you’re excited to kick off 2016 with the renewal of current clients, and an in-box filled with inquiries of potential new clients clamoring for you and your services!

Now, how can you get those fabulous new, committed clients to contact you, let alone show up looking for your services? Well, wonder no more! I’m going to give you some ideas that I hope will get you excited and fired up to get started NOW and not waste another day trying to re-invent the wheel. But first, have you experienced the Fit Pro Cycle? If you’re not sure…read on:

This is an interesting question that definitely explores the psychology aspect of our role as a trainer.  Initially, you might think “why would anyone be resistant to achieving their goals?” However, I’ve seen it so often with clients, potential clients, people that aren’t even my clients, etc.… it’s a common issue that is sometimes erroneously perceived as a lack of motivation.  However, emotional resistance is something that goes deeper than motivation.

A client can be motivated to change but, simultaneously, emotionally resistant.  For example, I’d be willing to bet that most trainers reading this have worked with a client who had New Year’s resolutions to get in shape but it somehow fell flat.  The motivation was there… the client took that all important step to approach you. Whether they recently had a health scare/wake-up call, wanted to get rid of the spare tire around their belly or incorporate more healthy habits into their lifestyle, they knew they needed to take steps towards their goals.  They may not have known what the next steps were (which is why they came to youJ) but they knew they had to take them.  HOWEVER, their level of motivation was not as strong as their power of emotional resistance.  In other words, their motivation to change was not enough to elicit change…

Whether you’re a fitness professional who has just started with a new client or have been training the same client for multiple years, providing top-notch service will always separate you apart from others. Impeccable service is not only crucial to obtaining new business but is the necessary foundation that every fitness professional needs to abide in retaining the clientele that you already have.

So, how do you separate yourself from the rest of a competitive field of fitness professionals? One word — integrity. There’s no faking integrity since your clients are intelligent enough to know if someone doesn’t genuinely care about their well-being or is even being dishonest with them. Integrity is what your client witnesses and feels emotional with you on a personal level. Besides tremendous service in the trainer/client session, you must go even further to truly produce excellent service.

You’re stressed out, feeling uneasy but know you need to make a change. Your livelihood is on the line!

Should you raise your rates or keep them where they currently are? Are you making a big mistake if you raise them? Or is this what you are supposed to do? What’s the best plan of action for yourself and your business?

These worries and questions are normal when you are running your own personal training business. While your business should always focus on providing the best and most effective fitness training, it’s also imperative that you structure your income to reflect your worth (and needs) as well.

Check out these three key points if you are currently facing this situation in managing your own training fee structures:

While you are living out your passions as a fitness professional, helping your clients become healthier and happier – with it, this lifestyle can still bring numerous demands. Unusual hours, physical work, and varying client personalities can drive any fitness professional to crave a much-needed vacation. That being said, it’s normal to worry about your clients and their needs if you were to take even a short break. The fear of losing a client as a result of taking time off is also not uncommon, since you understand the importance of maintaining their fitness goals consistently. Every fitness professional has had or presently has these same concerns when attempting to go on vacation. Below are some tips to ease these anxieties, so that you can enjoy some rest and relaxation.