Why IFAST Rocks #2 – The Programming

Last week we discussed one reason why IFAST rock. In case you missed it, here’s the link:

Why IFAST Rocks #1 – The Beginning

So you’ve gotten assessed (or gone through your Learn to Burn intro bootcamp class) – now what?

The next step is on our end – it’s time to develop a program that’s geared to help you achieve your goals.

Let’s start by discussing the semi-private side of things.

Program Design for Semi-Private Clients

Once your assessment has been completed, we have a ton of information about you.

We’ve discussed your specific goals, and what you want to accomplish from training with us.

We’ve determined what you’re really good at, and perhaps most importantly, what you’re not good at.

Now you’re probably thinking, “why is that important? Why do you want to find my weaknesses?”

It’s a great question, and one that not enough trainers think to ask.

Regardless of whether your goal is to build muscle, shed body fat, or simply get stronger, we all have weaknesses – chinks in the armor, if you will.

And while these things may not manifest themselves early on, what happens is the longer you train, those little issues creep up and become big issues.

It’s like a 20-year old car you keep in your garage. If the only time you drive it is to go 20 miles per hour to the grocery store and back, it will probably run a long time without any issues.

However, if you take that same car out and drive it down a quarter-mile drag strip, or attempt to drive across the country in it, any little issues you had before are sure to show up.

This is why the assessment is so valuable – we figure out what issues you have early on and head them off at the pass, so that you can continue on the path to success for as long as you’d like!

Too many trainees never achieve their goals because somewhere along the line they get injured or beat-up. At IFAST, that’s never an issue.

Program Design for Bootcamp Clients

The next question becomes, “how do you customize the workout for bootcamp clients?”

With 15-20 people training at a time, the programming in a bootcamp is never as individualized as a semi-private client.

But that’s ok – if you follow some basic rules.

First and foremost, you have to know and understand where most people are weak or have the most issues. In this case, almost every client we assess can use more strength in their upper back, core, and the glutes and hamstrings (think backside of your body).

The need more mobility, or motion, in their upper back, hips and ankles.

So we take that knowledge and skew the program in that direction – in other words, we’re always going to do more work for those problem areas.

Furthermore, the programming is never one size fits all. Instead, we have a “base” exercise that will be the starting point for the workout, and then we also have a progression and regression for it.

So if the “base” exercise is too challenging, we have an exercise you can move down to that’s similar to the first but more appropriate for you.

If the base exercise is too easy, we have an exercise you can move up to that will be more challenging and in-line with your needs.

Quite simply, bootcamp doesn’t have to be mindless or cookie-cutter – you can absolutely make it a safe and effective way to achieve your fat or weight-loss related goals.

So there you have it – the second reason why IFAST rocks.  Come back next week for our 3rd installment in this series!

All the best

Mike