Fitness “Influencer” or Educated Coach: Can You Spot the Difference?

This topic has popped up for me in many ways over the last few weeks. I’ve seen it in many ways on social media and I felt that was a sign that I should speak to it. Fitness “Influencer” or educated coach…this is a topic I am super passionate about and can make my blood boil at the same time. It’s a topic that is NOT talked about enough, and I want nothing more in the world than for people to be able to spot the difference.

I want to start off by saying that there is nothing wrong with documenting your health and fitness journey on social media…for a lot of people who choose this route it keeps them accountable to their goals and consistent. Where the issues CAN start to arise is when those who do start to see results and then begin preaching it to others with no true knowledge on the subject. Every single person has a unique fitness journey and this journey will adapt and change with your life over many years. Just because you see one person having success with one option does not mean that it will be successful for you or fit into your life. This is key to remember!

So that’s great…but how do I know? How do I know if they are a good coach or just someone who stumbled upon something that works for them? Well there are a few things that I want you to look out for and I’ll discuss them in further detail below:

1. Education – Have you ever asked a perspective coach or trainer what education they actually have received in the health, fitness and wellness space? Did you know that there are (at least here in Canada) 2 year diploma and 4 year degree programs where you can study health and fitness at a postsecondary institution? Did you also know that you can go off and take a weekend course to become a personal trainer? Not all trainers are equal…I’m going to say that one more time to ensure I am getting my point across here…NOT ALL TRAINERS ARE EQUAL! I would encourage you to ask your trainer where their education is, ask which organization(s) they hold certifications with. Here in Canada CSEP is considered the gold standard but it is not the only option. Just be aware of what education your trainer or coach has behind them before you commit fully to them.
2. Continuing Education – Going hand in hand with base education it’s important that coaches and trainers are continuing to learn. The fitness industry changes quickly and most certifying organizations require their members to maintain a specific number of continuing education credits usually in a 1-2 year span. In order for trainers to stay up to date they need to be constantly learning. You can ask your perspective trainer or coach what other certifications they hold, or what other courses they’ve taken. They should have taken something fairly recently (I would say in the last year) that continues to advance and develop them as a trainer or coach.
3. First Aid & CPR – This can be one of the easiest red flags to spot. Even the most basic of personal training certifications require First Aid and CPR certifications. If you stumble across a trainer who does not hold a CURRENT (it can not be expired) First Aid and CPR certification then I would consider looking in another direction.
4. A One Size Fits All Mentality – This can be one of the hardest things to spot, especially right up front, but it can be one of the biggest things to watch for. Well educated coaches truly understand that one size DOES NOT fit all. Health and fitness looks very different from one person to the next and a good coach can take the knowledge they have to create a program that works for both a single individual who has lots of free time on their hands and access to a full gym and a mom of three who has little equipment at home and only a couple of hours a week to commit. Good coaches work with you to create your health and fitness journey. They do not tell you “this is what you need to do so figure out how to make it happen”. Good coaches make fitness work for you, they don’t let fitness run your life. Good coaches can make modifications when they see things aren’t working for you and exercises aren’t suiting you well. Good coaches create programs that are tailored to you and you alone. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you have to do fitness a certain way to be successful. One size DOES NOT fit all!
5. Selling Products – I want to be clear by saying that people who sell products or are affiliated with a specific brand are not ALWAYS bad coaches or trainers. I’ve witnessed highly educated individuals in the fitness industry be affiliates for specific products and do it in a very tasteful way and I have seen others well…not. I personally have found brands that I enjoy through others in this way…however I have also found the opposite to be true as well. So how do you tell the difference? Well I usually consider how this individual presents the products they are sharing. Do they share the way they generally use the product in their life, or are they pushing it day in and day out in a salesy way? I also do my own research before I purchase a product in this way. I look to see if it is truly a product that I stand behind or a product that benefits or improves my life in some way. There are people who are affiliated with products that they just love, products they would use anyways even if they weren’t making money off promoting them…these people usually don’t come off like they are trying to make sales. These are the people that I tend to gravitate towards more often. The bottom line is that when someone is promoting a product be aware and dig further by asking some of the other questions we talked about above to help ensure that you aren’t just purchasing a product, but you are genuinely getting a high quality coach.

These are my personal top 5…keep in mind that there are certainly other things to watch out for and other things to keep in mind when looking for a coach. At the end of the day you want to work with someone who listens to you, respects your time, keeps you accountable and helps you push outside your comfort zone. Don’t settle for just any coach, ensure you are picking the right coach for you. You deserve nothing but the best!