I am always asking myself how I can get better results with my clients. Given the fact that if I don't get results I don't eat, that should come as no great surprise.
The question I'm really interested in is; what are the key underlying principles of success with the clients we serve?
The internet is full of weight loss answers; special techniques, sexy exercises, set and rep schemes , diet programs and supplements.
But that's not the answer I'm after. Quite honestly, many of these approaches are pretty interchangeable. Arguing about wether you should do low or high intensity cardio seems a little inconsequential, despite having entire annexes of the interwebs devoted to vitriolic arguments in favour of, or opposition to, each. Of course the truth is both can work, both have drawbacks, and neither get us closer to answering my question.
I have asked myself that question even more since I realised that the women on our online Skinny Bitch program are getting better results than most people training in a gym by themselves, taking part in group exercise, and (though I hate to say it) training one-on-one with a PT. I don't say that to criticise other trainers, its a generalisation and the good ones are getting great results. But I know that if a client achieved the kind of results with a trainer one-on-one that we've been getting online, they'd be pretty pleased with themselves.
To clarify, these women are getting these results without ever meeting me in person. They are training for only 20 minutes a day with no equipment, just bodyweight, and I'll be the first to admit its a very basic training program. They're not taking any special supplements, and they're not starving themselves.
So while I'm not saying the technical aspects of program design are irrelevant, far from it, I'm saying they are not the key underlying principle of success. So what are they?
I've said before that there are two ways to get amazing results as a trainer.
1- Only train people who come to you ready to do everything you say.
2-Get really good at bringing people to the point where they're ready to do everything you say.
The first type of person is the dream client, and I've had a few over the years. With these clients I can say "See that wall? I want you to run through it."
And they'll say "how many sets?"
But honestly, anyone could get results with those people. As fun as they are to train, they would do any program with enough effort and dedication to see results.
So I'm very interested in point 2.
Compliance, compliance, compliance. A terrible training program done with diligence and consistency will outstrip an advanced program done half-assed, any old day of the week.
Compliance is achieved through having a level of accountability.
This is where weight watchers gets it right. You are exponentially more likely to stick to a program if you are being held accountable. Weekly weigh-ins at weight watchers achieve this, but I've also had many clients over the years say that simply having an appointment with me each week made them stick to their diet or training plan in the intervening days.
"Why?" I would ask
"Because I knew you were going to ask me about it."
On the Skinny Bitch program, our members have the one-two punch of me on their backs every week via email, and (more importantly) the other members in the Skinny Bitch private Facebook group looking on and encouraging them.
This positive social pressure is another factor in achieving compliance, and again another reason that weight watchers has enjoyed success despite the fact that the actual nutrition information is not in line with what I would ever recommend.
The final factor in compliance is, I believe, the client's level of belief in their ability to achieve their goal, and to do what you're asking them to do.
Let me put it like this. do you want to be in the best shape of your life? I'll tell you how, its simple really.
Train with weights twice a day at least four days a week...
Do low intensity steady state cardio every morning before breakfast...
Consume exclusively organic meat and vegetables and filtered water...
Ok I'll stop there. If you're anything like most people, the regime I just described is so massively different to your current lifestyle that your immediate reaction was to focus on why you couldn't do it. That process would only serve to more deeply entrench you in your old habits, as you think of ever more reasons why those changes are impossible you further convince yourself that your current lifestyle is the only logical choice. It also sets up a client-trainer relationship that is pretty adversarial. "Who the hell is this person who's telling me to do a load of unpleasant, inconvenient things that clearly don't fit into my life?"
So once again, a simple plan done well is better than a perfect plan not done at all.
Skinny Bitch was designed to overcome every conceivable barrier faced by the average, busy women. The nutrition plan is broken into manageable chunks so that our members aren't overwhelmed. Having said all that, its still very tough. Change always is. But that combination of accountability, social support from a peer group and a realistic, achievable action plan has been a winning combination.
So yes, a bad program done well is better than a great program that you can't stick to.
But when you combine the two, when you have a great program you can stick to, you get results like this.
Julia, 2.5 stone lost on the Skinny Bitch Program
We are taking bookings for the Skinny Bitch Online Fat Loss Program now. The next round begins on February 27th.
Contact zack@aegistraining.co.uk to apply.
Aegis Training