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Why don't men hire health coaches as much as women?
- Thread starter gm0nkx
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- fitness after 30
@gm0nkx I’m sure it’s a few factors, but speaking for myself, I’ve put a lot of hours into research and feel confident with where I’m at and where I’m going. A coach id seek out for some very specific goals at this point in my life. But overall, I consider myself well above average with nutrition and routine IQ.
@gm0nkx I hired a health coach/nutritionist a few years ago. The problem was from ages 15-32 I was heavily involved in endurance sports and had an insane metabolism. Once I stopped training for long distance triathlons due to family and work etc, I just had this totally unrealistic relationship with food.
I hired a coach who taught me about counting calories, I started strength training etc. All the info is out there, its not like calorie deficits and progressive overload are big secrets, but I didn't have the time/energy to figure it all out on my own and I liked the built in accountability of checking in with a coach once a week. They also helped me stay the course when I'd stall out for a few weeks or plateau.
Since then I've really seen the benefit of hiring a professional to help guide you through difficult areas of life. Having a business coach, or fitness coach etc can just really help you save time and energy, but you have to be at a place mentally where you are ready to accept help. That's not easy for a lot of guys to do. We are always taught to just figure shit out for ourselves.
I hired a coach who taught me about counting calories, I started strength training etc. All the info is out there, its not like calorie deficits and progressive overload are big secrets, but I didn't have the time/energy to figure it all out on my own and I liked the built in accountability of checking in with a coach once a week. They also helped me stay the course when I'd stall out for a few weeks or plateau.
Since then I've really seen the benefit of hiring a professional to help guide you through difficult areas of life. Having a business coach, or fitness coach etc can just really help you save time and energy, but you have to be at a place mentally where you are ready to accept help. That's not easy for a lot of guys to do. We are always taught to just figure shit out for ourselves.
@mvelis15 So this is my story exactly.
I think my question is why don’t most men do this?
My business is just fine I am certain we provide value, i know the education and accountability combined are worth it for almost anyone who has more money than they do time… I just don’t know why almost no men see this value but so many women do
I think my question is why don’t most men do this?
My business is just fine I am certain we provide value, i know the education and accountability combined are worth it for almost anyone who has more money than they do time… I just don’t know why almost no men see this value but so many women do
@gm0nkx I think a lot of men do, maybe your marketing is off a bit if it's not attracting the right kinds of clients?
As I said, most men are taught to figure stuff out on their own. That's a really hard habit to break. Also a lot of men see seeking help as a weakness.
Then again there are millions of young men signing up for stuff like Andrew Tate's stupid university thing, so I think there's definitely men out there looking for guidance on how to achieve their goals.
As I said, most men are taught to figure stuff out on their own. That's a really hard habit to break. Also a lot of men see seeking help as a weakness.
Then again there are millions of young men signing up for stuff like Andrew Tate's stupid university thing, so I think there's definitely men out there looking for guidance on how to achieve their goals.
icetiger100
New member
@icetiger100 so sad! this is what I was hoping to prevent. it only gets harder to rebuild the habit as we age (i work with mostly people in their 30s and 40s)
and awesome for you man!
and awesome for you man!
@gm0nkx A lot of people waste money on health coaches. Most coaches seem to be preoccupied with the sales aspect of it. They give very basic or incorrect advice and they don't seem to know or care that that's what they are doing. They are just confident and outgoing and they are making money. Ethically questionable, but that's the world we live in.
This is a personal anecdote and a stereotypical generalization about men and women, so take it how you please, but I've been a regular at many gyms over the last 20 years and was a competitive weight lifter with a world class coach for a period of time. Women just seem to not be as personally invested in real health and wellness as the men who are also pursuing the same goal.
Most of the women I know generally seem to be satisfied enough with the idea that they are doing it...rather than truly care about the underlying reasons why, and are generally happy to just do whatever it is someone else who looks like an expert is telling them to do. "Coaches" know this and seek them out. Most of the men I know, by contrast, are interested in being an expert. They will talk to each other and discuss the proper way to do things, talk about their diets with each other, talk each other out of spending money on things that don't work, critique each other's methods, compare programs they are on, etc. It just looks less like going through the motions. These men would never ask for help from a coach unless it was something specific from a specific coach that they seek out. Like a special diet or specific goal oriented routine. Something more scientific than they want to work out on their own. Women tend to be excited and supportive about what their friends are doing, rather than feeling compelled to critique from the standpoint of improvement. Men love telling each other what they are doing wrong lol.
The people buying beach body products and working out with a trainer watching them do random exercises with no regard for form and function are always women in my experience. And I think it's because they generally just aren't as into the lifestyle. Maybe it's just the community I've been around, but that has been my observation at least in the fitness community.
If we are talking about people with no prior interest, just getting into it, it's the same thing. Men ask their friends what to do, because they have guy friends who are into health and wellness and trying to be experts at it, like I said. Women who are trying to get into health and wellness have female friends who recommend their coach or program they bought to them lol.
This is a personal anecdote and a stereotypical generalization about men and women, so take it how you please, but I've been a regular at many gyms over the last 20 years and was a competitive weight lifter with a world class coach for a period of time. Women just seem to not be as personally invested in real health and wellness as the men who are also pursuing the same goal.
Most of the women I know generally seem to be satisfied enough with the idea that they are doing it...rather than truly care about the underlying reasons why, and are generally happy to just do whatever it is someone else who looks like an expert is telling them to do. "Coaches" know this and seek them out. Most of the men I know, by contrast, are interested in being an expert. They will talk to each other and discuss the proper way to do things, talk about their diets with each other, talk each other out of spending money on things that don't work, critique each other's methods, compare programs they are on, etc. It just looks less like going through the motions. These men would never ask for help from a coach unless it was something specific from a specific coach that they seek out. Like a special diet or specific goal oriented routine. Something more scientific than they want to work out on their own. Women tend to be excited and supportive about what their friends are doing, rather than feeling compelled to critique from the standpoint of improvement. Men love telling each other what they are doing wrong lol.
The people buying beach body products and working out with a trainer watching them do random exercises with no regard for form and function are always women in my experience. And I think it's because they generally just aren't as into the lifestyle. Maybe it's just the community I've been around, but that has been my observation at least in the fitness community.
If we are talking about people with no prior interest, just getting into it, it's the same thing. Men ask their friends what to do, because they have guy friends who are into health and wellness and trying to be experts at it, like I said. Women who are trying to get into health and wellness have female friends who recommend their coach or program they bought to them lol.
mysticfred82
New member
@gm0nkx I hired a few coaches and they helped me a lot. I’ve been lifting forever and I was really nervous to give up control of my program but I’m glad I did.
But to answer your question, we’re just not as likely to ask for help in general. We don’t see the doctor, ask for directions, get therapy, etc.
But to answer your question, we’re just not as likely to ask for help in general. We don’t see the doctor, ask for directions, get therapy, etc.
theomatician888
New member
@gm0nkx So I am a male that has hired trainers in the past. Most of them I wanted to get a plan so I could workout on my own. Majority would NOT give me that and instead just wanted me to “buy more sessions” and milk me for more money. I work for a living. Never really got the value. One did but I had problems getting to gym due to distance/schedule so I am back to heavish dumbbells at home. And I have some idea what I am doing
Now I am willing to go to an orange theory or a cyclebar for some social interaction or to feel like we a are part of a team and to get access to the facilities I don’t have. But keeping that up again i subject to kids, wife work schedule and my work schedule. So paying for 4 sessions per month is around 100-120 bucks a month. Vs what $70 per hour for a single training session?
Now I am willing to go to an orange theory or a cyclebar for some social interaction or to feel like we a are part of a team and to get access to the facilities I don’t have. But keeping that up again i subject to kids, wife work schedule and my work schedule. So paying for 4 sessions per month is around 100-120 bucks a month. Vs what $70 per hour for a single training session?
@predrag i agree. it's actually a huge challenge for my business. "trainer" can mean just about anybody with 3 weeks of studying a textbook.
"nutritionist" oy don't even get me started. not even really many accredited places out there plus it's so unique to each individual.
Really where we focus our time is the coaching of habits. Yes we know a LOT about nutrition (we do gut health, weight loss, muscle growth, hormone dysregulation etc.) but it's more about helping the person achieve the results. We have a client who is a ranch hand in Montana and a client who is a consultant in NYC. Two very different people with very different challenges to get the same end goal.
So yeah... it's hard to say "we do whatever necessary to hit your goals" lol but that is basically a coach.
Kind of brings us back to my post which is... why do Men seem more skeptical/less likely to sign up for something like this
"nutritionist" oy don't even get me started. not even really many accredited places out there plus it's so unique to each individual.
Really where we focus our time is the coaching of habits. Yes we know a LOT about nutrition (we do gut health, weight loss, muscle growth, hormone dysregulation etc.) but it's more about helping the person achieve the results. We have a client who is a ranch hand in Montana and a client who is a consultant in NYC. Two very different people with very different challenges to get the same end goal.
So yeah... it's hard to say "we do whatever necessary to hit your goals" lol but that is basically a coach.
Kind of brings us back to my post which is... why do Men seem more skeptical/less likely to sign up for something like this
williejdyson
New member
@gm0nkx I will go a different direction here. You are a fit guy. 80% of your clients are female, many in pretty good shape. Now way back in the dark ages of 80s Let's get physical era, I used to teach an aerobics class. I was about 25 and most of my class a little older and all female. I suspect they were not there because I was an expert trainer. I'm not bragging here, I'm not good looking or jacked. It's just a thing I noticed.
I don't think women were more interested in the workout than men. It was just alignment.
I don't think women were more interested in the workout than men. It was just alignment.
eamonnroma
New member
@gm0nkx Personally I would if I could afford it. I used to be in extremely good shape and exercised about 6 days/week + count calories.. then I started a professional school and lost those habits, but still ate like I was burning all those calories.. it’s extremely hard to get back into it, I’d hire a coach just for the motivation and to have that commitment even though I have the knowledge of what to do.
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