Personal Trainer Issues

[J'Bo]

I thought that maybe the personal trainers on the site could post some of there clients issues and maybe we could solve them together

issue #1:
client name: miss piggy
stats: 21 years old and 5'3 at 112lbs and 17%bf

No matter what she eats right before bed or during the day she always wakes up in the middle of the night to eat. We are trying to bulk the little thang up and put some good size on her what is the best thing to feed her before bed and in the middle of the night?

 

[Arnold]

add some fat to whatever she's eating before bed to slow down the absorption.

 

[Jodi]

I use to find cottage cheese and PB helped me. Or tuna w/ lettuce & and oil based dressing. Basically what Prince said though, you need fat to slow digestion and provide satiety.

 

[Arnold]

I like to use natural peanut butter.

 

[J'Bo]

thanks will try it.

more issues to come

 

[ponyboy]

OMG...I know what resolution of most of my clients issues would be...destressing and actually making exercise and nutrition a priority rather than an occasional thing.

I can't count the amount of clients I see weekly who when asked how their other workouts this week were say either "I didn't have time" or "I just didn't make it in". Even after working on time management with these people it is still a constant struggle.

Okay, here's a good one:
Client Name: Best client ever
Stats: 29, about 210 5 feet 9 and 16% BF

This is an awesome client because he listens to everything and has made remarkable progress (lost 25 lbs. and about 10% BF) but he has recently hit a plateau. Currently works out 4 times per week (1 time with me), 2 with weights and cardio every time for 45-60 minutes (2 sessions shorter cardio with HIIT training). Diet is good although I don't think he eats enough calories (about 1800-2000 per day which has worked up until now). Good macronutrient ratios, about 30/50/20 P/C/F. Wants to lose about 10 more pounds and increase definition.

I was considering carb cycling with him to try to push his body further into weight and fat loss. Any opinions? I'm also considering increasing his lifting but it isn't a priority for him and he doesn't enjoy it as much.

 

[Barlog]

I have flax seed oil and whey with water, blend it together and sorted,but having a solid food maybe better than liquid as it will probably digest longer which is what you want.

 

[Jodi]

Originally posted by ponyboy
OMG...I know what resolution of most of my clients issues would be...destressing and actually making exercise and nutrition a priority rather than an occasional thing.

I can't count the amount of clients I see weekly who when asked how their other workouts this week were say either "I didn't have time" or "I just didn't make it in". Even after working on time management with these people it is still a constant struggle.

Okay, here's a good one:
Client Name: Best client ever
Stats: 29, about 210 5 feet 9 and 16% BF

This is an awesome client because he listens to everything and has made remarkable progress (lost 25 lbs. and about 10% BF) but he has recently hit a plateau. Currently works out 4 times per week (1 time with me), 2 with weights and cardio every time for 45-60 minutes (2 sessions shorter cardio with HIIT training). Diet is good although I don't think he eats enough calories (about 1800-2000 per day which has worked up until now). Good macronutrient ratios, about 30/50/20 P/C/F. Wants to lose about 10 more pounds and increase definition.

I was considering carb cycling with him to try to push his body further into weight and fat loss. Any opinions? I'm also considering increasing his lifting but it isn't a priority for him and he doesn't enjoy it as much.

Carb cycling would be good or you could try a 40/40/20. Just a small tweak with an bit of an increase in protein and decrease in carbs. Also, at 2000 cals he could be in starvation mode. That's less than 10 cals per lb.

 

[J'Bo]

Originally posted by ponyboy
OMG...I know what resolution of most of my clients issues would be...destressing and actually making exercise and nutrition a priority rather than an occasional thing.

I can't count the amount of clients I see weekly who when asked how their other workouts this week were say either "I didn't have time" or "I just didn't make it in". Even after working on time management with these people it is still a constant struggle.

Okay, here's a good one:
Client Name: Best client ever
Stats: 29, about 210 5 feet 9 and 16% BF

This is an awesome client because he listens to everything and has made remarkable progress (lost 25 lbs. and about 10% BF) but he has recently hit a plateau. Currently works out 4 times per week (1 time with me), 2 with weights and cardio every time for 45-60 minutes (2 sessions shorter cardio with HIIT training). Diet is good although I don't think he eats enough calories (about 1800-2000 per day which has worked up until now). Good macronutrient ratios, about 30/50/20 P/C/F. Wants to lose about 10 more pounds and increase definition.

I was considering carb cycling with him to try to push his body further into weight and fat loss. Any opinions? I'm also considering increasing his lifting but it isn't a priority for him and he doesn't enjoy it as much.

First i would cut the cardio down and up the supersets while lifting...try some circuits with him. Then i would raise his calories and try carb cycling...plateaus seem to dissapear with cycling.

Opps i did not read Jodi's post before i typed this so yah i think i jsut about said the same thing as her

 

[J'Bo]

Issue #2:
Client name: Slack Ass
Stats: 24years old, female, started at 190lbs and 40%bf now staying at her off season of 148lbs and 20%bf (which i want lower)

She is hard as hell cause she holds all....i mean all her bf in her tummy (just like a man) this was making me think that perhaps we should switch her to soy because it may be a hormone thing. Thats not the issue though. I am on a swap type payment thang with her cause she is a massage therapist and god knows i need those, however i believe that this is causing her to not do her best because she isnt paying for services and not trying as hard as if she was. She is a fitness competitor and we are trying to build her everywhere however she never sticks to her diets until the last 3 weeks until her contest, she then drops 5%bf and loses awesome weight. If she would stick to her diet then she would come in PERFECT. She is on a carb cycling diet as well.

Please lend me some ideas on how to make her follow the damn diet.

I was thinking of making a deal with her that she would owe me $50 a month if she doesnt reach her monthly goals. Money might motivate her more.

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by J'Bo
Issue #2:
Please lend me some ideas on how to make her follow the damn diet.

tell her if she cannot/will not follow your diet, advice, etc, that can no longer train her.

 

[ponyboy]

Has she ever been to a naturopath? They may be able to find out some issues that a regular dietician may not. Either that or an osteopath can often diagnose the same types of problems.

 

[J'Bo]

are we talking about my issue ponyboy?

 

[ponyboy]

Yes. Some of my clients have really benefitted from a cross-counseling approach because I don't know anything about digestive disorders and other things of that nature. I have a list of people that I refer clients to all the time.

 

[J'Bo]

she doesnt have any problems...she just stores fat differently than most females.

 

[Jodi]

Thats where I store my fat too.

 

[J'Bo]

yah you look so fat

 

[J'Bo]

ok another issue just came through the door

Issue #3:
Client name: Annie Bananie
Stats: Started training in July at 39%bf and 225lbs she just got her bf% done today and she is 37% and 214lbs
History: underactive thyroid and takes meds for it

Well we started nice and light and got back into the training slowly (she used to be very active). He diet was quite slack with some sugars still. She lost 10lbs right off the hop and now she has only dropped 4lbs and 2% in 4-5 weeks. She is currently doing 3 weight sessions a week: one of upper and one lower body workout and one whole body weights plus 2x30min cardio sessions a week.

This is her diet :
Mon, wed, fri= no carbs
meal one: 5 egg whites, 1 whole egg, 1 cup veggies
meal two: 1.5 scoops protein, 1 tbsp hemp
meal three: 4oz chicken, 3 cups lettuce, 1 tbsp dressing
meal four: 1/2 scoop protein, 3 egg whites, 1tsp mayo, gr onions
meal five: 4oz steak, 2 cups of broccoli

thur, sun=low carbs
meal one: 5 egg whites, 1 whole egg, 1 grapefruit
meal two: 1.5 scoops protein, 1 tbsp hemp oil
meal three: 3/4 cup gr. beef, 1 cup veggies, 1/2 cup brown rice
meal four: 1/2 scoop protein, 3 egg whites, 1tsp mayo, gr onions
meal five: 4oz chicken, 2 cups veggies, 1 cup rice

tue, sat= high carbs
meal one: 5 egg whites, 1 whole egg, 1/2 cup oats
meal two: 1.5 scoops protein, 1 piece fruit, 3 tbsp hemp nuts
meal three: 4oz steak, ww tortilla, 1 cup veggies, 1/2 cup br rice
meal four: 1/2 scoop protein, 3 egg whites, 1tsp mayo, gr onions
meal five: 4oz chicken, 2 cups ww pasta, 2 cups veggies

i am thinking that maybe she is just too low in calories and so her food has to come up in low and high carb days. maybe switch her to fish caps?

HELP she wants to compete in March 2004 and at this rate it aint gonna happen.

 

[Jodi]

You need to bring her cals up slowly to about 2200. She is not eating enough.

 

[J'Bo]

thats what i thought.
when someone is over weight, what do you gage the macros on?
goal weight or current weight?

 

[Jodi]

Always current.

 

[J'Bo]

and what brand or doseage of fish oil caps do you use?
i have never used or prescribed them but i know that she isnt taking her oil bad client...bad

 

[P-funk]

Um, I hope that you are aware that unless you are a registered dietician it is illegal as a personal trainer to give out dietary advice........in the United States at least.

 

[J'Bo]

well not here and especially if they dont sign a thing or have a contract or receipt its all good.
you think a registered dietician has any idea how to diet down for a comp? not too many.

 

[P-funk]

No, most registered dieticians don;t have ani idea how to diet period.....second of all most of the people we as personal trainers are training are not bodybuilders dieting for competitions. they are just the general public looking for overal fitness.

 

[J'Bo]

p-funk....actually i only train bodybuilders, fitness and figure athletes

 

[Dale Mabry]

OK, here goes...

1)Base everyting including the macros on goal LBM

2)You can give as much "advice" as you want as long as you don't pass yourself off as an expert when you are not.

3)I would like to take this time to thank myself for no longer doing personal training. I was entirely too tired of the bullshit that you all have to go through. As a result of no longer being a practicing trainer, the gym is actual a pleasant place for me to be now. You know what the biggest irony of all is in terms of personal training? These idiots are paying a fortune for your advice. You tell them to do like 12 reps and they pound off about 10. You counted and tell them they should do 12. They say they did 12. I mean people, do you really think telling me you did 12 is going to cause your body to believe the same thing. OK, enough of a rant, I have legs tomorrow and it ain't gonna be pretty.

 

[Jodi]

Dale why would you say off LBM? To cut a person needs to range from 10-12 cals per pound, now it the person weights 150lbs but only has 100 LBM, then what your saying is that a 150lb person should only eat 1000 cals a day????

 

[Dale Mabry]

No, there is a different formula, I believe your bmr is 270+9.8(LBM in lbs) and the activity factors are 1.1 for sedentary, 1.3 for average, and 1.5 for very active. Multiply BMR times activity factor and you get total daily energy expenditure. Don't quote me on that though, but I am 95% sure. The equation is in Exercise Physiology by Katch, Katch, and McArdle. One of my buddies has the book so I can't say for sure.

 

[J'Bo]

Well i dont train "normal people" because i hate going into the gym and acutally doing one on one sessions all the time....gets boring.
So i create diet and training programs and give posing and boot camps to clients only.
Yes sometimes they are headaches however people in any career are at times. The rewards outweight the negative and i love what i do and so i find it chanllenging and rewarding.