How to Get Started

Everybody has their way of assessing clients before they put them on a training program. The way I look at a new client is to test them by throwing them in with a group and seeing what they have. Your gym is not going to be for everyone and your new client will find out fast if they belong. You can evaluate their weaknesses by just watching them perform the exercises that you told him to do. After that then you can tweak your program a little to help build those weaknesses up. If your program is designed right than you should not have to make many changes only if they have a glaring weakness that needs special attention. This is what I recommend for people with lifting experience.

Now if they have a very limited experience with weights or no experience at all. We start them off with a base line month long program. This consist of a lot of body weight training, sandbag training, and sled pulling. This will help them develop the muscle and strength they need to progress. We use light weight and a lot of reps. We have certain test that they must pass before even getting under a bar and benching or squatting. If they can perform three sets of twenty push ups than they can advance to dumbbells and than advance to the bar when we feel comfortable.



Make sure you build your clients up. Don't start them off with weights they can not handle. This will wreck their confidence and might make them second guess being there. You want them to always get their prescribed reps and increase a little at a time every week to build them up. You have to know your clients and how to talk and respond to them. This is crucial to the success of your clients and of your business.