With about 2/3 of the population being obese, more people are looking to personal trainers for weight loss programming. Personal trainers are skilled at instructing their clients about exercise programs, but what about facilitating change in their long-term health behaviors? Not addressing these behaviors can mean little to no progress and an increase in drop-out rates. When it comes to weight management, it's important to focus on the client as a whole person. That means focusing not only on the body, but also emotions, attitudes, habits, and thinking patterns. This calls for a total body transformation and the services of a fitness coach.
What is a fitness coach and how does a coach differ from a personal trainer? Both of these roles are quite different, but often experience some overlap. However, both titles have a primary focus, and therefore, have very useful places in any lifestyle and weight management program. So what's the difference between the two? A personal trainer focuses more on exercise prescription and maybe some nutrition coaching, while a fitness coach focuses more on the underlying issues that block you from fitness success. A fitness coach more or less serves as the link between a personal trainer and a nutritionist or nutrition coach. When it comes to fitness coaching, it's mostly about behavior change and increasing program adherence.
Fitness coaching is an emerging field in the health and fitness industry. It has become clear that it takes more than a well-developed fitness and nutrition program to effectively manage your weight. People make decisions on how they think and feel. If your mind and actions are not in-line with a healthier lifestyle, it becomes that much harder to reach your weight loss goals. Have you ever wondered why you tend to binge eat at certain times of the day? Why you skip exercise sessions? How do you cope with stressful situations? How do you schedule exercise sessions around taking care of your children? All of these scenarios, when not handled properly, can block your efforts at losing or maintaining a healthy weight or desired physical appearance.
Many times, we as personal trainers assume that because a client is engaging in consistent exercise per week means that they are also practicing good eating habits. Or, we may think that they have made a permanent lifestyle change. But, motivation can drop, patience can dwindle, and schedules change. Individuals are constantly moving back and forth between stages of change; one day a healthier lifestyle is important and on the back burner the next. It is up to a fitness coach to make sure that the client strives to move forward and bounce back quickly from setbacks. Fitness coaches may also focus on negative thought patterns and encourage positive affirmations to foster success.
So can you benefit from fitness coaching? Ask yourself the following questions.
- Do you have problems sticking with fitness and nutrition programs? If you do, it indicates a problem with adherence and motivation. Have your programs in the past been too challenging or too easy? Did you feel progress wasn't happening soon enough? Information gathering about past experiences can go a long way in creating a program that you are comfortable with and see results.
- Do you lack self-efficacy? Self-efficacy is defined as the belief in yourself to carry out a task or skill. Maybe you feel that you will drop out of a fitness class because you have too much going on; something always pops up. Or, you don't feel comfortable doing bodyweight exercises in the middle of a crowded gym because you feel awkward, un-coordinated, and clumsy. Fitness coaching can help you to develop strategies to get around these concerns so that you can work toward your fitness goals.
- Do you have problems controlling your appetite? Coaching can offer strategies about how to combat this obstacle as well as dig up the underlying issues behind overindulging and decrease the occurrence of food cravings.
- Do you have a plan or purpose for your exercise or nutrition program? What are your goals and why do you want to achieve them? What's the real drive behind those goals and how will you feel when you accomplish them? Without effective goal setting, you don't have a plan for yourself. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. A fitness coach can help you in developing attainable, but challenging goals.
- Is life getting in the way? Children have games and other activities to attend; hours on the job may change; or you may become ill suddenly. Sometimes you can't control what happens, but when it does, you have to re-consider your schedule. You may have to take prolonged breaks from the gym. However, having a coping strategy to deal with these types of situations can keep you on track and increase your self-efficacy levels. A fitness coach can help you to develop strategies to deal with life's obstacles.
- Do you need accountability? Do you need someone to motivate you or check on you weekly to see how you are benefiting from your exercise and nutrition program? Fitness coaches can provide weekly or monthly check-ups as well as help you track your progress. Wouldn't be nice to have someone monitoring your activities and coaching you along the way so that you don't fail?
Pamela Brown
http://peak2successfitness.com
Exercise Physiologist
Pamela Brown, owner of Peak 2 Success Fitness, specializes in developing and implementing post-natal and exercise rehabilitation programs that can be done at home as well as providing the coaching needed for additional support. She works in both one-on-one and group settings educating and training people who want the lean, sculpted body that they desire, as well as those who are recovering from orthopedic injuries or surgeries after release from medical care.
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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pamela_L_Brown
http://peak2successfitness.com
Exercise Physiologist
Pamela Brown, owner of Peak 2 Success Fitness, specializes in developing and implementing post-natal and exercise rehabilitation programs that can be done at home as well as providing the coaching needed for additional support. She works in both one-on-one and group settings educating and training people who want the lean, sculpted body that they desire, as well as those who are recovering from orthopedic injuries or surgeries after release from medical care.
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