Is metabolism being properly discussed with clients?

I am in the happy position of having a device with which I can actually measure a clients basic metabolic rate. If course, it is a discussion I have with clients, particularly those who want to lose weight, even though I like to educate my clients in general about the way their bodies function.

Fortunately, I have my own studio and do not have to listen to sales pitches for personal training. I hate it when people use big words to clobber people into buying things. It de-values the product in my opinion.

MST!? There's a name for this sh-stuff, is there a manual? Anyhow; Yes, I think metabolism is being discussed quite frequently between provider and client. Usually I see the language condensed and spoke in analogies (Endo/Meso/Ecto-morph, or "..like a furnace") but its diffinitely there. I personally cover BMR with my clients, enough to show number ranges. Its got science behind it in various different studies, and science is good.

Hi Kurt. I like to use common analogies to describe things that may be more difficult concepts for our clients to grasp - not that they can't grasp them, but after all the basis of "real communication" is to actually get people to understand what you are trying to communicate and to speak in terms that the listen can relate to.

I've found common analogies to be very useful there. I talk about metabolism and burning calories in terms of an automobile and burning fuel (hey, after all, our bodies ARE a machine right?). Speeding up metabolism equals driving the car faster and burning more gasoline etc. When the smile comes on my clients' faces, and they can articulate or explain what I've told them, I know that I've communicated well.

LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
larue.cook@lecfitness.com

I discuss it if it's impacting my clients success: if they are not eating enough pre workout or if they use " my metabolism" is slowing down as an excuse I will bring it up to them and explain in a bit more detail about metabolism but I would not and never have used it as a way to get a client!

Again, we need to stay within our scope of practice
Scaring someone into training is not a good tactic!

I can understand this tactic, but I would say going about it in a different way would be better.

You do want to sell your services. You are the professional, and you need to get that across. You wouldn't sell strength training to the elderly, and you wouldn't sell therapy/longevity to an experienced athlete.

You need to categorize the possible client, what they want from the gym, and sell it to them. It can be easily seen as a "scare tactic", but in essence that is what it is.

When it comes to metabolism, I would say that as trainers its our job to make ourselves obsolete, and that is where education comes in. With clients, I explain what I am having them do, why they are doing it, and how it can help them attain their goal.