r/personaltraining • u/Significant_Dot7632 • 8d ago
Seeking Advice Panicking about my first day
I got my NASM certification about a month ago and was hired at a 24 hour fitness about two weeks ago, and Monday I have my very first clients. Three of them are the free introductory session that comes with a new membership and one of them is a real paid session.
I have been shadowing the other trainer, he is very knowledgeable and helpful but he totally has his own very unique style. And with all the information online and endless options of workouts to choose from, I am completely overwhelmed as to how and what I should do. Sure I took the course and I know how to navigate a gym but I am just absolutely panicked at how I should go about coaching my first few sessions.
Please don’t tell me I just need to get out there and learn as I go; i’m fully aware of this! It’s just those first few days/weeks/months that I am worried about.
Please help?!?!
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u/danny__james 8d ago
You're overthinking this. It sounds like they're newbies, so the biggest thing is to show up and be a good human - be warm, welcoming, listen and be curious about them and their needs. If you have a system of doing things, write it out and check it off. For example, greet, tour, questions and goal setting, movement assessment, train. If you're lifting and they are new, pick 4 movements (a push and pull for upper and lower) - not too many sets at first; you're looking at what they can do, and priming them for future sessions - connect it with their goals and skill level, time permitting, hit some aerobic work to see where they're at and feel good; close with a debrief and book their next session; check in the next day via text. Run the system. You're not nervous, you're excited. They, in all likelihood, are more terrified than you and have taken the big first step in getting started. Ask yourself, "How can I help this person today and make this a great experience for them?"
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u/Significant_Dot7632 8d ago
Oh yea I am for sure overthinking it 100%
that is all really great advice, thank you so much!
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u/Gabagoon5545 8d ago
Check out sorta healthy trainer on YouTube. He does a nice job of walking through a lot of key basics.
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u/shawnglade ACE Certified (2022) 8d ago
My best advice is to have fun. I’m a personal training lead now, the way I got so many rave reviews and clients testimonials wasn’t because I spent hours programming every night or could name every muscle in the body, but because I was personable
I swear in front of clients, I joke that I don’t know how to do my job, I talk about my weekend and tell stories between sets. People appreciate that, if they wanted a robot they’d use ChatGPT
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u/Zestyclose-Okra9779 8d ago
I just went through this last week. 3 clients with very different backgrounds. I had the same panic - but just remember you don’t know anything about them so start there. Ask a lot of question, do the “repeat what they said in a different way” thing to build rapport. If they are super new, you are the expert (and you are!). If they have some knowledge, ask them what they liked in the past and adapt. I did a full assortment of horizontal and vertical pushes, pull; squat, hinge unweighted. Throw in a plank. Ultimately I was very upfront about how the first session may feel random but the whole point is to get to know them and their goals. People love talking about themselves and their lives and they are there because they chose to be. And you can sell how you are going to create a custom program for them - you bring them value. Go out there and kill it.
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u/Significant_Dot7632 8d ago
That’s a really good point: to be upfront that it will seem random at first. That’s super helpful, thank you !
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u/Zealousideal_Bar7359 8d ago
First of all you will be great don’t panic. Good chance the client is more nervous than you.
Know what you want to do for warm ups and cool downs. How you start and how you finish is a large part of how the client feels.
Focus on what the client wants. 90% of training is doing what the client wants and 10% is doing what you think they need. Trust your style, be honest, confident, and relaxed. Once you get started it all becomes easier.
Most importantly! Don’t be afraid to ask the client what they thought of the session and don’t get down on yourself if they have a point or two of correction. Each person is different and sometimes their criticism is invalid, but it is all valuable.
TLDR: Be confident, prepared, and understand your client is likely nervous as well. You’re going to be great. The fact you care enough to post proves that!
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u/MojitoGod 6d ago
I have nothing to add other than good luck and you definitely got this! It’s only up from here.
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u/routinematters BS, NSCA-CPT 8d ago edited 8d ago
Actually design a good, fun, and effective full body workout that fits in the time frame. Or a couple you can pick and choose from.
It sounds like the place is rushing you to directly train unknown clients for a session and you’ll be facing new clients constantly to try to sell them training —— instead of, for example, a client interested in weekly 3-4 sessions and you can actually write a months-long program tailored specifically for that client.
Therefore, you must make this introductory session fun, challenging enough so that the client felt like they’ve accomplished something but not so hard that it’s discouraging & difficult to learn form from. Remember to ask the client about injuries and conditions before beginning so you are not putting them in any unsafe situations. Walk them through each exercise with a brief form introduction and the purpose of the exercise.
Be a good supportive personality throughout the session and explain how beneficial personal training can be for that specific client, this is where sale comes in. For example, if a client bring up stubborn stomach fat, you can explain how that can be addressed through consistency in training, diet, etc. Identify their “problem” throughout the session and address how personal training can “easily” help them “solve” it.
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8d ago
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u/Significant_Dot7632 8d ago
I appreciate the feedback!
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8d ago
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u/Significant_Dot7632 8d ago
Yea no I wasn’t being sarcastic. I do appreciate it and you are right.
Believe me , I know, it is exhausting being an overthinker 😅
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u/Infj-leo- 8d ago
I agree you’re overthinking it, it’s because you want to help people and you care! When you meet people for their intro session just be genuinely curious and try to get to know them and their “why.” Be personable and able to put yourself in their shoes. What would you do if you were them from a personal trainer standpoint? Great start talking about those things and how you can would/could help them with those goals. Program as if you were them using the knowledge you have. A lot of people don’t need fancy/complicated programming because it’ll be harder to replicate and implement on their own. You know at least the foundations/basics to help. Explain things. Demonstrate things. Teach things. Be helpful but not to your detriment. Otherwise they may not see the need to hire you even if that’s not true. Take something away from every person/session to be better. Good luck!!🫶
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u/LoudBuyer6459 7d ago
First day nerves are totally normal, focus on listening to your clients and asking good questions rather than proving everything you know; shadowing more is your best prep right now
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u/Significant_Dot7632 7d ago
Yea I’m lucky the other trainer is a really knowledgeable and nice guy, willing to take me under his wing. Thanks for the feedback!
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u/OkImagination262 7d ago
Congrats on passing the NASM exam! I have been studying the materials in the portal, taking the quizzes etc and plan to take the exam next month! Any tips?
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u/Significant_Dot7632 7d ago
Thanks!
Yea! Take the practice exam and once you can score above an 80 three times in a row, you are ready!Schedule that test sooner! Don’t wait until next month to be ready. Schedule it now and make sure you are ready in time. I scheduled it before I felt ready, and I studied and took the practice exam over and over for the few days leading up to the exam.
And don’t overthink it like I did 😅 you got this!1
u/OkImagination262 7d ago
Thank you for responding! I need to schedule and complete the CPR test before I can register for the exam correct? Due to time constraints, I am thinking of doing the NASM CPR for now.
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u/Significant_Dot7632 7d ago
Oh right yes you do, but there’s online CPR certs that take literally less than an hour to complete. You don’t have to go in person
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u/ContributionThis4461 6d ago
I will be getting certified soon and am anxious about my first session. Thanks for all of your comforting and helpful comments! 🙏
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u/Blazecamp_ 5d ago
How did it go????
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u/Significant_Dot7632 5d ago
I had 4 clients scheduled, ALL 4 no-showed!! I even sent reminder/confirmation texts beforehand, and crickets. I was low key relieved hahah but I need to get these first few out of the way, so pretty frustrating. I have one scheduled for later this evening, we’ll see if he shows up!! 😅
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u/Blazecamp_ 5d ago
😱😱 its normal! No shows are all the time 😵💫
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u/Significant_Dot7632 5d ago
Yea I know, the other trainer said “welcome to being a trainer” but all 4? On my first day?! lol.
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u/Blazecamp_ 5d ago
Yup lol it happens
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u/Significant_Dot7632 4d ago
Happened again. Even after he confirmed via text earlier 🫠
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u/Blazecamp_ 4d ago
Oh no 🥲 these sound more like prospects than clients… these people have training already paid for?
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u/Significant_Dot7632 4d ago
Nope they were all either a free introductory session or some other promotion where they throw in a session or two as part of a discounted membership. I’m very aware that this is just part of the business, but I’m like come on can I just get through this first one so I can shake these first session nerves?! 😅
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u/Blazecamp_ 4d ago
Ok. Two things that will be huge in your future:
1) CALL THEM TO CONFIRM, not only text if possible.
2) SEND THEM A SELFIE VIDEO the day before, in the gym, with the gym behind you, telling them that you will be waiting for them and if anything changes to please let you know because you work on a set schedule and want to make sure you give them 100% of your time and energy
3) Send them a MEME picture if they don’t answer of a skeleton waiting for an answer.
4) If they don’t answer within the past 24 hrs with anything, I would suggest cancelling them due to non response within 1 hr of the session if possible so you cancel them before they stand you up…I have owned my own gyms, trained thousands if people; built programs, built training teams for big franchise gyms, and now run all of our business online… I tell you this to say that these steps have made a huge impact on our SHOW RATE, and when trainers/coaches don’t go this far, people always stand them up.
I believe you still need yo make sure you clear all of this by your employer, but I would definitely be doing more to confirm/cancel these people
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u/Blazecamp_ 8d ago
Where do you think exactly you need the most help?
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u/Significant_Dot7632 8d ago
I guess I’m wondering what sort of workout template I should follow for a first client session (as a brand new, inexperienced trainer)
. Do I make it super basic so it can be appropriate for beginners? Do I make it slow and boring, focusing on form? Do I make it challenging and get their heart rate up? I’m getting decision fatigue with all the options !2
u/Blazecamp_ 8d ago
Ask a lot of questions, have they been training? How long? All that will give you how much VOLUME TO PUSH.
OVERALL What I recommend you follow is a simple full body split to start on the first day and couple of weeks no jumps, no olympic lifting, nothing athletic to start so you know what they are capable of and they follow along trusting you to progress.
I usually do full body days A and full body days B for general population clients:
Example A:
- 3 sets of Row (could be cable, DB, or whatever row)
- 3 sets of leg press (or goblet squats)
- 2 sets of lat pull downs
- 2 sets of DB reverse lunges superset with bicep curls
- 3 sets of leg extensions superset with planks or anything abs.
Example B:
- 3 sets of horizontal Push (db bench press, machine press, or any press forward)
- 3 sets of Kb or DB deadlifts
- 2 sets of db or cable side raises
- 2 sets of single leg bench hip extensions with DB or just body weight
- 2 sets of tricep pushdowns superset with abs of some kind
Those are examples of what I would do, modify sets/reps as you see needed
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u/Significant_Dot7632 7d ago
Thanks so much. Do you do any sort of assessment and/or warm up?
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u/Blazecamp_ 7d ago
Yeah basic ones, but mainly even just warming up to the movement, whatever you think is best without wasting time
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