Becoming a Fitness Expert

After ten years, several thousand clients and endless nights spent obsessively studying everything fitness related, I would like to believe I could legtimately refer to myself as an “expert”

But the more time I spend around clients and improving what we do, the more I realize how little I actually know.

Sure, I could discuss undulating periodisation and the best way to quickly screen for ankle dorsiflexion with the best of em, but ask me to set a regular schedule or coordinate my waredrobe (outside of the very stylish Peak Fitness T-shirt)  and I am literally dumb founded.

While it may difficult to see the connection between these things, a statement I want all of my readers to consider when facing areas of our lives which seem to stagnate is that ego is holding back your potential.

I could easily outline the importance of exercise by mentioning obesity statistics or by asking the last time that you exercised.

I could also bang my head against a wall and lose a game of thumb wars (WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED) in the process. Neither is likely to be very effective.

In fact, the ONLY real way coming to someone like me (or any coach) will work is when you are actually ready to recieve help. This means breaking down the walls and trusting someone enough to outsource your situation (nutrition/fitness/schedule…the whole deal) to a coach.

I keep using the word “coach” because the only way you will be success is if you are coached in everything from basic exercise form to learning the skills necessary to maintain and achieve further goals down the road.

What I also want everyone to understand is that good coaches are specialists and many are needed to achieve a balanced life. This is why I hire an accountant (so I dont go to jail for tax fraud), a nutritionist (to help develop our programs), and friendships outside of MY environment (to help me to develop myself outside of my womb as it is sometimes called).

For someone just starting their journey torwards health, Ive found the most effective strategy is to identify the areas of life where disconnects usually exist and the type of coaches we will need:

• Social Support- Workout buddy. This is someone with whom you can share your workout trials, tribulations (and hopefully a few burpees). Usually these can be found either at our gym, via like minded friends or joining a fitness oriented activity.
• Nutrition- Kitchen partner. While much can be learned from our flexible diet guide, this will generally this will be someone who has already experienced success with nutrition and the habits (preparing food, knowing when to splurge, etc) neccesary to achieve success. Often this is a fitness blogger or a more experienced fitness seeker who has already started down the path you are seeking.
• Fitness- Fitness coach. The one thing you probably should pay for, a good fitness coach will provide the information and exercise coaching neccesary to achieve your goal.  While many could potentially fit the bill, I feel the most important quality to look for is someone who COACHES you through exercises (versus complimenting your form as you grunt out another scary rep) and will help you lay out a program versus throwing exercises out and sending you on your way. 
• Motivation- Role Model. Individuals who inspire us to be better. This could be someone who has lost 100lbs or a busy mom who somehow makes time for exercise.

If we consider the fact that world class athletes employ at minimum a sports coach, a strength coach, a nutritionist and a psychologist to focus every variable of their performance, this team oriented approach makes sense for any goal.

Becoming a coach

Here is the most important thing to realize about this idea: whether or not you know it, you are a coach to someone as well.

If you don’t believe me, consider that a coach is ANYONE to teaches us something. This can come from unlikely sources (fitness blogs, friends, colleagues) whom you have just met.

Coaching others on a daily basis is a humbling and extremely rewarding experience.

It is likely to you are a coach to your friends, family and others without even knowing it. My question for you is who are the coaches in your life? Who could you coach and inspire?!

As the saying goes: “you only get what you give”.

So you be the coach and drop some knowledge below!

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Tags: coaching, education