I have experience lifting, why do I need a trainer?
That is a great question! Many people wonder if the investment in coaching is a worthwhile one. The simple answer is YES! Coaching and training are for everyone. Professional athletes have coaches, beginners have coaches, post collegiate athletes have coaches, moms of three have coaches, I even have a coach! Coaches take the guesswork out of working out, nutrition, cardio, etc. making it easier on you. Just show up and do the work!
At the very basic level, trainers/coaches take the stress out of going to the gym. At a more advanced level, coaches critique form and promote optimal performance via training modalities and applied principles.
Why would I choose online coaching vs. personal training?
Yes, online coaching and training is a real thing. In fact, there is evan an Online Trainer Academy! (Graduate: May 2019!) Many people choose online or hybrid training as it allows more flexibility than in person training, often at a better price for a wider range of individuals. You work out within your schedule at your gym, health club, apartment, or house!
Who is online training ideal for?
Online training is a great option for many individuals. The same individuals mentioned above. Professional athletes, busy parents, workaholic professionals, and millennial party animals. The beauty of choosing online coaching with Royalty Performance is that everything is tailored to you, your goals, and your "optimal." Can only train 3x per week? Great, We'll formulate a training plan that will help you reach your goals. Competitive athlete willing to go all out and train 6x per week with cardio on top of your training sessions? Perfect! We'll optimize your training program to make sure you are getting the best results possible.
The Clients who see the fastest and best results with us are those who know how, or are willing to learn how to, accurately count macronutrients on a consistent basis, resistance train at least 3 times per week (preferably with access to a gym), and are striving to get better, be more efficient in the gym and really driven to reach their goals.
This sounds awesome. Who wouldn't benefit from online training?
At Royalty Performance we help people of all levels of experience and all types of goals. We have clients who have had knees and hips replaced, who want to lose 100lbs, who have already lost 100lbs and want to get stronger, people who compete in physique sports and powerlifting, and those who just want to look better naked.
While we pride ourselves on this, some people just require a more hands on approach. For some it may be a confidence issue where the free weights scare them because they don't want to get injured or they don't want to end up on YouTube. For others it is a motivation issue and simply getting to the gym and walking on a treadmill is too much. Sometimes people respond better to knowing they have someone waiting for them at the gym. You can sign up with a gym partner, or, if you are in the St. Louis, MO area, we can set up an in-person consultation for 1-on-1 personal training!
We are also not medical doctors. While we work with a variety of patients who are post rehab/surgery and physical therapy, we can not diagnose or treat medical issues. Please send us an email if you have any concerns about this.
If you are on the fence about whether or not online training is the right option for you, visit our JOIN THE TEAM page and contact us. We will explain everything, set up a skype consult if necessary, and answer any questions in helping to decide if online coaching will be the tool that gets you to your goal!
Yeah, but my "coach" is a keyboard warrior and nobody gets results, right?
How are things different at Royalty Performance?
Unfortunately, sometimes you are correct in thinking both of those things. Some online coaches and trainers only communicate via email. They offer no support after they send their "12 week booty blaster" program and post photoshopped images on their Instagram, promising you the same results. Then you never hear from them again. The online coaching industry has the same issues as other online businesses. Scammers.
Royalty Performance is made up of real people, who really care about your results. Keep reading to see how we are different.
Read the About section. Check out the “What We Do” and “Who We Are” sections. We are different here. With us, you get macrocycle (long-term) planning, mesocycle (medium-term) training, and microcycle (short-term) adjustments. You get weekly check ins, Skype calls, text message communication, and email support within 24 hours.
Macrocycles are year long training plans. The best laid plans are ones that take as much into account as possible. Planning out any vacations, big events, holidays, and performances (shows, meets, competitive seasons), and making sure the training goals line up with the life/sport events we have planned.
Mesocycles are 4-6 week training blocks with specific goals (strength, hypertrophy, endurance, etc.) for the duration of the training cycle.
Microcycles are weeks of training that are easily tracked and modified based on the progression/regression of the previous microcycle.
Andrew cares about his clients and truly wants you to reach and exceed your personal goals. While he isn't the "Biggest Loser" or "Drill Sergeant" type of trainer, he does expect you to give it 100%. The plan you develop together is something you said you could do. To to get the results you want to get, you have to adhere to the program. It's Andrew's mission to make that as easy as possible for you, giving you guidance and encouragement along the way. Tips and tricks he has from his own journey plus the struggles and successes of his dozens of clients will be passed on to you for your continued success!
What is the best type of pizza?
I’m so glad you asked. I’m a big fan of a classic NY style pepperoni as well as a Crunchy Detroit Style with sausage and jalapeno. As long as it’s not IMO’s/STL style pizza, I don’t think there is a wrong answer.
How do I know if I'm doing the exercises correctly?
Doing the exercises correctly is what ensures we are not only making progress, but also doing so in a safe way! Injuries happen when form breaks down and we move inefficiently. Once you are signed up, before we assign your first mesocycle of training, you will video yourself performing the "Big 3," squat, bench, and deadlift. This can be via a youtube video, an attachment, or my preferred method via an app called "Hudi Technique." On there we can be come "friends" and we are able to slow down video, look at angles, and really pinpoint any issues that are not optimal for strength, hypertrophy, or safety that may be present.
It isn't relegated to just those three movements though. We provide and check for the correct execution of all movements on an as needed basis.
OK, so that's an overview of Training. What about Nutrition?
Nutrition plays such a huge role in progress that it should be evaluated on a microcycle (weekly) basis. While it may not need to be drastically adjusted every week, we have to make sure nutrition continues to be a top priority.
As we talked about in the “What We Believe” section, Royalty Performance trainers utilize a flexible dieting approach. This approach is completely customizable to any dietary needs/preferences such as paleo, low carb, keto, low-fat, vegetarian, etc. We use a flexible approach to help you reach specific macronutrient and calorie targets. This helps your diet fit your lifestyle while also helping you reach your goals.
Food is such a centerpiece for many cultures. For most people we don't ask you to significantly change what you currently are doing. It doesn’t matter if you are an athlete or a weekend warrior, nutrition fuels your workouts and gives you energy. Our goal is to optimize athletic/caloric output (depending on your goals) while maximizing your results, whether that is body composition, performance, or sport specific. So rest assured, we take nutrition very seriously here to make sure your results are optimal.
What do I have to do? What is expected of me once I start?
These are great questions! Is it too cliche to say 100%? Yeah, it probably is. But that is all we really ask. We want you to not be too proud to ask questions if something is unclear. We want you to embody our motto, "Execute Daily. Conquer Humbly." Try to be better than yesterday. Log 10 more steps on your Fitbit. Do one more squat than last week. Sprint the last block on your run. Log every nibble in MyFitnessPal, regardless of the size. Remind yourself daily that you can do this. That you are worth the hard work!
Consistency is key. You will probably get tired of hearing us say that. But doing the small things every day add up quickly!“When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur. When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually you have a big improvement in conditioning. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made. Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens — and when it happens, it lasts.” —John Wooden
Ok, I'm in. But what if I decide in two weeks it's not for me?
Hopefully, all concerns are taken care of with the consultation and on boarding process. While we truly believe online training and coaching can benefit everyone, we understand that circumstances change. Have a handle on your nutrition? That is music to our ears! We can switch to a training only program. Or perhaps you want to start doing your buddy's routine? While it may not be personalized to you, it could make you more compliant to getting to the gym, so we can't complain! Macro-coaching, as well as group training is available.
As cliche as it sounds, we aren't happy if you're not satisfied with your results. If you are doing everything we plan, and giving 100%, we will do everything we can to make sure you achieve the success you are putting in the hard work for!
Because you are given mesocycle length training programs, after a program is sent out, refunds for that are not available.
What if I like your coaching but want a more (or less) personal approach?
This is completely understandable! The key to coaching, whether in-person or online, is an open and honest communication. This is a relationship after all. I hope that doesn't scare you away! That being said, there are a few options in this scenario. The first option we would explore is a different form of communication. Perhaps adding another skype call per week or more frequent texting. We will work with you to make the service we offer the most effective for YOU. If online just isn't your thing and you're local we can try to work in-person if logistics and schedules allow.
If we just can't reach an agreeable solution, you will be refunded, per the stipulations above.