Do You Do What You Prescribe? Do You Believe in Your Own Product?
- Jared Thomlinson
- Oct 4
- 2 min read
As personal trainers, we spend our days guiding clients, writing programs, and motivating people to push past their limits. But here’s a question we often avoid asking ourselves:
Do I actually do what I prescribe? Do I believe in my own product enough to live it myself?
It’s easy to let your own training slip. Maybe you’re booked back-to-back with sessions, or you’re too tired at the end of the day to hit the gym. You tell yourself, “I’ll make it up tomorrow.” But tomorrow turns into next week, and before long, you’re coaching from the sidelines instead of leading from the front.
Practice What You Preach
Clients aren’t just listening to your words—they’re watching your actions. If you’re programming strength work but never touch a barbell, or if you’re preaching recovery but constantly burning yourself out, there’s a disconnect.
Now, this doesn’t mean you need to look like a fitness model or set world records. But it does mean showing up for yourself in the same way you ask your clients to show up for themselves. Integrity in this industry is about alignment—what you coach and what you live.
Why This Matters for Trainers
Credibility: If you don’t believe in your own product enough to follow it, why should your clients? Living your methods gives weight to your message.
Empathy: Training yourself keeps you connected to the struggle. You remember what it feels like to grind through a tough set, to feel unmotivated, or to battle setbacks. That makes you a better coach.
Influence: Actions inspire more than words ever could. When clients see you walk the talk, they believe change is possible for them, too.
A Reality Check
Think about this: would you hire a business coach who never built a business? Would you pay for a nutritionist who doesn’t practice healthy eating? Of course not. So why should clients invest in a trainer who doesn’t invest in themselves?
Your body and your lifestyle are your business card. They don’t need to be perfect—but they do need to reflect the principles you teach.
Leading by Example
Believing in your own product means:
Training regularly, even if it’s modified or scaled.
Prioritising recovery and sleep, not just telling clients to do it.
Eating in a way that fuels your body and performance.
Sharing not just your successes, but also your challenges and how you overcome them.
This level of authenticity builds trust. Clients don’t expect perfection—they expect honesty and consistency.
Final Thought
So, ask yourself today:
Am I the type of trainer I’d want to hire?
Do I practice what I prescribe?
Do I believe in my product enough to live it every day?
Because when you do, you’re no longer just coaching—you’re leading. And that’s what sets great trainers apart.
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