Gym Essentials for New Personal Trainers

As a certified personal trainer, I have spent a lot of time in various big box gyms, studio gyms, apartment gyms and living rooms, programming for each clients needs / accessible space. Over time, I have built a bag (it literally travels everywhere with me) of equipment I have on hand at all times. This will vary for each trainer as their style and programming evolves but when you’re just starting out, these items are crucial …and require little investment!

workout equipment under $30

If you are truly a new trainer, I know you’re down for keeping the spending in check while growing your business…(Amazon and) I got you!

mini bands

Mini bands are an essential part of programming new clients. They are versatile, low impact & can be used in the gym or in a client’s home. I have tried cheap bands from target and invested in “nicer” fabric bands online, but neither were ideal for the variety of clients I work with.

Pro’s of Target Resistance Bands:

• Price point is great.

• Can easily find a Target & grab them on the way to a session.

• Typically comes with a variety of resistance.

Con’s of Target Resistance Bands:

• Price reflects the longevity of bands (especially for us trainers who use them more than once a day).

• The resistance is usually pretty light overall, so many clients will progress out of them quickly.

• Thin fabric causes them to roll up into floss on clients.

Pro’s of Fabric Bands:

• They’re durable.

• Decently heavy resistance for clients who have progressed past lighter bands

• Don’t roll up when clients are using them.

Con’s of Fabric Bands:

• They tend to stretch out over time.

• More expensive and not ideal for new clients.

• Not as versatile (in my opinion) for a variety of clients.

The bands I have found to last the longest, work for a variety of clients, not roll up & be cost effective are (of course) from amazon. Overall I do like the Perform Better brand, if you’re looking to add other products as well! I personally order the green 10 Pack, but find the blue bands are comparable in resistance.

Trainer Hack: Order the Perform Better 10 Pack for $26 and give one to each new client. They will appreciate the gift and will have no reason not to crush their workouts outside of your sessions.

Resistance bands

Resistance bands aka “Assisted Pull up Bands” when searching online. These are a great alternative if you or your client do not have access to a cable machine or dumbbells. I will also use a resistance band to aid in balance exercises.

The bands I use are from Serious Steel and have had the same set for the last year+, with little to no wear still. There are a variety of sizes / resistance, but the red & purple bands tend to get the most use.

These are also the bands I suggest to clients who prefer to do their additional workouts on their own, at home!

sliders / gliders

Sliders / Gliders are another great piece of equipment to keep in your bag. They are versatile, but I tend to mainly use them for core exercises. Depending on the space you have access to, the type of slider / glider you purchase will make a difference. I have 2 types (as seen below); the purple “Gliding” slider, is left at our studio and the black “Iron Core Fitness” slider travels with me.

Pro’s of Gliding Slider:

• Durable / long lasting.

• Slides well on hard surfaces.

• Lightweight.

• They do not get scratched when a rock or other particle slides underneath.

Con’s of Glidings Slider:

• Does not slide as well on carpet or other soft surfaces.

• Occasionally needs the bottom to be wiped off, for optimal sliding.

Pro’s of Iron Core Fitness Slider:

• Durable / long lasting.

• Reversible; works on hard & soft surfaces.

• Size is more ideal for travel.

• The plastic is flat (no airspace between the fabric & plastic), so it’s less likely to crack compared to other brands.

• Can be bought in bulk (another great idea for client gifts).

Con’s of Iron Core Fitness Slider:

• Doesn’t slide *as* well as the gliding slider, on hard surfaces because of the logo.

• Plastic likely to scratch after a few uses.

ENERGY BOOST // celsius

So now we’re set with basic equipment, but on those long days, sometimes we need a little extra boost of energy. I personally keep a case of Celsius stocked at all times, for those 5:00am to 7:00pm days.

Orange is my all time favorite, but I also really enjoy Fuji Apple Pear and Watermelon.

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Aside from the above products, I have invested in higher ticket pieces of equipment over time, but when first starting out keep it simple! Over time you will recognize what fits your clientele & programming the best.

Disclaimer: I do work with Amazon as an affiliate, however everything mentioned above, I personally use and love. If you’re looking for additional suggestions or have any specific questions, comment below!

2018: The Year of Transformation

In case you weren’t aware, 2019 is less than 2 months away. WHAT. HOW? Should I leave a moment of silence for that to sink in??

…

Not that the specific year of 2019 has any huge significance, but of course having another 365 days pass always makes you reflect back on your life:

What did I accomplish?

What didn't I accomplish?

How do I feel about my life right now?

Am I in a better, worse or the same place I was 1 year ago?

These are all very normal, but important things to think about. Sure, it can be a depressing topic if your year hasn't been all you dreamed of, but that's exactly WHY it’s important. If you ignore the fact that there were zero changes made to better your life, or even worse, choices made to actually dig that negative hole deeper (#truthbomb), YOU. WILL. STAY. STUCK.

So let me give you a glimmer of hope….you can always make a change. ALWAYS. (note: if your first thought to me saying that is “no I cant because ….” , that's right where you need to start).

2018 for me was a year of extreme transformation; caterpillar to butterfly type sh*t. Per my above photos, its easy to assume that I am speaking of a physical transformation, however that was not even in the top 3. But for visual effects, lets imagine the girl on the right as a caterpillar still in her cocoon and the one on the left a vibrant butterfly.

I have always been a health & fitness minded person, dating as far back as 15 years old when I had to beg my parents to let me work at a gym down the street. But at the time, the meaning of health was very unclear to me. I thought working out a few times a week and eating a salad somewhere in there equated to a healthy lifestyle. Fast forward through my health pause I like to call “college” and my “I wonder how many nights drinking in a row is too many” phase that rolled me right up to about a year ago. I thought about healthy choices often, that counts for something, right?? I always craved a healthy and active lifestyle, but I allowed so many other factors in my life to over power that part of me.

I wish I could pin point the exact moment my mindset shifted, but in all honesty, there was not just one. For the past year, I’ve spent countless moments creating this shift. I do still struggle, but those negative / outside factors that were once so strong, have dwindled down to a soft whisper.

So lets look at the top contenders that have created the butterfly I am today.

• MINDSET. You will never get anywhere positive in life, if you have a negative mindset. I sat in on a seminar this week where the topic of “law of averages” came up. Specific to sales, they discussed how you will get 90% “no’s” and 10% “yes’s“. So if I were to tell you that you’d have to hear “no” 9 times before getting a “yes”, how would you feel? We are not here for sales, but that doesn’t mean the same idea can’t be applied. Rejection, negative thoughts, unhealthy influences, etc. will always be factors. So, you can either hold onto the fear of “no”, or reluctantly face them and complain the whole way, OR realize that its a part of the process and happily face those “no’s”, knowing that your “yes” is right around the corner.

  “I can’t do this”

  “I will never reach my goals”

  “I will never be successful, what’s the point”

  “Everyone will think I’m…..”

  OR

  “This is going to be hard, but 100% worth it”

  “I will not stop until I reach my goals”

  “I am so passionate about what I do, I WILL be successful”

  “I think I am amazing, strong, smart, etc.”

  Conquer the way you think about yourself and your situation, and half of the battle is already won.

• NUTRITION. Hands down my favorite element of this transformation. I have always lived with digestive issues, low levels of energy and consistent spurts of acne. As soon as I removed dairy (HUGE!!!!), gluten, processed foods and decreased my caffeine and alcohol intake I noticed these all reduce and even completely go away. The way we fuel our bodies NEEDS to be focused around health and shift away from being based around modifying weight. Eating mainly plant based and bridging the gap with plant concentrates changed my life, literally at a cellular level.

• MOVEMENT. Working out has never been an issue for me, however being consistent was. This year I focused on creating a routine I enjoyed, one that was manageable around my busy schedule and something I could stick to for the long haul. My happy place within the gym is 1 hour / 4-5 days a week. I will always believe in consistency over intensity.

There were other factors that contributed to this lifestyle transformation, but narrowing down the top 3 to “nutrition, movement & mindset” would sum up 2018 nicely for me. Together, they helped me gain confidence in myself and the choices I make, allowed me to find my deepest passion in life (health & fitness) and molded a strong a$$ butterfly that I absolutely love being.

If you are struggling within your journey, or are ready to even make one simple change towards a healthier, happier lifestyle, I am here with open arms ready to help start that conversation.