As a personal trainer, have you ever asked yourself that?  If you want to be successful, you should.

I believe what makes us different from the D.A.D.’s is how we use our knowledge.  Personal training is not just about selling sessions like many corporate companies lead you to believe, it is about having a successful client.  Or at least that’s how it should be.

Listen trainers, if you want people to recommend you and come back to you, train them properly and prove to them that you are worth it.  Don’t B.S. them with sales tactics and deals, use cold hard scientific facts that you can guarantee the results with!

It is proven that you are a vital part in your clients  success!  They have obviously come to you for a reason; they are missing a piece of the pyramid.

This is my “Personal Trainer Success Pyramid.”

• Can: you have to ask your clients, can they achieve their goals?  The answer is yes, they can.
• The want: do they REALLY want to achieve their goals?  That should be an immediate yes without any doubt or hesitation!  And if it isn’t, there lies the problem.  If they don’t have the motivation to want to then they are missing the second link to their success.  We always say that we are the motivator for them but really they should be motivating us!
• Trainer Knowledge: If you, the trainer, lacks the knowledge to help your clients reach their goals, then you are a missing link in their success.  Please, please, please if they ask you to help them become a fitness model, know how to get them there!  It could be the end of you if you don’t.  The easiest way to drown your business is the lack of knowledge.  Use your brain and the science that we have through physiology and methodology to get your clients to where they want and need to be!   This, to me, is the second most important piece to the pyramid!
• Attitude: the MOST important part of the pyramid!  If your attitude or your clients attitude is wrong, then being successful is impossible.  This is where you as a trainer can help as well.  If they have a negative attitude one day in the gym, find ways to help change it!  Clients, if you have a bad attitude you are only inhibiting your success… you have control over your attitude, not your attitude over you!

Conclusion:

Don’t just be a personal trainer trying to sell session. Be a personal trainer striving for results with your clients!  Use the knowledge available to you to help your clients succeed!

While I am training for my big audition I am also watching my diet. If I don’t plan my meals for the day, I most likely will goof up and eat something I am not supposed to. Although I am working hard in the gym that doesn’t mean I no longer have to worry about what I eat. It’s even more important than before.

I have learned that as long as I plan and have what I need, I do well. When I wake up I remind myself that I have a plan for that day and I must follow it. I have a picture in my head of my goal and I do my best to focus on it. But sometimes I lose focus quite easily when there is sugar around. I can say no to bread. I can turn down a soda or a cocktail. But put me in the vicinity of a cookie and the fight is on. Doesn’t it seem like everytime you watch what your eating is when temptation shows up? Like the pizza and cupcakes that arrive at your workplace, or the doughnuts in the morning when you arrive. Since I have started watching what I eat it seems more junk food has been around me wherever I go! Luckily I have a great support system around me of friends and family. I don’t want to let myself down, and I don’t want to let them down. As long as I keep to my plan and stay focused on my goal, I get through my day. I have my plan, I have my goal, and I am not losing focus!

Sorry for the late update but I have been so busy that I can only seem to find a time to update about once a week so y’all get the whole kit and kaboodle in one of two posts. Here are some good work outs for you that only take about 30-45 minutes. I have Rita do these plus cardio and diet. Join her on her blog – she has her daily updates and little tid bits for y’all!

Chest, shouders and triceps: All sets are done 3 times

Super set:
- Machine Chest press: 35lbs x 15 reps
- Lunges with back leg lift: 30 reps

Superset:
- Side/front lateral raises: 5 lbs x 20 reps
- Bench step ups: 20 reps

Superset:
- V-Bar tricep extensions: 40lbs x 15 reps
- Bench sit ups: x 15 reps

On Another day you can do this leg work out!

Legs:
Single Leg extension with both leg leg extension: 30 lbs x 12 reps on each side and then both legs together at 60 lbs for 10 reps.

Machine Glute extension: 45 lbs x 15 reps

Superset:
- 3 time squats: Sumo squats for 10 reps, shoulder width squat for 10 reps, close stance squat for 10 reps. 15 lbs used
- Bench abs: 10lbs x 10

Jump squats onto step : 10 reps

It all boils down to a delicate balance routine between sleeping, training, eating, working, studying and playing, but not necessarily in that order. My time management has to be precise and calculated or I am not able to complete each daily task. I literally live out of my day planner on season, but during off-season I am a little more lenient. In this article I will give you tools and advice on how to manage your time as a student so that you can be more efficient and organized in order to accomplish your competition goals with ease.

Day Planners: The Key for Prioritizing and Organizing
You have picked the date for your competition and it is in the middle of the semester…now what?  Take a deep breath and relax because going to school, working and prepping for competition is possible! The first thing to do, though, is get a day planner. You’ll need to write each task down and at what times they need to be started and completed. This will alleviate the stress of trying to remember everything, and will also help you to prioritize your daily responsibilities.

The next thing to define and outline are the top priority elements that must be scheduled consistently every week. The first, and a definite must, is food preparation.

Healthy Meals and Supplements Made Easy
Pick one day out of the week (mine is Sunday) to prepare all of your protein and carbohydrates so that you can “pack and go” without having to cook every single day. Also, place your daily food diary on your refrigerator as a quick reference for food preparation. Non-food items you will need for your prepped meals include Tupperware, an oversized lunch box, ice packs to keep meals cold and medicine droppers!

Medicine droppers? Absolutely! They are an ingenious way to store your flax and fish oil while on the go. In doing so, you remove the need to transport the entire bottle; your daily dosage can quickly and efficiently be measured.

I also suggest locating a microwave on campus that is in the proximity of your classes. This will allow you to quickly heat your meals and still make your classes on time. When eating, try to schedule your meals between classes – approximately every 2.5 to 3 hours. However, if you absolutely must eat in class and your professors give you a hard time, explain to them the importance of regular, balanced meals as a fitness competitor in training. They will likely understand and appreciate your dedication and discipline. If you are a trainer, sometimes this can actually lead to their interest in training with you!

Making Time for Cardiovascular Training
Now that you no longer have an excuse for eating poorly, let’s discuss cardiovascular training. Plan to do your cardio in the morning and/or between classes if you have a time slot open. If you have a break in between classes, I have found it easiest to take care of training at these times – especially since most campuses have a wellness center or gym. By using your time between classes wisely, you free up time at the end of the day to do homework or study. Clearly, this is why time management is key.

If you are like me and don’t have class at the same time each day, it might be a wise investment to purchase cardio equipment for your home. I have an old, inexpensive Schwinn stationary bike. I often set my laptop on the handlebars and complete homework while doing my cardio – multi-tasking at its finest! For me, consistency is key, and I try to complete my cardio at roughly the same time daily in order to ensure I stay with my routine and am not rushed.

Consistent Rest Leads to Endurance
It’s always best to go to bed and wake up at the same time, even on the weekends. This will keep you on track both mentally and physically.

Things won’t always be easy though, and life catches up with you. During testing time and high stress days, if you miss a work out, cardio session, or cheat on your meals, don’t give up or be too hard on yourself. Remember, tomorrow is another day and all the gains you make toward your fitness goals are cumulative. If you remain consistent and say focused, you will be very successful in your preparation.

Find what works best for you and stick to that routine. It will all pay off in the end!

Suggestions that help with time management:

• MINUTE Ready to Serve Brown Rice (Easy Recipe: Combine the brown rice and Star-Kist Herb and Garlic tuna, heat and eat!)
• KC Masterpiece Honey Teriyaki marinade! Marinade thirty minutes or over night and bar-b-que or broil.
• If you can’t seem to get all your vegetables in, substitute with a super food such as Green Vibrance.