Want to know how to get shredded in two weeks?

November: The month in which early (COVID aware) Christmas preparations begin. It's a cheery season of both festivity and hot chocolate.

Unfortunately, it's also a breeding ground for trainers looking to snatch clueless clients.

"GET RIPPED FOR CHRISTMAS" - "USE MY XYZ METHOD" "YOU WANT TO LOOK GOOD IN FRONT OF THE INLAWS DON'T YOU?"

Posts and adverts of this kind fill social media to the brim, always looking to top one another for the best spot. They're clever in how they woo you in, whether that be in the form of a website click or a thought in your head; after all, it isn't that long until Christmas dinner so you feel guilty & desperate for something to work. By now, they've got their hooks in you.

Let me first say that I get you. I've been there myself.

There's nothing less discouraging than having a dream body in mind, but not the time and/or motivation to cooperate. Although for the sake of being true I will only tell you this once: If honest, realistic results rather than feel-good in the moment pseudo-bullshit is what you'd like, avoid them all like the plague.

Of course, being aware they even exist is only half the battle. But how can one go about spotting them?

Through experience and (unfortunate) trial and error, I know what the difference is between the genuinely informational, helpful PTs (with nothing in their best interests other than the client) rather than those looking to make some quick money. Here's how you too, can do the same:

Factor #1: Are they over-promising results?

You ever get a feeling something's too good to be true? This also applies here. The number one factor and common denominator between all dishonest trainers is the RESULTS.

As backwards as that may sound, it's important to keep context in mind.

A rough estimate on the amount of lean muscle gained (not including fat) is estimated to follow the following structure:

10 KG for your first year.

5 KG for your second.

2 KG for your third & diminishing even further later.

Keep in mind that these results are under optimal training, technique and rest. Factors that can change greatly depending on personal circumstances will influence growth. The amount you gain is also significantly lowered if you are:

1. A woman (genetically predisposed for less muscle)
2. Unable to properly manage stress levels (cortisol)
3. Getting less than the recommended amount of sleep (8 Hours)
4. Not eating correctly

As you can see, it's already tough enough maintaining and making muscle by itself. With that in mind, can you then really look at so and so's Instagram post about this 'hardworking' and 'special' client going and gaining 2 stone in 2 months, without suspecting something to be up?

It's just basic science; the body cannot gain over a certain amount of muscle naturally. There are compounds, more specifically illegal compounds, that accelerate this process rapidly. But that's a conversation for another time.

In my case with my clients - some of them inexperienced and newbies, I have come to expect that their expectations of what can be gained are going to be inflamed.

It is then my job as a coach to not take advantage, manage said expectations truthfully and allow them to rethink what they can actually be capable of.

Long storty short, pay attention to the results.

Factor #2: Do they use complicated words too often?

From my early training as a coach and last year's in Business Studies, I was always taught from the beginning that in order to be successful, one needs to connect with their customers. This still rings true and applies to both careers, whether I'm running a business or dealing with clients.

The problem with these posts however, lies when trainers start using complex words without real reason.

This actually ends up confusing more educating; no matter the situation, there would be no need for a beginner to know about Systolic Blood Pressure, the Specificity Training Principle or anything else of that matter unless its applicable to them & even then, a good coach will simplify to their level.

Oftentimes this is done on purpose to misdirect the client into a false sense of belief in the trainer. In other words, the more fancy words used the more the perceived experience is in client's eyes. It's an old trick of the book that will show its' true colours sooner or later. Find a coach who you're able to actually understand.

Factor #3: Are they actually qualified?

My first go to cue, every time I notice a suspicious post and/or page of a trainer's, is to check if they are qualified to teach and preach in the first place. Not surprisingly, the majority of times this isn't even the case. Now to give out the benefit of the doubt, a lot of them certainly look the part. Let's be honest - it's probably the first thing you look for. Which makes sense, a good physique fuels sales more from the impression rather than the much more valuable diploma/certificate.

After all, if a trainer doesn't look like your goal physique then there's no point to going with them, right?

Wrong.

Looks can be deceiving. Anyone with basic exercise knowledge can put together a plan that gets you sweaty and feels hard. But to actually see results, it's a lot much longer of a timeframe and this makes it impossible to cater to clients if you've never had in-field training and experience.

There is a lot more than goes into being a Personal Trainer than the general public thinks. For starters, a typical college course (discounting the 8 week online ones) takes up to 3 years to finish, going in depth into everything from planning workouts, working with injuries, and even whole mechanical abilities of the body. We have to adapt to diverse and changing client needs, keeping their fitness levels in mind and not to mention any physical/mental drawbacks they may have. It's a tough gig.

This is why I then find it silly when people end up practically scammed when these 'programs' utilize a useless 'one size fits all' approach that isn't going to work for anyone and might even end up putting them off future encounters with Personal Trainers.

In Conclusion:

Take a second to familiarize yourself with the three concepts I delved into, and use them when encountering any ads/sales pitches by these unlicensed trainers.

Realise that your time and money is better spent on somebody who understands how the human body works, specifically yours so that progress can be made that you're truly happy with.

You might not get ripped for Christmas, but you will be ripped for life.