What Is Your Workout “Type”?

 

After working in the fitness business for awhile now, I have come to believe that there are different “types” of exercisers  just as there are different types of people.  Understanding what your workout “type” is may be a key component to keeping up with your health and fitness goals. So let’s take a look at the few different “types” I have come across:

- The “Self-discipline Type”- This is the type of client that knows they need to workout and are willing to do it; they just need to know what to do and how to do it. I love these  clients because they do what you tell them to do and they usually do it willingly. I either meet these clients at their home or in the studio and develop a workout routine for them to do for the next 6-8 weeks. We go over form and any questions they may have and then we are done. I usually don’t see or hear from these clients until they need me to come and change up their routine after their body has adapted to it.

-The “Undisciplined Type”- This is the type of client that is unable or unwilling to exercise on their own. They need to have an appointment set up and be accountable to someone in order to get a workout done. This client either lacks the motivation to workout or just doesn’t like to do it. If they know that I am there waiting for them with a workout planned, they will be there; however, they will most likely not do it on their own. I need these clients because they pay my bills and keep me in business. They also understand themselves well enough to know that if they want to maintain their health, they need to hire a trainer. While they may dread coming to see me, they see the value in doing it and are usually happy once they are done.

- The “Social Type”- This type of client views exercise as a social experience. These type of people do well in group classes since they provide the social interaction as well as the physical challenge. These clients can be disciplined as far as working out goes, but find exercising alone boring and unfulfilling. They also tend to do well in gym settings where there are usually many people around.

- The “Isolative Type”- This person sees working out as “me time” and dislikes interuptions or socializing during a workout. For these people, working out is their meditation and time to be alone with their thoughts.  Most isolative types workout at home or own their own. Those who belong to a gym, tend to wear earphones in order to keep people away. These poeple will also most likely fall into the “self-disciplined” type. I understand this type well since this is the workout type category that I fall under.

-The “Fair-weather Type”- This is a person who tends to ebb and flow when it comes to exercising. When they make up their minds that they need to start working out, they tend to be very diligent for awhile but eventually the charm wares off and you don’t see them for a few months until the “itch” comes back. I find this type of client to be the most frustrating since consistency does not seem to fit into their world.  As soon as you feel like your making progress, something happens whether it’s a vacation or a personal issue, and you don’t see or hear from them for months. This is a type of client that will always test your patience but will eventually come back.

The advantage of differentiating and understanding these various types of people helps me, as a trainer, know how to make the most of our time together. And as a person,  once you are able to understand yourself and how best you workout, you are more likely to keep it up.

These are just a few of the types of clients, I’ve come across. I’m sure there are more out there. Let me know if you have any others to add to the list!!!

In good health,

Karen