Coaching menopause fitness clients? They aren’t going to respond the way men or younger women do. In this 3rd episode in the series I actually pull back a bit to look at the big picture, so you can see both perimenopause and postmenopausal need for modifications.

• What you do in Perimenopause vs postmenopausal may be quite different 

• During the menopause transition (2-5 years) women are at risk for accelerated loss of muscle and bone

• If a woman you work with went through the pandemic not lifting and was in this transition, the time to mitigate is now

• Despite her plea or goal to lose weight, get a body composition test and measure muscle in weight – regularly. Women will still default to weight… losing it being a success, not losing it is a failure. There’s no neutral for many. This takes talking and talking and talking. 

• They’re on their way to a smoother ride but not there yet when they hit that 12-month period-free moment. Many women have breakthrough bleeding

• Whether they choose or opt not for HRT, the recommendations for exercise & exercise nutrition are the same for women in menopause, that is, not for mice, men or young women 

• HRT is not the same across the board. Awareness of this and what to ask about HRT, bHRT will increase your personal knowledge of why your client may or may not be having success and support her (and increase your value)

• Estrogen (as well as progesterone and testosterone) drop with menopause, however a woman can be Estrogen Dominant due to multiple factors and you need to recognize them and adopt a fitness program that supports this. It’s not going to be HIIT and high intensity weight training EVEN if she is gaining weight and needing energy. 

• Sleep deprivation will interfere with any attempts toward exercise and or diet results.

• Gut health will interfere with muscle, bone, and brain benefits of exercise. Working knowledge of how to help and intake questions reflective of gut health are key to supporting individuals in menopause.

Coaching Menopause Fitness Clients Is Rapidly Becoming a Niche

There is a huge demand and a need to be approachable. Since 2018 we’ve educated hundreds of primarily female coaches and trainers with the Flipping50 Menopause Fitness Specialist. There’s a huge need for those who understand the science. Many have even their own frustrations – we’re not immune – so if this is you, you’re not alone!

Don’t be afraid to be transparent. Talk about issues you’ve had. Mistakes you’ve made. 

We’re looking for more trainers and health coaches to join our directory as more and more customers are seeking in real person menopause specialists. If you coach weight loss, athletes, overall health, and you want to be included in this group, I’ll share how to get started during Menopause Month in October and gain some huge perks as a results.

You don’t have to have a perfect body to be a good menopause coach. You do want to have adequate experience coaching others in the niche you’re in or have solved a major problem for at least yourself. A proven track record or credentials make a difference. A title is not a qualification and too many coaches and trainers are finding out, as savvy clients become more educated themselves. 

Resources: 

Your Business Scorecard: For Fitness & Health Coaches: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/business-scorecard/

Copywriting for Marketing to Women Course: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/copywriting-course/

Menopause Fitness Specialist™ Program: 

https://www.flippingfifty.com/menopause-fitness-specialist-program-2022/

Send an Email to support@flippingfifty.com if you want to learn more about the founding member’s rate for the Health & Well Pros mastermind.

Other Episodes You Might Like: 

5 Things to Know About Perimenopause Fitness Clients: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/perimenopause-fitness-clients/

6 Things to Know About PostMenopause Fitness Clients: ​​https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/postmenopause-fitness-clients/

In postmenopause fitness clients generally things have smoothed out. Ironically, many ask questions like, “what should a women over 60 do?” And the answer is often, more. More intense, more frequency even. 

How ironic given in the previous podcast episode I relayed that based on the physiology of menopause together with physiology of exercise and research featuring women in menopause specifically, perimenopause is a time when many women need to do less to optimize body composition. 

Less volume, that is. And less intensity if they’re struggling with insulin resistance + adrenal insufficiency + chronic stress or any combination. 

For postmenopause fitness clients, these things are critical to know: 

• For many postmenopause occurs or they become aware in the 60s they’re well past and exercise needs to be addressed to avoid pitfalls they’ve seen in aging family members. At age 60 muscle loss increases from 3-8% on average loss per decade to 1-2% per year. Now is the time to monitor muscle and have a strategic muscle mass building plan. 

• Functional exercise should be a part but going overboard on defense of functional vs heavy traditional weight training for older adults will contribute to additional muscle loss. 

• The focus needs to shift from calorie burning and constant movement to preservation of lean muscle mass during exercise. That is, less cardio and more strength prioritization. 

• More days per week of strength is not the answer. Fatigue from life stressors for a 60-something can be significant. Young adult family, aging family, career still in play, caregiving at home, together with exercise and possibly dealing with effects of a perimenopause unaware of how to manage may have resulted in significant bone, muscle, and strength loss. 

• Reaction skills, agility, and balance need to be built into exercise routines without necessarily increasing time. Warm ups, cool downs and ancillary exercise sessions between intense workouts can cover that base in minutes if well-planned. 

• Protein timing and amounts should be a significant part of the exercise coaching in order to boost muscle protein synthesis now about 30 years in the slow down if nature was allowed to take its course. 

One Last PostMenopause Fitness Thought for Health Pros:

Most importantly, the ability to exercise and do so intensely and in some cases like HIIT, more frequently than in perimenopause, can stave off visceral body fat deposits, brain decline, and muscle and bone loss. 

It requires planning and knowing the application not just of exercise but specific to women in postmenopause. 

And they’re seeking support for problems. So there is not just an opportunity, there is a demand when you use the right messaging. 

Because there’s also a fear installed in those who have started, stopped, and gotten hurt.

Resources: 

Your Business Scorecard: For Fitness & Health Coaches: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/business-scorecard/

Copywriting for Marketing to Women Course: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/copywriting-course/

Menopause Fitness Specialist™ Program: https://www.flippingfifty.com/menopause-fitness-specialist-program-2022/

Send an Email to support@flippingfifty.com if you want to learn more about the founding member’s rate for the Health & Well Pros mastermind.

Other Episodes You Might… 

https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/perimenopause-fitness-clients/

Training Midlife Clients | Zone 2 Training For Menopause:

https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/zone-2-training-for-menopause/

Picture yourself teaching yoga on the beach one minute and sipping drinks with straws the next. Teaching vacation programs make this possible and have for decades now. Learn how ideas are incubated, born and nurtured into something you’re proud of.

I had one more question to ask, about whether there were any success stories from FitBodies, Inc. Then she told me about her experience with assuming her own strength because she had to. As she answered, I deleted every letter of that question. You’ll understand when you hear it. 

My guest today blends the exact tropical vacation and complimentary services you want with the ability to teach fitness classes from the beach or lanai and be sipping a drink with an umbrella at the pool soon after. Enjoy 24 hour room service and a week away from it all. If you fancy a teaching vacation, stay tuned, we’ll tell you how. 

My Guest:

Suzelle Snowden is the founder of Fit Bodies, Inc., the creator of the largest teaching vacation organization in the world. Fit Bodies, Inc. blends the vacation aspirations of exercise professionals with the wellness needs of a luxury resort. Suzelle’s passion is to share fitness with others! With over 35 years in the fitness industry, Suzelle is ACE CPT and GFI with numerous other certifications including Spinning®, Yoga Alliance E-RYT-200, Corefirst and Strong Nation.

• Do you collaborate with pros who have an idea and niche they'd like to offer as a "retreat in paradise" option?

• What's your advice to trainers or health pros (or want-to-be's) who have a business idea or something that they dream about... and are afraid to begin? (knowing our audience is midlife and beyond women)

If you’re interested in signing up for a teaching vacation, your account is free. You can browse vacations and when ready to book you can with a membership book a trip up to a year in advance. 

Take a friend, the family, come right back or stay longer. You get to decide. What I do know is those who go tend to go back. 

Connect with Suzelle:

Website:  https://fitnessprotravel.com/ or https://www.fitbodiesinc.com/

On Social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzelle_fitbodiesinc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitbodiesinc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzellesnowdenfitbodiesinc

Perimenopause fitness clients are the most likely to experience first signs and symptoms of hormonal change. It may occur anywhere from late 30s to mid 50s the majority in their 40s will find they have changes of some kind.

For some perimenopause fitness clients it’s mild, they barely notice and wouldn’t associate it with menopause even.

For others, hot flashes and night sweats are a dead give away.

During this time, as a trainer, or health coach, you have the best opportunity to positively impact not just their symptoms but their health. 

Perimenopause Fitness Clients: 

• Can experience any one or more of 34 symptoms or can be entirely asymptomatic, yet knowing the status of their regular cycle, or how long it’s been since a regular cycle, and the way they feel throughout it can help you modify training to optimize results for both now in dealing with symptoms and later in life, maintaining optimal body composition, strength and bone density. 

• Don’t often understand that just checking the “exercise box” doesn’t necessarily support a reduction in symptoms of perimenopause. Science literature (complete references listed in previous blogs, podcasts and both You Still Got It, Girl! And Hot, Not Bothered!) suggests that for instance, with hot flashes and night sweats, reduction is associated only with exercise that is of adequate intensity. 

• Exercise tendencies currently still default to more volume as opposed to more intensity and often tip the cortisol scales in direct opposition to supporting any change in symptoms or body composition and may in fact worsen symptoms. 

• A majority of perimenopause women still recall the advice of the 70s and 80s for “exercise more, eat less,” and are increasing their cortisol levels (or over taxing low levels) which can cause muscle catabolism and increases in fat storage, particularly to the belly. 

• Poor eating habits (dieting) are independently a problem for women who are exercising regularly as they will not be absorbing all the macro or micronutrients to enhance the muscle and bone. Even a woman who temporarily finds she’s leaner with current under nutrition, may be increasing her risk for reduced muscle mass, low bone density, or other issues often supported by optimal nutrition. 

Now is the absolute best time to begin working on heavy weights, and to avoid over exercise.

Biggest Tip Regarding Perimenopause Fitness: 

The toleration of exercise may be lower. This is the exact time to reduce total volume, enhance recovery in order to improve the menopause transition and avoid muscle loss and fat gains. 

Resources: 

Your Business Scorecard: For Fitness & Health Coaches: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/business-scorecard/

Copywriting for Marketing to Women Course: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/copywriting-course/

Menopause Fitness Specialist™ Program: 

https://www.flippingfifty.com/menopause-fitness-specialist-program-2022/

Send an Email to support@flippingfifty.com if you want to learn more about the founding member’s rate for the Health & Well Pros mastermind.

Other Episodes You Might Like: 

3 Ways to Coach Menopause Clients Out of Mistakes:

https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/coach-menopause-clients/

Training Midlife Clients | Zone 2 Training For Menopause:

https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/zone-2-training-for-menopause/

Fall is here! Fall fitness & health professional business growth strategies are also here. What you do now not only determines how you finish this year but how you start the next. The last quarter of your year is pivotal. 

You currently have enough data for the current year to look back and determine your revenue sources. You can look at your best sellers, your time and energy drains, and best decide where to eliminate, condense, archive or delete. 

Most of all, you want to know right now where you are according to your goal for each month of 2023. Are you ahead, behind or right on target? And why? Do you know what worked? 

You always want to have a goal. Monthly, then weekly, and daily. 

When it comes to a podcast, we have a number of downloads we want each month. 
With social media posts, I want a certain amount of engagement each week. Some have daily engagement goals and are posting multiple times a day to get it. 

The point.. Is only when you know what goal you’re running toward do you know how to get there. If you’re just using “hope” strategy, that usually doesn’t work out very well. 

Health Professional Business Growth Strategies

1. Be Early Not Late

   1. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan the content, the guests, the ads and partnerships 

2. Plan your first 6 months of 2024 

   1. Launches 

   2. Content publishing 

   3. Collaborating 

3. Enroll before the holidays 

Once November hits… it starts and attention spans end

4. Use Holidays 

• October - a month & a day 
• Open Houses
• Black Friday, Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday 
• 12 Days of Christmas 
• Twas the week before Christmas 

5. Preview Goals & Post Mortem Breakdowns 

   1. Test don’t guess 

   2. Never shoot blanks 

   3. Calculate and make it happen 

   4. How much is your time worth? 

   5. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater

Resources: 

https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/scorecard 

https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/copywriting-course

SEND a message to support@flippingfifty.com if you’d like info about joining the fitness pros mastermind group 

Other Episodes You Might Like: 

Fitness Marketing Video Strategy: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/fitness-marketing-video-strategies-get-customers/

7 Simple Sales Strategies: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/simple-sales-strategies/

The Instagram tips you didn’t know you want are right here! Get right into this with your bio and fix that first! If you wonder what you’re doing wrong or why you’re not getting found, this could be so insightful for you! 

It’s not too late. It’s time to start. 

My Guest:

Sue B. is an insightful, energetic, and in-demand online marketing educator, influencer speaker, and a no-BS business coach. Sue B. is a popular CreativeLive Instructor and has been named by Huffington Post as one of the “Top 50 Must-Follow Women Entrepreneurs” as well as “The Top 50 Social Media Marketing Influencers” by TopRank Marketing, and “Top Female Business Influencers of 2019” by Fit Small Business. Sue’s blog was ranked as one of the Top 10 social media blogs in 2017 by Social Media Examiner.

Whether she’s taking a global stage, or speaking at an industry conference, like Social Media Marketing World, or working one-on-one with her clients, Sue B. is driven to help business owners leverage the power of Instagram to meet (and exceed) their business goals. As a lifelong entrepreneur, Sue B. has over 30 years of business experience. And, with her extensive knowledge and implementation of social media, it is Sue B.’s mission to teach, mentor, and empower others.

Questions We Answer in This Episode: 

• 1-3 most important tips for pros to use

• 1-3 most common mistakes that happen right now

• Where are there still opportunities for the listener who thinks, "there's already so many people I can't stand out"?

Let me know if these Instagram tips were beneficial. Which is the first you'll take action on? 

Connect with Sue: 

Website:  https://learnwithsbz.com/

Sue on Social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinstagramexpert/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SueBZimmermanEnterprise

Other Episodes You Might Like: 

Fast Fixes for Social Media: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/fast-fixes-for-social-media/

5 Tips for Health Coaches: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/health-coaches-marketing-formula/

Resources: 

Business Scorecard: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/scorecard 

Marketing to Women Copywriting Course: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/copywriting-course 

This episode is about how to write a better job description for your personal assistant. Need help with business? Check. With personal? Check. Today’s guest is the perfect person to answer this. We dished on what drew her to the job description when she was a personal assistant. 

She’s an author and business owner. She also recorded with me on Flipping 50 and if you need to organize or declutter, listen to this and then that. You’ll understand exactly why I asked her to come over here - spontaneously - she didn’t know it! 

My Guest: 

Tracy McCubbin is a decluttering expert and the author of Making Space, Clutter Free and her latest book Make Space for Happiness. Tracy looks at the root of our clutter to find the real cause and ways to get real solutions. As the CEO of dClutterfly, she has helped thousands of clients clear the clutter in their lives to create space for positive life changes.

What I Asked Tracy in this Episode:

What’s the secret to a job description that gets quality applicants? 

What attracted you to the jobs you first had and what did you use to hire your own personal assistant? 

5 Tips: 

• Be clear about the help you need  E.g. business and personal 
• Find someone interested in the field you’re in
• Interested in the same thing -media, marketing, business, and fitness 
• Find out if they want a path to growth - duties expand 
• Like to solve problems 

Fast Action: 

List 10 things that you can’t get done that you need done 

Connect with Tracy:

https://www.dclutterfly.com/

On Social:

https://www.instagram.com/tracy_mccubbin/

https://www.tiktok.com/@tracymccubbin

Other Episodes You Might Like: 

 4 Keys to Selling More Now:  https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/get-more-sales/

Sell More Corporate Packages: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/sell-more-corporate-wellness/

Selling for Coaches: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/present-your-fee/

Resources: 

Health & Fitness Business Scorecard: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/scorecard 

Marketing to Women Course: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/copywriting-course

Can’t get new clients? If you don’t know how to get them or aren’t able to keep them, this is for you. And there is a really good chance you are NOT making this mistake I’m about to share. Trainers and health coaches who listen to business growth podcasts are already conscientious. 

If you are making this mistake, you do now or you will fall into that category of trainers who can’t get new clients. 

I share this in case it shows you that even though the world has exploded with people collecting fitness and health coaching certifications, there is room for you, there is plenty of room for you. Because a certification, you must be reminded, is a minimum viable knowledge to enter the field. Few certification programs support trainers or coaches in the client-getting process, or the effective ongoing coaching process. 

To get new clients you need two things: 

• Great system of service that gets great results in current clients, so they continue 
• Systematic way to ask clients who get great results for referrals  

If You Can’t Get New Clients… 

It’s not that hard to get new clients when this is happening all too frequently…

Some trainers ask this at the beginning of sessions: 

“What do you want to do today?”

We call them broke. 

Why? Because a busy man or woman, who's hired you and told you their goals and allowed you to assess them based on health & activity history, movement screens, expects that you have the plan. They expect that you know what they need based on the problem they wanted solved when they hired you. 

Most people don’t hire a trainer because they’re 100% in love with their health, fitness or performance. On one or more levels they want change. You’re the guide. 

“What do you want to do today?” 

Throws us all under the bus a little. The entire fitness industry just suffered a little. Because now, not just that one trainer, but “I had a trainer and she ….” Becomes all too easily, “trainers are hit and miss… some are good, or good at telling me form but others are not worth the investment.” 

So, you are doing or are going to do the opposite. 

First, because you’ve got a plan, a system or a method that outlines what they need to be doing and you can easily determine, what parts of that do they know, what do they need to learn from you or what movements do they need to review. 

Review Your System if You Can’t Get New Clients

One of the best ways to make it easy for people to say yes to working with you is to make it easy to get results with you. It’s clear what happens first, and next, and after that. Three steps. 5 steps. Recently I spoke with a woman who has 11 steps. I said too many, how can these be grouped into fewer categories? I’m not asking you if you’re listening to eliminate the steps you think are crucial but do they fall into what feels like a shorter process? 

You want to tell people how they work with you in 3 or 4 steps. If you are a nutritionist, do they eliminate foods, add supplements, reintroduce foods? Do they Eliminate, Add and Try… that’s an E.A.T. system. And that’s what you’re looking for… a name and a process both. 

So, what about you? What’s your process? Write it down. Play with the words. 

I, for instance, use a 4-part L.I.F.T. method with business growth for trainers and health coaches. We leverage what is unique about them, define how they Influence others and create a strategy, Feed ideal clients into their world and Trade Time for smarter ways to scale so they can enjoy the life and freedom they want. 

Second, you’ve got an accountability check in before sessions, so you know exactly what status a client is showing up in. Did they do the recommended workouts and activity since seeing you last? You ideally already know that from their check ins or their prep form. You’re not learning this in the first 5 minutes of a session. 

You’ve Got Training Clients, Why Aren’t They Getting Results?  

A client who doesn’t comply with a reasonable plan, isn’t your fault. It’s theirs. It may take a modification from the original plan (and the goal) but a progressive training relationship shows change over time. 

If a client buys a 6-month package or a 6-session package, there should be a discussion about desired outcomes. What are measures of success? What if those aren’t achieved? What will be the reason? That’s an excellent question to ask on an intake form. You want to have the individual reflect on what they’re willing to commit to in order to get results. 

The biggest message to you listening is that there is plenty of opportunity for conscientious trainers and health coaches. Even in what appears at first glance to be saturated. The only place it’s saturated is on social media. You don’t even want to compete with social media. You want to compete on the client-getting side of things. You get them, you keep them. 

Pretty social media doesn’t perform as well as dirty and real. Have you noticed? We’re paying more social media support people and many of the individuals doing this… are still not gaining traction and growing their clientele. Measure what matters.

Other Episodes You Might Like: 

4 Keys to Get More Sales: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/get-more-sales/

7 Simple Sales Strategies for Health & Fitness Pros: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/simple-sales-strategies/

Resources: 

https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/scorecard 

https://www.flippingfifty.com/wellness-coaching-for-life/ Decide if we’re a fit .. to work in any capacity  or  brainstorm on the spot or review your social media presence. You can choose… or let me based on where you are. You can work on your business OR your personal hormone balancing fitness. 

You’re here for a reason. You want to make a difference. To have an influence, you need to be a profitable health expert. So, if you have a relationship with money that needs fixing, fix it. If you want to give it away, you can do that, but never will you have as much voice as when you have money to vote with. 

This title may be a turn off to some of you. You’re not doing it for profit. You just want to do what you’re passionate about? I say that if you start taking it seriously and making a profitable business you will find your purpose and passion explode in a way you’ve never dreamed about. 

Your expertise is perceived by the organization of your thoughts.

-Denise Young of Apple 

It’s not a 20 question quiz… it’s a 7 question quiz 

It’s not a 11 step program… it’s a 3 step program 

When you jump on a live video with a friend or are a guest on a podcast, if you can’t succinctly and concisely answer the question that solves the problem the audience members have or in the way the interviewee can run with, you may have a wonderful program, be the perfect person to be teaching it… but no one will follow or get results even if they get inside. 

You confuse, you lose. 

I don’t know who said that but I do know it’s true for all of us. 

There are different strokes for different folks. (As long as we’re throwing out quotes, why not a little cliche!) What is perfectly clear to one individual may be perfectly confusing to another. 

Case in point:

Occasionally, we’ll have someone cancel a membership. Recently the email request to cancel before renewal date said this, It was just too hard to get started, and I don’t have time to measure, I just want to work out. 

During the same week, a prospective client who is an event planner said, “Then I found you, and it was so well laid out and clear…” 

Same membership, just two different people.  

How Profitable Health Experts Talk

So your job is to identify with absolute clarity who is and who isn’t your ideal customer. Most of us would agree the ideal customer is one who does the work, follows through on agreed upon steps, and asks for help if they need it. 

For me, the “this is not for” information on a sales page or promotion includes: 

• Blames the process 

• Won’t ask for help

• Has excuses 

• Isn’t committed 

That’s getting organized. So organizing your message in print, audio or video is a hallmark of a profitable health expert. 

The biggest part of getting clients, keeping clients, and getting them results, is organizing your thoughts. In other words, communication is crucial. 

When you: 

• Go live on social
• Post static or pre-recorded videos on social
• Give an interview 
• Pitch a tv or radio news station 

How to Communicate Like a Profitable Health Expert

Organizing your message is the way you’ll get someone curious enough to want more of you. If they aren’t buying you and what you say and how you say it, they aren’t buying from you. 

Here’s a little assignment so you get into action. 

1. Write down your response to, what do you do?

2. Now read through it and answer these: 

How clear is that to someone who doesn’t know about your industry or profession? 

Does it assume they already know something? And what is that? 

Last, will it make them curious to learn more or did you tell them everything they needed to know? 

This filter will help you decide if your title (for a pitch, an article/blog, or a video) is a conversation starter or a conversation killer. 

Other Episodes You Might Like: 

7 Things Profitable Health Professionals Do: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/profitable-trainers/

6 Most Profitable Health Programs: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/profitable-fitness-programs/

Resources: 

https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/scorecard 

https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/copywriting-course