[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Okay, so when I relaunched my personal training business in New Castle, PA I was going to be the "Statitician" Personal trainer and get all 15 circumference measurements needed to see body change from my clients.

Well, my clients had a different idea. Not one of them would submit to me taking tape measures.

I know logistically we all say "Well If we don't have a base line, we can't monitor your progress" But what I have found is that the client refutes this by saying "Oh, I'll just rely on the Mirror and how my pants fit".

So how do you convince your client that these measurements are necessary/required?

Anyone have a sure fire method?

I'm all Ears,



Dave

[rbd]

I guess here is my take on the topic:

What does the client want? I don't think it is necessary to take measurements, epecially if they are uncomfortable or don't want to. They will know when there clothes start fitting differently or notice things changing in the mirror and if that is what they want, then don't feel like you need to take the measures. Many do not want to be tested or measured.

I also think this is where some of the hand held devices come in handy because they don't make the individual feel uncomfortable and I believe there was just a study showing that they were just as accurate as skinfolds. Plus with the standard of error of all methods, if you use the same method to track I think it will give you a decent idea - nothing is perfect.

I guess I just have a little different opinion the whole baseline thing, since I believe many test are pointless that are currently taught or used by many fitness professionals and I don't like wasting clients time with pointless test to tell them somthing that is not all that accurate in the first place.

Just my two cents and it really comes down to what the client wants and you training philosophy and how you tie the two together.

Jeff

[Viviana]

I'm just starting in this business, so technically you guys have by far more experience as PT, but I speak for my fellow 40 something women (if that's the market that, like myself, you're targeting). Most women don't care about how many inches their biceps or triceps have grown or to talk too much about percentages and formulas. They just want a leaner and toner look and to fit nicely in their jeans. They also want to feel more agile and get rid of their stiff shoulders and backs.

I'm starting with my first client on Monday and I plan just to calculate her BMI, Waist/Hip Ratio, and body fat using just the 3-site method as baseline measurements. (7 pinches it's just too much - maybe later on when she's really into it).

I guess it all depends on the population/age/gender you're targetting.

[Christina]

[Kevin59]

I offer them with both the skinfold and the electrical current hand held method. I just explain to them that the skinfold method is more accurate. If they want something even more accurate then I refer them to a place that does the hydrostatic method. Most women will opt for the electrical current method and men feel more comfortable doing the skinfold. I hear the same from female trainers as well. A lot of women will lie about their weight so entering in the wrong data will make the results even more inaccurate for the electrical method.

I also tell them to take pictures of themselves standing in the same spot in their underwear weekly or monthly because it’s very hard to notice gradual changes if you look at yourself in the mirror everyday.

I feel that they should have more than just one option when trying to determine their progress even if it’s not the most accurate one. It should be simple and comfortable. I kind of get an idea of which method to use base on their reaction when I bring up the subject of monitoring their body fat.