What difference does the support of a personal trainer make?

2 mins to read

One of the best known support systems to help people lose body fat and manage their weight is through a personal trainer. I recently asked NSW South coast personal trainer Gary Hooper about his thoughts on the importance of providing support to his clients.

Weight management

How import is the delivery of support in your role as a personal trainer?

When someone is trying to change their lifestyle, the support they get is a huge factor. There are so many barriers to overcome, many of them mental, so providing support is one of my key roles as a personal trainer.

Are there any unique strategies you use to add support?

My strategy in group training is to create a community environment of like-minded people who support each other. We are all striving to improve ourselves both physically and mentally, and that positive support as a group generates a great sense of camaraderie. I also set an events calendar for the year, offering my clients a variety of weight loss challenges and fitness based events. It’s gives people goal to strive for, and also gives me a good excuse to focus on improving their diet.

Do you have any experiences that highlight the importance of support in weight loss?

During my weight loss challenge events, I include a series of health coaching workshops. Initially, we only had one or two workshops during the 60 day challenge, but after getting positive feedback on the important role they played (especially the mindset topics) we increased it to weekly workshops. The difference in my client’s results and their ability maintain healthy living habits was phenomenal. It highlighted the importance of support, not only for weight loss, but also for the prevention of weight gain.

You’ve done some work together with The Biggest Losers' Shannan Ponton. What are your thoughts on the level of support that overweight contestants get on reality TV shows such as the biggest loser?

The Biggest Loser shows how life changing a supportive environment can be, with many contestants losing significant amounts of body weight in just a few short months. As a trainer, what I take from the show – and from Shannan – is that we’re all fighting a mental battle on a daily basis. Sometimes you’ll watch a contestant have what I call a “snap point” where they finally crack. It’s the moment contestants realize they can either keep coming up with excuses, or they can just do it. That’s the contestants who win. For others it takes a lot longer to make that mental switch.

Do you have any tips for people who need a little extra support, but can’t afford a personal trainer?

There’s nothing like the feeling of having your own support crew cheering you on. I’d encourage people to talk to their friends and family about health and fitness. Let them know what your goals are, and how their extra support can make a difference. I also think it’s important to choose your support crew wisely. Seek out people who have a positive influence, and avoid those who encourage unhealthy behaviours, or who make you feel bad about yourself. Find someone to train with that has similar goals so you can encourage each other and keep each other accountable.