Saturday, August 04, 2007

Client physiology


This is a favorite concept of mine and one that never fails to crack Pavel up. The idea, inferred by the personal training industry, is that 'clients' are somehow a different species of humanoids, requiring a different training approach than you or me or any other athlete wishing to actually make real progess. That somehow, their physiology requires different( less) training stress, regularity, recovery or , worst of all, for some reason a MUCH higher level of 'variety' and 'fun' in order to make progress.

I wa recently reminded of this by a recent post on Sara Cheatham's blog. This is the sentence that got me :

"Since my training is pretty simple and boring, I thought I'd post some workouts I put together for clients. I like to keep it spicy for them. Not too many people can handle the same thing day after day (like my training). I'm sure it has something to do with living in a constantly overstimulated environment"

I think if you look at most sucessful athletes and trainers training you will find that like Sara's, Tracy's, mine, and many others, that it is "pretty simple and boring". Check out Brett Jones's training blog for instance. Lots of squats, benches deadlifts and kb swings.Not much else except note that the weights,over the long haul, are always going up.THAT's the key.But what that requires is a level of concentration and committment that most( not only clients) just don't or won't or can't bring to the session.

So many say they want the body of this person or that Olympian but fail to understand the incredible amount of time that goes into creating that physique or level of skill.

Simple and boring usually is code for consistently basic, heavy and progressive. This is NOT a hit on Sara, as I have the same problem with many clients who simply will not accept the reality that training to make progress as opposed to training to make 'fun' is usually more tough and boring than it is variety filled and fun. As a trainer you either adapt or lose them and to me any kind of training for them is better than none. And anything you do with a kettlebell will make them better but so few really want to look at why they havent changed much in the last few months( years).Even if you tell them THEY still have to get out of bed that extra hour earlier to make sure they are really ready to go when they hit the gym.And that also means going to bed at a reasonable hour so again they are ready when it's time. Or getting on the roller , or stretching out a tight muscle, or, whatever it takes to be ready. THAT'S the mindset that athletes and committed clients have. And why they consistently make progess.

THis is a simple fact of training life and yet many grown up clients will not accept it and consequently fail to make the progress they should or push through barriers that they have encountered. I dissagree with Sara on one fact though; it's not from living in an overstimulated environment, it's from not making the requisite committment to do what is necessary to make progress no matter how little 'fun' or variety is involved.

The hour or so in the gym is but a small part of what is really required to make gains, unless you are the rankest of beginners. One has to prepare for progessive training sessions; know what the workout is BEFORE they step in the gym( at least know what they did last time and what will constitute progress) and be mentally prepared for it.

Training for PR's a great way to accomplish this and even the smallest personal record is important. If one adds just one rep to their snatch workout each time they do it in a year that's gonna be a HUGE gain. Just one rep. SImple but not easy.

Trainers, imo, have an obligation to train their clients as much as possible according to how they train themselves, or a client who came to them saying they would do whatever it took to makes gains, if they can. Sometimes it takes years of babying people before they 'come around' and get their heads right to really make gains. That's ok but they need to be told their physiology is the SAME as an Olympic athlete and that their body requires the same TYPE of stimulation, the same type of recovery and their minds need to be trained as well as their body if they really want to make the best progress possible.

Whether that is losing fat or gaining strength or tone or whatever.Most won't do it but they still need to hear the truth from their trainers and be reminded,especially when they are not pleased with their speed of progressing.

It has nothing to do with age or goals as I have 65 year old clients who take their kbs and foam rollers with them whenever they go out of town and do whatever it takes to keep on track,even though their goals are modest by most standards. But not for them; they are on the hunt for PR's and they are committed. They don't miss workouts, they show up on time and they don't complain when we are doing the same basic exericses that they are working on mastering. They recognise that Deep Skill, an important RKC principle, and Mastery are on the same road. Unfortunately they are the exception not the rule .

Trainers, dont be afraid to let your clients training be a little 'simple and boring'. Like you they will probably make better progress. ANd the one's that won't do it, just give 'em a kettlebell, they can't go wrong with that as the mainstay ,no matter how 'fun' the workout is.Just keep the bucket close by :))

13 comments:

Geoff Neupert said...

Great points, Rif.

I use the same battery of exercises for all my clients and usually the same rep ranges, however, I mix around the order of the exercises, the number of sets, the exact number of reps, and the rest times. So, on the surface it looks different and new each time for them, but it's always the same old thing for me. A lot of "same but different" comes into play here. Everyone makes progress. Everyone gets stronger. Everyone gets in "better shape." But it is amazing how many trainers have fallen into the entertainment business.

Mark Reifkind said...

exactly, pretty much how we train eh? as Pavel says, the same but different.thanks

Franz Snideman said...

"They recognise that Deep Skill, an important RKC principle, and Mastery are on the same road. Unfortunately they are the exception not the rule."

This is the key Rif! Loved your post!

Thanks Yoda!

Geoff, "same but different" -so true. I was talking to Yoana about that lately how we wonder if our clients are getting bored with the routines because we essentially are always working similar patterns - but maybe with different tools or rep ranges like you pointed out. But hey, if you want to get fit and strong we all know you have to use big ground based compound exercises. Will that ever change? No!

Truth is Truth! And the Truth will set you free (can you name the scripture?)

Brett Jones said...

"I'm after results - not a workout." - Me
Strength training should be consistent and progressive - If you are looking for entertainment you can throw that in during the "conditioning" section (KBs, BW, Med balls, bands etc...)

Very - very great info Rif!

Anonymous said...

Very cool, Rif! Nice feedback. I totally agree with all of your post! :) The clients that come for the sake of "working out" are, unfortunately the majority of the population. You're right, most are just not committed. I'm sure they lack commitment in more than this area of their life, unfortunately. I have had many a client stick with me through the long haul and start to understand that it's more than a calorie burn session; it's a lifestyle, long term, and “skill development." They start to appreciate their progress and set more substantial goals than "I want to lose weight."

Mark Reifkind said...

the thing is Sara, that even the ones that are just there for "working out" are so much further ahead than they would be if they were doing nothing. especially if they are training with an RKC and a KB!

thanks franz and brett,and brett I really like the "conditioning for the entertainment" part. get strong first, then cough up a hair ball!

Anonymous said...

true, true...if they can stick with kettlbells, let alone give 'em a go, they're definitely ahead of the curve ;)

fawn said...

Great message Mark! I have always wondered if I was doing right by my clients when I train them like I train myself. Also, good to know that sticking to the basics is a good plan even if it may seam less exciting. Thanks for the reassurance!

Mark Reifkind said...

fawn,

if your training program is producing results for you and is based on solid principles( which it is) it is certainly a good base for your clients as well.

leslie said...

Thanks for the insights. You are wise. What you say is true.

Joe Sarti said...

Where is the book dammit? What great, simple and boring ;-) philosophy! Could not have said it better myself!

Lauren Brooks said...

I wish most of the clients would understand that simple is better. I definitely have to bust out some entertaining stuff to keep some of my clients happy.

Great post!

Mark Reifkind said...

lauren,

thanks. I have to do the same more often than I want to but I also use a lot of corrective exercises/stretches that have the same effect.

205, 215, 217.5,205 x 1 x 6, 190 x 1 x 3, laterals, rear delts bw pushups

 Well this went great. not perfect but the basic premise worked and I'm happy. I was not optimistic at all about this at all given recen...