We all have come across our favourite celebrities posting a sneak peek of their workout sessions with a professional fitness coach. We have also come across trainers at gyms who teach their clients and help them achieve their goals. In spite of hitting the gym 5 to 6 days a week, some consult with a nutritionist to get a customized diet plan. When there are so many terms boggling our minds when it comes to fitness, it is difficult to keep a track of everything and know whom to hire according to our needs. To help you ease the job of hiring the right professional, this article will throw light on what a personal trainer does and how a lifestyle coach is different from a trainer. Continue reading and hire the right person to achieve your realistic fitness goals.
What does a Personal Trainer Do?
Whenever you visit a gym, the first three people you’d spot are: The receptionist who welcomes you with a smile, the manager who understands your objective and directs you to the third person, the trainer, who finally gets you into your workout plan. Trainers are not only present in gym environments but also available on online platforms to train you personally. Following are the major tasks carried out by any personal trainer:
- Fitness assessment of their clients:
Personal trainers check the weight and height of their clients and assess their current fitness level so that they can train them properly to improve gradually and steadily. They may also ask if their clients have had any surgeries, lifestyle-related diseases, hereditary problems, etc. This would be the first task of any personal trainer.
- Sculpt a workout plan:
Though the fitness level of every individual varies, some of the major objectives of most clients are losing weight or gaining muscle. So, they slightly customize the workout plan according to their fitness levels and give them a chart to follow. It would generally include the workout plan in order, the rest days and a diet chart.
- One-to-one training sessions:
As you might be new to the fitness journey, these personal trainers ensure that you don’t do any workouts wrong. So, they either exercise along with you as a workout partner or help you while performing the exercises.
- Monitor your progress:
When things are going right, they monitor your weight, hip circumference, fat percentage using calipers, etc. to make sure that you are on the right path of attaining your fitness goals.
- Suggest nutrition intake:
As food plays a crucial role, both in weight loss and muscle training, personal trainers suggest nutritional food intake you can add to your diet and things you should strictly avoid. Though they suggest some tips, they don’t always provide a customized meal plan to you.
What Do Lifestyle Coaches Do?
Lifestyle coaches offer all the services a personal trainer does and a little more than that too. The difference is apparent from the name itself, that they coach you to have a better lifestyle instead of simply training you for a better physique. They build a personal touch with their clients, enable them to understand their fitness level, make them aware of a change needed in routines, and constantly motivate them to reach a better lifestyle as a whole. They take into consideration your mental health, culture, eating habits, regular activities, and various other things before deciding your workout or diet plan. There are even different types of lifestyle coaches who have expertise in reversing lifestyle diseases like diabetes, thyroid, obesity, etc. They don’t restrict themselves from training only with machines, weights, or any equipment. They also provide cardio training, some suggest yoga, while others give a perfect blend of cardio and strength training activities according to your age and lifestyle.
A professional fitness coach would:
- Be a good listener and set realistic goals.
- Empathizes your pain and acts as a companion rather than just training.
- Instead of giving commands, they make you understand the purpose of doing these tiny changes.
- Invest time in the betterment of your lifestyle even during holidays.
- Design natural workout plans that can fit into one’s lifestyle.
- Create a diet plan with you according to your locality and your eating habits.
- Take accountability for your progress.
In simpler terms, a fitness lifestyle coach can be the perfect mix of a doctor, nutritionist, psychologist, partner, and physical trainer. Thus, they wear multiple hats and keep themselves constantly updated with the fitness trends and diet regimes.
The Final Words:
Understanding the difference between a physical trainer you see at a gym and a professional lifestyle coach is crucial, to decide your objective, for the hiring process. If you lack motivation and need a partner in all terms, it is better to go to a lifestyle coach rather than a physical trainer. Sometimes, a person can be both a physical trainer and a fitness coach. Also, with the advent of technology, it is not necessary that a lifestyle coach has to be present in person at your home or workout space every day. Now, it is time to think about your needs and act accordingly.
