Need some help from other experienced PT's

[SDHW]

Hello,

I have been a PT for a few years now, and I have worked with some Professional altheas and high-ended clients. I feel that I am great at what I do, and well respected.

My question is, among giving my clients a great workout, the other 50% of the game is nutrition... I like to give nutritional support. I feel that if there nutrition is right they will reach the goals they are looking for, which makes them happy clients and makes my a happy employed..lol.. PT...BUT... I cant control nutrition like I can with the workout. I give them all the info they need. I set up a diet. and work with them to achieve a solid nutrition plan. I also have them make a diet log and bring it in to the workouts, so while they are warming up, I can go over it and make slight adjustments.

However this doent completely work, for example I have this female client who has been fighting with an eating disorder all her life. at first i would say the first 3 months her diet was great, and she was making awesome gains, and she was getting complement all the time, in fact I was getting complements....but then she feel off the wagon, and I havnt been able to get her on since...she is very under-fueled for our woukouts... im guessing she is getting ummm about 800-1000cals day max!!!!!!! she is 5'5 @130lbs.

I have been noticing a struggle with my client and nutrition, im would like to hear what other do for this...if they do anything at all. I find it difficult to make my clients accountable for there nutrition, but when they fail to achieve there goals, it looks bad on me!!

Thanks

 

[bignate73]

you can only advise and try to make them accountable. you can't put will power and motivation into them if they don't have it. you don't lift they fork, they do. the sooner you understand that, the faster you will take the responsibility off of your shoulders, and be able to place it on theirs. be blunt: ask them if they like their workout results, and then tell them that their physical goals are directly correlated to their food intake. "if you truly have a goal, just like I track your workouts...every rep and set, YOU have to track every calorie into your body." if they tell you that they'll do better, better isn't good enough. people can get fat on the cleanest of diets, if they still over eat.

 

[SDHW]

you can only advise and try to make them accountable. you can't put will power and motivation into them if they don't have it. you don't lift they fork, they do. the sooner you understand that, the faster you will take the responsibility off of your shoulders, and be able to place it on theirs. be blunt: ask them if they like their workout results, and then tell them that their physical goals are directly correlated to their food intake. "if you truly have a goal, just like I track your workouts...every rep and set, YOU have to track every calorie into your body." if they tell you that they'll do better, better isn't good enough. people can get fat on the cleanest of diets, if they still over eat.

yes i agree 100%, and feel the same way as you, but the main question is how do we make them accountable beyond having them write a diet log and bring it in..b/c i have seen some of my clients write stuff down just to make me happy, but they haven’t really eaten that way...so if i can effetely make them accountable then the responsibility will be off my shoulders and placed on theirs.

 

[bignate73]

you can't go home with them.
you can't feed them.
you can't give them willpower.

you can advise them.
you can attempt to motivate them.
you can make it easy to stay on track.
you can follow up with them.
you can measure, assess, and give them positive reinforcement when they are doing well.

thats about it.

when you realize that you are the coach and not the player, then the burden is on them to perform. the main thing is to keep reminding them of the goal, and ask how you can assist them in making it easier.

on thing that might help. ask them this. "what challenges do you have with ______?" write them down in front of them. then ask "besides <read back the list> is there anything else that keeps you from ________?" keep asking until they say no, nothing else. address each one, and problem solve how to get around it. then there are no more roadblocks to their goal. you both came up on a mutually acceptable task or solution (that they can realistically implement) that clears that roadblock, and if they don't follow through....its definitely not because you didn't try to help.

this leaves no stone unturned. often as trainers we gloss over things that we assume that our clients know and this will get all that out into the open.

i hope this helps.

 

[caligirl]

yes i agree 100%, and feel the same way as you, but the main question is how do we make them accountable beyond having them write a diet log and bring it in..b/c i have seen some of my clients write stuff down just to make me happy, but they haven’t really eaten that way...so if i can effetely make them accountable then the responsibility will be off my shoulders and placed on theirs.

I make cash money bets with my problem clients, works like a charm.
Find out what they like, use it as a bet...... not huge out a pocket expense... but something. If that does not work, they are lost, and need a therapist not a trainer! LOL

 

[SDHW]

I make cash money bets with my problem clients, works like a charm.
Find out what they like, use it as a bet...... not huge out a pocket expense... but something. If that does not work, they are lost, and need a therapist not a trainer! LOL

LOL, yes I have tried this as well, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt...but yes some of my clients need therapist....lol..

 

[SDHW]

you can't go home with them.
you can't feed them.
you can't give them willpower.

you can advise them.
you can attempt to motivate them.
you can make it easy to stay on track.
you can follow up with them.
you can measure, assess, and give them positive reinforcement when they are doing well.

thats about it.

when you realize that you are the coach and not the player, then the burden is on them to perform. the main thing is to keep reminding them of the goal, and ask how you can assist them in making it easier.

on thing that might help. ask them this. "what challenges do you have with ______?" write them down in front of them. then ask "besides <read back the list> is there anything else that keeps you from ________?" keep asking until they say no, nothing else. address each one, and problem solve how to get around it. then there are no more roadblocks to their goal. you both came up on a mutually acceptable task or solution (that they can realistically implement) that clears that roadblock, and if they don't follow through....its definitely not because you didn't try to help.

this leaves no stone unturned. often as trainers we gloss over things that we assume that our clients know and this will get all that out into the open.

i hope this helps.

Thanks for the help, and I do understand this, just wanted to see what other PT where doin..thanks

 

[caligirl]

LOL, yes I have tried this as well, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt...but yes some of my clients need therapist....lol..

Another approach that works... if someone is interested in training with you, explain to them you only take SERIOUS clients, your not after their money, rather you enjoy what you do and have a solid reputation you will not risk losing. If they don't follow what you prescribe, you will drop them. No mercy.
Sounds like you need to be a bit more aggressive and have some self confidence. No, you can not force someone to follow what you prescribe, but you do have the choice of keeping them. I have seen many trainers reputation go down the toilet for keeping slackers... it's better to cut them loose.

A side note: (Not saying you do this , cause I don't know you.) It's just some advice if your falliing into the "therapist" thing......
Don't allow your clients to use YOU as a therapist. Don't give them enough down time to start talking, teach them to focus on whatever exercise they are doing and if they start venting about whatever crappy happened to them on the way to the gym, cut them off, redirect them to focus on their technique... don't get sucked into that type of cycle... you dont ever want them to associate a training session with anything negative, ever. When they come to you , it's time to work! I know when I look around the gym, I would hire the trainer actually training their client, watching form and giving encouragement, not the one chatting about their crappy date, standing behind their clients, or even directly in front not correcting bad form.... I see it everyday. Be involved. People do watch you, prospective clients watch you...

 

[HiDnGoD]

Just a little note from the other side of the fence.
A lot of people got fat/out of shape over mental issues. You can help them with the training part, but it's up to us as victims, I mean customers, to address other probs.