Personal touches - for weight loss

As fitness professionals, we often hear pleas for fast weight loss. Many people want to lose 10 pounds for a wedding, reunion or beach party in an unrealistic amount of time. I tell clients I am a personal trainer, not a magician-and I don't do quick fixes. Although clients might be disappointed at my initial reaction, I begin to notice a glimmer of excitement in their eyes when I explain my philosophy behind fitness. Fitness, to me, is a lifestyle. It's a process, rather than a finite end.

To be fit entails much more than the ability to bench press 150 pounds, run five miles or maintain the right percentage of body fat. I look at each of my clients as an individual. They should, therefore, be treated accordingly. For fitness to encompass all facets of life, it is necessary to examine what is going on at home, work and play. Does your client prefer individual activities or the motivation of a group activity? What type of activities do they enjoy doing, and what will enrich their lives?

Personalize workouts for physical and mental balance. If I sent a client out to run 10 miles, even though they despised solitary activities and hated to run, it would be counterproductive. If a client does not enjoy what he or she is doing, energy will be directed toward anxiety rather than the strength of the body. I tell clients to do what they enjoy. A person engaged in an enjoyable activity will focus more intensely, and use their mind and body to achieve a sense of strength, balance and control.

Personal trainers have the power to help clients reach higher levels of physical and mental capabilities. We can help them view working out not simply as a way to lose those "last 10 pounds," but rather as a lifestyle in which they will find themselves more confident, energetic and balanced. So often, I see trainers simply going through the motions of training, telling their clients to lift this much, run this far, eat or don't eat these foods. As professionals, we need to encompass not only the physical aspect of fitness, but the mental and spiritual as well.

How can we effectively incorporate physical, mental and spiritual exercises in the brief time period we have with our clients? We cannot. However, we can create programs which address the concerns and lifestyles of our clients. It is important to view the client as an independent person, and address their strengths and weaknesses as such.

Listen Up

An initial consultation is crucial. It is during this meeting that you obtain a brief assessment of a client's personality and lifestyle. Are they type A (overstressed, overworked perfectionists) or Type B (lackadaisical and perhaps unmotivated)? Maybe they're a combination of both. What does their typical day look like? Are they surrounded by people, or are they isolated for a good part of the day? Are they sedentary or active? What is their exercise history? Were they college athletes?

Learn a little about their likes and dislikes. What do they do, or fantasize about doing, if they had the time for relaxation and enjoyment? What is their career path? Delve into their lives. It is easy to discover the "real person" with the proper line of questioning. Keep it light, though. Most of us are not trained mental health professionals.

As your future client talks, listen! Pay attention to what they tell you--and how they tell you. Does their face fall when they speak of previous attempts to incorporate fitness into their lifestyle? Find out what might have caused them to abandon their program. Are they enthusiastic about the idea of fitness, or will they need to ease into their program? What are their concerns? Assuage them. Their doubts? Address them.

Challenge the Mind, Body and Spirit

Dare to be different, innovative and creative. Aim for small goals weekly in all aspects of training. Introduce a new activity, food or routine that a client might try for one week. I remind them they can always return to their familiar routine. Trying something new shakes up the system.

Take clients to the playground, for example. Interval training on hills works wonders for a treadmill-bound client. Cities can provide as much diversity as the country. Use city blocks and the skyscraper stairwells for a change. And for long-term challenges, aim for a charitable road race, cycling trip, volleyball tournament--anything clients thought was out of their reach. Go for it together.

Little Steps, Big Results

Trainers can help introduce small steps which will inevitably lead to a heightened awareness of physical and mental fitness. Healthful changes in diet, exercise, play and work schedules can be introduced over time without a huge disruption to the established routine. For example, a client might have a banana with their cereal in the morning one day a week, pretzels instead of chips for a snack one day a week, or get up 10 minutes earlier and walk around the block before leaving for work.

Little steps lead to big changes. The key is not to shock the system. Gradually introduce healthful changes, so it feels comfortable. If clients realize these changes do not have to be life altering, fitness is not such a threatening prospect. People enjoy comfort, and will adhere to a familiar lifestyle. Show your clients fitness can be soothing.