15 Feb NYC Certified Personal Trainer Shares 6 Ways to Motivate Clients to Commit

We’re in a month of love. And just as many people are looking for that lifetime love, as personal trainers, we want to motivate our clients to begin a lifetime affair with exercise and fitness. The flash-in-the-pan, quick-fix diets and exercise plans end up doing us more harm than good.

So how can you motivate your clients to stick with it after the initial sparks have fizzled?

• Together, with clients, make SMART goals (specific, measurable, agreed upon, reasonable, time-based): Usually when clients come to me with goals, they are too vague. Instead of, I want to get toned, help them come up with a SMART goal like: I will do 25 push-ups each day for the next two weeks.  Instead of, I want to get in shape, try: By the end of the month, I will run a 6-minute mile. These are concrete goals with specific timelines to help your clients focus and check things off their list.
• Communicate with your clients: Be specific. Tell them where they’ve improved and what they need to do. As a personal trainer, we sometimes wear a psychology hat as well. Take the time to listen to their concerns and problems. Don’t brush them off with, “Not a problem. Don’t worry.” Some clients might be dealing with disordered eating, depression, or any number of other problems. Take the time to listen, and consult with a professional if needed.
• Take a trip down memory lane: Sometimes clients don’t see the forest for the trees. They forget how far they’ve come. Take out the initial evaluation you did and show them what they’ve accomplished. It can be a long, lonely road, and they often won’t remember how many steps they’ve taken.
• Be positive: This goes without saying, but the fact that I’m writing it means that it needs to be reinforced. Come to each training session with an upbeat attitude. Nobody’s perfect. We all have those days where we just want to crawl under a rock. But energy is contagious, and your clients need the best and brightest of you every session.
• Spark the Dying Romance with Creativity: Just as with love, exercise needs a bit of spark and creativity. Change things up. Create fitness plans that fit into your client’s daily schedules. Teach your clients to look for exercise ops to help them shift their focus and see fitness everywhere. Have fun!
• Connect: Consider building an online community with clients – a forum, fitness board, a Facebook page or Twitter account where you post articles, links, inspiring quotes and stories.

Falling in love with exercise is like any other kind of love – the passion doesn’t last unless you commit to a lifetime of work, patience, creativity, and goal setting. But once you’re in, you’re in!

Motivate clients to begin a lifetime affair with exercise with these 6 easy-to-follow tips.