There’s been an explosion in online fitness coaching lately, all thanks to Instagram and YouTube. I have mixed emotions about this boom. I find it both scary and exciting. The scary part is that the only qualifications most of these online coaches have is a set of six pack abs. Many of whom are just teenage bros with very little experience lifting, let alone coaching experience.
Today I clicked on a bro’s profile after he liked and commented on one of my Instagram photos. In his profile I see that he’s a teenager and he’s in pretty darn good shape with ripped abs. Then I see that he’s an online fitness coach. He describes himself as, “A Fitness and Nutrition Master who has been working out for around 2 years”.
I damn near choked on my vomit. 2 years of working out and you’ve mastered it??? WTF!!! I’ve been working out for 25 years, been coaching clients for 15 years, prepped for multiple photo shoots, and competed in bodybuilding contests. I still wouldn’t refer to myself as a ‘master’ of fitness and nutrition. I’m still learning each and every day. Staying up to date with the latest Natural Bodybuilding research. Consulting with my fellow bros and coaches. Experimenting with different Physique Training protocols on myself and my clients. Gathering evidence through science and in the trenches experience.
Being a teenage bro with abs does not qualify you to coach others. Shit, I was eating a tub of ice cream, fast food, and guzzling beer in my late teens and I still sported a six pack. I thought that the secret to massive gainz was eating more peanut butter and drinking Mega Mass 2000 shakes a few times each day. That lifestyle eventually caught up to me in my mid 20’s when I packed on 45 pounds of excess fat as my life became more stressful and my activity level dropped drastically.
I feel like the Fitness Coaching profession has become watered down thanks to these unqualified teenage bros. We’re at a point where anyone with ripped abs can claim to be an Online Fitness Coach. It pisses me off quite frankly. I spent 4 years busting my butt earning a degree in Kinesiology with honours in Movement Science. I studied biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, and sport psychology. After graduating I also earned several Personal Training and nutrition certifications. Then at 23 years old I entered into the profession of Physique Coaching. I was young, but at least I had a pretty solid background. I was educated and had 9 years of lifting experience to draw upon.
Now, at nearly 40 years old I look back and realize just how little I knew back then. That doesn’t mean I was a bad trainer in my early to mid twenties. I was pretty damn good. We all have to start somewhere, but the best of us will always be a student of ‘the game’. As a result, I can always reflect on who I was as a coach in the previous year and think to myself, “Damn, I wish I knew then what I know know.”
Am I Just a Cranky Old Bro?
Hell no! As I mentioned earlier, I’m excited to see this boom in Online Fitness Coaching. Some of these young coaches are blowing my mind. They’re freak’n brilliant. They are certified, educated, and are hungry to dive into the latest Natural Bodybuilding research and even hungrier to apply it. I’m fascinated to see the research that the young students at the University of Tampa are working on, under the guidance of Jacob Wilson.
There is no doubt that the 23 year old Physique Coaches today are much further ahead then I was when I first got started in the industry. They have way more access to educational content and to more advanced coaches. And that’s the great news. The best of this young breed of coaches have also spent time being mentored by the best in the business… the older more experienced bros.
I have a lot to learn from these young whippersnappers. Not only are they educated and rapidly gaining experience, but they also know how to connect with their audience on a pretty deep level thanks to social media. They know how to deliver their message in a way that hits home with their clients and potential clients. They are masters of the latest technology and know how to best utilize it in an effort to help their clients achieve the best results possible. They walk the talk and we all can see it.
Are Media and The Consumer To Blame For The Rise In Unqualified Online Fitness Coaches?
Jen Selter’s Instagram fame has lead to some serious media attention. She’s been seen on The View, news shows, magazines, and the New York Post, offering advice on how to sculpt a firm butt.
Her qualifications… a genetically gifted booty and a gift for showing it off.
She has no fitness education, has mentioned that she has no desire to become certified, yet she’s in the spotlight providing advice to women who want a caboose just like hers.
What message is this sending? You’ve got a great asset, flaunt it and you’re on your way to fame, fortune, and expert status. To hell with certifications… who needs them?
Frankly, I wonder how many potential clients even care about my education and background. They see photos of me or see me in person at the gym and they want to achieve results as I have. They want big arms, broad shoulders, and ripped abs, just like I have.
I’m constantly being asked for fitness advice whether I’m shopping at the mall, hanging out at the coffee shop, or away on vacation. It’s not because I have my credentials embroidered on my shirts… it’s because of how I look.
Some of the fit women in my gym have told me that they are always being approached by fellow members asking if they could train them. These members aren’t going to the desk and inquiring about personal training. They are approaching fit members on the floor… the ones with a body they desire to sculpt for themselves.
Take Away Lessons
Obviously looks are important when you are looking to hire a coach. I place high value on a Physique Coach who looks the part. But, I must say that I have learned some incredibly useful advice from coaches who don’t appear to be in fantastic shape. Shit, I was one of those coaches for nearly 10 years. Aside from the first year in this profession, I’ve only been ripped and shredded for the past 5 years of my career. Interesting enough, that experience of gaining 45 pounds of excess fat and going through the struggles of melting it off, sure provided me with some priceless insights that help me relate to what my clients are going through.
What’s MOST important to me is that the Physique Coach has the knowledge and experience to help me achieve my personal goals. Frankly, I’d rather hire an educated and experienced coach than someone who just looks the part. Without a doubt, I’d rather learn how to sculpt a firm butt from someone like Bret Contreras “The Glute Guy”, who is continuously cranking out EMG research in an effort to bring forth evidence for the best butt exercises and best way to execute those butt exercises, who is in the trenches tweaking and modify each exercise for optimal results, and who has a long list of clients who have been successful with his protocols, than Jen Selter who simply has a decent butt and a boatload of Instagram fans.
A ripped and sculpted physique may be the first thing that attracts you to a Fitness Coach, but it’s crucial that you ask a number of questions before you invest in their services and continue to ask questions throughout your experience with them. My clients understand that I strategically design their programs to suit their personal goals/needs. Everything that goes into their plan is done so with purpose. I’ve trained my clients to constantly question why I have them doing what they do…
“Why did you change my caloric intake?”
“Why are my macros set where they’re at?”
“What’s the point of a refeed today?”
“Why do I need to perform self massage with a lacrosse ball and Rumble Roller?”
“Why did you include Myo-reps in this 4 week phase?”
“Where am I supposed to feel this exercise? Why am I doing this exercise?”
“What’s the importance of incorporating a variety of rep ranges? Why do you have me lifting heavy shit today?”
“Why did you increase/decrease my training volume this month?”
“Why am I training ‘X’ muscle group more frequently this month?”
“Why don’t you have me doing more cardio? What are the benefits of LISS? What are the benefits of HIIT?”
“What have you learned this week? Any exciting new research out there?” “Any great articles you’ve read this week?”
If you are looking to hire an Online Fitness Coach I’d check to see if they have a YouTube channel. It’s a great way to see if their personality and approach resonates with you. It’s also a great way to see if they come across as knowledgeable, experienced, and have an in-depth understanding of the advice they are sharing.
Last, but not least, a take home lesson for my fellow coaches…
Get creative with how you attract new clients. Why did Jen Selter attract so much attention? She certainly doesn’t have the best looking butt I’ve ever seen. She’s captured her booty in some very creative poses with some very captivating backgrounds. She’s turned the belfie into an art form.
Allow your personality to shine. Keep it real by sharing your personal thoughts, emotions, and insights on video. Connect with your audience. Show how much you care. Allow your passion to radiate through the screen. Inspire them through your actions. Express the joy that can be experienced through the process.
Physique Coaching is an incredibly rewarding profession. The more you engage with your audience and clients, the greater rewards you will reap.
Conclusion
In closing, be smart when hiring an Online Fitness Coach. Looks are important, but make sure they have the knowledge and experience to help you achieve your personal physique and health goals. It’s easy for most teenage bros to sport a six pack, but do they have what it takes to help you carve out ripped abs? Also, don’t mistake youth for inexperience or under-qualified. Some of these young bros are absolutely brilliant. Again, it all comes down to asking the right questions. After all, this is your body and health we are talking about.
If you are currently seeking an Online Physique Coach, I’d love the opportunity to chat about you and your goals to see if we are a great fit to work together toward achieving the physique and lifestyle you desire. My contact info can be found at the top of the website.
Sculpt a Masterpiece,
Scott Tousignant
About The Author
Scott Tousignant, BHK is a Physique Coach and Elite Natural Bodybuilder with the UFE.
Scott specializes in helping regular men and women sculpt their body into a chiseled work of art.
Viewing training as an art form and your body as a sculpture is a simple shift in mindset that brings out the beauty in your ongoing body transformation.
The art of molding and chiseling an aesthetically pleasing physique with spectacular symmetry, proportions, and carved out detail is one of life’s most rewarding and fulfilling experiences…
…It’s an opportunity for self growth and self discovery that will impact every area of your life.
Learn more about Scott’s physique-focused training programs:
AMPlify Aesthetic Muscle Gains and Strip Away Stubborn Sacks Of Fat with AMP – Aesthetic Muscle Plan
Get a taste of Scott’s hardcore physique training programs with Physique Phreak
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