How do you motivate clients through plateaus?
I rarely see clients plateau because their program shifts focus as they progress and move through the program goals. And I work to educate clients to how their goal(s) may need to be diverted to correcting issues and imbalances in order for them to be successful. For example, a client that comes in with a goal of weight loss often needs to first achieve an improvement in general fitness before they can start to focus on creating a calorie deficit to result in weight loss. If I didn’t take the time to give them the tools to succeed, they would probably hit plateaus/walls more often. Success is more likely with planning and adapting as each program proceeds.
This is often a skill that needs to be acquired after becoming certified. And often can require years of experience and/or education. I try to incorporate this type of guidance in my CEC courses and cert prep courses. www.hawaiifitnessacademy.com
Hopefully, by the time they have reached a plateau, they will have found a personal compelling reason to lead a healthful lifestyle.
The reality is for all (that is if one doesn’t use steroids and cosmetic surgery) that we all have a genetic ceiling as far as training adaptations are concerned.
As fitness professionals we should help our clients see the need to engage in physical activity for reasons other than aesthetics.