The job of a personal trainer or fitness coach is an interesting one. A full time trainer trains people all day long and watches their clients lose pounds and inches, while others get stronger and pack on muscle from adhering to your guidance and training wisdom. You write programs, trouble shoot plateaus come up with solutions to injuries, and a dozen other things that will keep your client happy and healthy.

I have been working with athletes and normal folk for over 17 years and I have witnessed just about everything, from blown knees, fractures, food poisoning, sore muscles, surgery, etc…I am very good at helping my athletes and clients get past their issues and find a way to continue on their journey.

What no one prepares trainers for, however, is how to deal with life issues that go way beyond the physical. Over the last three months, I have had clients that have lost parents, and other clients that have had parents suffer from major medical setbacks. I have another client that just lost his job, and another that is pregnant. Most recently, one of my clients told me that she is getting a divorce. On top of that, I have at least four high school athletes working with me that are going through “normal high school” issues and problems that might seem trivial, but they are major to teenagers and still need to be dealt with. I have at least four clients that are going through rocky marriages, tough times with their kids, and a plethora of other problems.

Life happens.

Through many years of working with teens in the high school setting, I have gotten used to dealing with all kinds of life issues. More so, I have gained a healthy perspective about what is important in life and what issues are not so important.

Interestingly enough, all of the above-mentioned clients are still training, and most have continued to train through these roadblocks without taking much time off at all. Most find their training sessions therapeutic in a sense and all leave feeling better about life then when they walked in to train.

My clients have thanked me for helping them through some of these life challenges. I have to thank them as well. You see, they have all taught me some valuable lessons of life. The most important one is perspective. Some of my other clients are wrapped up in needing to look a certain way, or wanting to lose a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time. Fitness goals are important and essential for progress. I have no problem with people being “full go” and focused on their goals 100%. Life, however, still happens and gets in the way of training sessions, diet and overall focus.

The take home message is that most people will have to deal with their life issue while at the same time, staying on track. It is not easy, but can be done. The weight room will still be there, and the diet will still be ready to be followed. If you have a major life problem, as most people will, don’t be afraid to take some time to deal and then get back to your fitness journey.

Have a healthy perspective on what is truly important and don’t take life for granted. Most of all, remember that your goals will still be there when you are dealing with more important life issues, and it is never too late to start up again.

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