ShareI’ve got some top secret insider info for you today… Some of the little details that personal trainers like to keep on the DL. (Mum, DL is short for “Down Low”…)
Every trainer has an angle that sets him or her apart, whether it’s their physique, education or all round awesomeness. 
So here are…
The top 5 secrets your trainer will never tell you
1. Less is More
The one-hour session has become gospel in gyms in America. My first job as a private trainer in NYC was based on 60 minute workout sessions, whether it suited the client or not. And between you and I, this was something to do with the $$$…
But you don’t need to be spending 45-60 minutes working out 5-7 days per week to see fast results.
In fact, our bootcamp sessions are 30 minutes, which I’ve found to be the “sweet spot” for dynamic warm up, resistance training, conditioning and cool down. Plus high fives. Plenty of high fives are going down!
You may be surprised to hear that personal trainers generally hate this token time frame for workouts. Go with the flow, and base your workout length off your personal goals.
2. It’s NOT a trainer’s job to inflict pain
Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is the result of your body performing any exercise it is unaccustomed to, whether it’s the type, intensity, or duration. Basically, this means anything different will make you sore.
But here’s the thing – pain doesn’t have to be present for growth to happen. The necessary metabolic changes in the muscles can happen in the absence of soreness.
In fact, when a client comes back and tells me they were in so much pain they couldn’t walk downstairs for three days, I feel like I’ve done a disservice. It’s NOT cool. Trainers should monitor soreness, and not be doing fist pumps when it happens.
You can get stronger, look and feel better, and still function long after you’ve stopped being sore, so don’t feel it’s a must. You can be less miserable and train more frequently.
Seriously, trainers need to save their fist pumps for when you get sexy results, not when you suffer.
3. Supplements are not essential
Nothing in the nutrition world is black and white. It’s totally fine for trainers to advise you on nutrition, but it’s the performance supplements that cloud the issue.
Some trainers in commercial gyms have supplement sales quotas to meet just to keep their jobs – while others get paid large commissions to sell “X” supplements.
The most important thing is for trainers to help you devise strategies to help you adhere to the plan and achieve your goals. Improving your nutrition habits is far more important than stuffing a bunch of unnecessary supplements down your throat.
4. Simple is Better
Ask any high-profile celebrity trainer for their favorite exercise…
99% percent of the time, they will say any of the Big Three: bench press, squat, or deadlift. Those three movement patterns are the foundation of any good fitness program, and barring any medical issue; you should be doing them regularly.
You don’t need to be doing complicated or “sexy” exercises to get results – even if they are more fun. It’s more important to modify the exercises based on your current ability to get the most benefit.
There are no secret, special exercises. And if you spend too much time wobbling around, it’s actually counterproductive – especially when it comes to metabolic training.
5. There are plenty of good trainers out there
Some trainers have egos the size of cathedrals and think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Add a sprinkle of “authority” to the equation and honestly, it’s just embarrassing.
“Drop and gimme 20…” <= this is NOT the Army!
But the truth is that there are plenty of great trainers working long hours in gyms all over the world, sharing their knowledge and passion for fitness with others.
Training is teamwork.
I firmly believe certain personalities work better in a team than others. And to reach your goals via the quickest route, there needs to be the right blend of energy and commitment. For a great trainer, your success is the #1 thing.
Did I miss anything here? Let me know in the comments box below.
To sexy results,
KV
