Page 57 - Muscle & Fitness (December 2019)
P. 57
By Andrew Gutman
THEY’RE NOT trainer. This is generally more THEY PROGRAM
2 LIKE YOU expensive (usually hundreds 5 BEYOND YOUR
That is, they don’t align with a month), but you get a lot EXPERIENCE
your goals. “If you’re a 50-year- of access to your coach. “Your trainer should be
old mom in Dubuque, IA, Baldwin himself offers providing a decent
who just wants to get fit and exercise videos, Skype calls, stimulus [or exercise] with a
do more squats, then going meal plans, and weekly low risk of injury,” Johnston
to a guy who trains only check-ins to his clients. A says. In other words, if you’ve
200-plus-pound powerlifters cheaper option is to buy never touched a barbell
probably isn’t a good fit,” premade training programs, before and your coach has
says Jeb Stuart Johnston, an which can cost between $30 you performing back squats
NYC-based personal trainer and $100. Baldwin refers to instead of doing body-weight
and nutrition coach special- these programs as “low-ticket squats or goblet squats—both
izing in body recomposition items,” and they are popular easier regressions—then they
and lifestyle transformation among Instagram influencers. may not have your best
(jebstuartjohnston.com). “You “Those can work for some interests in mind. Baldwin,
want to find someone who has people,” he says, “but you need who works with a lot of be-
results in the population that to look at the ratio. If a trainer ginners, says that he’ll have
you fit into.” has 1 million followers but clients send videos of them
only 100 testimonials, then performing an exercise to
THEY DON’T how many people bought the him through text. That way,
3 DIG DEEP program and didn’t benefit— he can correct their form
More psychologist than diet possibly tens of thousands.” within minutes.
coach, Johnston says that the
bulk of his job revolves around
helping people, “figuring out C L I E N T C O M M A N D M E N T S
what their behaviors are that 4 T I P S T O K E E P Y O U R T R A I N E R H A P P Y
are leading to weight gain and
figuring out how to change Baldwin and Johnston list their biggest pet peeves so that you can
them.” That means working make sure you’re not causing your trainer any headaches.
to make his clients self-aware
and putting them in a position DON’T BE FASHIONABLY DON’T BE A MOTOR
to take ownership over their LATE: “Clients who show up MOUTH: “Talking is OK, but
transformation. “It all really 20 or 30 minutes late but still don’t talk so much where
comes down to them saying, expect me to do the full hour nothing gets done,” Baldwin
‘OK, this didn’t work because I are terrible,” Baldwin says. “I says. “And then they complain
didn’t do what I needed to do.’ have other clients.” Johnston when it doesn’t work.”
There’s a lot of power in that.” also can’t stand clients who Baldwin adds that similar
“call out sick.” “We are all rules apply to text. “Seriously,
THEY’RE LACKING adults. Just tell the truth,” he don’t text your trainer at
4 PROOF says. “Remember, I probably midnight and expect a
According to Johnston, how follow you on Instagram, so response. That’s happened.”
a trainer looks says nothing unless you magically got a
about their knowledge, and virus from the mechanical DON’T BE IN DENIAL:
they should have a portfolio bull you were riding at 4 a.m., “It’s no one else’s fault that
of success stories to show you. I’m guessing that the tequila you ate an entire pizza for
Baldwin agrees, adding that might be why you’re out.” dinner. Acting surprised
when it comes to hiring an on- that you’ve gained weight
line trainer, you should look DON’T CHEAT ON YOUR just kicks the can down the
beyond just testimonials. COACH: “Asking 20 people road,” Johnston says. “The
S H U T T E R S T O C K can take when looking for a you 20 answers,” Johnston the elephant in the room,
There are two routes you
for their advice will just get
sooner we can deal with
virtual coach. The first option
the sooner you can start
says. “Listen to your coach or
is to hire an actual online
get a new one.”
to see results.”
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