As a fitness instructor, my job is to help my clients’ be the best that they can be. This only works if we are able to foster a good working relationship. As such, I’ve compiled a list of things that clients sometimes do that make things harder for us to do our job. Remember that all of this is meant to help you, as a client, to be the best you possible by ensuring that you and your trainer are on the same page.

5) Last Minute Cancellations — This is only number 5 because it primarily speaks to a subsection of clients: those who schedule early morning workouts. Although it can apply to clients at any time, it is particularly disturbing for early morning clients because it means that your get your trainer to wake up early to train you, only to find out at 5:30 in the morning that you’re not coming. Please cancel at least 24 hrs before (or some time the day before if 24 hrs isn’t possible). This makes it easy to cancel or reschedule (if you and your trainer have that arrangement) a session.

4) Complaining about Belly Fat — Research has shown, time and time and time and time again, that you cannot spot-reduce fat. This means that you cannot train a specific part of the body to remove fat from there. If you want to shape your body, there has to be a conscious effort to develop muscle where you want size while trying to remove your overall body fat percentage. Please don’t go to a trainer saying, “I just want to lose my belly.” It doesn’t work that way. A good trainer will try to find a way to help you maintain size where you want to maintain size, but please don’t expect your non-tummy body to look the same. You may start to see definition where there was none before. You may start to feel your muscles become more firm. But you are not going to simply reduce your belly fat.

3) B*tching — A good trainer has a plan for you. Saying that this exercise is too hard or you can’t do that exercise shows that you don’t trust your trainer. A good trainer would have done some level of academic studies (even if it is a short course yielding a certificate) and combined that with his/her personal experience to chart a way forward based on your goals. Learn to trust your trainer. Ask questions, but when a trainer says to do 20 pushups or squat 100 lbs, don’t go instantly into complaint mode.

2) Talking — You cannot exercise while talking. Maybe during some very low intensity exercise, you will be able to talk for a while, but there’s no way you can talk and do burpees at the same time. Talking excessively affects your work:rest ratio which, in turn, affects your results. It also keeps the entire session back and, as I said in another article, trainers also have to keep a schedule. During your time slot, you have the trainer’s full attention, so my advice is to utilise it by focussing more on your workout and a little less on talking.

1) Not Following Advice — As I said, the trainer listens to your goals and develops a plan for you. One of the worst things you can do is not follow that plan. This means exercise and diet (for the trainers who are qualified to give nutritional advice). This is particularly frustrating because we want the best for you and when you are not achieving results, it increases the likelihood of you quitting before you hit your goal. If your trainer says to run 2 days a week while you’re not in session with him/her, then run. If your trainer says to cut down portion size, then do it.

Basically, you need to stay the course and believe in your trainer. This means getting to sessions (and on time) and listening to your trainer when he/she gives you exercises, advises you on how to eat, and walks through his/her plan with you. Trust the process and always remember that slow progress is still progress.

All contributions were made by members of Hybrid Caribbean Magazine.
Franz Gillezeau is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach with ISSA with 10 years of experience as a trainer. You can find him on his Instagram Page or on his Facebook Page.
Jehia Hope is a fitness enthusiast and a multi-talented musician and producer. You can find him on his Facebook Page.
James Bascombe is a Certified TTDF PTI and an instructor in 5 Star Fitness Factory. You can find him on the 5SFF Instagram Page or on his own Instagram Page.
Kalifa Phillips is a Certified Personal Trainer. You can find her on her Instagram Page.