personal_trainerIt goes without saying that a well thought out customized training program sits near the top of the list for being successful in your endeavours to looking good naked. Based on your training history, current health and fitness status, previous and/or current injuries and obviously your goals, a trainer or strength coach will design you a personalized program. Having said that, the trainer shouldn’t give you exercises that:

  • a) you couldn’t do,
  • b) add to current areas of pain,
  • c) put you in at-risk positions, and
  • d) take you further away from your goals.

However, there is more to it than what exercises to do in the gym.
 

The Personal in Personal Training

 
There are other pieces to the puzzle that are also inherently important when working toward your goals with your health and physique. The phase personal training implies one-on-one training; however, the meaning goes much deeper than that. The personal in personal training more so reflects what you bring to the table.

Improving your current state of health, wellbeing, strength level, energy level and happiness with your naked body takes time, effort and dedication to see results. It also takes a great team. Every time I get a new client, we form what I like to call the dynamic duo.

I can provide the guidance, motivation and awesome programming, but you need to have to these qualities to ensure your road to success isn’t so bumpy.

Here are my top 5 ingredients for success:

1. Drive /drīv/ – To push propel or press onward forcibly – reaching your health and fitness goals requires constant drive and a push in the right direction. A lack of drive can leave you sitting in the dust.

2. Intensity /inˈtensitē/ – Exceptionally great concentration, power, or force – a lack of intensity in the gym will slow your progress toward looking good naked. Leaning over the stepper or lifting too light won’t be enough stimulus to force your body to adapt. The intensity doesn’t have to be over red-line, but you need to feel slightly uncomfortable. Programming recovery sessions and getting 7 to 8-hours of uninterrupted sleep a night are just as important as training at a high intensity, so make sure you have balance.

3. Effort /ˈefərt/ – A vigorous or determined attempt – this is similar to training intensity. Your effort should force your body to change and adapt to the training stimulus. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at or if you have old injuries. Strive for that training effect in every workout. Bring the effort and notice your body change.

4. Discipline /ˈdisəplin/ – Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behaviour, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement – your new pattern of behaviour might be drastically different from the life you’re used to living. Focus on changing one habit at a time so it’s not so daunting. You’ll also be more successful.

5. Consistency /kənˈsistənsē/ – Conformity in the application of something – probably my number one must for progress. Consistent training, consistent nutritional habits, and consistent lifestyle choices will lead to change. Starting and stoping your workout program or eating well for one afternoon and poorly for the next day will not add up to success.

All of my most successful clients have brought qualities 1 though 5. If one’s missing, I’m afraid to say the results haven’t been as pronounced. When signing up with a trainer, coach or class, make sure you’re carrying your end of the deal for maximal results.

Thanks for reading. My intention wasn’t to scare you, but to make you realize, us as trainers, don’t have a magic wand (although that would be very cool!).

-JK

I have never previously seen the passion and level of care that Jon and Thomas bring to everyone who works out at JKC. Their knowledge, insight and skills are extraordinary, and they work with everyone individually to ensure the best possible results. The attention to detail and to every person’s specific requirements and goals, and the incredible, constant encouragement they provide, is, in my opinion, what truly distinguishes JKC from any other program in which I’ve participated. I am extremely pleased with the progress I’ve achieved thus far, and it’s largely attributable to Jon and Thomas and the approach they take to training and working with people.

A few years ago, I pinched a nerve in my neck which led me to be stationary as any form of movement would cause extreme pain. During this time, my fiancé (Sean) started at JKC and loved it!! Once I overcame the nerve issue, Sean spent a long time trying to convince me that JKC is exactly what I needed to safely start working out again (I’m slightly stubborn and was super scared of re-pinching the nerve). Long story short, Sean was right… as much as I hate to admit it!

I never had luck at gyms, if it started to hurt I would call it a day. At JKC that is not an option, as Jon & Thomas will push you to finish the workout, whether you want to or not! Working out in a group setting is also a big benefit of working out at JKC, if you’re not feeling motivated you can simply feed off of someone else’s energetic vibes.

I’ve always struggled with both my weight and anxiety throughout my life. As a writer you live a pretty sedentary lifestyle filled with both realistic and unrealistic deadlines, so I needed something to get me off my butt and to get me moving. JK has been a godsend during this past year and a half in particular. The pandemic has been tough, but workouts with both Thomas and Jon have really helped reduce the stress and strain of a global pandemic, and added an anchor of normalcy back into my life — which has been worth its weight in gold.

JKC has created an incredibly inclusive environment that’s filled with all kinds of supportive folks from all kinds of different backgrounds. For folks like myself, being surrounded by people with such athletic ability can be intimidating in most gyms. It can actually be a deterrent, and it sometimes has been for me. But, at JKC it’s far from that — it’s inspirational. Everyone supports one another. Which is something that’s not easily found in this day and age, inside of a gym or out. Not to sound like a total cheeseball here, but it really feels like a family.

I was referred to JKC by my sister-in-law and had heard good things about it from many people in the running community. I also saw Jon’s picture on the wall at lululemon years ago! I really like the personalized training and the variety the guys provide. I started for strength training for running. I love cardio and do tons of it but wasn’t motivated to do much strength work on my own. Jon mixes up my strength work week to week so I don’t get bored but also lets me work in a hard circuit for the last 20 minutes of most sessions to get my cardio fix 

I heard really good things about it from my sister, and I could see the positive results she was getting.  I needed to do something.  I was overweight, depressed, and recovering from a back injury.  I had reached a point where simply getting up out of a chair was becoming difficult.  I knew that if I didn’t do something about it my senior years would be very burdensome to the people close to me.  I’m so glad I did!  After just a few weeks my day-to-day pain was drastically reduced, and my mobility increased. I had the confidence to try sea kayaking, and I now play ice hockey twice a week!

The key difference is the expertise.  The trainers know the gym equipment and the exercises, but they also have degrees in kinesiology, and can apply what they know to your workout.  As someone who was in poor physical condition starting out, I was worried about hurting myself.  Previously I tried an outdoor weekly bootcamp and injured my knee by pushing too hard.  The trainers at JKC constructed a program that started at the right level for me, evolving it as I grew stronger and more fit.  I feel well looked after.

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