A key part of making progress with your trainer is the feedback loop—the ability to receive, understand, and adjust based on feedback. In technology, this process often determines success or failure. It’s common for a piece of software to be released with the understanding that it’s imperfect. Users provide feedback, and developers make necessary adjustments over time. This initial usage is essentially a beta test. Consider the evolution from the first iPhone to what’s available today: we forget that the original lacked an app store, had poor reception, and was only available from AT&T.
The same feedback loop exists in the trainer-trainee dynamic during exercise. Assuming the drill is appropriate, the coach may offer a few critiques on form. From there, several scenarios can unfold:
Scenario One: The person trusts the coach and attempts to adjust. The coach, not expecting perfection, positively acknowledges these efforts. Over time, execution improves.
Scenario Two: The coach isn’t mindful to their wording. The person takes the critique personally and asks for a different exercise. The coach, wanting to avoid conflict, complies. The area of weakness remains unaddressed.
Scenario Three: The coach recommends an exercise, but provides no feedback as the trainee performs it incorrectly. The trainee misses out on the benefits, and the weakness or dysfunction persists. (This is also common in the physical therapy model.)
In each case, communication—or the lack thereof—is central. The value of having a coach is immense. Great athletes often credit their coaches for unlocking their potential: Muhammad Ali had Angelo Dundee, Michael Jordan had Phil Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes has Andy Reid. A good coach knows when to push, when to pull back, and when to pivot. They understand the weight of their words and choose them carefully.
In today’s world, where convenience is king, hearing “you need to work harder” can be disruptive. Yet, discomfort is sometimes the medicine we need. I’ve described how pushing a weighted sled or doing intervals on an Airbike is tough, but the benefits of strength, improved cardiovascular health, and reduced body fat are worth it. It’s not always about finding a hack; sometimes, you simply have to put your head down and work. While modern life offers rapid improvements, like food cooked in a microwave, exercise requires a “slow cooker” mindset.
Within the feedback loop, coaches help temper expectations. Progress in exercise isn’t linear; daily improvements are unrealistic. For example, you might not lose body fat in a month or increase your weights every session. Adaptations can be so subtle that it’s hard to tell if you’re improving. This is when you must trust the process. Whether your goal is fat loss or muscle gain, progress can be emotional. We all want results faster than is realistic, but having someone to keep you grounded and focused on practical goals is invaluable. Sometimes, we overcomplicate what needs to be done. First, ask if the program is based on proven strategies? Second, am I getting everything I can out of it? If you answered yes to the first and no to the second, work with your coach to turn that second answer into a “yes.” Use feedback as the powerful tool it is, and turn your goals into reality.