It’s common for people to want to put on mass (bulk) and also tone the body. How do we help our clients achieve both these goals simultaneously? Here are a few ways in which to help your client put on more mass as cleanly as possible.
1. Setting a Goal Weight
In order to better understand where you are going, it is imperative that you acknowledge where you currently are. As it relates to weight loss, our job as fitness professionals is to assist our client(s) to achieve a target weight goal, whether it’s losing or putting on weight.
With a set goal in mind, the client can consciously make the effort to reach that goal and take the necessary measures in packing on that “5 lbs to hit that goal weight of 172 lbs,” as an example. One of the most important steps in reaching the goal set in place is it relates to putting on mass more cleanly is by increasing exercise volume and intensity.
2. Increasing Exercise Volume and Intensity
As fitness professionals we understand the challenges of both losing weight/fat and putting on weight/muscle. In order to lose weight, you must make sure your caloric intake does not exceed your caloric expenditure. However, when bulking, your caloric intake must exceed your caloric expenditure.
By increasing exercise volume and workout intensity muscle growth is stimulated so the body burns more energy and requires more calories for growth. As a huge guiding factor in our clients as their trainer, we play a large role in dictating their lifestyle and inherent food choices that target fat and glycogen stores.
When bulking, it is our job as professionals to remind clients that as their caloric needs increase they should stick to cleaner foods choices conducive to their growth and progress as it remains within our scope of practice to divulge pertinent nutritional advice.
3. Choosing Healthier Food
In the case of putting on mass cleanly, putting on weight (bulking) can be tricky in that a client can easily veer off their normally healthy diet of clean foods. Unless you or I have an advanced degree or certification qualifying us to make dietary suggestions, it’s best to refer our clients to someone with the correct knowledge such a nutritionist or dietician.
However, as trainers, we can advise our clients to make the healthiest choices possible as it pertains to the dietary habits and respective fitness goals. While putting on mass it is our job as trainers to emphasize steering clear of unhealthy food choices such as fast food pizzas, burgers, and dishes laden with unhealthy fats and mystery ingredients.
While these foods will aid on putting on mass, this method is considered as “dirty bulking,” which is eating for the mere goal of packing on the calories in whichever form it may come. By helping our clients make healthier food choices the “bulk” remains cleaner and there is less “work” (toning) to do when you enter the shredding phase of training if your client also wants that leaner physique.
4. Tracking Progress
There are many ways to track your client’s progress as they clean bulk their way to more muscle mass. The most popular is stepping on the scale and noting the change in weight. Other ways include using a skin caliper or handheld body fat measuring device, which most gyms, fitness studios and fitness professionals have. These devices measure both Body percentage along with BMI (Body Mass Index).
I like using before and after photos with clients. They serve as proof for the client and also sometimes for your business.
By taking the proper steps as a standout fitness professional your client(s) are on their way to being a lean mean workout machine! How do you help your client clean bulk?
Mr. Dassin is an NFPT certified trainer, NFPT author, and fitness model. A staunch humanitarian and intellectual, Stephen boasts over 15 years of experience in the areas of health and fitness. Stephen’s approach to personal training is methodical in nature; his methods take an interpersonal and scientific based view of the connections of the human mind and the human anatomy and it’s capabilities. His passion for fitness is unparalleled. His athletic background fueled his poise in becoming knowledgeable about nutrition as well. This added fuel to his desire to help others achieve their own individual goals in the area of fitness such as himself. Join Stephen on his journey, not just a fitness journey but the greatest journey of them all: Life.
