How can you motivate your patients to exercise safely and regularly?

Sin duda evaluar la preparación es la antesala para la realización de ejercicio y para esto es necesario captar datos de lo general a lo particular con la intención de detectar puntos determinantes además de cualidades físicas y antecedente deportivo. En el caso del ejercicio se agregaría pruebas de aptitud física relacionadas con la salud.

When assessing a client’s readiness for regular exercise, I look beyond physical capabilities, focusing on their motivational core. Many approach exercise from a place of fear or anxiety, like the dread of illness or feeling inadequate. My approach is to acknowledge these fears but pivot towards 'love motivation' - setting a positive vision for their health journey. For instance, a client motivated by the desire to play with their kids or continue skiing into their 60s embodies this shift. This initial assessment of their emotional drivers is crucial for tailoring a safe and sustainable exercise plan that resonates with their deeper aspirations, ensuring a more committed and enjoyable fitness journey

To prepare an individual program, what is more important for me is whether the person has exercised before, whether they have knowledge and appropriate technique. If training and exercises are enjoyable, we see progress, and that is the most important thing. Progress and readiness for change.

Una utilidad que he encontrado y aplico en mi campo laboral es enseñar a los pacientes a identificar cuatro conceptos; los primeros dos son actividad física y ejercicio, colocados en la categoría de "Prevención" mientras que los conceptos de condición física y salud, los coloco en la categoría "Promoción" además que deben saber diferenciarlos y que van de la mano uno del otro. Para indicadores sobre avance, progreso y cumplimiento de objetivos y metas, los indicadores usuales son: parámetro, valoración y monitoreo.

In setting SMART goals for exercise, make sure you align it with your long-term visions. I have a client who wants to play with their grandkids when they are 70 years old. That's a long time from now, so how can they make that meaningful today? It means training for the ability to crawl, lift a 20lb weight, or squat comfortably. My approach is to reverse-engineer their aspirational vision into tangible, daily goals. This method ensures that every workout is a step towards a meaningful, personally relevant future. The balance of long-term vision and immediate actionable goals is crucial. And quite frankly, setting them up well is an art.

It's better to have a vision of yourself than goals. People achieve their goals in personal training and that's where it ends - they go back to their old habits. The most important thing is vision and realizing that nutritional changes and physical activity are permanent, not only until goals are achieved. This assumption is wrong and should be changed.

Mi experiencia me ha enseñado a no relacionar el éxito solo con una unidad de medida, al principio tener indicadores cuantificables puede ser contraproducente, condiciona al paciente y le pega en el estado de ánimo. Los aspectos cualitativos son de mucha importancia a primer plazo. En la retroalimentación debe predominar la comunicaciòn asertiva, cuidar la forma de relacionarse con los pacientes ofreciendo en los primeros dìas de charla, un espacio de reflexiòn antes de considerar otro tipo de apoyo. Efectivamente los recursos digitales como videos y fuentes de información son buenas para que el paciente compruebe por si mismo, casos de éxito y los diversos métodos que existen para lograrlo.

In coaching, I’ve found that clients primarily seek reassurance they’re exercising correctly to avoid injury. So I focus on mitigating their fear by keeping the movements safe and encouraging them to trust their abilities. Usually clients are concerned with perfect form, and its tempting as a coach to nitpick and correct every detail. But I find their heightens fear and diminishes confidence. It’s about striking a balance: provide enough guidance to prevent serious injury, but also give clients the space to learn and enjoy the process. This approach not only deals with their initial fears but also fosters a supportive environment where they feel empowered and motivated to continue their fitness journey safely.

Without this, our 'puzzle' will not be complete. Whatever we do, we always ask for feedback and the same applies to our clients. They should be given feedback, although in my opinion a well-prepared form with questions about the assessment of our work with them can make them aware of their own progress. We can say that it's great that they are doing the exercises correctly and that we can see the effects, but this will only gain value when they see these changes themselves.

Para aborar de manera correcta los factores que pueden influir, existe un método de interpretación técnica que configura el entorno a fin de que el paciente haga ejercicio que precisamente le brindará alternativas y solución. Los espacios, materiales para realizar ejercicio, pueden tanto motivar como facilitar y enriquecer el plan de entrenamiento. Analizar espacios a nuestro alrededor es determinante a partir de saber con cuantos días y tiempo se dispone, enseguida identificar el objetivo (En pacientes por lo regular el objetivo es rehabilitador) es decir la recuperación de la salud pero también el objetivo puede ser promotor de la salud o para la prevención.

Addressing barriers in fitness often means understanding each client’s unique excuses and patterns. A key moment for me was realizing that self-awareness is crucial. I encourage clients, especially those unaware of their habitual excuses, to take online assessments to gain insights into their negative thought patterns. But the real challenge lies in helping them break free from negative thought patterns. It’s not just about imparting knowledge; it’s about training their minds. There are numerous tools available for this, each tailored to different needs. My role as a coach is to guide them in finding and using these tools effectively, turning obstacles into stepping stones for their fitness journey.

As Fitness Professionals, we should see and recognize the barriers and factors that prevent clients from taking up physical activity. Currently, there are many options to offer services at various prices, ranging from Zoom sessions to private sessions tailored to individual needs. However, the most important factor is the desire to change the current situation.

Dos factores valiosos; educar para brindar información y herramientas para entrar en acción, por otra parte empoderar es hacer valer las capacidades físicas del paciente, el que acepte como es su cuerpo, pero teniendo la certeza que puede ser una "maquina" funcional que cumple con sus necesidades de movilidad y cumple sus expectativas.

In empowering and educating clients, I disagree with the emphasis on the benefits of exercise. It is rare that 'knowing' more about the benefits will sustain a habit. It just affirms people who already exercise. My contrarian approach focuses on building fail-proof systems. I often tell clients, 'Another inspiring article won’t make you exercise.' Instead, I challenge them to assume they have zero willpower. The question then becomes: How can we design a system that gets the 'zero-willpower person' to exercise daily, regardless of motivation levels? This shift from seeking inspiration to creating practical systems empowers clients to maintain their exercise routine consistently, fostering long-term, sustainable fitness habits.

The most important thing is education and making people aware of how important technique is, teaching people which muscles are used and what the purpose of the exercise is. Without this knowledge, they just copy the instructor without thinking about why they are doing a given exercise. Another thing is to realize how important it is to stretch and take an appropriate rest and recovery day. Nowadays, an increasing percentage of our population is active, and it is important that they have knowledge about rest and recovery after training. Another issue is the age of people currently exercising at the gym/sports club - the average age is no longer 25 but closer to 45, this must be taken into account when arranging exercises for each age group.