Programming weight loss workouts for clients is more straightforward than you might think. However, the fitness industry makes it complicated. Search any website or go to any social media post and you’ll find the latest trends for losing weight and gaining muscle. These trends range from high-intensity training to drinking apple cider vinegar first thing when you wake up. 

Over the last five years, the fitness industry has been growing steadily. Some sources say at a rate of around 8%, while others estimate 2%. Data like this suggests that personal trainers and fitness trainers and coaches should be making a hefty salary and have plenty of clients on their books.

Whether it was only for a couple of months or for good, our workouts migrated their way into our bedrooms, living rooms, garages, and back yards.

Clients want to improve theirs, coaches have their trade secrets for building it, and bodybuilders hate it.

While OPEX gyms are all based on individual program design, many non-OPEX gyms began introducing individual design to their clients during the pandemic as a way to continue to service them through shutdowns and various other COVID-restrictions. 

This blog was written by OPEX Ambassador and CCP Coach, Andy Ewington, from Dublin, Ireland. Andy helps his online and onsite clients at Adroit Fitness bridge the gap between injury and optimal health and performance as a remote coach and Neuromuscular Physical Therapist.

When this diet first became mainstream in the early 2010s, it was all the rage. While its popularity has died down a bit, this diet is still extremely popular amongst health and fitness enthusiasts.

With 30 years in the industry—including working with OPEX Founder James FitzGerald 15 years ago—you might not think a man like this might not get much out of another certification, but he took the OPEX Coaching Certificate Program (CCP) in the fall of 2020 and explained that, even with three decades of experience, it was a game changer.

Energy System Training refers to training the multiple forms of energy metabolisms in the body to produce improvements in the body’s overall efficiency. This training methodology is comprised of three main energy systems: the aerobic system (OPEX Sustain), the lactic system (OPEX Pain), and the alactic system (OPEX Gain). The reason why Energy System Training is so effective rests in its ability to improve multiple energy systems at once — with one program. Learn how to create energy system-specific progression in this course.

Coaches must move past looking at avatars of clients on paper and begin to recognize those avatars are real people. If you can’t establish a relationship with your client, you will live an endless cycle of turnover — constantly bringing in new clients and saying adios to the old.

Every year as Ramadan approaches, fitness coaches, clients, and enthusiasts alike prepare for a month of daily fasting.

After years of owning gyms, coaching functional fitness athletes, and creating coaching education, Hardwick now understands how to create an effective weight training program while keeping your athletes fresh for their games.

If you take a quick scroll through Instagram, chances are you’ll find a shirtless fitness coach doing a kettlebell exercise reminiscent of a dance.

Competitive functional fitness athletes are always on the hunt for the best fitness program to boost their athletic progression. This is especially the case during the offseason. The instinct for many offseason athletes is to jump straight back into training with the hopes of getting the jump on their competitors. However, in our decades of experience in coaching competitive functional fitness athletes, we’ve discovered that the best training plan to pursue in the offseason for longevity and guaranteed athletic development is the exact polar opposite of traditional functional fitness methodology. It’s Functional Bodybuilding.

“After the open competitions, and say you didn’t necessarily make it to the goal, which was to reach the regional level, there’s this weird time where individuals feel like they need to start training immediately in order to get prepared for the following season. It’s actually the complete opposite of what they need to do.” – OPEX Director of Remote Coaching Mike Lee

When you refer to someone’s level of fitness what characteristics come to mind? A strong bench press, great endurance, or a defined six-pack?

Over the last few years, the popularity of the landmine press has increased exponentially, thanks to the rise of functional fitness and other methodologies like functional bodybuilding.

Shayan Vaghayenegar first started coaching fitness as a personal trainer. The now 35-year-old rented space from a couple different gyms in the area and grew a decent book of clients this way. 

There is a lot of debate about what is considered “healthy,” making this a contentious question.

Kayla Smith’s story is similar to many coaches who fell in love with CrossFit: It was great for a while. She loved the group and community atmosphere, and “people had fun and enjoyed being a part of that community,” she said.