Why would a professional trainer not write his own workouts? Why would he seek refuge in a different trainer for his training program?
While I cannot speak for every other trainer out there, here is my rationale…
Exercise A.D.D.
I, like everyone else, suffer from, “I want it and I want it now.”
As I began to write my own workouts, I realized just how easily I could get distracted. I could focus on my written training program for a while… then I’d see [and understand] something new and sure enough, “SQUIRREL!”
Anybody who has trained for any legitimate length of time (meaning many years) understands the value of making your way through full programs to experience the benefits found within. If you’re skipping from program to program every month or two, you’re losing out on some major understanding and [more importantly] results!
Sustainable results are built on habits, after all!
Too Many Goals
The other unintended consequence – I found I had many interests when it came to my own training. The result of this is my sessions had too many layers and lasted from 90 minutes to 2 hours. As your personal responsibilities grow, you run out of time to allocate to other important pieces of your life.
In this case, my personal book of business began to suffer, I would spend less time at home, and little nagging aches and pains began to show their annoying faces. The last one, on its own, would make me question whether I knew what I was doing or not. Never mind the fact that I was doing too much and recovering too little.
Accountability to Me
I have discipline. I have trained myself, and others, for the better part of 30 years. But as these little nagging injuries showed themselves, my motivation took a decidedly negative turn. And while I never stopped training, my enthusiasm waned. You then realize that results don’t come out of ‘no intensity.’
Habits do matter. But once habits are established, intensity carries more weight.
Since I had nobody to stay accountable to, I would take short cuts and find new things to focus on with my own training.
The Solution
There’s a reason why professional athletes have coaches, why mentors have mentors, and why you need to have someone in your corner to train you: these people have a vested interest in your success and can see the big picture when you get lost in all the little details [“SQUIRREL”]. More than that, they’ve likely ‘been there, done that.’
I don’t write my own workouts anymore and I have to tell you, it’s a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Not only does it free up time I don’t have to allot to that, it saves me from having to make the decisions of the what, the where, the when, and the why. I don’t need that stress… and I do that for all my clients anyway!
If you’re finding you make progress, regress, and get frustrated over and over again, maybe it’s time for a trainer. Maybe it’s time you take yourself out of the details and focus on just doing. Maybe it’s time to give yourself the best chance at LONG TERM success.
If that’s you, head HERE! If you don’t think that’s you, perhaps you should head HERE anyway.
