You are as old as you move
I trained with a new client this Wednesday, let’s call him Mac, and he managed to surprise me by not having a specific short-term goal. Usually clients already come to me with measurable goals like losing a specific amount of weight, dropping down to a certain amount of body fat, being able to beat once PR or increasing one’s strength by being able to lift more all within a certain amount of time, usually months. And that is all fine. Specific goals give us a purpose, motivate us and help personal trainers to design their training to a client’s wants.
Mac though presented me with a need instead. “I’m in my forties and I just want to be able to enjoy being active as long as possible.” To retain clients, personal trainers have to show progress in regard to what clients want but also have to balance that with elements regarding what clients need. It’s nice to have attained a toned physique this summer but what about ten or twenty years from now? What Mac asked for was something I usually try to sneak into training like Brussels sprouts into a children’s meal: Prehabilitation and general physical preparedness (GPP in fitness fancy speak).
I trained with a new client this Wednesday, let’s call him Mac, and he managed to surprise me by not having a specific short-term goal. Usually clients already come to me with measurable goals like losing a specific amount of weight, dropping down to a certain amount of body fat, being able to beat once PR or increasing one’s strength by being able to lift more all within a certain amount of time, usually months. And that is all fine. Specific goals give us a purpose, motivate us and help personal trainers to design their training to a client’s wants.
Mac though presented me with a need instead. “I’m in my forties and I just want to be able to enjoy being active as long as possible.” To retain clients, personal trainers have to show progress in regard to what clients want but also have to balance that with elements regarding what clients need. It’s nice to have attained a toned physique this summer but what about ten or twenty years from now? What Mac asked for was something I usually try to sneak into training like Brussels sprouts into a children’s meal: Prehabilitation and general physical preparedness (GPP in fitness fancy speak).
