It is 2024! Happy New Year!! Let me start off just by saying this is our recommendation at Bamboo Nutrition. But we don’t know ALL the personal trainers and gyms out there. We just know that Simple Solutions Fitness is a studio we have worked very closely with. We love the owner and the trainers and find them to be very smart, wholesome and provide you with recommendations that are REAL and not just their thoughts or opinions.
Some things dietitians look for in a personal trainer or gym:
We prefer when Personal trainers do not talk about nutrition with their clients.
Just like we don’t give recommendations on squat form, how much weight you should benchpress, or how to superset your workouts, we expect the trainers we refer to and work with not to talk about nutrition. Some trainers are qualified to some degree to share tips such as on hydration, protein and pre/post workout intake. However, nutrition recommendations should only ever be provided by registered dietitians. They hold the most advanced nutrition training. Before asking your trainer about nutrition, find out their experience, background and education on nutrition. If you’re still unhappy with those qualifications, then ask them if they recommend a dietitian in town.
Judgement Free Zones where everyone feels comfortable and focused on their workout.
Gyms or workout spaces in general can feel really small, claustrophobic, or sometimes too big and overwhelming. Every gym also has a culture and sometimes that culture attracts really advanced strength and conditioning folks, or advanced runners or rowers, etc. For people just looking for enjoyment, a good workout and peace, gym culture is a big deal. Things that contribute to gym culture are: the trainers, mirrors or no mirrors, the layout of the gym, other offerings such as tanning beds, hydromassage, etc., comfort in the bathrooms, nutrition offerings, etc.
Expertise.
Just as dietitians like to say, we are the experts in nutrition, we like to refer to other experts. It is important that the person who trains you, or simply provides a workout plan, has been educated in the movements they are recommending. Have you ever hurt yourself while exercising? This is super common and more common when the trainer doesn’t know the things to look out for such as form, warm up and cool down, range of motion, and more. We do not refer to personal trainers who just think of training as a hobby, but we refer to personal trainers who are passionate, experienced, and have the education to back up their credentials.
We have found all of these things at Simple Solutions Fitness (SSF).
Here is what you can expect as you walk into their studio:
SSF focuses on strength training. They create high quality programs and don’t try to “do it all” but rather focus on specific movements at a time and encourages cardio outside of session time.
SSF is a safe space. They don’t believe in mirrors because they place focus on other people. SSF says it can also distract from form when performing lifts- where your eyes track influences your balance.
You will not find a shelf of supplements anywhere. SSF believes most supplements lack scientific evidence and they don’t feel qualified enough to handle your physical strength and your nutritional health. Rather, they refer to registered dietitians.
Their core-values are reflected in their gym culture. They encourage simplicity and really help you to understand the movement, its benefit, and how to fit it into a workout. They believe in helping you find enjoyment through movement and align your goals to your values. Their recommendations and fitness plans are science-based.
Their vision is to help women feel strong and confident by doing something different. Yes, men go to this gym too and the workouts are tailored to you. However, it is rare to find an open and comfortable strength training environment for women, so SSF really strives to be this space.
To learn more about how to get started with SSF and what else to expect, click on the button below.
If part of your 2024 goal is to also improve your nutrition habits and behaviors, our dietitians are specialized in all different areas of nutrition and chronic conditions and diseases. They are more than ready to take you on as a client and make this a new and great year for you.