Lessons learnt from a client

The other day I was waiting for a client to come in for a training session. My phone rang and it was the client.

 'Hi Gideon'

'Hello Good Morning'

'I was just wondering.....I'm not in the mood to train today. I am feeling a bit lethargic. Could we skip session today?'

(Thoughtful pause)

'No'. (followed by my reasons)

'I should have come up with another excuse. Alright I'll come.

I did explain my reasons to her and this article will be why I gave those reasons.

See, as her personal trainer, I am committed to helping her make the right decision and lifestyle choice. She trusts me with her health and guidance to to make right choices where her health is concerned. Just because she pays me well has nothing to do with the fact that I can skip that one session.

'But its just one session?' Yes it is but once can also lead to twice and then a string of events. Being lethargic is not a right decision to skip training. She trusts me to motivate her and guide her. I have to set the example. I have to be true and honest to myself and her.

What would have happened if I said yes? Well, I would have gone home earlier, relaxed and left a client who trusted me hanging.

'Arn't you making a big deal out of this?' It is a big deal. Just that one thing could have let her motivation slide and forever sealed the fact that it was ok to be lethargic and pass of on training for her health. However, because I guided her in the right way it seals a whole lot more commitment, mental strength to push through and achieve her goals.

It might be small but it could lead to big impacts later.

By the way, she had a great training session that day and in her own words, 'I am glad I came.'

I actually feel that decision I led her in helped me grow a lot more than it did her. I was faced with an equal choice - comfort of leaving work early or being true to a real reason someone trusted with me right for ..............THAT MOMENT! This is putting the personal in personal training!

To all Personal Trainers......I believe this is why we do what we do. To make changes in peoples lives and in EVERY way we can. We are role models. Lets lead the way!

Things are changing!

As I looked back over the last few months I realised that things are changing with me. The biggest one was preparing to become a father and then becoming one! That was one exciting journey.

However somewhere in that time where I had actually pulled away time to think, write down my thoughts and read more (great disciplines by the way) I realized certain things that I have learnt as a trainer.

1) I am still very much a strength athlete: I still like challenges with weights and feats of strength.
2) As I reviewed my work of the last year, I realized i helped people more in terms of fitness therapy, nutrition and education. My fitness training played a more therapeutic role rather than a look good role.
3) Im starting to get more into bodyweight training.

So what does all this mean?

In terms of training Im going to start exploring and dabbling with bodyweight styles of training more than lifting weights.

I am going to put more emphasis on fitness therapy and nutrition.

I will continue training for strength

Going forward this means a change in the tone of articles I post. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Lifting weights - Worth the trouble?

The other day I was sitting with a tennis coach who was saying the gym is boring and that sports is a much better option.

I didn't agree with him on that point. I have heard a lot of people say this. From those who
are good at sports they say the gym is a waste of time and a place for injury. Then there was
another good martial arts expert. He had a superb fitness level all from bodyweight exercises
and movements. He also was of the opinion that the gym was not helpful in the sense of it
doesn't 'train the mind'. Then of course there are the lazy ones who don't like going to a gym
because the little effort that it takes to walk on the treadmill for 5 minutes challenges their
couch potatoes. Some doctors swear that lifting weights gives you a slip disk - never mind that
their body fat content is 38% plus and the risk of heart and lifestyle related diseases are higher -
in short a ticking time bomb. Now I'm not knocking out sports. I use sports to get me conditioned at times. I also believe it is part of the training regime especially when you enter strength and conditioning for the particular sport. However, for people to say that lifting weights and a gym is a waste of time and recipe for disaster is absolutely not true.

So why all this fuss about the gym?

Well firstly I don't think these people have seen proper gyms. They have seen pansy clubs that
offer dances and romances, boring machines and a load of out of shape, impersonal trainers
who have no clue what they are doing.

In my mind the gym is a place where you go to train your body and get stronger and for that a
strong mental connection is needed. In the old days there were no fancy cardio machines and dance sessions. It was just plain old 'lift heavy, lift smart and go home.' Im not against cardio machines or dance sessions but there is something about weights that challenges you mentally and physically. Don't believe me - try cranking out 50 squats, 20 push ups and 20 pullups. Majority of people will not be able to do it even though they bench press about 100kgs.

Lift weights to get stronger. There is a structure to building strength and it doesn't happen in 1
month. You could lose good amount of fat in a month but to have substantial strength takes a
while. We are talking real life strength. Not movie style stunts and good looking bodies. Work
on the strength and the rest will follow.

If you don't know how to train right, hire a good personal trainer or take a session with a fitness consultant. Training sessions should be safe, knowledgeable and fun!

Discipline - The virtue that pulls me through.

Hey Everyone!

It's nearly the end of a hectic day for me. I have not been able to workout. However, I did learn a very valuable lesson. My discipline of healthy nutrition keeps me through today without having me miss a beat to my goal of fat loss. I can always make up throughout the week on the weight training. Today however it is just nutrition and rest.When it comes to fat loss my training priorities

1) Nutrition
2) Strength Training
3) Conditioning.

.........in that order.

 My body has been struggling to find the right energy level to do any sort of work or training. The right thing for me today is to just rest and watch my nutrition. If I had to drag myself into a heavy session today I could have run the risk of over training and injury which I do not need at this point. I was quite upset over the mental struggle and the tiredness in my body. Then I realised this -

Training sessions though intense should also be fun!

So there it is. I'm sure this post though small is really going to boost someone in some part of the world up. Remember Discipline - is what gets you through the tough days.

The 'Striker' has returned....

Hey Guys,

I am back on my blog once again. I did take a long time as I took a long time out and had a look at my life workouts and where I was headed. I have unlearned a lot and learnt a lot (and still learning!).
This break really made me take a long hard look at my life. My training mode has definitely changed.

A little bit on things that changed. I was out with a horrible shoulder injury (supraspinitis tendonitis). The good side to that was I was able to diagnose it on my own and start treating before I went for a second opinion to the doctor. He didn't tell me anything new but actually enjoyed talking it out with me (Also I got one of my relief gels free!) I started to learn how to rehab the shoulder. I thank God for the wisdom he gave me to do it.

Also I did get through my Nutrition exams. My certificates and license will be arriving shortly. So I have been looking at ways to clean up my diet and get some tasty recipes out and yes I will be starting out with recipes and pics of those soon!

The biggest change was a mental transition from just being into fitness to going back to study strength and conditioning for athletes to the business professional and home makers. Going forward I will be dealing with strength and conditioning and also physique training. I also broke my weight barrier and came out from a stagnated 92 kgs to 89kgs.

Guys, I can honestly say that whatever I put out here or do in training I have experimented on myself first. My blog aims to give firsthand information of something that is tried and tested so you can make the fastest gains to a healthier lifestyle.........