December 19, 2025 • 37 mins
If in-person training works, why do so many people still struggle to see lasting results? In this episode of The Supra Human Show, Ben Olliver, Ryan Stevens, and Dr. Taylor Waters break down online coaching versus in person training based on years of real-world coaching on both sides. They explain where in person training can be useful early on for confidence, technique, and structure, and why it often plateaus once those basics are in place. The conversation then shifts to what actually drives long-term transformation: daily accountability, nutrition, habits, recovery, and lifestyle systems that traditional personal training rarely covers. If you are deciding where to invest your time, money, and energy for real progress, this episode gives you a clear framework to understand how results are actually built and which model supports that reality.
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:08) Pros and Cons Of In Person Training
(05:24) The Gym Problem Vs The Life Problem
(10:01) The Downsides Of Most Personal Trainers
(15:12) Results Depend On Diet
(19:37) Why Online Coaching Drives Consistency And Accountability
(31:16) The Biggest Risk With Online Coaching
Which do you think would move your results faster right now, better workouts or better accountability outside the gym?
To learn more about Supra Human programs: https://www.suprahuman.com/pocast
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Interested in joining the team? We are always looking for high performers to join our mission to achieve elite level performance in fitness, nutrition and mindset. View our current career opportunities: https://www.suprahuman.com/careers
Results may vary depending on your condition, starting weight, and commitment to the program.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Should you get an online coach or an in person trainer?
This is a great question becausewe've experienced both for a
significant amount of time. There's definitely pros and cons
for both. The more flexibility within a
program, the easier it is to adhere to consistently over
time. The main focus is our
communication day-to-day, the nutrition plan, your habits,
(00:20):
your mindset. The workouts aren't really the
limiting factor. People have a life problem,
that's why they don't get resolved.
If you're on the fence of do I need an in person trainer,
should I go for an online coach,I will probably lean towards it.
I'm Ryan Stevens. Doctor Taylor Waters, I'm Ben
Oliver. Welcome to the Superhuman show,
Yeah? Should you get an online coach
(00:46):
or an in person trainer? So we've all came from in
person. Were you, were you a personal
trainer or you were more of a straightening, a distant coach?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So we were personal trainers,
Trainers 556 years. Yeah, yeah, we went online
because no one likes spending time with us in real life.
Yeah, you can't smell. You can't smell.
You can't. Smell on the Internet.
But this is a great question because we, we've experienced
(01:09):
both for a significant amount oftime.
It's not like we've done online coaching for a year and in
person for 10. You know, we, I think we've been
online coaching now for close to8 years.
Yeah. And so more online now than than
in person. And I think there's, there's
definitely pros and cons to both.
So if we talk about in in personfirst, what are the benefits?
(01:34):
Who is it for? And then compare it to online
coaching, because I mean, we, weare biased because we work for
an online coaching company. But I, I think with all of the
things that we discussed, the, the goal is for all of the
listeners to make an informed decision.
And so maybe online coaching isn't right for you in this
(01:54):
current moment. And so if we can just break down
the, the good things, the bad things, things to look out for,
then you can make make your decision based on that.
So if we go in person first, I, I found in from from my benefit
from in person. It taught me how like my, my
(02:16):
personal skills grew massively from in person coaching, like
the ability to build rapport with with people and stuff.
But obviously that's on the coaching side, yeah.
I was going to say that from like the coaching side, if
you've the first step is go in person.
I said, I said to anyone that wants to be a coach or even guys
that have said, you know, how can I work for super?
I'm like, have you coached before?
If they haven't coached in person, I'm like go go work in a
(02:39):
gym for a couple. It's not what people want to
hear, but it's like go work in agym for a couple years because
then at least you actually see if you enjoy coaching itself.
Because if you don't, if you don't like coaching people on
the gym floor at all, coaching probably isn't for you.
In in general, yeah. I tell you what you like
coaching skills, coaching cues. That stuff comes from the in
person. Isn't it like when you go
(02:59):
Because when you're online, you're like, providing the
information, but if there's a way of delivering the
information as well, And I thinkyou sharpen those skills much
more. Yeah.
In person, like coaching throughmovement patterns and things,
because you'll be a bit more specific than just providing,
like, general information. You get me?
Yeah. Really good they're like build
your personal skills as well as like what do you do in the rest
time? You know, like you talk in
(03:20):
building rapport like goes a long way when you go online
coaching, you know you like I goin when I go in gyms, you just
see people counting reps and they're on their phone and
they're rest times next, like you know, you engaging in
conversation, You know I. Think the the the one the
biggest pro that stands out fromin person is obviously coaching
technique. Like there is massive
limitations, not so you can't doit, but coaching form in person
(03:44):
is way easier basically because you can manually move someone
into the position that you want Because it's just that we were
talking about with exercise cues.
You could say like knees out during a squat, chest up.
And different cues will work fordifferent people.
And that's what you have to get good at with online.
If like, do I I need 10 different cues that achieve the
same thing and see which one clicks with that person.
(04:07):
But when you're coaching someonein person, if the first cue
doesn't work, I can just grab their shoulder and go like this
and they go, oh, now I know whatthat feels like.
And then you can, you can kind of, you can learn movement
patterns and exercises much faster in person.
So I, I think for complete beginners, if I had to go like
(04:27):
which one is the winner, I will probably lean towards in person
for someone that's like never ever set foot in the gym before.
That doesn't mean you can't get great results online, but I
would say if, if you've at leasthad a gym induction with someone
in person to go, here's how you use the machines.
Here's how you do a bench press or squat A deadlift.
Like it's going to your learningcurve is going to be much faster
(04:50):
than watching YouTube videos. Yeah, trying to.
I mean, I, I, I learned Olympic weightlifting through YouTube
and had to like relearn it 1000 times because I didn't have an
Olympic lifting coach. And it's, and it's like, how am
I, I'm trying to give myself these cues based on videos I'm
watching, but then I have to film myself and be like, well, I
Nope, my hips are higher than that guy.
And if I just had someone go do this.
(05:13):
Like so fast. And I, I agree with that as well
because if you think about it, right, a beginner has like a gym
problem where like they don't know how to use that machines,
they don't have proper technique.
Whereas that once you've solved that problem, like the results
really come from like people have a life problem.
That's why they don't get results, right?
Like emotionally thin weekend stress, etcetera.
So once you've solved that gym problem, like learning exercises
(05:35):
with good technique, then your results really come from the
other stuff. Yeah, no, especially for our
clientele. You know what, like very rarely
do I have people, again, if theyknow how to use the gym and like
with the goals that they want, like fat loss, etcetera, the
workers aren't really the limiting factor.
You know, like a lot of people, they come to us, they're already
in a gym and they still not got the results they want, you know,
because it's everything else andyou don't get with like an in
(05:57):
person PT. Yeah, Yeah.
I think the the benefits you seein person, it's those live cues.
You can give the cues there and then, like if you can see
someone moving it in a certain way mid set.
Mid set you can give a cue. That's going to get it working.
Whereas like, you know, giving someone feedback on a video of
them doing a squat from 1 angle is not quite the same as being
(06:17):
able to retroactive. Yeah.
And then they've got to rememberthat re watch the video, going
to the gym and try and do it then.
And they're still not getting live cues to see if that's
correct or not. So that is a much less efficient
way to do it. And we have it where with the on
the Elite programme with Supra where we have the fly insurance
and they come in and we do in person coaching.
Then you can just refine that technique a little bit more.
(06:40):
And it's not like they're doing the technique wrong, like
they've been working online using videos and their technique
is fine. Like there's nothing wrong with
the technique, but you can refine it and make it that
little bit better if then you can give those live coaching
cues and get it done properly. So I think that's where that is
the main benefit of in person isjust that live queue that live
(07:02):
feedback and like perfect in themovement.
So as you said, for a a completenovice, if you're like no
confidence in your ability to goin and execute these exercises
even on like machines and thingslike you can go to a gym and
spend months and months just like spinning your wheels doing
nothing because you haven't evengot the technique right, let
(07:23):
alone training an intensity that's going to result in some
form of adaptation. So it's like an in person can
just get you through that phase fast.
It's like you do a month, twice a week with an in person boom
and you're already way ahead now.
So now you can start training atan an intensity that might
actually get you somewhere. But I think outside of that,
(07:43):
that's where the limitations. The other benefit I would say is
if, again, if you're, if you're a beginner or even if you just
like really lacking in confidence and shy and like, and
you don't have a like a friend that you can go to the gym with,
like going to the gym to, to meet with your personal trainer.
(08:03):
I think one, it keeps you accountable because again,
you've, you've, you've booked something and if you don't turn
up, you have to pay for it. You know, you should pay for it.
But just having that support system with you in the gym
because we've all had it. When you know, when you first
start going to the gym and you feel like everyone's staring at
you and then you're like, well, I don't know what I'm doing.
I feel like I'm like an idiot. And when you've got someone
there that has clearly got confidence in the gym because
(08:26):
they work there, you know, they're talking to you, You've
got like your gym buddy, so to speak.
And I think that massively helpsif you're coming from a place of
just like, I don't like the gym,like if I, if I don't like the
gym because it makes me feel a certain way.
I think just getting, like you said, a couple weeks of because,
(08:46):
because then even if then if you're not using that trainer
afterwards, there's someone in the gym that waves at you when
you walk in, like there's someone that you know, and it
just, it, it just takes your confidence from like a zero to
A1 because that, that confidenceis going to build over time
regardless as you, as you progress.
But I think just to get your foot in the door, it's, it's
like anything, you know, if, if we, you know, if we, if we said,
(09:08):
ah, let's, let's try surfing like we've never done it before.
It's like, well, if I go to a beach where there's loads of pro
surfers, I'm going to feel like a right twat.
Whereas if you look like one of them, because if we get Colin or
get Colin, Colin gives lessons. But but then if I go there and
(09:29):
then I have a lesson with one ofthe pro surfers, you
automatically feel like, well, none of the other pros are going
to look at me and be like, oh, what a Dick.
It's like, no, he's having a lesson with a pro.
Unless you're learning a badge on the car.
Yeah. And so it's, it's like it's
going to give, it almost gives you that like shield, so to
speak, where it's like, oh, likeeveryone knows I'm learning like
it's, it's, it's like you've gotthe learner badge on your car,
(09:50):
exactly what you said. So I, I think, I think there is
advantages there. But then, but then if we go into
cons, there's loads of really shit in person trainers.
The barrier to entry is low, isn't it?
And there's a lot of trash out there.
And then it's, so then if, and then again, if you, if you're
working with an in person trainer that doesn't know
(10:10):
correct technique or isn't like you, you know, making the small
talk and could, could make you feel more awkward in the gym,
you know, and, and make you feellike you're just wasting their
time. You know, I, I, the amount of
times even at the gym I go to, Isee trainers with their hands in
their pockets. And, and it's like, even though
I'm not in the world of personaltraining anymore, like it
(10:34):
genuinely pisses me off. Like, because I mean, I, I used
to watch you train people in thegym and it would be like laser
focus on every single Rep, you know?
And you're, if anything, you lose count of the reps because
you're like, I'm not worried about the number.
I want to make sure they're executing properly.
And then I see people in the gymlike, and they've got the client
on a treadmill and it's like 1. Like have them do that before
(10:56):
you get there. Like they don't need, you don't
need to coach them walking. But then it's your hands are in
your pockets when the client's back's turned, you're on your
phone and I'm, I'm just like, you're an asshole.
Like it's probably like my biggest pet peeve in the gym
behind leaving your weights out.Like it's just.
You can see the map in their session as it goes, isn't it?
(11:16):
They walk in, there's no plan. They've just been in their chat
into their there's no, there's no like, you know, hype.
There's no positive reinforcement.
It's just like really just dull born.
Like even silence between sets. It's like cool, 3 seconds and
then we go cool. And then they're just, they're
just staring at it and you can tell they're just daydreaming.
And there's, there's no like, because you know, you're going
(11:37):
to be, you might be on one knee if they're doing like a like a
cable row or something. And it's like you're looking at
their shoulder position and you're coaching and stuff.
And like you just, you don't seeit anymore.
Like, you know. I often see people on their
phones when they're actually doing their set, you know?
And it's like, come on. It's almost like there's no
structure to it. It's like they're just winging
it. So what's free next?
We'll just do this. It's like just chaotic.
It's very low, low quality, isn't it?
(11:58):
Or you get the other, the other extreme end where you go in and
like they're like the hardcore trainer.
So then like the only job is to like give you an absolute
whooping. So like you go in and it's just
like the hardest training session they can possibly run
you through every set to like way past muscle failure,
absolutely crucify you. And again, like you go in,
(12:21):
you're wanting to like learn themovements and build your
confidence. And instead you go in, you get
an absolute spanking and then you go out and it's like that,
you never see that transform into like, Oh yeah, now I now I
love going to the gym. Like they hate it now more than
they ever did. Like all, all you're doing is
taking the part that they probably don't enjoy that much
and making it like the main focus of that session.
(12:42):
It's just give him an absolute. Grilling I remember because I I
worked at the university gym andthen I also personal trained at
a gym called fitness factory andthe, the guy that owned it was
was awesome like Joe Defranco follower like trained very
similar to me. We got we got along great.
He was probably the only other good trainer in there and I
would go in and I'll be trainingmy clients and then there'd be
(13:04):
other PTS in there and then the client would come in and it
would be like the, what's the, you know, the song that's like
bring Sally up, bring Sally. And it's like, and they would
just be doing burpees like to the song.
And he's a good session today, guys.
And I, I'll be looking at him like, do you just like they
paying you to do that? And I, and I, and I, I don't
think many of the PTS liked me in there because I didn't talk
(13:25):
to many of them because I thought they're all fucking
useless. But then also like their clients
would they'd be watching me coaching my clients and be like,
Oh, that, like, what are they doing it?
And he's like, I don't do burpees like.
Train hard. Just yeah.
And I was just like, and I if they he said like, oh, you know,
what do you think I'm trying to do this?
Do you think that was good? And I'm like, no, that was a
useless session. I was like, why are you paying
to do that? It was it was embarrassing.
(13:47):
It was embarrassing to be associated with some of those
trainers. Yeah, yeah.
So we can either go one way or the other really.
Kind of like if you are going togo in person, make sure it's a
recommendation. Yeah, in the beginning.
I think the like when you look at like you got a complete
novice here, 0% and then you've got 100%, which is like an
expert in the field. Getting an in personal, an in
(14:09):
person personal trainer probablygets you to like 10%.
So, so like but above 10%, it doesn't have much use past 10%.
However, it can get you from zero to 10% really quick.
Whereas if you don't have one, zero to 10% might take you 18
months, whereas if you do have one, you might do it in two
months. So it's just a really easy way
(14:29):
to fast track that initial zero to 10%.
Whereas like now I feel comfortable in a gym, I know how
to move, I can start loading some weight properly, I'm the
risk of injury is lower and thenthen you've got 90% of the of
the the game to chase them. At least fast track the zero to
10. That's the main objective, isn't
it? Is like as long as you're not
(14:50):
used to complete the movements like with good technique, you
feel comfortable in the gym and you're good to go.
And you can't count to 12. I think the, because the other
thing as well, then it's becauselike we're saying, you've got
the say 3 workouts in the gym that you do with your personal
trainer. But then all the progress that
you make. If your goal is to change your
body composition, like say fat loss, for example, your diet is
(15:12):
going to be the key driver and all your habits and behaviors
outside of the gym. So even if your in person
trainer is giving you a meal plan, you know, and touching
base with you outside of the gym, that's online coaching like
that, that's how they're coaching you.
And so really like if they're doing that, you're doing online
coaching plus in person. But I think the issue with it is
(15:35):
when you have an in person trainer mentally, you put all of
your stock in those three workouts and you won't pay it.
It'll be like all the add on is he gives me a diet template, you
know, and he touches base with me.
So all your focus is on like burying yourself in those three
workouts and then you you kind of just mess around with the
rest of it. Whereas with online coaching,
(15:55):
it's almost like it's flipped and it's like, well, yeah, we've
got workouts, but they're not the focus.
The main focus is our communication day-to-day, the
nutrition plan, your habits, your mindset, like all of the
things that you do outside of those workouts.
And that to me, I've, I've got significantly better results
with far more people online coaching than I ever did in
(16:16):
person. It it doesn't even come close.
That's not to say I didn't get results in person, but trying to
convince them that the work again, like my income relies on
them coming to the gym and me training them.
So for them to me to go, this stuff isn't really that
important or not as important asyou think.
You need to be doing this diet stuff and everything else
(16:38):
outside, no matter how much emphasis I put on it, they will
be like, Oh, you know, I really want to do this in my next
workout or something. They're saying like you need to
stop drinking gravy. Like it's like that's that's the
issue. And and it just it never worked.
And then as soon as I switched online results were just like
10X. And I was like, I'm not, I'm not
(16:59):
even giving this person workouts.
They're doing their own workouts.
And it's like all, all I'm doingis teaching them proper
nutrition and, you know, focusing on sleep steps,
hydration, that kind of stuff. I'm like, do your own workouts,
do what you're currently doing. We're just going to change.
And that that's when like my mindset shifted, like the
workouts really don't matter that much.
Like, and I, and I'm like a gym guy.
(17:20):
Like, I love, I love training, but I was like, I haven't even
had a conversation about training other than do you lift
weights? Cool, keep lifting weights.
And then we just changed everything else and the results
were just were insane. You say this, Ben, as well.
Like COVID was a good realization for that.
Like we were just doing like push ups, sandbags, pull ups,
like anything. You get your hands.
Yeah, yeah. And.
(17:40):
It's like and didn't lose any muscle, like still got still got
in shape like. And you can train hard then like
what you do. There's a lot of wiggle room
there in terms of what you do. Like you see people, some people
do body part split. Some people do, you know, full
body. Some people do two days a week,
some people do six days a week. So like look at all the variety
and every one of them can get jacked.
(18:02):
So it's like, well, what's the, what's the common theme between
them? It's they train hard and they
train consistently over time. It's all the other stuff outside
the gym that's going to dictate the results more than those
things. As long as you're covering the
fundamentals of consistent hard work, then you're going to,
you're going to, again, there are, you know, some smaller
specifics there, but it's as long as you're doing those two
(18:23):
things, you're covering most of the way and then the other stuff
is going to dictate the most. Well thing about it, we have
clients like they train at home with like some bands, dumbbells,
some even bothering get fantastic results.
But I, I would just say we're talking about body composition.
As soon as you start talking about performance, then you you
know you're going down specificsof like, well, then programming
is important. It doesn't downplay anything
(18:45):
else, but what you do in the gymhas to have carry over to the
thing that you're trying to perform it.
But for the sake of this conversation, we're just talking
about body composition change, build, building muscle, dropping
body fat. But like the the upside to that
is like the your sand pit that you get to play in is huge.
Like the more, the more specificyour performance is.
(19:07):
It's like, well, I have to work within these variables.
But when your goal is to just look good, you can.
I don't want to say you can do anything, but like you could if
I if I said to you, you've got atrain with nothing but your body
weight for a year, you would probably look exactly the same
as you do now. And then if I said you can't do
body weight exercises, you can only use machines in the gym,
you probably look exactly the same.
(19:27):
Yeah, yeah, you. Could find a way to the area
that is pins body weight Scots. You'll be doing some slow
pistols. Yeah, I'll tell you one thing,
you made a good guess. You made a good point there in
terms like consistency over timeand one of the key factors there
as well. It's like accountability.
Whereas if you have a train APT,let's say they go twice a week,
3 * a week, right, you've got them for three.
Was the average session like an hour?
(19:49):
Yeah. Whereas like online coaching
24/7, Yeah. You know, so like that you've
got our accountability much morefrequently, much more touch
points. So then they're more likely to
be consistent over time if they've got an issue, like they
can communicate that with you solving in real time.
You know, that's a huge advantage of online.
Like we churn out, you look at the winning streak in Supra and
there's like transformation, daily transformations going in
(20:11):
there of just clients flying in.And it's like I, I don't know,
again, off the top of my head, I'm obviously there's, there's
some out there, but like I can'tthink of someone who got a
personal trainer like an in person and it just like, Oh my
God, have you seen him now? He looks insane.
I just haven't seen it just like3 sessions a week.
The. Only people I can think of is
(20:34):
when Nick Mitchell had the ultimate performance in Mayfair,
but it was again, it was basically online coaching
because I mean, they would beastthem in the gym, but then it was
all diet. Yeah, like a bit because they
were such high ticket for in person.
And they like their whole thing was like, you know, they'd work
with celebrities. Never like 12 weeks will
(20:55):
transform you. But it was like aggressive, you
know, where like they'd have daily cardio, 4 to 5 workouts a
week, like aggressive low carb diets, you know, full
supplement. They did like the full shebang,
but it was almost like online coaching.
But it's, you still see them. So it's just online coaching and
people who are in the area. They were really like the, the
first ones that I know of kind of in the UK where they put all
(21:17):
the emphasis on like the diet and stuff as well as the hard
training. But outside of that, like I
really don't know any in person like gyms or businesses that are
churning out like those kind of transformations.
It's, it's all, it's all online coaches and and companies now.
And that's it, isn't it? Like the difference is like most
PTS, they just literally focus on the workers where it's like
(21:39):
the Nick Mitchell, he focus on everything else as well.
You know, it's like sleep stresssteps.
But I think the. Building out habits.
All this stuff is, is, I mean, the, there's, there's so many
pros to the on. Even with the online stuff, when
we talk about the time between sets, building rapport with
clients, you're still only talking to them for that hour,
(22:02):
you know, or like, you know, say30 minutes in between the sets.
Whereas I've, you know, made best friends of clients online
where where some I MM Musselman,one of our coaches, like we met
for the first time this year. We've been friends for seven
years and best friends for sevenyears, like through online
coaching, never met in person like Zoom calls, you know,
(22:23):
messages like that's. It's mad in it.
Yeah. And and so like to say you don't
have the personal touch is an outright like Fox, you know,
because, because we've we've built some of the best
relationships that we have in our lives through online
coaching. We have this job because of
online coaching. Like I'd never met John like in
person before I started working for Super.
(22:45):
And so it's, it opens up so manydoors on that side.
But I think from a rapport building standpoint, I've built
far better rapport online, yeah,than than in person.
The opportunity for more frequent touch points, isn't it?
You mean like a WhatsApp messageZoom call where it's like when
you're you have structured PT sessions just like 2 to three
(23:05):
times a week or whatever. Beyond that, you may not talk.
Yeah, yeah. Well, think in order to be an
effective online coach, we have conversations around their work
life, their family life, stresses.
They have all these things that are going to impact the way they
eat, their exercise schedule, their travel schedule, all this
stuff. Whereas if you're an in person
PT you, you've got an hour thereand you're going to be talking
(23:26):
through a lot of training stuff,coaching points.
And yeah, you squeeze in some general chat between sets, but
you're not going to go into muchdetail between sets.
And that will normally just be like, what are they up to these
days? Or you're not going to go into
too much detail. Whereas in order to be an
effective online coach, you haveto go into detail on those
things. So like again, we've we built
(23:47):
really strong relationships withpeople online, whereas in
person, again, those relationships were, they were
OK, like they were fine, but they weren't that deep.
They weren't like a lifelong friend or someone that you're
friends. With everything as well as when
you're working with someone in person, it's highly likely
that's going to be local becauseyou're going to be going to a
(24:08):
gym that's nearby you. And I think there is still a
level of like, but I'm not goingto tell them my deepest darkest
secrets because they I probably know other people in the gym and
they know other people. We have mutual friends, whereas,
you know, I, I think a massive upside to the online coaching is
there. I, I feel like from my
experience, clients are a lot more open to just being honest
(24:32):
with you about, you know, maybe their relationship or their job
or the stresses that they have because they're like, who the
fuck are they going to tell? Like they're, they're in another
country or another state. It's like it's a completely
unbiased, you know, non judgmental person that's not in
your, in your town, in your circle.
So I think it just allows peopleto just be more confident to
(24:54):
just be like, I'm really struggling with this.
Like I'm depressed. I'm like, I've been binging at
night or like my work stress is really high, like my
relationship isn't going well. And like, and then we can have
an honest conversation because again, we're not in that circle
and it's there's no gossip or anything like that.
Whereas you know, every gym thatI've been to, it's like a school
playground, you know, everyone talks about everyone and PTS are
(25:17):
talking about their clients and stuff.
And it's just, I think people lose that ability to just be
completely dead honest. And because we know when working
with clients, that's one of, if not the most important thing is
our clients have to be honest with us with everything that's
going on. Otherwise we can't.
We can slap band aids on stuff and, you know, give basic
(25:38):
tactics, but if we don't really know what's going on, you're
never going to solve the issue or or sort the problem out.
Is those is those problems that are really holding them back
from keeping them stuck from their results as well, you know,
so. Yeah.
And that's where like when you think about things like work
stress or emotional eating and that stuff plays a much bigger
role in terms of body comp long term than their technique on a
(26:03):
front squat or their. So it's like, again, as you can
have quite poor technique on a front squat, the risk of injury
might be a bit higher. But if he trains it quite hard,
he's. Probably going to get pretty
big. Legs, don't worry mate, don't
give you a front squat, give youa leg extension.
Yeah, it'll be alright. It's, it's, it's where the
emphasis is though, isn't it? It's like exactly that.
Like when, when you're coaching in person, you're, you're
basically there in the gym working on the technique and
(26:25):
stuff when they could be having their life could be falling
apart outside of the gym and you're like, just bend your
knees a bit more. And it's like that.
That's not, that's not really helping them.
That's not solving the big, the big problems.
And I think online coaching has allowed us to go like way deeper
with clients and and have them and be able to have those
(26:45):
conversations constructively. I don't love the term.
It's like a lifestyle coach, isn't it?
But I, I I. Definitely don't refer to myself
as a lifestyle coach because youdon't want my life either.
It's. Like I'm, I'm not something to
base off. It's it's the health and fitness
part of your lifestyle that we coach.
Even even well-being makes me like, yeah.
(27:06):
We need to know about the other things, but I'm not helping you
in those. I'm helping you in this area,
but I just need to understand those in order to this case.
It's really hard to. Go up with a title without it
sounding corny because you'd be like, I'm a transformation
coach. It's like, that sounds shit as
well. Call me like yeah.
I tell you another thing as wellis that like working online is
actually more flexible for the client as well.
Because obviously if you've got like PT sessions like well, you
(27:28):
need to be at 3:00 Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
I can't do any other time because I've got like other
sessions booked in. It's like when we're online,
it's like, all right, move your session to you.
Can train when you want. Yeah, you can message me when
you want. You always respond within a few
hours like. Because especially with our
clientele, like off the cuff, within an hour they got a flight
to a different state. They need their trainer to
travel with. Yeah, yeah.
(27:48):
That's a perfect example of, youknow, the more the more
flexibility within a program, the easier it is to adhere to
consistently over time. So and that's where like as you
get older, you transition from like classes.
So for example, if you're into like martial arts or boxing or
like a weightlifting class, people as they get more
(28:09):
responsibilities like kids, and if they move away from those
because they're limited by wherethey can go at what times
because they've got all these other responsibilities.
So you have to find something that you adapt around your own
schedule. And again, being online, there's
no time limit there. It's like you just, you can turn
up whenever you want, but here'sthe program and everything that
you need to do. Whereas if it's like I can fit
(28:30):
you in 9:00 AM Monday morning, Ican't do that.
Oh, well, we'll have to leave it.
We'll have to go to next week. It's like it's way easier to
adhere to online because it's all built around you.
You're not, you're not fitting into the PT schedule or the PTS
life. It's the the online coach is
designing everything around you and what's specific to you.
(28:50):
So again, from an AD run standpoint and a long term
consistency standpoint, it's much much, much more effective.
We integrate into their lifestyle essentially.
So I, I think the other thing with in person, exactly on the
scheduling, how many people do you know where let's say their,
their trainer has to cancel for whatever reason?
(29:10):
Does the client still go to the gym and train?
They'll go, I get a day off. And so, you know, it's, it's
like the, the ownership is all on the personal trainers show
up. Whereas when it's online, that's
already been established, like I'm not in the gym with you.
You need to go on your own and take some ownership.
I'm not going to feed you your meals and give them to you in
(29:32):
person. You need to like learn these
skills. And so I, I think just from the
offset, there's a shift in ownership of your own results.
Whereas in, in the amount of times in person, like if, if, if
I had to, if I was sick or something and I had to cancel,
not once did I have a client go,Oh, can you send me the work out
and I'll go do it. They'll just go, oh, cool, I'll
(29:53):
see you on Friday. Just not going to train then
like, and, and so they're already like you're, you're the
all of their results depend solely on you to turn up when it
should be them turning up. And so I think online coaching
has that advantage of like we'rein another country, like I'm not
going to be there with you. Like I'm not, I'm not your alarm
clock in the morning. I'm not your babysitter.
(30:14):
I'm not going to drag you to thegym.
And you know, some people do need that, But I, I think that's
the upside to, to the online, it's the ownership kind of
change up. But then I think the if we look
at cons of online coaching very similar to in person where,
yeah, the, the at least, I mean the barrier to entry for
(30:36):
personal training is you need inthe I think in the UK it's like
a level. 2. Personal training
qualifications, but if any gym to basically hire you legally.
I'm not sure what it's like in the US, but it's probably
something similar. That is, you know, if you have
200 lbs and you turn up for a weekend then you can get it
basically. Like the the pass rate is very
(30:57):
high. Yeah, like if, I mean if you
fail that like God, you shouldn't be allowed out the
house, let alone in training people in the gym.
But I, I think the one I did, itwas like 90, it was like 98.7%
pass rate or something. And then I was like, well, who
are the ones that failed? And they probably died because
they passed away. But then obviously in online,
(31:18):
there's zero barrier to entry. You can literally say I'm an
online coach and you don't need any certifications.
There's no governing body. No one is like, oh, we're going
to audit you and see, like let'slook at your, your programming
and stuff. Like there's no, there's there's
no one that you have to report to or submit anything to, to be
(31:38):
an online coach, as long as you put a disclaimer like I'm not a
dietitian or a doctor. Have at it.
And so you do get a lot of really shitty online coaches.
And it's like you can go to, youknow, if I went to you, for
example, like I know you got themasters in nutrition, masters in
SNC. So it's like, I know that you
(31:58):
can't just buy that. I know that you I know that's,
that's quite difficult to get your hands on.
So I know at least like I know at a bare minimum you're.
In some level of. You're invested in this to some
degree, OK, but online, everything that say you look on
a on a social media profile or or a website, the things that
you're looking at are stuff thatthey've said about themselves
(32:19):
and that they so they and they can say whatever they want about
themselves. Like it might not even be true.
Christ, how many times do you see transformations being put up
that aren't even theirs? They're just people who they
just find them online and makingthem so it's like there's no way
to verify their oh this person is good because it's all coming
from them anyway. It's just like a the most biased
form. You can literally say like, Oh
(32:40):
yeah, I've got masses in nutrition, like and even if if a
prospective client goes off, canI see a certificate?
And you have no, and then they'll then you just like I'll
just I'll wait for the next client that's not going to ask
me. And you can literally just lie
like someone, someone have to actively try and disprove you.
Whereas, you know, like I, I, there's just so many con con
(33:01):
artists out there and just terrible online.
I mean, we've done a whole episode on, on that.
So we don't have to go down the rabbit hole, but that is that is
a con. It's just there's no barrier to
entry. Play it.
Play it safe. Sign up for soup, bro.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
But then I, I think, you know, go in again to, to our own
trumpet. We, you know, with, with our
custom coaching, we have the online where we, we can work on
(33:26):
technique and stuff with, you know, video recording and stuff
that we do communication daily with, with clients,
accountability through the roof.The elite package that we have,
in my opinion, is the best package that you could get where
we have the in person, not weekly, but like with those
quarterly fly insurance where it's kind of like a, it's almost
(33:49):
like an MOT or like a calibration of like, let's look
at your technique and everything.
Let's refine some stuff so you can go and implement it over the
next three months and then come back, revisit it, retest, look
at where we're at. And then we get all the pros of
the online stuff as well. And so I, I don't like if you,
if you sign up to our elite program and don't get results,
I'll just say it's 100% on you because, because there's no way
(34:12):
that if you, if you follow that program and you, and you show up
to the in person, there's no waythat you don't get better.
Like, and, and also there's, there's guys and girls in that
program that have made lifelong friends through the this like
the in person social side as well.
So there's there's loads of other advantages.
To it, but even that like building a community, getting
(34:34):
social support like I think the elite program it covers every
single possible Ave. that you could go down if you're trying
to transform your body composition.
There's there's nothing that isn't covered within that
program, yeah. So yeah, I think I, I mean, I'm
always going to lean towards online as, as much as I, I
(34:56):
really enjoyed training people in person.
Like I, I love being in the gym.Like it's, you got the social
aspect of it. It's like really rewarding when
you give someone a cue and then they, they tweak it and you're
like, holy shit. Like, you know, when we first
started, you couldn't even do a goblet squat.
And now you're, you know, doing heavy deadlifts and back squats
and stuff like that's brilliant.But from a result standpoint,
(35:20):
it's not even it's not even up for debate.
Like if, if, if you want to again, look at look at our
Instagram page, you know, with all of our before and afters,
like and then show me any in person coach that has even come
close to that, you know, and I'll concede, but I don't think
it's out there. It's undeniable, isn't it?
Yeah. I think the the best way to
(35:40):
summarize it again is like if that novice is at 0% and the
expert is at 100, online coaching can cover the whole
thing. It can get you from 0 all the
way to 100. It's not the most effective in
that first 10, but everything after and it can get you up to
the very elite. Whereas like even guys to our
level have online coaches, like the guys who are even coaches
(36:02):
themselves and but I think the in person will only take you to
10%. So they can just get you there.
But it will get, I would say in that 10% in person probably
outperforms the online. However, online can help the can
still cover that area maybe a little bit less effective, but
then PT in person can cover the 10% and you're out.
(36:22):
Yeah. And you you could do that.
Within a month, like it's like just get, get that out of the
way and then I, I would say online is the way to go.
But yeah, hopefully that just gives you a bit more clarity if
you're on the fence of do I needan in person trainer?
Should I go for an online coach?Hopefully that will allow you to
make an in an informed decision between the two.
(36:43):
But thank you as always for tuning in, guys.
Be sure to like and subscribe oniTunes, Spotify, and YouTube and
we'll see you next time. If you love this show, please
like, share and leave us a five star review so that we can help
more people. I'm John Matson, reminding you
to always go get what's yours.
Should you get an online coach or an in person trainer?
This is a great question becausewe've experienced both for a
significant amount of time. There's definitely pros and cons
for both. The more flexibility within a
program, the easier it is to adhere to consistently over
time. The main focus is our
communication day-to-day, the nutrition plan, your habits,
(00:20):
your mindset. The workouts aren't really the
limiting factor. People have a life problem,
that's why they don't get resolved.
If you're on the fence of do I need an in person trainer,
should I go for an online coach,I will probably lean towards it.
I'm Ryan Stevens. Doctor Taylor Waters, I'm Ben
Oliver. Welcome to the Superhuman show,
Yeah? Should you get an online coach
(00:46):
or an in person trainer? So we've all came from in
person. Were you, were you a personal
trainer or you were more of a straightening, a distant coach?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So we were personal trainers,
Trainers 556 years. Yeah, yeah, we went online
because no one likes spending time with us in real life.
Yeah, you can't smell. You can't smell.
You can't. Smell on the Internet.
But this is a great question because we, we've experienced
(01:09):
both for a significant amount oftime.
It's not like we've done online coaching for a year and in
person for 10. You know, we, I think we've been
online coaching now for close to8 years.
Yeah. And so more online now than than
in person. And I think there's, there's
definitely pros and cons to both.
So if we talk about in in personfirst, what are the benefits?
(01:34):
Who is it for? And then compare it to online
coaching, because I mean, we, weare biased because we work for
an online coaching company. But I, I think with all of the
things that we discussed, the, the goal is for all of the
listeners to make an informed decision.
And so maybe online coaching isn't right for you in this
(01:54):
current moment. And so if we can just break down
the, the good things, the bad things, things to look out for,
then you can make make your decision based on that.
So if we go in person first, I, I found in from from my benefit
from in person. It taught me how like my, my
(02:16):
personal skills grew massively from in person coaching, like
the ability to build rapport with with people and stuff.
But obviously that's on the coaching side, yeah.
I was going to say that from like the coaching side, if
you've the first step is go in person.
I said, I said to anyone that wants to be a coach or even guys
that have said, you know, how can I work for super?
I'm like, have you coached before?
If they haven't coached in person, I'm like go go work in a
(02:39):
gym for a couple. It's not what people want to
hear, but it's like go work in agym for a couple years because
then at least you actually see if you enjoy coaching itself.
Because if you don't, if you don't like coaching people on
the gym floor at all, coaching probably isn't for you.
In in general, yeah. I tell you what you like
coaching skills, coaching cues. That stuff comes from the in
person. Isn't it like when you go
(02:59):
Because when you're online, you're like, providing the
information, but if there's a way of delivering the
information as well, And I thinkyou sharpen those skills much
more. Yeah.
In person, like coaching throughmovement patterns and things,
because you'll be a bit more specific than just providing,
like, general information. You get me?
Yeah. Really good they're like build
your personal skills as well as like what do you do in the rest
time? You know, like you talk in
(03:20):
building rapport like goes a long way when you go online
coaching, you know you like I goin when I go in gyms, you just
see people counting reps and they're on their phone and
they're rest times next, like you know, you engaging in
conversation, You know I. Think the the the one the
biggest pro that stands out fromin person is obviously coaching
technique. Like there is massive
limitations, not so you can't doit, but coaching form in person
(03:44):
is way easier basically because you can manually move someone
into the position that you want Because it's just that we were
talking about with exercise cues.
You could say like knees out during a squat, chest up.
And different cues will work fordifferent people.
And that's what you have to get good at with online.
If like, do I I need 10 different cues that achieve the
same thing and see which one clicks with that person.
(04:07):
But when you're coaching someonein person, if the first cue
doesn't work, I can just grab their shoulder and go like this
and they go, oh, now I know whatthat feels like.
And then you can, you can kind of, you can learn movement
patterns and exercises much faster in person.
So I, I think for complete beginners, if I had to go like
(04:27):
which one is the winner, I will probably lean towards in person
for someone that's like never ever set foot in the gym before.
That doesn't mean you can't get great results online, but I
would say if, if you've at leasthad a gym induction with someone
in person to go, here's how you use the machines.
Here's how you do a bench press or squat A deadlift.
Like it's going to your learningcurve is going to be much faster
(04:50):
than watching YouTube videos. Yeah, trying to.
I mean, I, I, I learned Olympic weightlifting through YouTube
and had to like relearn it 1000 times because I didn't have an
Olympic lifting coach. And it's, and it's like, how am
I, I'm trying to give myself these cues based on videos I'm
watching, but then I have to film myself and be like, well, I
Nope, my hips are higher than that guy.
And if I just had someone go do this.
(05:13):
Like so fast. And I, I agree with that as well
because if you think about it, right, a beginner has like a gym
problem where like they don't know how to use that machines,
they don't have proper technique.
Whereas that once you've solved that problem, like the results
really come from like people have a life problem.
That's why they don't get results, right?
Like emotionally thin weekend stress, etcetera.
So once you've solved that gym problem, like learning exercises
(05:35):
with good technique, then your results really come from the
other stuff. Yeah, no, especially for our
clientele. You know what, like very rarely
do I have people, again, if theyknow how to use the gym and like
with the goals that they want, like fat loss, etcetera, the
workers aren't really the limiting factor.
You know, like a lot of people, they come to us, they're already
in a gym and they still not got the results they want, you know,
because it's everything else andyou don't get with like an in
(05:57):
person PT. Yeah, Yeah.
I think the the benefits you seein person, it's those live cues.
You can give the cues there and then, like if you can see
someone moving it in a certain way mid set.
Mid set you can give a cue. That's going to get it working.
Whereas like, you know, giving someone feedback on a video of
them doing a squat from 1 angle is not quite the same as being
(06:17):
able to retroactive. Yeah.
And then they've got to rememberthat re watch the video, going
to the gym and try and do it then.
And they're still not getting live cues to see if that's
correct or not. So that is a much less efficient
way to do it. And we have it where with the on
the Elite programme with Supra where we have the fly insurance
and they come in and we do in person coaching.
Then you can just refine that technique a little bit more.
(06:40):
And it's not like they're doing the technique wrong, like
they've been working online using videos and their technique
is fine. Like there's nothing wrong with
the technique, but you can refine it and make it that
little bit better if then you can give those live coaching
cues and get it done properly. So I think that's where that is
the main benefit of in person isjust that live queue that live
(07:02):
feedback and like perfect in themovement.
So as you said, for a a completenovice, if you're like no
confidence in your ability to goin and execute these exercises
even on like machines and thingslike you can go to a gym and
spend months and months just like spinning your wheels doing
nothing because you haven't evengot the technique right, let
(07:23):
alone training an intensity that's going to result in some
form of adaptation. So it's like an in person can
just get you through that phase fast.
It's like you do a month, twice a week with an in person boom
and you're already way ahead now.
So now you can start training atan an intensity that might
actually get you somewhere. But I think outside of that,
(07:43):
that's where the limitations. The other benefit I would say is
if, again, if you're, if you're a beginner or even if you just
like really lacking in confidence and shy and like, and
you don't have a like a friend that you can go to the gym with,
like going to the gym to, to meet with your personal trainer.
(08:03):
I think one, it keeps you accountable because again,
you've, you've, you've booked something and if you don't turn
up, you have to pay for it. You know, you should pay for it.
But just having that support system with you in the gym
because we've all had it. When you know, when you first
start going to the gym and you feel like everyone's staring at
you and then you're like, well, I don't know what I'm doing.
I feel like I'm like an idiot. And when you've got someone
there that has clearly got confidence in the gym because
(08:26):
they work there, you know, they're talking to you, You've
got like your gym buddy, so to speak.
And I think that massively helpsif you're coming from a place of
just like, I don't like the gym,like if I, if I don't like the
gym because it makes me feel a certain way.
I think just getting, like you said, a couple weeks of because,
(08:46):
because then even if then if you're not using that trainer
afterwards, there's someone in the gym that waves at you when
you walk in, like there's someone that you know, and it
just, it, it just takes your confidence from like a zero to
A1 because that, that confidenceis going to build over time
regardless as you, as you progress.
But I think just to get your foot in the door, it's, it's
like anything, you know, if, if we, you know, if we, if we said,
(09:08):
ah, let's, let's try surfing like we've never done it before.
It's like, well, if I go to a beach where there's loads of pro
surfers, I'm going to feel like a right twat.
Whereas if you look like one of them, because if we get Colin or
get Colin, Colin gives lessons. But but then if I go there and
(09:29):
then I have a lesson with one ofthe pro surfers, you
automatically feel like, well, none of the other pros are going
to look at me and be like, oh, what a Dick.
It's like, no, he's having a lesson with a pro.
Unless you're learning a badge on the car.
Yeah. And so it's, it's like it's
going to give, it almost gives you that like shield, so to
speak, where it's like, oh, likeeveryone knows I'm learning like
it's, it's, it's like you've gotthe learner badge on your car,
(09:50):
exactly what you said. So I, I think, I think there is
advantages there. But then, but then if we go into
cons, there's loads of really shit in person trainers.
The barrier to entry is low, isn't it?
And there's a lot of trash out there.
And then it's, so then if, and then again, if you, if you're
working with an in person trainer that doesn't know
(10:10):
correct technique or isn't like you, you know, making the small
talk and could, could make you feel more awkward in the gym,
you know, and, and make you feellike you're just wasting their
time. You know, I, I, the amount of
times even at the gym I go to, Isee trainers with their hands in
their pockets. And, and it's like, even though
I'm not in the world of personaltraining anymore, like it
(10:34):
genuinely pisses me off. Like, because I mean, I, I used
to watch you train people in thegym and it would be like laser
focus on every single Rep, you know?
And you're, if anything, you lose count of the reps because
you're like, I'm not worried about the number.
I want to make sure they're executing properly.
And then I see people in the gymlike, and they've got the client
on a treadmill and it's like 1. Like have them do that before
(10:56):
you get there. Like they don't need, you don't
need to coach them walking. But then it's your hands are in
your pockets when the client's back's turned, you're on your
phone and I'm, I'm just like, you're an asshole.
Like it's probably like my biggest pet peeve in the gym
behind leaving your weights out.Like it's just.
You can see the map in their session as it goes, isn't it?
(11:16):
They walk in, there's no plan. They've just been in their chat
into their there's no, there's no like, you know, hype.
There's no positive reinforcement.
It's just like really just dull born.
Like even silence between sets. It's like cool, 3 seconds and
then we go cool. And then they're just, they're
just staring at it and you can tell they're just daydreaming.
And there's, there's no like, because you know, you're going
(11:37):
to be, you might be on one knee if they're doing like a like a
cable row or something. And it's like you're looking at
their shoulder position and you're coaching and stuff.
And like you just, you don't seeit anymore.
Like, you know. I often see people on their
phones when they're actually doing their set, you know?
And it's like, come on. It's almost like there's no
structure to it. It's like they're just winging
it. So what's free next?
We'll just do this. It's like just chaotic.
It's very low, low quality, isn't it?
(11:58):
Or you get the other, the other extreme end where you go in and
like they're like the hardcore trainer.
So then like the only job is to like give you an absolute
whooping. So like you go in and it's just
like the hardest training session they can possibly run
you through every set to like way past muscle failure,
absolutely crucify you. And again, like you go in,
(12:21):
you're wanting to like learn themovements and build your
confidence. And instead you go in, you get
an absolute spanking and then you go out and it's like that,
you never see that transform into like, Oh yeah, now I now I
love going to the gym. Like they hate it now more than
they ever did. Like all, all you're doing is
taking the part that they probably don't enjoy that much
and making it like the main focus of that session.
(12:42):
It's just give him an absolute. Grilling I remember because I I
worked at the university gym andthen I also personal trained at
a gym called fitness factory andthe, the guy that owned it was
was awesome like Joe Defranco follower like trained very
similar to me. We got we got along great.
He was probably the only other good trainer in there and I
would go in and I'll be trainingmy clients and then there'd be
(13:04):
other PTS in there and then the client would come in and it
would be like the, what's the, you know, the song that's like
bring Sally up, bring Sally. And it's like, and they would
just be doing burpees like to the song.
And he's a good session today, guys.
And I, I'll be looking at him like, do you just like they
paying you to do that? And I, and I, and I, I don't
think many of the PTS liked me in there because I didn't talk
(13:25):
to many of them because I thought they're all fucking
useless. But then also like their clients
would they'd be watching me coaching my clients and be like,
Oh, that, like, what are they doing it?
And he's like, I don't do burpees like.
Train hard. Just yeah.
And I was just like, and I if they he said like, oh, you know,
what do you think I'm trying to do this?
Do you think that was good? And I'm like, no, that was a
useless session. I was like, why are you paying
to do that? It was it was embarrassing.
(13:47):
It was embarrassing to be associated with some of those
trainers. Yeah, yeah.
So we can either go one way or the other really.
Kind of like if you are going togo in person, make sure it's a
recommendation. Yeah, in the beginning.
I think the like when you look at like you got a complete
novice here, 0% and then you've got 100%, which is like an
expert in the field. Getting an in personal, an in
(14:09):
person personal trainer probablygets you to like 10%.
So, so like but above 10%, it doesn't have much use past 10%.
However, it can get you from zero to 10% really quick.
Whereas if you don't have one, zero to 10% might take you 18
months, whereas if you do have one, you might do it in two
months. So it's just a really easy way
(14:29):
to fast track that initial zero to 10%.
Whereas like now I feel comfortable in a gym, I know how
to move, I can start loading some weight properly, I'm the
risk of injury is lower and thenthen you've got 90% of the of
the the game to chase them. At least fast track the zero to
10. That's the main objective, isn't
it? Is like as long as you're not
(14:50):
used to complete the movements like with good technique, you
feel comfortable in the gym and you're good to go.
And you can't count to 12. I think the, because the other
thing as well, then it's becauselike we're saying, you've got
the say 3 workouts in the gym that you do with your personal
trainer. But then all the progress that
you make. If your goal is to change your
body composition, like say fat loss, for example, your diet is
(15:12):
going to be the key driver and all your habits and behaviors
outside of the gym. So even if your in person
trainer is giving you a meal plan, you know, and touching
base with you outside of the gym, that's online coaching like
that, that's how they're coaching you.
And so really like if they're doing that, you're doing online
coaching plus in person. But I think the issue with it is
(15:35):
when you have an in person trainer mentally, you put all of
your stock in those three workouts and you won't pay it.
It'll be like all the add on is he gives me a diet template, you
know, and he touches base with me.
So all your focus is on like burying yourself in those three
workouts and then you you kind of just mess around with the
rest of it. Whereas with online coaching,
(15:55):
it's almost like it's flipped and it's like, well, yeah, we've
got workouts, but they're not the focus.
The main focus is our communication day-to-day, the
nutrition plan, your habits, your mindset, like all of the
things that you do outside of those workouts.
And that to me, I've, I've got significantly better results
with far more people online coaching than I ever did in
(16:16):
person. It it doesn't even come close.
That's not to say I didn't get results in person, but trying to
convince them that the work again, like my income relies on
them coming to the gym and me training them.
So for them to me to go, this stuff isn't really that
important or not as important asyou think.
You need to be doing this diet stuff and everything else
(16:38):
outside, no matter how much emphasis I put on it, they will
be like, Oh, you know, I really want to do this in my next
workout or something. They're saying like you need to
stop drinking gravy. Like it's like that's that's the
issue. And and it just it never worked.
And then as soon as I switched online results were just like
10X. And I was like, I'm not, I'm not
(16:59):
even giving this person workouts.
They're doing their own workouts.
And it's like all, all I'm doingis teaching them proper
nutrition and, you know, focusing on sleep steps,
hydration, that kind of stuff. I'm like, do your own workouts,
do what you're currently doing. We're just going to change.
And that that's when like my mindset shifted, like the
workouts really don't matter that much.
Like, and I, and I'm like a gym guy.
(17:20):
Like, I love, I love training, but I was like, I haven't even
had a conversation about training other than do you lift
weights? Cool, keep lifting weights.
And then we just changed everything else and the results
were just were insane. You say this, Ben, as well.
Like COVID was a good realization for that.
Like we were just doing like push ups, sandbags, pull ups,
like anything. You get your hands.
Yeah, yeah. And.
(17:40):
It's like and didn't lose any muscle, like still got still got
in shape like. And you can train hard then like
what you do. There's a lot of wiggle room
there in terms of what you do. Like you see people, some people
do body part split. Some people do, you know, full
body. Some people do two days a week,
some people do six days a week. So like look at all the variety
and every one of them can get jacked.
(18:02):
So it's like, well, what's the, what's the common theme between
them? It's they train hard and they
train consistently over time. It's all the other stuff outside
the gym that's going to dictate the results more than those
things. As long as you're covering the
fundamentals of consistent hard work, then you're going to,
you're going to, again, there are, you know, some smaller
specifics there, but it's as long as you're doing those two
(18:23):
things, you're covering most of the way and then the other stuff
is going to dictate the most. Well thing about it, we have
clients like they train at home with like some bands, dumbbells,
some even bothering get fantastic results.
But I, I would just say we're talking about body composition.
As soon as you start talking about performance, then you you
know you're going down specificsof like, well, then programming
is important. It doesn't downplay anything
(18:45):
else, but what you do in the gymhas to have carry over to the
thing that you're trying to perform it.
But for the sake of this conversation, we're just talking
about body composition change, build, building muscle, dropping
body fat. But like the the upside to that
is like the your sand pit that you get to play in is huge.
Like the more, the more specificyour performance is.
(19:07):
It's like, well, I have to work within these variables.
But when your goal is to just look good, you can.
I don't want to say you can do anything, but like you could if
I if I said to you, you've got atrain with nothing but your body
weight for a year, you would probably look exactly the same
as you do now. And then if I said you can't do
body weight exercises, you can only use machines in the gym,
you probably look exactly the same.
(19:27):
Yeah, yeah, you. Could find a way to the area
that is pins body weight Scots. You'll be doing some slow
pistols. Yeah, I'll tell you one thing,
you made a good guess. You made a good point there in
terms like consistency over timeand one of the key factors there
as well. It's like accountability.
Whereas if you have a train APT,let's say they go twice a week,
3 * a week, right, you've got them for three.
Was the average session like an hour?
(19:49):
Yeah. Whereas like online coaching
24/7, Yeah. You know, so like that you've
got our accountability much morefrequently, much more touch
points. So then they're more likely to
be consistent over time if they've got an issue, like they
can communicate that with you solving in real time.
You know, that's a huge advantage of online.
Like we churn out, you look at the winning streak in Supra and
there's like transformation, daily transformations going in
(20:11):
there of just clients flying in.And it's like I, I don't know,
again, off the top of my head, I'm obviously there's, there's
some out there, but like I can'tthink of someone who got a
personal trainer like an in person and it just like, Oh my
God, have you seen him now? He looks insane.
I just haven't seen it just like3 sessions a week.
The. Only people I can think of is
(20:34):
when Nick Mitchell had the ultimate performance in Mayfair,
but it was again, it was basically online coaching
because I mean, they would beastthem in the gym, but then it was
all diet. Yeah, like a bit because they
were such high ticket for in person.
And they like their whole thing was like, you know, they'd work
with celebrities. Never like 12 weeks will
(20:55):
transform you. But it was like aggressive, you
know, where like they'd have daily cardio, 4 to 5 workouts a
week, like aggressive low carb diets, you know, full
supplement. They did like the full shebang,
but it was almost like online coaching.
But it's, you still see them. So it's just online coaching and
people who are in the area. They were really like the, the
first ones that I know of kind of in the UK where they put all
(21:17):
the emphasis on like the diet and stuff as well as the hard
training. But outside of that, like I
really don't know any in person like gyms or businesses that are
churning out like those kind of transformations.
It's, it's all, it's all online coaches and and companies now.
And that's it, isn't it? Like the difference is like most
PTS, they just literally focus on the workers where it's like
(21:39):
the Nick Mitchell, he focus on everything else as well.
You know, it's like sleep stresssteps.
But I think the. Building out habits.
All this stuff is, is, I mean, the, there's, there's so many
pros to the on. Even with the online stuff, when
we talk about the time between sets, building rapport with
clients, you're still only talking to them for that hour,
(22:02):
you know, or like, you know, say30 minutes in between the sets.
Whereas I've, you know, made best friends of clients online
where where some I MM Musselman,one of our coaches, like we met
for the first time this year. We've been friends for seven
years and best friends for sevenyears, like through online
coaching, never met in person like Zoom calls, you know,
(22:23):
messages like that's. It's mad in it.
Yeah. And and so like to say you don't
have the personal touch is an outright like Fox, you know,
because, because we've we've built some of the best
relationships that we have in our lives through online
coaching. We have this job because of
online coaching. Like I'd never met John like in
person before I started working for Super.
(22:45):
And so it's, it opens up so manydoors on that side.
But I think from a rapport building standpoint, I've built
far better rapport online, yeah,than than in person.
The opportunity for more frequent touch points, isn't it?
You mean like a WhatsApp messageZoom call where it's like when
you're you have structured PT sessions just like 2 to three
(23:05):
times a week or whatever. Beyond that, you may not talk.
Yeah, yeah. Well, think in order to be an
effective online coach, we have conversations around their work
life, their family life, stresses.
They have all these things that are going to impact the way they
eat, their exercise schedule, their travel schedule, all this
stuff. Whereas if you're an in person
PT you, you've got an hour thereand you're going to be talking
(23:26):
through a lot of training stuff,coaching points.
And yeah, you squeeze in some general chat between sets, but
you're not going to go into muchdetail between sets.
And that will normally just be like, what are they up to these
days? Or you're not going to go into
too much detail. Whereas in order to be an
effective online coach, you haveto go into detail on those
things. So like again, we've we built
(23:47):
really strong relationships withpeople online, whereas in
person, again, those relationships were, they were
OK, like they were fine, but they weren't that deep.
They weren't like a lifelong friend or someone that you're
friends. With everything as well as when
you're working with someone in person, it's highly likely
that's going to be local becauseyou're going to be going to a
(24:08):
gym that's nearby you. And I think there is still a
level of like, but I'm not goingto tell them my deepest darkest
secrets because they I probably know other people in the gym and
they know other people. We have mutual friends, whereas,
you know, I, I think a massive upside to the online coaching is
there. I, I feel like from my
experience, clients are a lot more open to just being honest
(24:32):
with you about, you know, maybe their relationship or their job
or the stresses that they have because they're like, who the
fuck are they going to tell? Like they're, they're in another
country or another state. It's like it's a completely
unbiased, you know, non judgmental person that's not in
your, in your town, in your circle.
So I think it just allows peopleto just be more confident to
(24:54):
just be like, I'm really struggling with this.
Like I'm depressed. I'm like, I've been binging at
night or like my work stress is really high, like my
relationship isn't going well. And like, and then we can have
an honest conversation because again, we're not in that circle
and it's there's no gossip or anything like that.
Whereas you know, every gym thatI've been to, it's like a school
playground, you know, everyone talks about everyone and PTS are
(25:17):
talking about their clients and stuff.
And it's just, I think people lose that ability to just be
completely dead honest. And because we know when working
with clients, that's one of, if not the most important thing is
our clients have to be honest with us with everything that's
going on. Otherwise we can't.
We can slap band aids on stuff and, you know, give basic
(25:38):
tactics, but if we don't really know what's going on, you're
never going to solve the issue or or sort the problem out.
Is those is those problems that are really holding them back
from keeping them stuck from their results as well, you know,
so. Yeah.
And that's where like when you think about things like work
stress or emotional eating and that stuff plays a much bigger
role in terms of body comp long term than their technique on a
(26:03):
front squat or their. So it's like, again, as you can
have quite poor technique on a front squat, the risk of injury
might be a bit higher. But if he trains it quite hard,
he's. Probably going to get pretty
big. Legs, don't worry mate, don't
give you a front squat, give youa leg extension.
Yeah, it'll be alright. It's, it's, it's where the
emphasis is though, isn't it? It's like exactly that.
Like when, when you're coaching in person, you're, you're
basically there in the gym working on the technique and
(26:25):
stuff when they could be having their life could be falling
apart outside of the gym and you're like, just bend your
knees a bit more. And it's like that.
That's not, that's not really helping them.
That's not solving the big, the big problems.
And I think online coaching has allowed us to go like way deeper
with clients and and have them and be able to have those
(26:45):
conversations constructively. I don't love the term.
It's like a lifestyle coach, isn't it?
But I, I I. Definitely don't refer to myself
as a lifestyle coach because youdon't want my life either.
It's. Like I'm, I'm not something to
base off. It's it's the health and fitness
part of your lifestyle that we coach.
Even even well-being makes me like, yeah.
(27:06):
We need to know about the other things, but I'm not helping you
in those. I'm helping you in this area,
but I just need to understand those in order to this case.
It's really hard to. Go up with a title without it
sounding corny because you'd be like, I'm a transformation
coach. It's like, that sounds shit as
well. Call me like yeah.
I tell you another thing as wellis that like working online is
actually more flexible for the client as well.
Because obviously if you've got like PT sessions like well, you
(27:28):
need to be at 3:00 Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
I can't do any other time because I've got like other
sessions booked in. It's like when we're online,
it's like, all right, move your session to you.
Can train when you want. Yeah, you can message me when
you want. You always respond within a few
hours like. Because especially with our
clientele, like off the cuff, within an hour they got a flight
to a different state. They need their trainer to
travel with. Yeah, yeah.
(27:48):
That's a perfect example of, youknow, the more the more
flexibility within a program, the easier it is to adhere to
consistently over time. So and that's where like as you
get older, you transition from like classes.
So for example, if you're into like martial arts or boxing or
like a weightlifting class, people as they get more
(28:09):
responsibilities like kids, and if they move away from those
because they're limited by wherethey can go at what times
because they've got all these other responsibilities.
So you have to find something that you adapt around your own
schedule. And again, being online, there's
no time limit there. It's like you just, you can turn
up whenever you want, but here'sthe program and everything that
you need to do. Whereas if it's like I can fit
(28:30):
you in 9:00 AM Monday morning, Ican't do that.
Oh, well, we'll have to leave it.
We'll have to go to next week. It's like it's way easier to
adhere to online because it's all built around you.
You're not, you're not fitting into the PT schedule or the PTS
life. It's the the online coach is
designing everything around you and what's specific to you.
(28:50):
So again, from an AD run standpoint and a long term
consistency standpoint, it's much much, much more effective.
We integrate into their lifestyle essentially.
So I, I think the other thing with in person, exactly on the
scheduling, how many people do you know where let's say their,
their trainer has to cancel for whatever reason?
(29:10):
Does the client still go to the gym and train?
They'll go, I get a day off. And so, you know, it's, it's
like the, the ownership is all on the personal trainers show
up. Whereas when it's online, that's
already been established, like I'm not in the gym with you.
You need to go on your own and take some ownership.
I'm not going to feed you your meals and give them to you in
(29:32):
person. You need to like learn these
skills. And so I, I think just from the
offset, there's a shift in ownership of your own results.
Whereas in, in the amount of times in person, like if, if, if
I had to, if I was sick or something and I had to cancel,
not once did I have a client go,Oh, can you send me the work out
and I'll go do it. They'll just go, oh, cool, I'll
(29:53):
see you on Friday. Just not going to train then
like, and, and so they're already like you're, you're the
all of their results depend solely on you to turn up when it
should be them turning up. And so I think online coaching
has that advantage of like we'rein another country, like I'm not
going to be there with you. Like I'm not, I'm not your alarm
clock in the morning. I'm not your babysitter.
(30:14):
I'm not going to drag you to thegym.
And you know, some people do need that, But I, I think that's
the upside to, to the online, it's the ownership kind of
change up. But then I think the if we look
at cons of online coaching very similar to in person where,
yeah, the, the at least, I mean the barrier to entry for
(30:36):
personal training is you need inthe I think in the UK it's like
a level. 2. Personal training
qualifications, but if any gym to basically hire you legally.
I'm not sure what it's like in the US, but it's probably
something similar. That is, you know, if you have
200 lbs and you turn up for a weekend then you can get it
basically. Like the the pass rate is very
(30:57):
high. Yeah, like if, I mean if you
fail that like God, you shouldn't be allowed out the
house, let alone in training people in the gym.
But I, I think the one I did, itwas like 90, it was like 98.7%
pass rate or something. And then I was like, well, who
are the ones that failed? And they probably died because
they passed away. But then obviously in online,
(31:18):
there's zero barrier to entry. You can literally say I'm an
online coach and you don't need any certifications.
There's no governing body. No one is like, oh, we're going
to audit you and see, like let'slook at your, your programming
and stuff. Like there's no, there's there's
no one that you have to report to or submit anything to, to be
(31:38):
an online coach, as long as you put a disclaimer like I'm not a
dietitian or a doctor. Have at it.
And so you do get a lot of really shitty online coaches.
And it's like you can go to, youknow, if I went to you, for
example, like I know you got themasters in nutrition, masters in
SNC. So it's like, I know that you
(31:58):
can't just buy that. I know that you I know that's,
that's quite difficult to get your hands on.
So I know at least like I know at a bare minimum you're.
In some level of. You're invested in this to some
degree, OK, but online, everything that say you look on
a on a social media profile or or a website, the things that
you're looking at are stuff thatthey've said about themselves
(32:19):
and that they so they and they can say whatever they want about
themselves. Like it might not even be true.
Christ, how many times do you see transformations being put up
that aren't even theirs? They're just people who they
just find them online and makingthem so it's like there's no way
to verify their oh this person is good because it's all coming
from them anyway. It's just like a the most biased
form. You can literally say like, Oh
(32:40):
yeah, I've got masses in nutrition, like and even if if a
prospective client goes off, canI see a certificate?
And you have no, and then they'll then you just like I'll
just I'll wait for the next client that's not going to ask
me. And you can literally just lie
like someone, someone have to actively try and disprove you.
Whereas, you know, like I, I, there's just so many con con
(33:01):
artists out there and just terrible online.
I mean, we've done a whole episode on, on that.
So we don't have to go down the rabbit hole, but that is that is
a con. It's just there's no barrier to
entry. Play it.
Play it safe. Sign up for soup, bro.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
But then I, I think, you know, go in again to, to our own
trumpet. We, you know, with, with our
custom coaching, we have the online where we, we can work on
(33:26):
technique and stuff with, you know, video recording and stuff
that we do communication daily with, with clients,
accountability through the roof.The elite package that we have,
in my opinion, is the best package that you could get where
we have the in person, not weekly, but like with those
quarterly fly insurance where it's kind of like a, it's almost
(33:49):
like an MOT or like a calibration of like, let's look
at your technique and everything.
Let's refine some stuff so you can go and implement it over the
next three months and then come back, revisit it, retest, look
at where we're at. And then we get all the pros of
the online stuff as well. And so I, I don't like if you,
if you sign up to our elite program and don't get results,
I'll just say it's 100% on you because, because there's no way
(34:12):
that if you, if you follow that program and you, and you show up
to the in person, there's no waythat you don't get better.
Like, and, and also there's, there's guys and girls in that
program that have made lifelong friends through the this like
the in person social side as well.
So there's there's loads of other advantages.
To it, but even that like building a community, getting
(34:34):
social support like I think the elite program it covers every
single possible Ave. that you could go down if you're trying
to transform your body composition.
There's there's nothing that isn't covered within that
program, yeah. So yeah, I think I, I mean, I'm
always going to lean towards online as, as much as I, I
(34:56):
really enjoyed training people in person.
Like I, I love being in the gym.Like it's, you got the social
aspect of it. It's like really rewarding when
you give someone a cue and then they, they tweak it and you're
like, holy shit. Like, you know, when we first
started, you couldn't even do a goblet squat.
And now you're, you know, doing heavy deadlifts and back squats
and stuff like that's brilliant.But from a result standpoint,
(35:20):
it's not even it's not even up for debate.
Like if, if, if you want to again, look at look at our
Instagram page, you know, with all of our before and afters,
like and then show me any in person coach that has even come
close to that, you know, and I'll concede, but I don't think
it's out there. It's undeniable, isn't it?
Yeah. I think the the best way to
(35:40):
summarize it again is like if that novice is at 0% and the
expert is at 100, online coaching can cover the whole
thing. It can get you from 0 all the
way to 100. It's not the most effective in
that first 10, but everything after and it can get you up to
the very elite. Whereas like even guys to our
level have online coaches, like the guys who are even coaches
(36:02):
themselves and but I think the in person will only take you to
10%. So they can just get you there.
But it will get, I would say in that 10% in person probably
outperforms the online. However, online can help the can
still cover that area maybe a little bit less effective, but
then PT in person can cover the 10% and you're out.
(36:22):
Yeah. And you you could do that.
Within a month, like it's like just get, get that out of the
way and then I, I would say online is the way to go.
But yeah, hopefully that just gives you a bit more clarity if
you're on the fence of do I needan in person trainer?
Should I go for an online coach?Hopefully that will allow you to
make an in an informed decision between the two.
(36:43):
But thank you as always for tuning in, guys.
Be sure to like and subscribe oniTunes, Spotify, and YouTube and
we'll see you next time. If you love this show, please
like, share and leave us a five star review so that we can help
more people. I'm John Matson, reminding you
to always go get what's yours.
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