If you’ve made the decision to hire a health coach, it’s important that you ask the right questions to ensure a good fit.
And, likewise, any good health coach should be asking YOU important questions to help tailor their workout to your needs and limitations.
This gives them all the information they need to design the best workout possible for you—and to ensure they are giving you the right motivation to drive success.
This is why I always ask the hard questions…
….so I know I are serving you in the best way possible. Some of the big questions I ask include:
1. Do You Have Any Medical Conditions
Before I even start with a client, I need to know more about your medical history. Do you have limitations? Are you suffering from heart disease or diabetes? Is there anything medically going on that I should know about? Even though coaches believe they can help all, basic personal training certifications only give you enough information to serve the general population. If you have conditions that a coach can’t handle, I always find someone who can help me design the best workout possible for you—and any condition you may have.
2. What Are Your Short- and Long-Term Goals?
I need to know where you want to go—and how you’re going to get there. When I ask about your short and long-term goals, I am keeping this information in mind so we can build a program that will help you reach all your goals. This information also helps me pick the right exercises and frequency so you can reach them in a timely and efficient manner.
3. What Is Your Daily Nutrition Plan Like?
A health coach needs to know how you eat. This way they can make simple recommendations that could get you closer to your goals. This also paints a picture for the coach, so if there is no progress, they can recommend what to change to get your moving in the right direction. Health coaches are only allowed to give you simple recommendations on what to change, what to add, and what to subtract to help you reach your goals.
4. What Do You Do For A Living?
What you do for a living is very important. This allows a coach to know how active you are throughout the day, and how best to approach your training session. If you sit for long periods of time, then a workout that focuses on intensity may be better for you–and one that will get you rapid results. A nurse, for example, may spend a lot of time walking or lifting when they tend to patients, so this information should be included so your trainer can build the best possible program.
Even if you’ve hired a coach, it’s important to give them all the information they need to build the best possible program. If they don’t ask the important questions, then you may have a harder time reaching your goals. A coach armed with the necessary information can then build the best possible program to help you reach your goals. If you have wondered why health coaches ask these questions, now you know. Try to have your answers prepared ahead of time, just in case the person interviewing you asks these common questions.
Your friend and trainer,
Paul F. Sweatt
Train Smart. Train Hard. Train Safe. Train to Sweatt