Why Should I hire a fitness coach?
So, your fitness routine isn’t producing the results you want.
You’ve been working on losing weight, body fat and/or inches since the New Year, but here you are basically the same and it’s already March…and you are not seeing the expected results.
What do you do? Maybe you’re thinking of going at it alone. Why not? You’ll borrow a workout from a friend or maybe use one you’ve seen online or in a magazine.
You need to ask yourself “is it the right one for me?” Are the exercises safe and effective for you? Often times when trying to take our fitness to the next level we push ourselves by trying new exercises, going heavier, going faster, etc..
These are necessary to continue to push yourself, however many people do not know when, why, or how they should make progressions. For these reasons, and many more, a fitness and nutrition coach it is important that you at least sit down with CERTIFIED trainer/coach and discuss your fitness goals and the best approach to achieve them.
I found a recent example of this, while extreme, is still very relevant to needing a certified trainer to facilitate your fitness goals. A woman was doing inverted sit ups and fell. Her fall left her with a broken 5th vertebrae and no feeling from her neck down.
Luckily, she beat the odds of not using her limbs or mobility from the neck down to now walking again!
So, ask yourself, are you doing the right exercises with correct form to meet your goals? Your answer may be different. Maybe you wouldn’t hand upside down for a sit up, but remember this was an extreme example. What if you increased weight to soon and hurt your back, or lean forward or buckle your knees during a squat to stress muscles and bones.
Hiring a coach for for intermittent check-ins for proper form and skills will not only keep you safe, but give you proper ways to move forward toward your fitness journey. From choosing the correct weight, the number of reps, changing things up when you get bored, or holding you accountable are many other reasons a certified coach is in your best interest.
Here’s how to choose the right coach for you:
- Make sure he/she is either a certified personal trainer/fitness coach and/or have their degree in either exercise science or kinesiology. Oftentimes gyms will hire someone because they “look” the part. Looking good and having your own diet and workouts in check does not mean you know how to do it for others.
- Make sure he/she is living the lifestyle. While looking the part does not assure they know how to coach, if they are out of shape themselves and/or don’t find time to workout then trusting them to know what you should do can be difficult.
- Ask! Ask their current clients why they train with them? Ask the client what their goals are and what they like and don’t like about the coach. Keep in mind it’s personal. You are looking for key characteristics or flaws that will help or hinder your personal goals. It is more than physical appearance. See how they are in group work-outs, nutrition, scheduling, etc.
- Watch and Listen! Pay attention to their social media pages. Observe how they are with other people and what kind of message are they putting out. Are their posts all about how good they look and what they are achieving? Or do they discuss what their clients and those important to them are accomplishing?
About the Author
Scott Keppel is the owner of Scott’s Training Systems, a world-class coaching facility in Chandler, Arizona. He is a nationally certified trainer through NASM and ISSA. His mission is to empower women of all ages and fitness levels. For more information head to scottstrainingsystems.com or check him out on Instagram at @scott.keppel.
