If you’re a personal trainer or nutrition coach, it means you’re passionate about helping people achieve their health and fitness goals. But as you probably already know, passion alone doesn’t cut it; if you want to take your career to the next level, you need to learn how to scale your business.
In this blog post, we’ll provide you with practical advice on how to combine personal training and nutrition coaching, find job opportunities, and deliver high-quality services to your clients. We’ll also discuss the importance of meal planning and provide some new ideas you may not have considered before.
So whether you’re just starting your career or you’re looking to grow your business, this post will give you the tools you need to succeed.
This Article in a Nutshell
- There are tons of perks to chasing a personal training and nutrition coaching career, including increasing your income potential and expanding your client base.
- Certificates from organizations like ISSA and NASM can give you a head start and allow you to land a wide range of jobs, ranging from corporate wellness coach to freelance trainer.
- Finding a job as a personal training and nutrition coach requires the same basic steps as finding a job in any other field.
Benefits of a Personal Training and Nutrition Coaching Career
Combining personal training and nutrition coaching can provide significant benefits for both personal trainers and their clients. Even though it seems like you’re doubling the work you need to do your job effectively, the payoff is pretty massive.
Here are some of the advantages of incorporating nutrition coaching into your personal training services:
1. Enhanced results
When clients receive both personal training and nutrition coaching, they are more likely to achieve their fitness goals faster and more effectively. Exercise alone is not enough to achieve optimal health, as you already know. Offering proper nutrition guidance will help virtually all your clients.
2. Increased income
By offering both personal training and nutrition coaching, personal trainers can increase their income potential. This can be especially beneficial if you are self-employed or working on a freelance basis.
3. Expanded client base
Now that you offer both nutrition coaching and PT services, you can appeal to a broader range of clients. This can lead to more referrals and repeat business.
Practical Examples of Personal Training and Nutrition Coaching
Here are some practical examples of how you can incorporate nutrition coaching into your personal training services:
- Providing meal plans: Personal trainers can offer meal planning services to their clients to help them achieve their fitness goals. This could include creating customized meal plans based on the client’s dietary needs and preferences and designing exercise routines based on what they know their client’s diet composes of.
- Nutrition coaching sessions: You can also offer nutrition coaching sessions to your clients to discuss healthy eating habits, answer questions, and provide guidance.
Personal Training and Nutrition Courses to Get You Started
If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge of nutrition coaching, here are some courses and certifications you may consider.
Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification
This certification is offered by precision nutrition, and even though they aren’t popular, the course provides knowledge and training that can help you provide better services to your clients.
Expect to learn how to create effective nutrition plans for their clients and provides guidance on coaching strategies.
The program costs $1428 upfront, but you can opt for the monthly payment of $119 for 12 months. You’ll have to join a waiting list to sign up for this course.
ISSA Nutrition Certification
The ISSA Nutrition Certification covers topics such as digestion, metabolism, and macronutrients and teaches personal trainers how to create nutrition plans for weight management and sports performance.
ISSA offers fantastic PT training courses, and we’ve covered them extensively in our PT certification guide. Check out the article if you need additional information on getting certified as a PT.
The ISSA nutrition certificate costs $639 upfront, or you can break your payments into 12 months for $53.27 per month.
NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist Certification
This NASM Nutrition Specialist Certification provides personal trainers with an in-depth understanding of nutrition science and teaches them how to develop customized nutrition plans for their clients.
This certificate costs $41 monthly or $449 if you pay the full price upfront.
Finding Jobs as a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach
Certificates are great, but you’ll need to land a job as a personal trainer and nutrition coach to really put your knowledge to good use. So, here are three suggestions on career paths you can take, as well as what their pros and cons might be.
Work at a Gym or Fitness Center
Many gyms and fitness centers offer personal training and nutrition coaching services to their members. This makes it pretty easy to land a job there if you know your stuff. Plus, working at a gym or fitness center can be a great way to gain experience, build your client base, and make connections in the fitness industry.
Pros:
- Access to a large pool of potential clients
- Opportunity to build your reputation and personal brand
- Access to gym equipment and resources
Cons:
- May require working early mornings, late nights, and weekends
- Limited control over your pricing and hours
- You may need to share your earnings with the gym or fitness center
Work as a Freelancer or Self-Employed Trainer
Many personal trainers and nutrition coaches choose to work as freelancers or self-employed trainers because it gives them more control over their schedule and pricing and allows them to build a more personal relationship with your clients.
Pros:
- Greater flexibility in terms of pricing, scheduling, and location
- Ability to build a more personal relationship with clients
- Potential for higher earnings
Cons:
- Requires more effort to build your client base and PT brand online
- May require investing in your own equipment and resources
- Less stability and predictability in terms of income
Work as a Corporate Wellness Coach
These days, it’s pretty common to find companies that are hiring personal trainers and nutrition coaches to provide wellness services to their employees. This can be a great way to work with a diverse group of clients and gain experience in a corporate setting.
Pros:
- Access to a steady stream of clients
- Opportunity to work with a diverse group of individuals
- Ability to promote wellness in the workplace
Cons:
- May require specialized training or certifications
- Limited control over pricing and hours
- May require travel to different corporate locations
When it comes to finding a job as a personal trainer and nutrition coach, it’s important to consider your personal goals and preferences. Working at a gym or fitness center can be a good option for those just starting out or looking for stability, while freelancing or working as a corporate wellness coach may be a better fit if you’re looking for more flexibility and autonomy.
Working as a self-employed trainer can also be a great option if you want complete control over your business, with the downside being that it requires a significant investment in building your brand and client base.
5 Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach Job Tips to Keep in Mind
Even though the number of personal trainers seems to be growing, the number of jobs available can’t keep up. As a result, it’s important to think outside the box if you want to find the best jobs out there. Here are some tips that might help.
1. Look Beyond the Traditional Gyms and Fitness Centers
Consider non-traditional job opportunities, such as working with sports teams, hospitals, corporate wellness programs, or even starting your own business. You may find that the best opportunities are in places where most people don’t look.
2. Build a Strong Network
Attend industry events, meet with other professionals in your field, and join online groups and forums to build your network and stay up to date on job opportunities. If anyone knows the job opportunities that exist in your field, it’ll be people who currently work there.
3. Highlight Your Unique Skills and Experience
When applying for jobs, be sure to emphasize any unique skills or experience you have that sets you apart from other candidates. This can include specialized certifications (like the ones listed above) or even experience in gym marketing or sales.
4. Create a Strong Online Presence
In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence can be a major advantage when looking for jobs. Be sure to have an up-to-date website or social media profile that showcases your skills, experience, and personality. Employers may look you up before reaching out, and you want to have your best foot forward.
5. Don’t be Afraid to Negotiate
When accepting a job offer, don’t be afraid to negotiate for higher pay or more favorable working conditions. Remember that you are bringing valuable skills and expertise to the table, and it’s important to be compensated fairly for your work.
Top Software Tools for Personal trainers and Nutritional Coaches
MyFitnessPal
This is a free app that allows clients to log their food intake and physical activity and trainers to view their clients’ progress. Since it’s free, you can help as many clients as possible create accounts and track their progress.
Trainerize
This is a software platform that provides trainers with tools to build customized workout plans and track their clients’ progress. This leans more towards the personal training side of things, but you can use other nutrition apps to balance up.
FitSW
FitSW provides personal trainers and nutrition coaches with a suite of tools to manage client information, track progress, and communicate with clients. Helping your clients stay updated on their goals and plans has never been easier.
TrueCoach
This is a coaching platform that enables trainers to create customized workout and nutrition plans, track progress, and communicate with clients in real time. You’ll have to get your clients on board with using it, but once you do, it quickly becomes worth it.
Nutritionist Pro
This is software tool is perfect if you’re leaning toward nutritional services. It provides nutrition analysis and meal planning capabilities, making it easy for you to create customized meal plans for clients.
Healthie
Another nutrition-focused app, this one allows nutrition coaches to communicate with clients via video sessions, track progress, and share educational materials.
The Bottom Line
Combining personal training and nutrition coaching can be a powerful way to help clients achieve their health and fitness goals. It means you’ll be providing a more holistic approach, helping your clients to not only look and feel better but also improve their overall health and well-being.
By staying up-to-date with the latest trends, continuing education, and technology, personal trainers and nutrition coaches can stay competitive and grow their careers. We hope this blog has been helpful and informative to those interested in pursuing this career path.
Next, you should check out our post on how to attract personal training clients.
