What does it mean to be a fitness professional? The definition, or more precisely the expectation, has become a bit blurrier in recent years.
Putting the “Pro” in fitness professional
I could say that what separates a true fitness professional from someone pretending to be one is that the former actually practices what they preach. In other words, they actually work out and/or do the workouts they promote on their websites and social feeds. Or they don’t.
I could argue that a real pro is less likely to post ridiculous, circus-like exercises they’d never do themselves just for accolades and attention.
You can spot fake trainers from a mile away. They publish the most absurd-looking routines.
A competent trainer’s program
A1. Trap Bar Deadlift: 3×5
A2. Pallof Press: 3×10 per side
B1. Goblet Step-Through: 3×12, 10, 8 per leg
B2. Pull-Through: 3×12–15
C1. Goblet Squat (50 lb): 2x AMAP (up to 20)
C2. Suitcase Carry: 2×40 yd per arm
An Instagram PhD’s program
A1. Trap Bar Deadlift Contrast Tempo Set vs. Chains (From a Deficit): 5×10
A2. 1-Arm Landmine Press with Contralateral Oscillatory Facilitation: 5×10 per side
B1. Barefoot Walking Lunges Over Broken Glass: 2×400 m
B2. Or Until Your Pancreas Fails (whichever comes first)
C1. Pull-Ups: 10×10
C2. Ice Bath: 10x30s
I’m intentionally facetious here, but there’s a point. As my friend and colleague Nick Tumminello has stated: “A master trainer (i.e., a “pro”) can also be called an Exercise Prescription Specialist.” A pro has a high level of expertise in:
– Exercise Individualization
– Exercise Application
– Exercise Prioritization
1. Exercise Individualization
This means figuring out the right stance for someone’s squats. Not everyone has the anatomy to squat with a narrow stance and toes pointing straight ahead. Newsflash: people don’t live in textbooks. Hip anatomy varies a lot. Factors include hip socket depth, hip socket orientation (retroverted or anteverted), femoral neck orientation, femur length, and more. There are many variables to consider, and expecting everyone to follow one fixed pattern is unrealistic. There are many ways a squat can look, depending on the person.
Individualization also applies to choosing the grip for the bench press. Someone with shoulder pain might benefit from a wider grip to reduce extra shoulder extension and better recruit the chest, rather than a narrow grip.
A true pro pays attention to these details.
2. Exercise Application
Should everyone squat to the same depth? Short answer: no.
Hip anatomy varies, so not everyone should go to the same depth. Some people squat all the way down, others to parallel, and some above parallel. They’re all valid squats, depending on goals, injury history, ability, and anatomy. No one should be penalized for not meeting a fictional standard.
And what about sets and reps? Why prescribe 3×10 for one exercise and 5×5 for another? What about 8×3 or 6×4? Are you using a random method to decide? A true professional designs a plan tailored to the athlete’s needs and goals.
3. Exercise Prioritization
Which exercises should come first, which should come last, and which should be done most often? The answer isn’t simple, but a good pro can explain the reasoning behind each choice.
In short, what really separates a true fitness professional from an IG PhD is the ability to deselect. A great chef isn’t defined by having every ingredient in the bowl; they know what to remove, what order to apply things in, and how much of each to use.
Biceps. Biceps. Yes, you guessed it—biceps.
