More than half of gym members indicate weight loss as a primary reason for joining. But studies show exercise alone will not result in substantial weight loss. As the adage goes, “you can’t outrun a bad diet.” So how are you managing the “diet” aspect of weight loss for your clients?
The very suggestion may conjure up fears of having to hire a dietitian, add support groups or sell pre-packaged meals. But you are not a weight loss clinic and you shouldn’t have to behave like one to help your clients lose weight.
Here are three suggestions to effectively assist your clients with weight loss without having to rebrand your facility:
- RMR testing. A resting metabolic rate test will indicate quite clearly how a person’s metabolism is burning calories and what needs to change for them to successfully lose weight. Showing someone what is actually going on inside their own bodies is a powerful method to eliminate excuses and engage them in the process.
- Burn fat through exercise. It’s not enough to just burn calories. We need to make sure our clients are burning the right calories: fat. Although charts will define a “fat-burning zone,” this is actually just an estimate based on population studies. The only practical way to determine if a person is burning fats versus carbs is with a VO2 Max test. By performing a VO2 Max test, you can identify the heart rates that correlate with burning fat.
- Diet apps. Once you have the measurements you need, give your clients the tools to succeed as they workout. Find an app that implements VO2 Max test results into a workout to guide your clients through their fat-burning zones as they work out. To incorporate meal tracking, find an app that matches RMR measurements with daily meal plans. The best apps will act like a virtual dietician, guiding your client through meal planning, grocery shopping, food preparation and monitoring. Studies show people are more successful losing weight when infinite food possibilities are narrowed down to acceptable choices. Consider features such as:
- Meal plans designed by registered dietitians.
- Option to substitute foods.
- Ability to monitor and communicate with your client through the app.
- Simple user interface.
Adding a diet program to your facility is smart. A simple walk through your gym will reveal the frustrated client, punishing themselves in an effort to lose weight. These dedicated clients deserve more. By following these simple steps, you can help them succeed.
Julie Kofoed is the VP of Marketing at KORR Medical Technologies. She has experience in the healthcare industry as a registered nurse for over 30 years and has spent the past 20 years specializing in metabolic health and wellness. She can be reached at support@korr.com.
