How Can You Motivate Clients Who Are Struggling With Fitness Goals?
In the world of fitness, motivation can be the key to success. We've gathered firsthand accounts from Personal Trainers and Physiotherapists, who share their most effective strategies. From implementing the 10-Minute Rule to conducting heart-to-heart goal reassessments, here are five powerful tales of motivation and the approaches used to rekindle a client's drive.
- Implement the 10-Minute Rule
- Leverage Personal Competition Drive
- Celebrate Small, Non-Scale Victories
- Uncover and Remind Clients of Deep Motivations
- Conduct Heart-to-Heart Goal Reassessment
Implement the 10-Minute Rule
When motivation is low, I think one of the best tools to use is the 10-minute rule. Start moving your body for 10 minutes and see how you feel after. My guess is that you will want to keep going!
Leverage Personal Competition Drive
I had a client who started out highly motivated and punctual, but gradually became less engaged, to the point where there was a decline in progress. He was a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner, and I was overseeing his strength and conditioning program. After getting to know him better, I noticed he was highly driven by competition.
To restore his motivation, I suggested he sign up for his first competition a few months out. As soon as I mentioned it, he immediately lit up, became more excited, and engaged with his training. This became a sustained and unbreakable motivation.
My approach centered on recognizing my client's unique motivators—in this case, competition—and leveraging that to reignite his passion and drive. Tailoring motivation strategies to the individual’s personal goals and interests can be a highly effective way to help them stay on track.
Celebrate Small, Non-Scale Victories
I once worked with a client who was struggling with consistency and motivation due to a lack of visible progress. To address this, I introduced a personalized approach that included setting small, achievable milestones and celebrating each success, no matter how minor. We focused on non-scale victories, such as improved energy levels and increased strength, to shift the focus away from just weight loss. Regular check-ins and incorporating activities they genuinely enjoyed also played a crucial role. This approach rekindled their enthusiasm and led to sustainable progress and a renewed commitment to their fitness journey.
Uncover and Remind Clients of Deep Motivations
I find the easiest way to motivate a client is to remind them why they're here in the first place. And no, they're not here just to lose weight or fit into their old jeans. There's always a much deeper reason that pulls people into the gym, and it's my job as a trainer to remind them.
I had a client in particular who always said she just wanted to lose weight to be healthier. She'd have periods of great progress but would slowly regress to her unhealthy habits. It wasn't until we had an honest conversation that she opened up about her real reasoning. Her family has a history of heart disease, and her parents have already landed in the hospital multiple times for that reason. On top of that, she gave birth about a year ago, and she does not want to let her health get in the way of raising her daughter.
Understanding this, I now make sure she always remembers the real reason she's here. She's here not only to live a long, healthy life for her family but also to serve as a healthy role model for her child. Her fitness goals extend beyond the well-being of her family, and that's what has kept her consistent and motivated for over a year.
Conduct Heart-to-Heart Goal Reassessment
Look, we've all been there. If you say you haven't—I'm guessing that if you are human—you will be there at one point. Skipping workouts, making excuses, and basically just phoning it in. It's frustrating, for the client and it's frustrating for the trainer... but here's the thing: as a fitness professional, it's your job to be their coach, their motivator, and sometimes, their therapist. Let's be real.
I have this one client—let's call him John. John was in a rut. He'd hit a plateau, wasn't seeing results, wasn't pushing, and was ready to quit. I believe it's my job to not let him quit.
So, instead of our usual routine, I sat him down for a heart-to-heart. I told him straight up, "John, I see your frustration. But quitting is probably not the answer. Let's reassess your goals, adjust your plan, and find what truly motivates you." I needed us to work as a team.
I listened. We revamped his workouts, focusing on activities he enjoyed. We also set smaller, achievable goals to keep up the motivation.
