Online Fitness Coaching: My Personal Road to Success
In the summer of 2017, as I roamed across Europe on a 28-day journey, fully recovered from a lingering shoulder injury, I decided it was time to experience the guidance of an online coach firsthand—and decided that once the trip was over, it'd be my main priority to search for one.
Despite my extensive background in coaching, with internships at Preston North End FC, Wigan Warriors Rugby Club, Fulham FC, and a degree in Strength and Conditioning, I had never personally been under the wing of a 1-2-1 coach. As I was gearing up to dive into the world of personal training, I believed it was crucial to understand the client's perspective.
To deliver the best service, I needed to walk in their shoes.
Thus began my quest for the right 1-2-1 online fitness coach. I delved into the profiles of various coaches I'd followed on Instagram. Among them, Cameron Mackay of Team Conditioned stood out. Nowadays, he's continuously rising in the bodybuilding world. However, his focus and selling point back then was about functional movement and correctional exercises, which resonated with my interests.
The early months of training under Cameron were a breath of fresh air. Having someone else manage the nuances of my fitness journey lifted a weight off my shoulders. Even as a coach, it's easy to misjudge your own training and nutrition. An external, experienced perspective can make a world of difference.
A pivotal moment came a few months in whilst I was following a Push, Pull, Legs, Upper and Lower workout split. My progress in strength training had hit a plateau; my lifts and reps weren't increasing.
During a weekly check-in, Cameron dropped a piece of wisdom that stuck with me: "Even if you're getting an extra half a rep, that's still progress."
This was a lightbulb moment. It might seem obvious in hindsight, but as a young coach who had never had the concept of progressive overload explained, this was revolutionary.
I learned that progress isn't always leaps and bounds; sometimes, it's subtle yet significant—it was just that I had been way too used to the "Newbie Gains" phase for myself and previous clients I'd trained.
This understanding shifted my approach. I embraced every small gain, whether an extra rep or even better control over an exercise.
If you're where I was, seeking clarity and progress in your fitness journey and looking for someone to guide you, consider my online coaching.
Let's work together to find those incremental gains that add up to big results.
I'm excited to join you on your fitness journey!
Speak soon,
Leo
