7 Questions You
Should Ask Any SW Portland, OR Personal Trainer Before Becoming a Client
What Clients are they typically
successful with?
If you have a hair salon you frequent, then you know they have
shampoo girls, highlights/color treatment specialist, and hairdressers among
other things. Well, the fitness industry is pretty much the same. Each of us
that are certified personal trainers go thru the same health and fitness education
and certification process. However, once certified a skillful certified trainer
tend to spend a solid amount of time and education budget crafting one
specialty.
I am sure, if you go to your hair salon you do not want the
hair treatment specialist who has not cut in strand of hair in 3 months cutting
your hair.
For us at JCarlos Fitlab, we know we excellent at working with
those overcoming an injury or wanting to resolve a specific pain that is
limiting them from getting back to working out and getting results. Yes, we can
and know how to get people in bikini shape, or ready for a half marathon. But
we are masters at making sure you resolve any pain/limitations that are holding
you back from doing those things that gives your life.
When is The
Best Time For Me To Workout With A Trainer
In Order To
See and Maximize My Results?
Many times in the excitement of getting a workout program
going and getting ready for an important event or occasion you may lose sight
of what it entails to add a structured workout to your schedule. And the worst
part is if your trainer only have 6a and 5:30pm timeslots to work with you. Trainers
may tell you that you lose more fat in the morning or you can get an after burn
by working with them after work. But the truth is the best time to workout with
a skillful trainer is when he or she can blend in with your busy schedule. Why
are we going to add another stress spoke to your schedule? At JCarlos Fitlab,
we strongly believe on making things happen. And one of the ways we help you
overcome the stress of missing your workout appointments is by making it online
accessible 3 months in advance. Listen, we have 3 kids and run a business while
keeping an eye on grandma and pops 1000’s of miles away. So we know busy. By
giving you access 3 months in advance to all the availability you can create
your success and begin to see the light week in =, week out as you make your
appointments and show progress, After all, you gotta show up in order for us to
be able to help you get results.
Don’t become the 6am or 5:30pm client to a trainer. Be the
success in progress day in, day out.
Ask For-
What Training Style They Will Be Implementing?
This is a very important question that most average exercisers
forget about and eventually leads to “Absent Mojo” or worst non-compliance. I
explain this for you by using Cathy one of our clients as an example.
Cathy is 46 years old banker who despite repetitive shoulder
injuries wanted to lose 18 pounds. So Cathy decided to join a hot yoga studio
because jogging caused her shoulder to be more painful. Upon signing Cathy was
told that doing the hot yoga will melt the fat she wanted to lose and that
attending the yoga classes 3-4x/week will resolve her shoulder pain. After 3
weeks of classes Cathy realized that she was not losing weight, her shoulder
pain continued and her hormones did not care at all for the hot yoga ambience.
Slowly Cathy faded away from attending her yoga classes and with that her
shoulder pain worsens as so did her weight.
Today, Cathy has lost over 12 pounds doing something that she
enjoys after a long day of work---boxing and muscle strengthening. However, to
get Cathy to this point, we laid out our “Getting on The Same Page” plan. Here
we simply discuss what and what not you are willing to do during and away from
our studio. We also explained that first and foremost we will clear any medical
issues with her shoulder. This lead to Cathy doing a lot of shoulder stability
exercises before strengthening. Along the process Cathy had pointed out her not
liking to use barbells. And so for the first 4 months, no barbells (or animals J were harm).
So be sure before you start your first workout session, your
trainer has a plan that you agree on and an effective way to see you successful
at it on the consistent basis.
Does Your
Trainer Follow an up to date Science-based approach or Does he/she delivers the
latest Shape Magazine Workout?
3 out of 5 trainers rely on the latest media hype to keep
their clients happy. This leads not only to inconsistent workout but also to no
results. I admit is tough to keep our clients clear from the latest Dr. Oz diet
or Madonna’s workout regimen. However, when we sit with our clients to draft
and agree on the “Getting On The Same Page,” we commit to utilizing
science-based approach to deliver the results you sought out to get from us.
And yes, our exercises may have that primal –unorthodox appeal, but is what we
design specifically for you—after all it is personal training…
How often
would you re-assess and review your program?
This is a critical question that I want you to make sure to
get an answer. Good trainers will complete a very comprehensive assessment
during the consultation. Great trainers, will re-assess and review your program
periodically. But at J.Carlos Fitlab (the best trainers), not only re-assess,
review but they will “cross-examine your why…” You see, for us is second nature
to fix a joint, a muscle or an “imbalance.” But the most important thing that
will drive you towards the best version of yourself is to know your why.
For example, I recently met with a retired teacher that had
ongoing shins splints and was wanting to resume running with her friend. As you
probably guessed we resolve d her shins splint in a matter of 2 weeks. But we
peel the onion to find out why was this important to her. And come to find out,
this running buddy was her confident of years and this was the only time they
could speak freely with each other about their troubles at home.
Can you guess how many times did she skipped an appointment or
a home workout? Her why was bigger than the what.
During our initial and follow up assessment (Profile Recap),
we like to cross examine and update each of our clients why. This helps us to
improve their mindset when needed and push the workout intensity when appropriate.
Remember, we were all 12 years old at one time…
Has Western
Medicine Left You Same Or Worst Than You Expected?
Let me begin by letting you know that if you had any experience
with western medicine in the past 7 years, then you are likely to feel shorthanded
on the way your health should be treated.
And by no means am I referring to politics or insurances. I
mean from the personal care and service stand. If you read our story,
you know that I practiced physical therapy for several years when I realized
during one of my quarterly reviews, we were hurdling patients like cattle just
to get a buck. That when my passion for helping others kicked in higher gear and
we venture into what you know now as JCarlos Fitlab.
Our root of service is caring. Caring for the cause of your
pain and/or problem. Once we work together to get a better picture, we tend to
use “primal,” eastern and western approach to help you enjoy and live life in
the presence. You might think that we are winging it when in reality we draft a
blueprint (Getting on The Same Page), that guide you and us get you there. This
blueprint is of course dynamic because of what we call Murphy. Murphy Law. And
the beauty of it, Murphy at times gives us a faster and yet effective way to
get you painfree to play and enjoy an active lifestyle.
Created By J.Carlos Valdes, LPTA/CPT
