How to Motivate Personal Training Clients

culled from:wikihow.com

Steps

1

Make a positive example of yourself.

• You are your own best advertising as walking, talking proof that your own techniques work. Don't mistake your client's session as workout time for yourself, but do allow them to see you working out as hard as you ask them to when appropriate.

1. 
   2
   Track your client's progress.
   • Part of your job as a trainer is taking care of distractions so your client can focus on her workout. Track how much weight she lifts how many times for strength-training workouts, and time, type and intensity for cardiovascular workouts. When your client needs a motivational boost, pull the records out and show her just how far she's come since day one or since your last major check-in.
   • Use fitness testing, physical measurements and before-and-after photographs to help your client see how far she's come.
2. 
   3
   Coach your client through setting specific, measurable, attainable and time-limited goals.
   • Setting both short- and long-term goals helps your client feel like she's making continuous forward progress.
   • Your client might or might not keep good track of her progress; some people like to just put their heads down and focus on getting through each day's workout. Monitor your client's progress and let her know when she nears or achieves one of her goals.
3. 
   4
   Offer your clients a way of being accountable for doing regular exercise.
   • Some clients will benefit from regular check-ins even between sessions. Invite these higher-maintenance clients to e-mail you with their stats after every workout so you can more easily track their progress.
   • Other clients might not need as much continual attention. But assigning them homework after every session--then following up on it at the beginning of the next session--speeds their progress and may help them stay focused.
   • Ask your client to sign a "promise contract" for the goals you helped him set. This contract should include the everyday activities that will help him reach his goals, such as keeping healthy, easy-serve snacks readily available and doing a set amount of cardiovascular exercise every day. Sign a new "promise contract" for each short-term milestone.