u/FitJourneyGuide

A lot of people walk into private or commercial gym sessions assuming every certified trainer approaches programming the same way, only to end up with cookie-cutter circuits, zero mobility assessments, or immediate burnout.

From your perspective (either as a client who hired one or as a trainer working 1-on-1): what is the single biggest red flag or misconception clients overlook during that initial consultation phase?

When starting out it is so easy to fall into the trap of doing 6-day PPL routines because everyone online pushes high volume, only to feel constantly drained after a few weeks.

Switched back to an upper lower setup with more rest days and energy levels feel way better, but it took a lot of trial and error to accept that more days in the gym does not automatically mean faster progress.

Curious how long it took you guys to find a routine that actually fits your schedule and recovery without burning out. What split ended up sticking for you?