An Interview With Jayson Hunter
Today I'll share an interview I did with Weight Management expert Jayson Hunter.
Enjoy!
1. Why should a Fitness Professional integrate Weight Management into their program offerings?
Well it’s simple. To most effectively lose weight a person needs to integrate exercise and proper nutrition into their program. We have all had those miracle clients that when they pick up a weight or do some type of cardio program that the fat melts off of them. We have also had the client that changes one thing in their diet and they shed the pounds. The reality is that 99% of most training clients need to do both or they never lose a pound.
Also, from a reputation standpoint if you could double the number of successful clients who have lost weight using your services then the faster and more powerful the message is spread that you are the expert when it comes to getting someone into shape.
2. What is the format for an effective Weight Management program?
An effective Weight Management program needs to have a structure that consists of covering the needed objectives. It is best to teach someone over many sessions because good nutrition habits are definitely not learned overnight. They take time to develop and if you pile all these suggested changes on at once then it is just too overwhelming and they will quit before they even get started. I usually break out a weight management program like this.
Program Overview
Session One
Topic: Establishing a Starting Point –
• Teach Goal Setting (SMART)
• Measurements & Before Picture
• Determine Calorie needs
• Profile Packet
Session Two
Topic: Record Keeping and portion size
· Teach menu plan
· Receive Individualized Menu
· Discuss Record Keeping and Portion Sizes
· Enroll in auto ship program
· Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Three
Topic: Adding Variety
• Exchanging Foods
• Create Sample Menus
• Master Food Planner
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Four
Topic: Sensible Supplementation
· Review journal/education
· Make necessary adjustments
· Teach why certain supplements are needed
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Five
Topic: Reassessment
• Have client rate themselves on compliance
• List long term goals
• Discuss obstacles that are standing in the way. Solutions?
• Circumference measurements
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Six
Topic: Timing, balancing and planning meals
· Review journal/education topic
· Work on new menu together (optional)
· Make necessary adjustments
· Have client rate themselves on compliance
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Seven
Topic: Food labels 101
· Review journal/education
· Make necessary adjustments
· Food Labels Exercise
· Grocery Store Tour (optional)
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Eight
Topic: Healthy fast foods?
· Review journal/education
· Weight and body fat%
· Make necessary adjustments
· Have client rate themselves on compliance
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Nine
Topic: Are You Able to Conquer a Plateau Alone?
· Review journal/education
· Discuss obstacles and solutions.
· Menu(optional)
· Make necessary adjustments
· Have client rate themselves on compliance
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Ten
Topic: Follow up – Long Term Strategies/ Reassessment and Re-evaluation
· Review journal/education
· Take all ending measurements
· Make necessary adjustments
· Have client rate themselves on compliance
· Enroll member into:
Personal training
Continuous goal setting
Using a format like this allows them to learn in sections and gives them the opportunity to practice and master the objectives as the weeks go along.
3. There are a lot of misconceptions about what Fitness Professionals can and cannot do regarding nutritional guidance. How can a Fitness Professional sort through that and deliver an effective program without doing anything that would be considered “professionally questionable?”
What I always suggest is to obtain a weight management certification from one of the reputable certification companies that are around. Even if you think you know nutrition there are always things to learn and with weight management programs it is not always what you know, but how you deliver it because nutrition and eating are tied very closely to emotion. It is not uncommon to have an emotional link which is why someone is eating the way they are. Then it becomes not so much telling them what to eat or what not to eat, but rather how to break away from that emotion.
Like you and Alwyn Cosgrove always say “you need to always invest in your business”. This is a perfect example of investing in your business. These certifications now cover much more than just nutrition information and they will help you be better prepared for all the twists and turns you will encounter when trying to change someone’s eating habits.
To avoid violating or crossing the “professionally questionable” line I usually tell trainers to be very observant and if you think someone needs personalized one on one attention or maybe they have a health history that warrants a medical professional or Dietitian then don’t be afraid to refer out. It only helps your credibility and respect amongst the other health professionals. An example would be a diabetic client where you would have to “prescribe” specific instructions or guidelines. You see the word “prescribe”. That is the word that is the no-no and can get you in trouble. You don’t want to “prescribe” someone a specific task to do unless you are professionally qualified to do so. I always think of the trainer in California that not only told their client to take a fat burning supplement, but also went with them to the store to pick the right one out. The client died a few days later because they had hypertension and the trainer either didn’t know that or failed to justify the importance of it. Just recognize your professional limitations and have a referral network that you can use to refer to the appropriate professional. Be certified in a weight management program will help you recognize your professional limitations.
4. What would be the appropriate starting point for a Fitness Professional that is interested in integrating a Weight Management program into their business?
I would first start with obtaining a weight management certification and then start building your objectives of what you want to teach your clients. Then lay it out in a multiple class format. I have designed a free report that gives you all the necessary tips and guidelines to starting your own Weight Management program at www.weightmanagementexperts.com . This will give you the necessary tools needed to not only start your Weight Management Program, but also to ensure success. If you have any questions about information that is on the report feel free to e-mail me at jayson@weightmanagementexperts.com.
Enjoy!
1. Why should a Fitness Professional integrate Weight Management into their program offerings?
Well it’s simple. To most effectively lose weight a person needs to integrate exercise and proper nutrition into their program. We have all had those miracle clients that when they pick up a weight or do some type of cardio program that the fat melts off of them. We have also had the client that changes one thing in their diet and they shed the pounds. The reality is that 99% of most training clients need to do both or they never lose a pound.
Also, from a reputation standpoint if you could double the number of successful clients who have lost weight using your services then the faster and more powerful the message is spread that you are the expert when it comes to getting someone into shape.
2. What is the format for an effective Weight Management program?
An effective Weight Management program needs to have a structure that consists of covering the needed objectives. It is best to teach someone over many sessions because good nutrition habits are definitely not learned overnight. They take time to develop and if you pile all these suggested changes on at once then it is just too overwhelming and they will quit before they even get started. I usually break out a weight management program like this.
Program Overview
Session One
Topic: Establishing a Starting Point –
• Teach Goal Setting (SMART)
• Measurements & Before Picture
• Determine Calorie needs
• Profile Packet
Session Two
Topic: Record Keeping and portion size
· Teach menu plan
· Receive Individualized Menu
· Discuss Record Keeping and Portion Sizes
· Enroll in auto ship program
· Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Three
Topic: Adding Variety
• Exchanging Foods
• Create Sample Menus
• Master Food Planner
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Four
Topic: Sensible Supplementation
· Review journal/education
· Make necessary adjustments
· Teach why certain supplements are needed
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Five
Topic: Reassessment
• Have client rate themselves on compliance
• List long term goals
• Discuss obstacles that are standing in the way. Solutions?
• Circumference measurements
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Six
Topic: Timing, balancing and planning meals
· Review journal/education topic
· Work on new menu together (optional)
· Make necessary adjustments
· Have client rate themselves on compliance
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Seven
Topic: Food labels 101
· Review journal/education
· Make necessary adjustments
· Food Labels Exercise
· Grocery Store Tour (optional)
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Eight
Topic: Healthy fast foods?
· Review journal/education
· Weight and body fat%
· Make necessary adjustments
· Have client rate themselves on compliance
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Nine
Topic: Are You Able to Conquer a Plateau Alone?
· Review journal/education
· Discuss obstacles and solutions.
· Menu(optional)
· Make necessary adjustments
· Have client rate themselves on compliance
• Set Weekly Behavioral Modification Goals
Session Ten
Topic: Follow up – Long Term Strategies/ Reassessment and Re-evaluation
· Review journal/education
· Take all ending measurements
· Make necessary adjustments
· Have client rate themselves on compliance
· Enroll member into:
Personal training
Continuous goal setting
Using a format like this allows them to learn in sections and gives them the opportunity to practice and master the objectives as the weeks go along.
3. There are a lot of misconceptions about what Fitness Professionals can and cannot do regarding nutritional guidance. How can a Fitness Professional sort through that and deliver an effective program without doing anything that would be considered “professionally questionable?”
What I always suggest is to obtain a weight management certification from one of the reputable certification companies that are around. Even if you think you know nutrition there are always things to learn and with weight management programs it is not always what you know, but how you deliver it because nutrition and eating are tied very closely to emotion. It is not uncommon to have an emotional link which is why someone is eating the way they are. Then it becomes not so much telling them what to eat or what not to eat, but rather how to break away from that emotion.
Like you and Alwyn Cosgrove always say “you need to always invest in your business”. This is a perfect example of investing in your business. These certifications now cover much more than just nutrition information and they will help you be better prepared for all the twists and turns you will encounter when trying to change someone’s eating habits.
To avoid violating or crossing the “professionally questionable” line I usually tell trainers to be very observant and if you think someone needs personalized one on one attention or maybe they have a health history that warrants a medical professional or Dietitian then don’t be afraid to refer out. It only helps your credibility and respect amongst the other health professionals. An example would be a diabetic client where you would have to “prescribe” specific instructions or guidelines. You see the word “prescribe”. That is the word that is the no-no and can get you in trouble. You don’t want to “prescribe” someone a specific task to do unless you are professionally qualified to do so. I always think of the trainer in California that not only told their client to take a fat burning supplement, but also went with them to the store to pick the right one out. The client died a few days later because they had hypertension and the trainer either didn’t know that or failed to justify the importance of it. Just recognize your professional limitations and have a referral network that you can use to refer to the appropriate professional. Be certified in a weight management program will help you recognize your professional limitations.
4. What would be the appropriate starting point for a Fitness Professional that is interested in integrating a Weight Management program into their business?
I would first start with obtaining a weight management certification and then start building your objectives of what you want to teach your clients. Then lay it out in a multiple class format. I have designed a free report that gives you all the necessary tips and guidelines to starting your own Weight Management program at www.weightmanagementexperts.com . This will give you the necessary tools needed to not only start your Weight Management Program, but also to ensure success. If you have any questions about information that is on the report feel free to e-mail me at jayson@weightmanagementexperts.com.
posted by Pat Rigsby at 8:55 AM
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