How I Structure Personal Training (And Why Motivation & Mindset Matter More Than You Think)

Let’s get one thing straight: I don’t work with everyone who applies to train with me. Not because you’ve “failed” before (in fact, supporting people who’ve struggled in the past is exactly what I do best). But because if you’re not ready to make real changes, build new habits, and stick with them, then honestly—you’re not ready yet.

See, getting fit isn’t about jumping headfirst into some all-or-nothing routine, burning yourself out, and then quitting when it gets too much. It’s about creating a lifestyle. One that fits into your life like a little bubble—it’s there, it’s important, but it doesn’t consume you. That’s how long-term change actually happens.

That’s why I work in phases. Here’s how it looks:

How I Structure my Personal Training

Phase 1: Getting to Know You

When you start with me, I’m not throwing you under a barbell on day one. First, I need to understand you. This phase often takes a few weeks. I’ll figure out:

• How consistent are you?

• How do you respond to the information I give you?

• Do you lose interest quickly with things like food logging?

None of that is “good” or “bad”—it just tells me how I can help you best. But here’s the truth: if you want real change, you will need to make some changes.

What they are? We’ll find out together.

About that healthy eating claim! Everyone thinks they eat healthy. But if you’re overweight, something isn’t adding up. Maybe it’s portion sizes, hidden calories, or just being a bit too generous with the snacks.

Logging your food is eye-opening. Not because I want you to log forever, but because it shows us what’s really happening.

Three lattes, a sausage roll, two donuts, a bag of crisps, and a packet of Oreos… that’s not “a little snack.” That’s your daily calories gone faster than a Friday night Prosecco. Until you see it in black and white, it’s easy to kid yourself.

This phase is about honesty, trust, and laying the foundations. Without it, nothing else works.

👉 It’s also important to understand that no phase lasts a set amount of time. Some people breeze through a phase in a few weeks, others might need months. And that’s completely fine. There’s no point in me moving you to the next phase if you haven’t nailed the current one, because that’s exactly how people fall back into old habits. Each phase builds on the last, so we don’t skip steps — we master them, then move forward.

Phase 2: Building Skills & Confidence

Once we’ve nailed the basics, we move into skills. And this phase? It never really ends.

At first, it’s not about perfect form—it’s about showing up, building confidence, and getting used to how the weights feel. I’ll polish your form as we go, but the first priority is consistency.

From there, I’ll help you understand how hard you should be working. If you’re finishing a set and could easily do another 20 reps, you’re not training hard enough.

Do I push clients to failure straight away? Absolutely not. But over time, I’ll teach you how to train close to failure safely—that’s where strength and muscle are built.

And here’s the thing: “no pain, no gain” doesn’t mean “train through soreness.” If your elbow hurts while lifting, we stop. But those delicious DOMS the next day? That means we’re doing something right.

This phase is all about learning the skills of training and building the confidence to keep progressing.

Phase 3: Progression & Lifestyle Integration

Now we’re cooking. By this point, you’ve got routines in place, you understand the basics of nutrition, and you’re training consistently. This is where the fun starts.

In Phase 3, workouts get more tailored. We might focus extra volume on specific areas (hello, back-to-back biceps sets 💪) or push intensity in smarter ways. You’ll learn how to challenge yourself without burning out.

Nutrition also becomes second nature. You’ll know how to fuel your body, how to balance protein, carbs, and fats, and how to fit in the things you love without falling off track. No more “on a diet” or “off a diet.” It just becomes… your lifestyle.

This is the phase where your hard work pays off—strength builds, fat loss shows, and confidence skyrockets.

The best part? Once the habits are in place, they stick. You don’t have to think about them anymore—it’s just who you are now.

The Harsh Truth About Results

Here’s the part most trainers sugar-coat: I can’t promise you weight loss or muscle gain. I’ll give you the tools, the plan, and all the guidance in the world—but results? They come from your consistency, effort, and attitude.

If you train with me for a year and still look the same, it probably means you enjoyed the workouts but didn’t really want to change your habits.

And that’s okay—just be honest about what you want.

But if you’re ready to push through the boring days, the Friday nights, lose the 'I'll start again Monday' mindset and the moments where motivation dips—that’s when change happens. Because strength training builds the muscle, nutrition strips the fat, and consistency keeps you on track long enough to see it through.

Why My Method Works

I don’t throw everything at you at once. My training whether it be in person or online, combines the structure of my three signature programs:

• Eat More, Lose Weight – learning nutrition basics without restriction.

• Zero to Gym Hero – building gym confidence and strength safely.

• 8 Week Habit Transformation – stacking habits that actually stick.

Together, they create a system that lasts.

Because when you nail the basics—lifting consistently, eating to fuel your body, building sustainable routines—you’ll never have to “start over” again.

It just becomes part of your life.

Final Word

If you’re looking for quick fixes, magic shakes, or jabs that shrink fat but leave you looking like a melted jelly pot—this isn’t for you.

But if you’re ready to work hard, stay consistent, and build habits that will change your life forever… then you’re exactly the kind of person I would love to work with.

Please drop me an email and let me help you, to look and feel amazing.

Email Leah