How Personal Trainers Can Create Personalized Workout Plans for Clients
As personal training clients having different backgrounds, needs, and goals, creating a training plan that fits everyone is nearly impossible. This is why the most successful trainers create personalized workout plans for their clients.
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By the end of this blog, you will have a bulletproof plan that will help you access every client’s needs so that you can provide them with the best results possible.
You will learn how to assess their starting point, how to define their end goal, how to create a plan specifically for that end goal, and then how to use cardio and nutrition to put the icing on the cake.
Before we talk about the master plan, let’s start with your prerequisite. It is just as important, if not more important than anything else we will mention in this blog.
Actively Listening To Your Client
5-Step Plan Catered to Each Client’s Specific Needs
STEP 1: Assess Your Clients Abilities
Before diving into any workout plan, it’s crucial to assess your client’s current abilities. This will help you understand where they stand and set realistic goals.
What is Their Body Composition?
Body composition refers to the proportion of fat, muscle, bone, and water in your body. You can measure this through various methods like body fat calipers, bioelectrical impedance, or DEXA scans. Understanding their body composition will give you insight into areas they may need to focus on, such as losing body fat or building muscle.
What are their Movement Abilities?
Evaluate their mobility, flexibility, and any limitations they may have. Identifying areas that need improvement will help you incorporate exercises that address these issues and prevent injuries.
What is Their Current Level of Fitness?
Assess their cardiovascular endurance, strength, and overall fitness level. This assessment will serve as a baseline to track their progress as they advance through their workout plan.
STEP 2: Define Their Goals
Having clear and specific goals is essential for creating a personalized workout plan. Ask your client what they want to achieve and set both short-term and long-term goals based on that.
Are they looking to lose weight, gain muscle, increase strength, improve endurance, or enhance overall fitness? Defining their goals will help you tailor their workout plan to align with these objectives.
STEP 3: Create The Personalized Workout Plan
Now that you know where your client stands and what they want to achieve, it’s time to design their workout plan.
- Day 1: Chest and Triceps
- Day 2: Back and Biceps
- Day 3: Legs
- Day 4: Shoulders and Abs
- Day 5-7: Rest
- Day 1: Chest and Triceps
- Day 2: Back and Biceps
- Day 3: Legs
- Day 4: Shoulders and Abs
- Day 5: Chest and Legs
- Day 6-7: Rest
There is no perfect way to structure a workout split. Just make sure that every part of the body is being adequately stimulated and that each of your muscle groups has sufficient time to recover before you hit them again. Other than that, it is extremely customizable and you can use it to build your body however you feel is best!
If you are having some trouble putting this together on your own, you can get some help from our, predesigned workout templates
How to Choose the Right Exercises For Your Client
Select exercises that align with their goals, fitness level, and equipment availability.
Consider compound exercises that work for multiple muscle groups simultaneously, such as squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and overhead presses. Additionally, incorporate isolation exercises to target specific muscles that they are trying to enhance.
Choose Rep Ranges, Sets, and Rest Time
- For strength and muscle gain, aim for 6-8 reps per set for 3-5 sets with 2-3 minutes of rest between sets.
- For hypertrophy (muscle growth), aim for 8-12 reps per set for 3-4 sets with 1-2 minutes of rest between sets.
- For endurance, aim for 12-15+ reps per set for 2-3 sets with 30 seconds to 1 minute of rest between sets.
Quality over Quantity
Emphasize to your client to focus on performing exercises with proper form and technique. It’s better to do fewer repetitions with proper form than to sacrifice form for more reps, as this can lead to injuries.
STEP 4: Create a Cardio Workout Plan
STEP 5: Create a Personalized Nutrition Plan
People say that gains are made in the kitchen for a reason. A well-rounded fitness journey always involves a balanced nutrition plan.
Basic Lifestyle Guidelines:
- Your client should consume a variety of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. The quality of the food matters.
- They need to stay hydrated and limit sugary beverages.
- Be mindful of portion sizes and avoid overeating.
- Limit processed and high-calorie foods.
Although it may not be directly in the diet, emphasize to your client that they can have a cheat meal now and again. They shouldn’t be miserable because of their diet; if they are, it is hard to get them to stay on it.
If their favorite snack is a chocolate bar, work the nutrition plan around that and sacrifice some calories for enjoyment. It’ll ultimately lead to better results.
If you are having trouble putting all the foods together, you can have your client follow some of our proven and effective nutrition plans.
Reaching Health and Fitness Goals is Tough
Acknowledge that the journey to achieving their fitness goals may not always be smooth, and there might be obstacles along the way. Motivate them to stay persistent, stay positive, and remember why they started this journey in the first place. Reinforce their efforts by recognizing their progress and showing it to them in case they cannot see it in themselves. Keep them on the right track
Are You a Fitness Coach or Interested in Becoming One?
If you have a passion for fitness and helping others, consider becoming a certified personal trainer. Share your knowledge and expertise to inspire and guide individuals on their fitness journeys.
Conclusion:
Creating a personalized workout plan for your client is a crucial step towards helping them achieve their health and fitness goals. By assessing your clients’ abilities, defining their objectives, and tailoring their exercises, sets, reps, and rest times, you can design an effective and sustainable workout routine for them. Remember to complement their efforts with a well-balanced nutrition plan and motivation to stay committed to your journey. They must embrace the challenges. Celebrate their progress, and enjoy the positive impact of helping someone achieve a healthier and fitter lifestyle.
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Eddie Lester is the founder and CEO of Fitness Mentors. With more that 17 years experience in the health, fitness and athletics field, he has helped tens of thousands of personal trainers transform their careers and reach their business goals. With a background in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology Eddie has assisted in research that is spearheading the exercise science field.
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