1st 3 months if I had my way

[iron addict]

I write 3 month blocks of diet and training programming for my paying clients. In my opinion, and that of the clients it works extremely well (to see some results and opinions IA's Personal Training Consultation Information/Testamonials - Iron Addicts Forums ). But…….if I could take the joe average client that I get that is coming to me with piss-poor numbers after years of trying. In other words, the guys that weren’t already getting pretty good results with their training and wanted me to optimize it here is what I would do in an ideal world.

1. First priority would be to get their assess in REASONABLE shape. You can’t expect good result from someone that sits on their asses all day and then goes to the gym and does a set of 8 and sits on the bench for two minutes until the next set. They would be instructed to do low intensity cardio 4 days a week and high intensity cardio 3 days. And at a faster break-in schedule than I use for most lifters since this would be the first priority. THIS IS NOT HOW I STUCTURE CARDIO FOR CLIENTS THAT ARE FIRST STARTING WITH ME, JUST IN CASE YOU DON’T KNOW THAT.

2. Reduce their workload even if I knew from their questionnaire and phone conversation they can handle a fair amount of volume and frequency. They would do light accessory work and I would reduce their poundage’s a LOT on the key lifts AND FOCUS ON FORM: squats, deadlifts, benches (could be DB benches if they can’t won’t BB bench) rows, dips, shoulder presses (dumbbell or military) and good-mornings. They would send me video each week of the lifts and we would adjust form as needed. And in case yyou are wondering video is NOT a requirement to work with me, but helpful. I NEVER require pictures or video of clients, but lifting video can be extremely helpful if form issues are present.

3. Work on diet until the food choices were good, the binges were minimal and THEY understand the importance of timing, especially post workout. All food choices would be reviewed and logged. This is something I do with all clients anyway, but some take WAY too long to get it together and if we started at a higher precision ratio results would be better. So many also just “forget to log” and I never have a good feel for where they are at diet wise

4. Have them send me a log of every supplement taken. I don’t require a lot of supps if the trainee doesn’t have much cash to spend but a good vitamin/mineral and fish oil is a must and I bet about 25-30% of clients forget these at least 25% or MORE of the time.

5. If they are a skinny-fat ecto, or endo I would have these guys get medical tests for testosterone (free/bound/overall). T-3/T-4, TSH, glucose tolerance, IGF-1, Estriadol, and a full liver panel. For older trainees a CV risk profile done.

6. Have them work on relaxation/meditative/visualization techniques (whichever is most fitting).

After they had a solid CV base going andsolid form on the big lifts that count. A diet that they were actually DOING, and had practice doing, and the discipline to take their supps, and eat right daily, and any metabolic issues recognized and in process of being resolved, we would be at a much better starting point for big gains.

Keep in mind these things are all done for clients, but the sequence is different and I don’t request medical work unless issues warrant it (I do request quite a few extreme hardgaining, or very fast loss resistant clients to get a medical workup done) but these things are best done beforehand and most potential clients would consider this sequence of events a step back. Telling a guy that just managed his first 295 lb squat to drop it to 225 and start working on form just pisses most people off and they would rather work on form with maximal weight on the bar, which certainly can be done, but it is much more difficult. And most lifters could give a rat’s ass about their cardio base unless they are cutting which is a BIG mistake.

Doing it this way would net better results in the LONG-TERM. But most lifters would be quite displeased if it were structured that way as they are always looking for the “big gains” NOW. And my current approach does that better in the SHORT-TERM for sure.

Something to think about.


Iron Addict

	T3

	IGF-1

	Supps

[the mummy]

thanks

[Budlite74]

IA knows his stuff!

[-2z-]

Good stuff man. I like the way you think!