Half hour ab session??

[Bailey07]

Client chasing half hour ab session for 2 people...

i have tried to talk them into doing compound muscle groups with stabilizes however all as they want to do is core work...

omg so boring.... thoughts??
no TRX

[Footballa_19]

Just have to decide, do you want to make money, or get results? If it makes the client happy and you get paid, what's the problem? Just explain to them that they won't get the best results this way, but it doesn't mean you won't give it a shot.

30 mins of abs with no compound exercises? shoot me in the face! I'd make them do burpees till they had had enough of 30 min ab sessions

[HollisterHB]

One of the things we have to do as trainers is educating clients. I used to have clients who wanted to do a ton of abs but they were 20%+ bodyfat. They finally understood but I would still throw in some tough ab exercises to make them happy.

[WoofieNugget]

The best "core" exercise they can do is heavy deadlifts. Make them do that for 30 minutes.

[Simmo0508]

When they came to you, how did they explain their goal? Was it misconception like "i want to lose my fat belly so i want to do 30min ab workouts!", or did they say something like "i want to do abs for 30mins, i'd like to improve my core endurance and learn new exercises and get some stability back" etc. etc.

One is aesthetic-based, one is performance based. If they sounded performance based, that's fine, it's their money and if that's the session they wanna purchase, that's their perogative. Our job is to satisfy their request. If it was aesthetic and pure weight loss based, then after you do some educating about the subject and they still don't budge, you have to weigh up what's more important - a client's results or their wallet. Would you be satisfied as a business with your client not getting results, but taking their money? Your call.

Again, comes down to pre-screening and appropriate trainer/client matching, and their ability to take on instruction and willingness to be coached. If they don't seem to be the type to listen and be coached, then it doesn't matter what type of goal they have. You can't work with it.

I personally have an older lady who comes to me for an ab workout once a week for 30mins, based on performance however. I constantly ask her how her other training is going and she's happy with doing xyz at other fitness centres with the outside program I made for her, whilst just doing abs with me at mine. So her weekly plan on paper looks fine. She smashes it, with minimal rest, positive and happy whilst doing it, so from both parties there's no issue.

[FitnessMinistry]

Knowing the truth about anatomy and muscle physiology get them to see the light.

[lexinak]

Client chasing half hour ab session for 2 people...

i have tried to talk them into doing compound muscle groups with stabilizes however all as they want to do is core work...

omg so boring.... thoughts??
no TRX

That's easy. The "core" is made up of tons of different muscles that give different ranges of motion. You should easily be able to come up with 30 minutes of moves from spinal flexion, lateral flexion, extension, rotation, anti-extension and anti-rotation, plus hip flexion, extension and rotation. Look at that list I just produced and pick three moves for each. Boom, you're done.

[foodandfitness]

Just have them do compound moves with ab exercises during their rest time. Just explain to them they need to rest inbetween sets of abs to get optimal results, so they might as well work the rest of the body.

Are you going to run your business or let your clients run it for you?

[Reignman003]

Knowing the truth about anatomy and muscle physiology get them to see the light.

I definitely agree.