Below are some answers to frequently asked questions. If you have any remaining unanswered questions feel free to reach out to me directly.
Q: What if I’ve never been to a gym before?
A: So you’ve never been to a gym before, and all of a sudden you’re making the decision to get serious about your fitness and wellbeing? Sounds great! I personally love bearing witness to others’ successes and first-time experiences. I’m a huge advocate for trying new things, and I’ll be there with you (almost) every step of the way! I meet my clients wherever they’re currently at and create custom programs to help them(you) progress and gain confidence both inside and outside of the gym.
Q: What if I have a busy schedule that doesn’t match up with your training hours?
A: I additionally offer online/virtual appointments as well as regularly reviewing video-submitted form-checks, weekly check-ins, and if that still doesn’t cut it for you, I sell pre-made programs which are relatively easy to follow + offer individual training sessions if you want an introduction to any of those plug-and-play programs.
Q: Is personal training the right option for me?
A: This is totally your decision. I am obviously biased, but the answer depends on your needs. Do you need external accountability? Do you need real-time safety checks? Are you at a level of commitment in your workout routine where you can get in the door, but have no structure in your training? Do you need training guidance for a specific event or special occasion? Does having a buddy make you feel more inclined to maintain a routine? Do you want someone to hold your hand and guide you step by step through a program? Do you want help developing your full-body autonomy? Are you at a plateau in your current regimen? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re a great candidate for personal training. Let’s work together!
Q: How does booking and scheduling work?
A: When you visit the main page, scroll down and under “Our Services” you have the ability to click on and learn about each type of training that I offer. From there, select the buy now link, and you may purchase/subscribe to whichever option suits your needs best. For personal training clients, within 24-48 hours, you’ll receive a direct email from Trainerize to create an account or sign in. Upon logging in to Trainerize, select the (+) sign or the calendar date/time in a message, choose the appointment type(1-on-1, partner, or virtual), pick an available date and time slot, then tap to confirm. You’ll see my available time slots and be able to book an appointment from there. I am officially open for business and accepting new clients, with availability Monday-Friday, 12 pm-7 pm, for appointments/bookings. Full transparency, over time, my availability will likely shift to mornings, 5/6 am-5 pm. For virtual/hybrid clients, I am open to widening availability as I can work from anywhere for these specific appointments; contact me for further information regarding any scheduling questions you may still have.
Q: Will I be bikini ready in 4 weeks?
A: This truly depends on what you consider “bikini-ready” and where you’re currently at. If you’re asking if I can help you lose 40 pounds of fat and visibly gain muscle/muscular definition, then probably not. I will help you identify your wants/needs, create meaningful goals, define your individual barriers, and develop a sustainable plan to set you on the path to success. Additionally, I aim to help others become fully confident in themselves and in their bodies, which sometimes means learning to be comfortable where you’re at, even if you’re on the path to something greater.
Q: What should I expect in a PT Consultation?
A: Personal Training Consultations will typically be 45 minutes in duration. First, I’ll go over your intake form with you to ensure I have all the necessary details to structure your training. Next, we’ll do some movement assessments to see how your body naturally moves without critique. Then I’ll coach you through a few exercises, giving feedback, corrections, and safety checks to give you a taste of what your typical sessions with me would be like. Lastly, we’ll go over pricing, commitment, scheduling, and booking, and I’ll answer any remaining questions you may have!
Q: What is a typical training session like when working with you?
A: A typical session will begin with myofascial rolling techniques to release any tight muscles or problem areas (if applicable). Second, we’ll perform some dynamic movements to increase blood flow to the muscles we’ll recruit later in the session and to ensure we have the maximum range of motion in the connecting joints/ligaments and muscles. After we prep our muscles, we’re ready to go. We’ll begin with your special focus (balance, plyometric training, speed/agility/quickness, if applicable). Next, we’ll begin our compound exercises/movements that require the most mental coordination and engage multiple joints and muscle groups; this will cause a bit of muscular fatigue. After our compound lifts, we’ll shift to isolated machines or isolated muscle groups to fatigue our targeted muscles as much as we can (safely, of course). Lastly, after our main lifts and isolated lifts, we’ll cool down with some static stretches, which will lengthen our muscles and help them return to their normal lengths after repetitive contractions. We’ll part ways, but you may reach out with any further questions regarding your appointment, programming, or future scheduling.
Q: What if I don’t want to gain muscle mass because it will make me look “bulky”?
A: The truth is, you actually need to gain muscle mass if your goal is to look lean, firm, or “toned.” That defined, athletic shape most of us are chasing is just the visual result of building muscle while dropping body fat. You don’t need to worry about accidentally waking up looking like a bodybuilder overnight—your body simply isn’t built to do that. For starters, women naturally produce 15 to 20 times less testosterone than men, and without huge amounts of that specific hormone, it is biologically impossible to build massive, bulky size by accident.
It is also helpful to realize that muscle is incredibly dense, occupying roughly 18% less physical space than the same amount of fat. So, when you start lifting weights, gaining muscle and losing fat actually makes your body smaller, tighter, and more compact, even if the scale doesn’t move. True “bulk” also requires an intense amount of fuel. To get genuinely big, you would have to intentionally force-feed yourself a massive caloric surplus every single day for months on end. If you are eating normally, lifting heavy weights will simply kickstart your metabolism, burn fat, and build a sleek, strong, and athletic frame.
Q: How soon will I notice results?
A: By sticking to your program and honing in on your diet, you’ll feel results in as little as 2 weeks. You may notice some changes in your mood, energy, and how your body feels. From 2-10 weeks, you’ll likely notice changes in your mental health, physique, strength, and endurance. Around month 3, there should be visible and measurable changes in your body; your clothes may fit a bit differently than before. By month 3, the whole world will start to see the progress and changes that you’ve worked so hard towards. Again, this varies by starting point, genetics, commitment level, consistency, and discipline, but if you stick to my program, the results and your potential are unlimited.
Q: Do I need to get a gym membership?
A: If you choose to get a gym membership in the local area, I highly recommend getting a membership at The Collective Fitness Club in Mountlake Terrace; The Collective is my first choice in local gyms, and I intend on mainly operating in-person training from there.
You don’t absolutely need a gym membership, but I highly recommend purchasing one simply for the variety of equipment, weights, space, and recovery-focused amenities. If all you have are bricks and laundry baskets, we can absolutely work around those barriers! However, I design programs around progressive overload. This means we gradually challenge your body over time to force it to adapt.
If your weights are fixed, we have to rely on doing higher rep counts to challenge the muscles. While this is highly effective for building muscle size and incredible muscular endurance, it is very time-consuming. Furthermore, because strength is a neurological skill, training exclusively with light weights means you will lose out on the specific neurological adaptations and core stability required to confidently lift heavier weights.
Q: What supplies will I need for virtual/hybrid training?
A: Although these are not all 100% necessary, I do recommend them to ease hybrid/virtual sessions; these supplies will allow me to see the full range of motion, alignment, and movement pattern from anywhere. Headphones are especially meant to be considerate of your gym neighbors and community because not everyone wants to hear a phone call while they’re putting in their own work. I heavily recommend the following supplies to ease the flow of virtual sessions and form check video submissions:
- Adjustable pivoting phone mount (Magnetic) OR Tripod set-up
- Headphones with a microphone Bluetoothed to your phone
- Zoom or Facetime (your preference, but you must have at least one)
Q: What’s your personal training style?
A: For a short answer, this is dependent on each client and how they receive information. Long answer: I train using a combination of feedback styles, including demos(visual), physical/tactical corrections (object- or feeling-oriented), and verbal feedback (auditory). I enjoy uplifting others and being a ray of sunshine in your day, but I cater to each individual’s needs. If you like to be yelled at, cheered on, or just have a casual conversation to zone out to while we work, I’m ready! If you enjoy an explanation of exactly what’s happening with each muscle as we activate it, let me help with that! I’m very understanding, and each session will always begin with me gauging your physical and mental well-being so I can tailor your training to your mental/physical needs, both inside and outside the gym. If you didn’t sleep well last night or you just ended a long-term relationship, you likely won’t perform at your best, so we will still train, but I will take that into consideration for your session so as not to overload you. I’m never going to force you to push a weight or perform a movement pattern you’re not both physically and mentally ready for.