Add em up...it's the little things that count

Over the years, i've wondered what makes me unique as a Personal Trainer. What makes me any different from Joe, or Jessica, or Arnold. What do I do that's relevant? Why do this job at all? This is what I came up with.

• I enable people to do the impossible...or self-described impossible.



• I challenge people to get out of their shell, and into the wild.



• I set a very high standard, and therefore dream BIG.



• I don't yell or scream.



• I laugh and smile a LOT.



• I negotiate with people, and listen to what matters the most.

Oh yeah...and I make people do hundreds of pushups. Yep, even my ladies do them, often much more successfully than my guys.

With the latter statement in mind, i'll explain why I make people do pushups. When I mention pushups, my clients roll their eyes towards the heavens and ask themselves "Oh God what have I done to deserve this forsaken exercise?", and then try to run away, but I run fast so I catch them.

Why pushups? Well, they are one of the most comprehensive exercises, as it 'works' so many different muscles: pectorals, deltoids, triceps, lats, and CORE big time. They work so many muscle groups that you burn calories at a fast rate. Plus, it's a great story to tell on Saturday night.

What is interesting is that most of my female clients end up being able to do many many pushups...many many many actually. Most can do around 20, some can do around 40, and one can do 91. It's true. We tested it. She is the real deal.
So how does one go about doing so many pushups? The key is small incremental increases. In a nutshell, if you test pushups once per week, and you do 1 pushup in the first week, then 2 the next week and so on, it's mathematically possible to do 52 pushups in one set at the end of the year. Is this realistic? Maybe..depends how well a person trains in between and how much rest a person takes etc., but i've seen it with dozens of people. I'm inviting people to share how many pushups they can do, and by doing them i'd like to know how it's helped their fitness.

I'd like to finish off with a note on empowermenet. Neat word! Often, it falls on my shoulders to figure out how to facilitate results for my clients when things seem bleak. Pre-existing health conditions create roadblocks, or previous injuries, or lack of motivation between sessions, or lack of belief that's it's possible. I know it's possible. It is possible. 100% possible. I try to find what makes a person 'want' to take their fitness in stride and work hard to achieve. Call it the "X-Factor", or whatever you like, but I find that by showing people how to "see the possibility", they will have the confidence to get it done.

My point is that by empowering people with the belief that they 'can' do certain exercises, they can feel 'able' to do more challenging exercises, and achieve their goals. Then set new and bigger goals. Then conquor the world.

Happy Snowy Sunday,

Sebastien