Most gyms measure the success of their trainers solely by their ability to sell personal training sessions. It’s not about transformation and results. It’s about selling. Few gyms even have the ability, or the desire, to determine if anyone is getting stronger and healthier.

If you are lucky enough to find someone who is passionate and talented and who can really help you then it will require that you invest around $100 per session for their assistance. Sometimes it’s more.

For most folks who use personal trainers, they slog through the same workout session after session, with no measurable improvement. I see the same people at my gym doing the same workouts with the same weight for 6 months at a time. What a colossal waste of time and money! There is no progress. No one is getting stronger, fitter or healthier.

There is a better way. For much less than what the yawning guy in the polo shirt will charge to count your reps and walk you through the standard circuit at Gym Chrome, you can become an online coaching client with me.

This is not for everyone. It will require discipline, an open mind, dedication and some time. An hour or so a day. Usually less.

So what will you get? Results and satisfaction like never before. Someone to hold you accountable if need be. You will be a new person physically and mentally after this 6 month training.

Things will start with a thorough personal assessment and a training regimen specific to your ability and goals.

Your program will begin on August 30, 2010 and end on February 4, 2011. I am limited to 15 clients. I need to be able to give you each the attention you will need and deserve to transform yourself over the next 6 months.

Each week you will get a training schedule based on the coming week, your obligations, and the previous weeks results. There will be a group conference call weekly. We will record it for those unable to attend.  The call will offer you support and group coaching. I expect that we will have special guests from time to time. I know we will.

Additionally, I will review videos of you and your work and technique from time to time. Also, there will be a 1 on 1 coaching call every month.

You will work hard. You certainly won’t be going through the motions as they say. You won’t be staying in the same rut you’ve been in. We will set a course to develop you into the person you want to be and then get you there step by step.

How much has your body changed in the last 6 months? Is this due to the fact that you are perfectly happy where you are, or because something isn’t working?

My guess is something needs to be fixed with either your training or your nutrition, even both. Something we can fix.

As you know, I strictly work with motivated individuals. Thus I do require a phone interview.

If you’d like to be considered and want further information, please email me no later than August 23, 2010.

Train With purpose,

Sandy Sommer RKC

Today’s session couldn’t be simpler. Do some joint mobility work to get your body ready for some real work. I recommend the Maxwell Dozen.

Use the kettlebell that you can handle for Hard Style sets of 20. You are looking to create tension and relaxation in each swing. I’ve posted on Hardstyle Swings before here.

Do 25 sets of 20 reps. Rest as needed. Enough to maintain form. Nothing sloppy is allowed. Abort the mission if quality is not possible to maintain.

Train with purpose,

Sandy Sommer RKC

I’m going to call myself out: I’ve been guilty of trying to come up with some pretty stupid exercises (though probably never any as bad as this one):

Early in my training career, I think I had this idea in my head that the crazier the exercise I could come up with, the better and cooler trainer I would be. As I’ve learned and gained experience with what works and what doesn’t, I’ve come to realize that focusing on the basics, and executing them perfectly, is often far much more effective for most fitness goals.

The RKC certification experience I recently had really reinforced this concept. The RKC system is built on getting the ‘basic’ kettlebell movements down perfectly: the Swing, the Get-Up, the Squat, the Clean and Press, and the Snatch.

Keeping this idea in mind, I’d like to share a kettlebell circuit I’ve used with great success in both learning and practicing the basic kettlebell moves as well as building a fantastic level of strength and conditioning.
The circuit is structured as follows:

Swing x 12-20
Get-Up x 1-3 Each Side
Squat x 12-20
Clean and Press x 3-6 Each Side
Snatch x 5-10 Each Side

Repeat 2-3 times without rest

The way I’ve used this workout myself and with clients is to use it for a period of four to six weeks, gradually increasing the total reps and sets.

For example, one could start the first week of the program with the minimum amount of reps and sets. The second week, one could add a couple of reps per set. Add a couple more reps per set the third week.

The fourth week, drop the reps down a bit and add another set to the rotation. Start increasing the reps again the fifth week. By the sixth week or so, you should end up doing the maximum amount of reps and three sets of each exercise.

Being able to go through this circuit three times, using the maximum amount of reps per exercise, and resting a minimal amount should only take you fifteen minutes or so and is a tremendous test of strength endurance.

Keep in mind, proper form should be the number one priority here. Dragon Door has some tremendous resources to get you where you need to be and teach you how to do these exercises properly. Make sure you know how to do all of the exercises perfectly before you start upping the intensity .

I’ve also had good success combining this workout with a couple times a week of ‘regular’ weight training. If you’d like to see another article that I’ve written about incorporating this circuit into a more traditional strength training program, please click here (we’ll have to insert the link to my blog post here).

Forest Vance, MS, CPT, RKC is a boot camp instructor, personal trainer, blogger, and author of the newly-released book and DVD set No Gym? No Excuse!

If you’d like to hear more from him, check out his free e-course filled with more workout ideas, diet tips, motivation, and more

PS Check out Part II of the article here!