How Fit Does a Coach Need to Be? Anatomy of a Fitness Pro Pt. 2

In the second installment of our Anatomy of a Professional Fitness Coach series, we’re turning to the physical and exploring the question of how fit a fitness coach needs to be.

We know this is an important question to answer because we chat with CCP applicants every day who are worried that their athletic performance is tied to their worth as a fitness coach.

So does a fitness coach need to be able to squat 500lb, perform complex gymnastics movements, have competition experience, or rock a six-pack?

No!

So How fit does a coach need to be?

You can absolutely fit the definition of a fitness coach that we proposed yesterday without any of these physical traits. Some of the best coaches we know are NOT talented athletes, don’t have perfectly defined abdominal muscles, and work with individuals who far exceed their own athletic abilities.

However, there’s one thing that you absolutely must have: a commitment to practicing what you preach. If you’re a professional dedicated to improving the health of others, then you must uphold the standards that you set and “walk the walk”.

You don’t need to have a 6-minute mile to be a professional fitness coach, but can you say yes to the following lifestyle questions?:

Are your intentions for fitness clear?

Do you have a consistent daily rhythm?

Is your food quality good and do you practice food hygiene?

Do you sleep 7+ hours a night?

Do you drink ½ your bodyweight in ounces of water daily?

Do you poop a 4 on the Bristol Stool Chart at least 1x per day?

Do you get at least 15 minutes of sun per day?

Do you move at least 30 minutes per day?

Fitness coaches are leaders, so lead by example in your day-to-day actions.

If you commit to putting these behaviors into practice and stay curious and exploring in the gym, then you can be confident that you’re “fit enough” to be a coach.

One of the most important changes we see in OPEX Coaching Certificate Program (CCP) students has nothing to do with their program designs or growing their coaching business. It’s the evolution that happens when they go through the CCP self-assessment and refine their own fitness behaviors.

While we know starting CCP will improve the health of your clients, we also know that your own fitness will undergo a transformation.

With presale now open for our first CCP mentorship group of 2023, there’s never been a better time to upgrade your fitness knowledge and pay it forward to your clients. Spots are limited, so apply now and book a discovery call to get started.