Krysta weighs in: Trainer-client connection
Published:Monday | May 19, 2014 | 12:00 AM
They say behind every successful weight loss story is a personal trainer. For some, they rely on motivation from trainers on DVDs or online videos. For others, it is the daily or weekly face-to-face, one-on-one interaction which inspires them to reach or surpass their goals.
If you are just joining me, let me bring you up to speed. I have been overweight for most of my life and have had some issues with it. Realising the risk to my health, I decided to put an end to it all and take my health into my own hands.
I have been training with the great Olympian Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn for more than three months, and to date, I have lost 17 pounds.
It is obvious how important it is that a personal trainer and their client share the same goal, and are of the same mindset. But based on the nature of the activity, that is not necessarily always the case.
The road taken with a trainer, to some degree, should be one always travelled and not challenged. There are great days where feeling the burn, aches and pains pays off on the scale. But then, you have one of those days where nothing seems to be going right, focus is lost, requests turn into demands, tough love comes into play, and everything becomes frustrating and hope starts slipping away.
In the past few weeks, my trainer and I have had a breakthrough. We had a lengthy discussion, addressing issues of trust and communication, we got back on track and have now attained new heights in our relationship. It is important that these issues are addressed because this is the person who will be with you every step of the way on this very important journey.
I asked around and, surprisingly, found that many persons shared similar experiences.
I was going through some issues at home, and normally when that happens, I look to the gym as my refuge, which soon became my nightmare. My trainer was in a no-nonsense mood, which I sensed after he wanted no complaints, highlighting my flaws that were already obvious to me and which we were currently working on - after all, that's why I went to the gym. I grew weary of the constant nagging and pushing and this had a negative impact on my overall workout session. I decided to talk to him about what was going on in my life and about his belittling behaviour during the session. Opening that door of communication proved to be positive, since we are now on better footing.
- S.C.
My trainer and I have an interactive relationship. I monitor my body changes. I compliment him on positive changes and point out the areas that need additional work. He addresses my concerns by adjusting my programme accordingly.
- D.A.
I love being pushed and in that boot camp type of training, my trainer does just that. Somehow, I always seem to go that extra mile. He breaks down that mind over matter issue, demanding nothing less than the best while encouraging all of us to go for what we want, so there is a balance.
- Y.S.
So it all boils down to individual clients and trainer techniques. If the wires become disconnected between the two, it is highly recommended that they iron out those kinks so that they can move forward on a good note, to achieve the overall goal. Join me next time when I weigh in.