Not everyone needs a coach. Some people make progress on their own for years, and that's great. But in some situations, training alone costs you more time, more frustration and sometimes an injury.
These are the signs I see most often in the people who reach out to me.
1. You've been stuck at the same weights for months
If your numbers haven't moved in two or three months and you keep doing the same thing, the problem isn't willpower. It's the plan. A long plateau is almost always fixed by changing the structure: volume, intensity, frequency or exercises.
2. You train without a plan
You walk into the gym and decide what to do there. Chest one day because you feel like it, whatever machine is free the next. That works at first, but sooner or later progress stops, because nothing tells you how much to add or when.
3. You don't know how much weight to use
If some weeks you go to failure on everything and other weeks you leave too much in the tank, you're missing a way to measure effort. A good plan tells you what weight to use and why. I explain it in what RIR and RPE are.
4. You have doubts about your technique
You watch videos, read, try tips that contradict each other… and you still don't know if you're doing it right. An outside eye saves you months. What you feel and what you do don't always match, and a video shows it in two seconds.
5. The same aches keep coming back
Your knee, your shoulder, your lower back… If the same ache shows up every few weeks, something in the load, the technique or the recovery isn't adding up. If it's pain, have a physiotherapist look at it first. After that, a coach can adjust your plan so you keep training without ending up in the same place.
6. You struggle to stay consistent
You start strong in January and disappear by March. Having someone who reviews your week and expects your videos changes a lot. It's not magic: it's a commitment to another person.
7. You want to compete or you have a goal with a date
A first powerlifting meet, a physical test, a personal challenge… When there's a date, planning when to push and when to back off makes the difference. And in powerlifting, so does picking the right attempts.
What if none of these sound like you?
Perfect. Keep going, log your training and check every few weeks whether you're improving. Here's how to tell if you're making progress.
What to look for in a coach
- They ask before giving you a plan: level, goal, schedule, equipment and injuries.
- They review your technique on video.
- They adjust the plan based on how you respond, instead of sending everyone the same PDF.
- They explain why you're doing what you're doing.
If you saw yourself in two or three of these signs, let's talk. I always start with a free evaluation to see if we're a good fit.