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Personal Training
The four phases of a Successful Training Program & your Personal Trainer... DISCOVERY DISCOVERY is the first phase and is critical for people who have never done any physical training. It is named DISCOVERY because that is exactly what it is. During this phase, which could last anywhere from a week to four weeks, depending on each individual, the Client and Trainer work together to determine what the desires are and set appropriate goals. This is basically the time when the Client learns about his or her own body and how it works. The Client learns about different muscle groups and how they operate, basic nutrition, training heart rate, an introduction to the gym and the various machines and how they work, using light weight and introduction to cardio training. This is also when the Client and Trainer work out the initial training regimen for the program. Each Client is different, has different needs and goals and has different schedules, so each training program must be custom made. During this phase the Client and Trainer develop a program that will last for the next phase, setting goals, determining weight levels, frequency, amount and intensity of cardio training. This is the most important phase because it is the foundation upon which a lifetime of fitness will develop. It is important to have a full understanding of the program that you are about to launch before you move onto development. The Client will not need to learn much technical information. It is all very basic. The Client does not need to learn the muscles' technical names, as long as the major groups are known, how they work and which exercises work which muscles. This is also when the Client and Trainer develop a positive rapport and a comfortable working relationship, with open and direct communication and feedback. In other words, the team effort for a progressive, positive successful training program begins here. DEVELOPMENT is the next phase and will last from six to twelve weeks. It is called DEVELOPMENT, again for obvious reasons. This phase is the actual beginning of "real" training. This is when the Client begins to intensify the concepts he or she learned in the DISCOVERY phase. At this time, the training becomes progressive, increasing the weight levels and intensity of cardio training. It is also called DEVELOPMENT because during this phase the client begins to develop joint flexibility and surrounding musculature before training with heavy weights. This is paramount to quality and safe training. Injury could occur if a Client begins training with heavy weights without preparing the joints and every system in the body for it. During this time, it is very interesting and encouraging to watch the advances and to keep track of the progress. It is a new challenge on a weekly basis, to do a little more each time. The Client also learns, during this phase, to improve his or her form, technique and continues to learn new and safe exercises to keep a variety in the training program. Self -confidence, inner strength and self -motivation are all learned and developed during this phase which will carry the Client to the next phase. Some results will be achieved at the end of this phase, just in time to intensify the program for the ADVANCED phase. The ADVANCED phase, like the others is descriptively named. This is when the "heat is turned up" on the training. By now, proper form, safety, variety, nutrition and other concepts have been learned and will now be perfected. This phase could last from six weeks to whenever the desired goals are achieved. The ADVANCED phase can be geared towards building muscle or the focus can be placed on fat loss, if the clients goal is to lose body fat. If the Client's goal is not to build a great deal of muscle, but to lose body fat, then obviously heavy weight training will not be the focus. However, the intensity of the fat burning training will increase at this point along with continued progressive weight training and more strict adherence to a disciplined nutrition program. For weight training, the amount of weight can be increased dramatically during this phase providing that safety, adequate rest and recovery and proper nutrition are first concerns. Variety in the program both for fat burning and weight training, with attention to proper form, is continued during this phase. Nutrition is adjusted to help realize goals at this point. This is the final phase for which Trainer direction is usually necessary on a regular basis. It is helpful for the Client to meet with the Trainer on a weekly basis during the next phase, for as long as the Client needs or wants to. MAINTENANCE is the last phase and one that never ends. The Client will not have to work as hard to maintain as he or she did in the other phases. By this time everything the Client has learned has become second nature and will be easy and fun to maintain because of all the benefits that will have been realized as a result of achieving the goals. Generally speaking, moderate workouts, two- to- four times a week with a continued responsible nutrition program will be adequate for maintenance. Trust me, by then you will be so much in love with the new lifestyle and the benefits of healthy living, that you won't want to go back to the old way of living. Self confidence, Self respect, more respect from others, improved health, feeling and looking much better are among the many benefits of achieving fitness goals through a quality training program as outlined in THE FOUR PHASES OF A SUCCESSFUL TRAINING PROGRAM. The "Four Phases" were developed for a lifetime of fitness and not "a rushed through approach" for temporary or specific results, Unlike many other training programs, everything learned will stay with you, including and most important, the desire to maintain it. Because of "individual difference" (genetics), condition of the Client and the individual goals the amount of time spent in each phase will vary. Everyone responds to training differently and at a different rate. Muscle growth and fat loss doesn't happen at the same speed or the same way for everyone.
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