Why you should run Weight-Management Programs

Pat Rigsby of http://CosgroveandRigsby.com sent out his newsletter yesterday and it was awesome! So good that I asked him for permission to re-run it here.

So, without further ado:

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In this issue I'm going to do something a little different.

Recently, I've been getting a lot of questions about Weight Management programs.

It seems fitness pros are starting to take more of an interest in this potential profit center -finally! ;-)

Because of that I decided to do an interviewwith my wife, Holly, who not only runs ourbusiness' WM program, but also is theDirector of Weight Management for TheFitness Consulting Group.

FYI - this segment of our business has accounted for an additional 25% in added revenue since she developed it and can dothe same for you - so pay attention to what she sahres. Here we go...

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The Fitness Riches Newsletter Issue 40
© Fitness Consulting Group, LLC.
http://www.fitnessconsultinggroup.com

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In This Issue:

An Interview With WM Expert Holly Rigsby


1. Why should a Fitness Professional integrate WeightManagement into their program offerings?


HR - Clients who are investing in a fitness program expect anddeserve to see results based on the hard work and effort they put forth. Many clients do not realize the impact supportive nutrition and positive lifestyle habits have on the outcome of their program.

Simply dedicating a mere 3 - 4 hours a week to exercise is not enough when the other160 plus hours of the week have no plan, no foundation forsuccess.

By offering WM to our clients, we are providing them with the complete formula for success - there is no way they can fail.

Plus - the more walking, talking billboards you help create, the easier it is to grow your business!


2. What would you recommend as the format for an effectiveWeight Management program?


HR - An effective WM program not only covers the basics ofnutrition (general recommendations regarding what toeat, how to eat and why) but also needs to address the lifestyle habits that have lead our clients to their currentstate of health and fitness.

This can be accomplished by helping clients identify the choices they are making when it comes to the way they eat and move, how it is impacting their results and guiding them to the solution - replacing those habits with ones that will positively impact their body, their results and their overall quality of life.

The most effective format for this type of education and guidance is to meet on a weekly basis for 10 to 12 weeksin a small group setting and emphasize the importance and the impact of making small, gradual changes.


3. There are a lot of misconceptions about what FitnessProfessionals can and cannot do regarding nutritional guidance. How can a Fitness Professional sort throughthat and deliver an effective program without doing anythingthat would be considered "professionally questionable?"


HR - When it comes to providing nutritional guidance as afitness professional there is nothing questionable about helping our clients create an awareness that they are either taking in too many calories or making unsupportive choices. It then becomes a matter of replacing unsupportive food choices with supportive ones. As a fitness professional we should have a working knowledge of foods that promote health and foods that do not.

If the question of "how many calories should I be eating"arises, clients should first be asked to keep a food logto determine calorie intake.

From there, the client can be guided to make better choices and the byproduct ofthose choices will be a suitable calorie intake. The WM program that we use has not focused on caloriecounts or the creation of specific menus.

We instead make recommendation about eating supportively - forexample - choosing a balance of lean proteins, qualitycarbohydrates and healthy fats for each meal.

We also make use of an online menu planning software. While recommended calorie guidelines are suggested, I makeit clear to our clients that there is no magic numberand calorie requirements fluctuate from day to day.

Instead we focus on making better choices in both foodselection and portion sizes. Then we simply help theclient make adjustments by taking notice of energy levels, satiety and of course results.


4. What would be the appropriate starting point fora Fitness Professional that is interested in integratinga Weight Management program into their business?


HR - I would recommend getting a working knowledge of supportive nutrition first. John Berardi's Precision Nutrition is a great place to start.

There are also various certificationsthat can help give you a more clear understanding of anyarea that you might feel deficient in.

Then you would comeup with a format in which you would deliver the course. You can either put this together through trial and error (the approach we followed) or use a 'pre-packaged' Weight Management course like the one Prograde Nutrition will soon be offering.

Finally, I would get a software programthat allows you to develop example meal plans for clients. Jayson Hunter and Dr. Chris Mohr just launched a new tool called Meal Plans 101 that meets this need nicely. Once you've taken those steps to lay the groundwork for success, you're ready to launch your first course.

Pat here again...

As you probably are gathering, integrating a WM program is a GREAT opportunity to attract more clients, generate more revenue per client and deliver even better results to the people that you work with. As a side note - the people that go through our WM program purchase over 200% more nutritional supplements than our 'regular' clients.

Talk about increasing LCV!

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Great job, Pat and Holly! Thanks for letting me share

- Jim