Answers (15)
3
Hi Daniel,
This client has already made an important decision by recognizing the value of exercise. He goes to you three times a week and should see results by now in terms of improved strength and endurance and also body composition even in the absence of weight loss. And who knows about cholesterol and blood pressure which may also have benefitted.
As you realized, you can only do so much to control all the other hours of the week when you are not with your client. You gave him all the information you had.
If I were you, I would praise for improvements made and back off on the nutrition question. When he is ready, he will appreciate the information. Just be content right now that he exercises regularly. If you keep nagging, he may end up associating exercise with negative feeling and stop. Then you have accomplished nothing at all.
This client has already made an important decision by recognizing the value of exercise. He goes to you three times a week and should see results by now in terms of improved strength and endurance and also body composition even in the absence of weight loss. And who knows about cholesterol and blood pressure which may also have benefitted.
As you realized, you can only do so much to control all the other hours of the week when you are not with your client. You gave him all the information you had.
If I were you, I would praise for improvements made and back off on the nutrition question. When he is ready, he will appreciate the information. Just be content right now that he exercises regularly. If you keep nagging, he may end up associating exercise with negative feeling and stop. Then you have accomplished nothing at all.
2
Daniel, you will not be able to motivate him unless he is motivated himself. If he is not ready and committed to change, change is not likely to happen.
You mention in the narrative about your client everything that YOU have done to motivate him. Do you know your client's motivating reason to change?
You might have been able to determine this during your subjective assessment. If so then you should be able to cycle back and remind your client what he/she mentioned in their initial assessment. Remind him/her why he/she chose you. Remind them of how passionate he/she was about changing and try to determine if they are committed to do all that the said they would do.
Once you revisit your notes regarding the subjective assessment you will be better able to assess where your client is HIGHLY AROUSED as far as changing his behavior is concerned. Perhaps it is not nutrition and it something more related to movement.
Whatever you do, don't emphasize the negative. Focus on what he is achieving and applaud him. Ask questions like:
1. How could you have done things differently?
2. What did you learn from this or that?
Never forget....
Behavior change takes some time. We can't expect our clients to change because we tell them to. Change must come from within. Seek to find ways where you both work together to brainstorm ideas to help him learn new behaviors that will help him achieve his wellness and fitness goals.
You mention in the narrative about your client everything that YOU have done to motivate him. Do you know your client's motivating reason to change?
You might have been able to determine this during your subjective assessment. If so then you should be able to cycle back and remind your client what he/she mentioned in their initial assessment. Remind him/her why he/she chose you. Remind them of how passionate he/she was about changing and try to determine if they are committed to do all that the said they would do.
Once you revisit your notes regarding the subjective assessment you will be better able to assess where your client is HIGHLY AROUSED as far as changing his behavior is concerned. Perhaps it is not nutrition and it something more related to movement.
Whatever you do, don't emphasize the negative. Focus on what he is achieving and applaud him. Ask questions like:
1. How could you have done things differently?
2. What did you learn from this or that?
Never forget....
Behavior change takes some time. We can't expect our clients to change because we tell them to. Change must come from within. Seek to find ways where you both work together to brainstorm ideas to help him learn new behaviors that will help him achieve his wellness and fitness goals.
1
I am sure we have all had one of these clients in some shape or form!
I've had one client turn in his weekly food log every week and specifically told him to cut out the diet soda, chips and pizza ... and yet every week those things appeared on the log.
I would put gigantic red "x"s on the log and unhappy faces. I wanted to be sure he told me the truth about what he was eating so I tried not to reprimand.
I explained to him that he wasn't just wasting my time but his own and jeopardizing any improvements he may be making by his poor eating habits.
And so I continued to draw those "x"s each week and unhappy faces - until one day I saw water in place of diet soda and PB& J's in place of pizza. He was clearly trying because it wasn't about wasting MY time it was about wasting HIS.
I've had clients that workout so as they can eat what they choose ... their workouts become more or less a wash being able to maintain. But that is what they choose to do.
Clearly you need to sit down and ascertain your client's goals and get that red pen out and maybe one day he'll surprise you!
I've had one client turn in his weekly food log every week and specifically told him to cut out the diet soda, chips and pizza ... and yet every week those things appeared on the log.
I would put gigantic red "x"s on the log and unhappy faces. I wanted to be sure he told me the truth about what he was eating so I tried not to reprimand.
I explained to him that he wasn't just wasting my time but his own and jeopardizing any improvements he may be making by his poor eating habits.
And so I continued to draw those "x"s each week and unhappy faces - until one day I saw water in place of diet soda and PB& J's in place of pizza. He was clearly trying because it wasn't about wasting MY time it was about wasting HIS.
I've had clients that workout so as they can eat what they choose ... their workouts become more or less a wash being able to maintain. But that is what they choose to do.
Clearly you need to sit down and ascertain your client's goals and get that red pen out and maybe one day he'll surprise you!
1
keep working him and showing improvements, you will eventually get to a point where all improvements will stop and only nutrition will change that....let him know that. What you don't want is a bad review because somebody doesn't want to do what it takes, on the other hand it is our job to motivate.
1
Each and every time I meet with this client, I would give them some healthy food option after our session. Maybe a peach, next time a mineral berry flavor water, next time a Kava Tea, next time etc. Every time we met, he would leave with something that tastes wonderful and might inspire new thinking. Fresh corn on the cob, An apple, grapes, some wonderful healthy pumkinseed chedder crakers, etc. on and on it would go. Every session, a healthy hand out on a particular food, and why it is so incredible for him. Patience, persistance, and encouragement. Never ending hope for baby steps toward enlightened eating.....
1
I've been working with a client for 10 months now. When we started he weighed 223 lbs. Today he weighs 190 and has lost 6 inches off his waist, 4 inches off his chest, in fact this is the first time in his life that his chest is bigger than his waist...he's 65 years old. He still over eats, he still drinks alcohol, he still binges, he still fluctates, he still has the "I'll try harder" attitude insted of the " I will attitude" but he's doing it at his own pace.
This is the first time in his life that he's had "normal" blood panels, he has increased his energy level, he works out daily for 60 minutes.
I used to confront him and question him and quiz him but now I praise how far he's come, I focus on what he's done that's been a positive force in his life. I have him write down the Pros and Cons of Exercise and guess what? The Pro list is 2 pages long...
He weighs himself everyday which keeps him focused and attuned to what he needs to do.
You can't take on your clients battles but you can be their biggest cheerleader.
This is the first time in his life that he's had "normal" blood panels, he has increased his energy level, he works out daily for 60 minutes.
I used to confront him and question him and quiz him but now I praise how far he's come, I focus on what he's done that's been a positive force in his life. I have him write down the Pros and Cons of Exercise and guess what? The Pro list is 2 pages long...
He weighs himself everyday which keeps him focused and attuned to what he needs to do.
You can't take on your clients battles but you can be their biggest cheerleader.
1
Hello Daniel,
I congratulate you on your valiant efforts with this difficult client. I have had clients like yours in the past and I tried a few methods:
A) Set smaller goals.
B) Journal their daily food intake and review every session.
C) Make a wager ie: Lose a specific amount of weight and give free sessions or attach a monetary value.
D) Dont train this person until a specific amount of weight is lost.
and finally..
E) Be upfront with your client, you can only do so much and you need their cooperation and comittment or you will refer them to another trainer.
I certainately would not continue training this client only for the money...their success is your success!
Hope This Helps!
Michael
I congratulate you on your valiant efforts with this difficult client. I have had clients like yours in the past and I tried a few methods:
A) Set smaller goals.
B) Journal their daily food intake and review every session.
C) Make a wager ie: Lose a specific amount of weight and give free sessions or attach a monetary value.
D) Dont train this person until a specific amount of weight is lost.
and finally..
E) Be upfront with your client, you can only do so much and you need their cooperation and comittment or you will refer them to another trainer.
I certainately would not continue training this client only for the money...their success is your success!
Hope This Helps!
Michael
0
Hey, Daniel
I'm sorry to hear about your issues with your client. The fact of the matter is that a client will not start to eat healthy until they are ready. Usually that means figuring out what causes them to eat they way they currently do.
This is one of the main reasons I'm studying to be a health coach. I can see where as trainers we are very limited in how we can help our clients with nutrition, but if they don't eat well, then we are wasting our time and their money because, as you have seen, there will be no results to speak of.
So, if this were my client, I would not renew the client. This is one client you need to "fire." It would not be good to keep taking his money when he is unwilling/unable to do the work. It doesn't mean he can never be your client again, but there are things you just might not be able to help with right now.
I'm sorry to hear about your issues with your client. The fact of the matter is that a client will not start to eat healthy until they are ready. Usually that means figuring out what causes them to eat they way they currently do.
This is one of the main reasons I'm studying to be a health coach. I can see where as trainers we are very limited in how we can help our clients with nutrition, but if they don't eat well, then we are wasting our time and their money because, as you have seen, there will be no results to speak of.
So, if this were my client, I would not renew the client. This is one client you need to "fire." It would not be good to keep taking his money when he is unwilling/unable to do the work. It doesn't mean he can never be your client again, but there are things you just might not be able to help with right now.
0
You would do well to ask the client how he feels about his current progress of weight loss--surely he has noticed changes in strength and endurance. If that is his goal then you've succeeded. However, if he wants to lose weight, point out to him that his current eating habits clearly aren't working. Since he 'knows' what he's supposed to do, you may have to be quite blunt and tell him that until he's ready to make the necessary changes, he won't get the results he wants. We can exercise all we want but if we feed our bodies garbage, then we become walking garbage dumps.
What is his thought process? Is he a person who rationalizes his bad eating by reasoning, "Well, I just burned 500 calories so I deserve a treat!" If so, you can suggest he look at it from a different perspective; "I just burned 500 calories so I don't want to undo it with junk food!"
Nevertheless, you're doing what you can for him, but until he's truly ready nothing will change. If you're determined to stick with him, you might suggest very small steps, like adding an extra serving of vegetables each day. Otherwise, it might be time to let him go, because HIS success is YOUR success.
What is his thought process? Is he a person who rationalizes his bad eating by reasoning, "Well, I just burned 500 calories so I deserve a treat!" If so, you can suggest he look at it from a different perspective; "I just burned 500 calories so I don't want to undo it with junk food!"
Nevertheless, you're doing what you can for him, but until he's truly ready nothing will change. If you're determined to stick with him, you might suggest very small steps, like adding an extra serving of vegetables each day. Otherwise, it might be time to let him go, because HIS success is YOUR success.
0
He may be at different stages of change(using the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change) for eating and exercise. It seems that he is near the action phase for exercise and maybe in the contemplation phase for eating healthy. I would keep him as a client because if you already have him exercising he could be near a turning point. If he says anything about not getting results then be patient and remind him politely that there are two sides to the weight management coin. Might be easier to add healthy foods than to get rid of problem foods. Try boosting metabolism before cutting calories?
0
I have a client who is currently in the same situation. She readily admits that she is just not ready to change her diet.
I think of it this way....where did this client start from? For my client, this is the first time in her life that she has made a commitment to regular exercise and stuck with it. That's a huge improvement in her health and her decision making process to live a healthier life.
Does your client give you 100% each time you meet? If the answer is yes. Then your client is committed to the process. The nutrition piece will just take more time. One step at a time. If the answer is no, then your client may not be ready to make a change yet.
Is your client happy with their current results? My client is, although she's frustrated that its taking so long. I used this as an opportunity to discuss why that might be. And although she knows "junk in, junk out", she'll take the slower progress and continue eatting her candy and ice cream.
What is your client's motivations to get healthy? If you know this, you can help them along with their progress. I always bring it back to why they hired me in the first place. I can give them all the tools in the world, but they need to use them.
How do you feel about working with this client and their progress? If you're frustrated, they'll sense that. If you can see where progress is being made and that, maybe, eventually they'll come on board with nutrition than stick with it.
And never underestimate the value of an honest conversation about the issue. I sometimes lay it all out for my clients. If they want to see results, they have to do the work. How can I support them better? What do they need from me? Can we give it a try for just a week? Can we try just one meal? Brainstorm different ways to make it work. And then understand, that right now, he may be giving you all he can.
Good luck!
I think of it this way....where did this client start from? For my client, this is the first time in her life that she has made a commitment to regular exercise and stuck with it. That's a huge improvement in her health and her decision making process to live a healthier life.
Does your client give you 100% each time you meet? If the answer is yes. Then your client is committed to the process. The nutrition piece will just take more time. One step at a time. If the answer is no, then your client may not be ready to make a change yet.
Is your client happy with their current results? My client is, although she's frustrated that its taking so long. I used this as an opportunity to discuss why that might be. And although she knows "junk in, junk out", she'll take the slower progress and continue eatting her candy and ice cream.
What is your client's motivations to get healthy? If you know this, you can help them along with their progress. I always bring it back to why they hired me in the first place. I can give them all the tools in the world, but they need to use them.
How do you feel about working with this client and their progress? If you're frustrated, they'll sense that. If you can see where progress is being made and that, maybe, eventually they'll come on board with nutrition than stick with it.
And never underestimate the value of an honest conversation about the issue. I sometimes lay it all out for my clients. If they want to see results, they have to do the work. How can I support them better? What do they need from me? Can we give it a try for just a week? Can we try just one meal? Brainstorm different ways to make it work. And then understand, that right now, he may be giving you all he can.
Good luck!
0
There are a lot of clients out there with nutritional issues. I do my best to remind them that coming to me for workouts is not going to give them results if they don't change eating habits. However the strength & cardio improvements they are making are fantastic. I am not "firing" anyone that is more motivated than they were before & give me 100% at workouts. No I don't keep them for the money, but I keep them because I would feel terrible if they went back to their old, less active, lifestyle.
0
Hi Daniel. There's not a lot that you can do as a trainer when a client has decided their own path (this applies to not just their diet, but ANYTHING!). I always remind my client that we are working TOGETHER, as a team, but that they came to me for my expertise and if they are not willing to follow my advice, or worse yet, they don't trust my advice, then they have the wrong trainer. I remind them that what they have done in the past is obviously not working, and so they need to either let those old ideas and habits go, or continue but not with me.
I hope that this helps.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
larue.cook@lecfitness.com
I hope that this helps.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
larue.cook@lecfitness.com
0
In addition to all of the excellent answers already given, I would only add that you can only do so much. Ultimately, the decision regarding what to eat/drink is your client's, not yours. You can only offer nutritional advice, and keep your client working hard on his/her exercise program. If and when your client decides to adopt a more healthful nutritional lifestyle, it's up to him/her.
Take care.
Take care.
