The Show Up Fitness Podcast

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!The most honest look you’ll hear at what separates a textbook-certified trainer from a trusted professional. We sit down with Derek, a rising manager at Lifetime, to unpack how he evaluates candidates, coaches a veteran team, and keeps standards high in a premium training environment where members expect safety, clarity, and results. From real-time prospecting on a busy gym floor to programming under pressure, Derek explains why 80% of applicants fail the practical and what the top performers do differently.We walk through his three-stage hiring process, the exact screening questions he wants to hear before a single rep, and the coaching behaviors that build instant credibility: precise cues, smart regressions, and simple anatomy language. Then we dig into pricing and value—why $120–$150 per hour makes sense for general population clients, how to handle “that’s expensive” without flinching, and the mindset shift that happens when you invest in your own development through mentors, seminars, and bodywork. If you’ve ever wondered how to charge more while training fewer sessions, this conversation gives you the playbook.Derek also shares what it’s like to lead as a younger manager among seasoned trainers, including fostering a culture of accountability without ego. We talk mentorship as the shortcut to competence, retention as the true metric, and why soft tissue work and recovery sessions drive client loyalty. You’ll leave with practical steps to pass a tough practical, communicate your value, and build a six-figure path at a high-standard gym or as a smart freelancer.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a trainer who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review so more coaches can find it. Your support helps us raise the standard—one qualified trainer at a time.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!What if the crowded gym, the taken rack, and the sore client were your advantage? We sit down with John, a 64-year-old coach who turned a lifetime of athletics and a career in finance into a service-first approach that seniors and everyday clients trust. The through-line is confidence: not bravado, but the quiet certainty that comes from knowing the why behind every exercise and being able to pivot in seconds without losing momentum.We unpack how mentorship and workshops transformed imposter syndrome into a repeatable system. John breaks down programming by patterns instead of equipment—push, pull, squat, hinge, carry, rotate—so he can swap a bench press for any push variation or move from back squats to goblets with wedges when racks are full. That shift keeps sessions seamless and clients calm. You’ll hear practical details on warm-ups that prepare tissues, loaded carries and toes-up drills for resilient feet and ankles, and modular templates that make full-body training simple, scalable, and effective.The heart of the conversation is longevity. John trains clients in their 50s, 60s, and 70s with complex histories—heart issues, surgeries, autoimmune conditions—and shows how smart loading, mobility work, and balance training restore independence for daily tasks like carrying groceries, getting in and out of a car, and picking up grandkids. We also talk about community as a performance multiplier: learning from rooms full of veteran coaches, debriefing to normalize struggles, and adopting cues and progressions that instantly improve outcomes.If you’re a coach, aspiring trainer, or lifter who cares about real results for real people, you’ll leave with tools to own the session, speak clearly about the why, and serve clients with steady confidence. Subscribe, share this with a coach who needs it, and leave a review to help more trainers find practical, human-centered coaching.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Step off a plane in Tokyo and you notice it immediately: people are moving, portions look different, and even a “small” soda is actually small. We unpack why Japan stays leaner without fad diets or gym‑centric lifestyles, and what parts of that system you can borrow without booking a flight. From broth‑based ramen to bento boxes, from 20,000‑step days to transit that makes walking the default, we explore how design, culture, and habits quietly cut calories and add movement.Adam, our instructor of programming, shares on‑the‑ground observations from Okinawa, Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo. He breaks down portion density, how convenience stores stock cheap protein and fiber next to sweets, and why intentional eating norms—like not snacking while walking—reduce mindless calories. We dig into conveyor‑belt sushi “micro‑ordering,” the value of half‑rice options, and the power of smaller drink sizes. We also talk fiber intake, affordable on‑the‑go protein, and simple swaps that make a noticeable dent in daily calories.There’s another side to consider. Corporate health policies that target waist circumference can improve population metrics but raise serious ethical and mental health questions. We discuss kids’ independence, social accountability around vices, and how pressure at work intersects with alcohol use and Japan’s high male suicide rates. Health isn’t just weight; it’s movement, food, and mental wellbeing working together. Our takeaways focus on environment over willpower: build steps into your day, choose broth over cream, keep a cheap protein snack on hand, sit to eat, and start with a truly small sugary drink.If this conversation gets you thinking about your own environment, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review with the one habit you’ll try this week. Your tip might be the nudge someone else needs.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Tired of feeling invisible on the gym floor? We share a practical, no-fluff playbook for new and rising trainers who want to fill their books fast without turning into pushy salespeople. It starts with presence: show up early, stay late, and learn the living rhythm of your gym. Map traffic patterns, make eye contact, and smile more than anyone else. Members trust the faces they see every day—so be the person who offers a quick warm-up tip, a towel when it’s needed, and a calm answer when someone looks lost.We break down a simple programming framework—CCA: Core movement, Complementary movement, Accessory—that lets you design effective workouts on the spot. Whether you’re helping the arm-day regular or the machine-loving 70-year-old, CCA keeps sessions focused, scalable, and aligned with real goals. We also dig into light-touch sales that don’t feel slimy: front-desk rapport, micro-education moments, and fun calorie-estimation games that spark nutrition chats. Instead of lecturing, invite members into a complimentary assessment to review goals, stress, sleep, and training history. The tone stays friendly, curious, and helpful.Mindset sets your ceiling. Use a Kobe-level work ethic to stack tiny wins: chase floor shifts, learn from the top and bottom performers, and invest downtime in anatomy and cueing. Bring your food, manage your energy, and radiate gratitude. Then commit to 90 days of rinse-and-repeat consistency and run a quarterly review to turn weaknesses into strengths. If you’ve been waiting for permission to step forward, here it is: be the most present, prepared, and positive person in the room. That’s how strangers become clients—and clients become long-term success stories.If this playbook helped, follow the show, share it with a trainer who needs a boost, and leave a quick review so more coaches can find it.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!A burning leg at night, a “herniated disc” on the MRI, and years of mixed messages—sound familiar? We unpack a real client story and show how to trade fear for a plan using assessment-first coaching, language that calms the system, and progressions that actually work.We start by debunking outdated ortho beliefs that frame backs as fragile and people as broken. Then we map a simple screening process to pinpoint intolerances—flexion, extension, rotation, lateral flexion, or compression—and use those findings to build a zero-discomfort movement menu. You’ll hear why stretching into nerve symptoms often flares sciatica-like pain, when sciatic nerve glides help, and how to reframe “pain” as “discomfort” to reduce threat and increase buy-in.From there we get practical. Learn how to coach precise planks, side planks, and bridges; when to choose TRX rows over bent-over rows; how to modify pressing with landmine variations; and why bilateral pulling beats asymmetrical loading early on. We cover bracing and drawing-in cues, pacing volume to track responses, decompression options for compression-sensitive clients, and small lifestyle levers like sleep setup, hydration, and nutrition quality. We also explain imaging context, disc reabsorption, and the power of daily low back routines that rebuild trust. Finally, we share networking tactics to team up with pro-movement physios and chiros so your client always has a path forward.If you coach people with back issues—or you’re working through them yourself—you’ll leave with a step-by-step framework: listen, screen, find zero-discomfort ranges, progress deliberately, and keep the wins going for life. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with your top takeaway so we can cover it next.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Most knee pain stories sound the same: a new running plan, a few hard workouts, and then an ache that won’t leave. We take that familiar frustration and turn it into a practical roadmap. Starting with a clear scope—what coaches can do and when to refer out—we break down the anatomy that actually drives decisions, the screens that reveal load bottlenecks, and the progressions that build resilient knees.We lean into a joint-by-joint approach: verify ankle mobility so the knee doesn’t become a substitute hinge, then probe hip rotation and control with the 90-90 position. From there, we show how calf capacity underpins every step—most people aren’t near twenty-five single-leg calf raises—and why the frontal plane is a silent deal-maker for runners and lifters. Expect actionable strength work like side planks with abduction, standing abductions, seated and standing calf raises, and carefully dosed plyometrics once tissue tolerance is ready.Soft tissue isn’t a fix, but it is a useful window. We explain how targeted work on the adductors and surrounding tissues can calm sensitivity so better movement sticks. We also demystify scary imaging, remind you that MRIs find “something” in almost everyone, and focus on what changes pain: load management, smart progression, and consistent retesting. The thread through all of it is collaboration—building a dependable relationship with a physical therapist, documenting assessments, and using simple benchmarks to show progress your clients can feel and see.If you coach people who run, squat, lunge, or just want to move without wincing, you’ll walk away with a simple, repeatable system: assess, address, load, retest, and refer when in doubt. Subscribe for more coach-first education, share this with a trainer who needs a clear plan, and leave a review to tell us the biggest knee question you want answered next.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Imagine a world where new personal trainers don’t get tossed onto the gym floor with a textbook and a shrug. We take on a bold thought experiment: what if personal training operated inside an insurance-backed, supervised system—more like a residency—so rookies could learn under experienced clinicians, earn steady pay, and develop real confidence before jumping into premium coaching?We start by pulling apart the broken pipeline: pass a multiple-choice exam, struggle to get hired by high-end clubs that want experience, then get thrown to the sharks at volume gyms with no mentorship. That pathway erodes confidence, confuses pricing and assessments, and drives injuries and burnout. We contrast it with the physical therapy model—formal education, supervised clinical hours, high patient volume—that, despite flaws, reliably builds baseline competence. Then we map a practical version for fitness: structured hours, interdisciplinary collaboration with PTs and physicians, and case-based learning focused on strength, behavior change, and safe progressions.From there, we connect the dots to career capital. A couple of years in an insurance-based setting creates the reps and feedback loops trainers need to command premium rates, move into respected clubs, and branch into online coaching or entrepreneurship. Clients benefit too—especially those facing obesity and metabolic disease—because coaching happens within a medical team that aligns goals, scope, and communication. We also get honest about the barriers: certification companies and big-box incentives aren’t built for mentorship, and red tape is real. But if fitness wants respect as an allied health profession, supervised practice and clearer standards are the way forward.If you’re a coach who’s felt lost after a cert, a PT curious about partnering with trainers, or a gym owner who wants to reduce churn and raise quality, this conversation lays out a path that puts learning and client outcomes first. Subscribe, share with a coach who needs a roadmap, and drop your take: should personal training move toward a supervised, insurance-backed model?Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com

Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!Tired of handing out “free nutrition tips” between sets and watching clients treat them like background noise? We break down a simple, professional system to turn nutrition guidance into a paid, high-value service that actually drives results. From pricing to scope to weekly workflows, you’ll hear exactly how to charge with confidence and deliver coaching that clients respect.We start by challenging the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset that keeps trainers stuck. Then we map a clean offer: $250–$500 per month for structured nutrition coaching that lives outside workouts, with weekly or biweekly check-ins, photo logging, menu reviews, and clear goals. You’ll get the sales script we use after assessments, language to handle “my last coach included it,” and a 30-day measurement challenge that builds awareness fast without trapping clients in lifelong tracking.The heart of the system is partnership and scope. Instead of being a jack of all trades, bring a registered dietitian onto your team. RDs handle medical nutrition therapy and complex cases; you lead behavior change, accountability, and education. We cover TDEE basics, protein targets, and the real blockers—environment, stress, sleep, and social pressure—so your clients can navigate date nights and office snacks without derailing progress. You’ll also learn how to host small RD Q&As, set clinic-style expectations, and separate services the way dentists and physical therapists do, so clients understand what they’re buying and why it works.If you’re ready to build a business that delivers better outcomes and adds $1,000 to $5,000 per month without adding more training hours, this playbook shows you how. Subscribe, share this episode with a coach who needs it, and leave a review telling us the first client you’ll pitch paid nutrition coaching to.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world! Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show! Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com