Christy Donat-Germain

I attribute my success to really seeing each person as an individual and meeting them where they're at, not where I think they need to be. One of my coaches told me early on that you have to meet the person where they're at, and you can't assume things about them. Sometimes people don't want to offer up their personal information until they're comfortable with you, so you have to build that rapport and earn their respect. You have to let them know you're really here to help and benefit them. I think having compassion and being direct but in a nurturing way gets me further than taking that hard approach that a lot of people use. I like to set realistic, month-by-month goals rather than putting out extremely long-term expectations that overwhelm people and that they can't visualize. The key is understanding that no one is the same, and cookie-cutter programming isn't effective. If someone has a shoulder injury or back concern or different ailment, you need to meet that person where they're at physically and mentally, and then work with them to get where they need to be or want to be.

The best career advice I ever received was from one of my coaches who told me that you have to meet the person where they're at. You can't assume things about people, and sometimes they don't want to offer up their personal information until they're comfortable with you. So you have to build that rapport and earn their respect. You need to let them know you're really here to help and benefit them, not just push them toward some goal. This advice has shaped my entire approach to working with clients because it taught me the importance of understanding where someone is in the present moment, both physically and mentally, rather than just focusing on where I think they should be.

My advice to young women entering personal training and nutrition is to really have the educational knowledge in exercise physiology and body anatomy. A lot of trainers will do weekend certifications, but I think it's key to really hone in on a national type of certification that's focused on the whole body, not just a quick 'hey, I'm certified' credential. It's important to be educated, and that doesn't necessarily mean academically, but to educate yourself. There's so much out there to study and learn from. Beyond the technical knowledge, I would say it's crucial to meet people where they're at. You have to see the person as who they are at the present time, not where you think they need to be, and then work with them to get where they want to be. Building that understanding and rapport with clients is just as important as knowing the science.

One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is the assumption that lifting weights will make you big and muscular, especially among older clients. I'm working with a couple in their early 70s right now, and the first thing the woman said to me was 'I don't want to get big, I don't want big muscles.' I think that's such a fallacy, but it comes from that generation. They all thought that lifting meant you're going to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. I have to explain to my clients that if 10 pounds feels really light and 15 pounds is a little challenging, that's where you need to be, and it's not going to make you big or change your muscles dramatically. You have to challenge your body, and if you don't challenge the muscle, we're not going to make the improvements that are needed. Another challenge is people wanting instant gratification, like taking a pill instead of doing the work. There are things like Ozempic out there now, but people don't really understand that when you come off it, there's going to be challenges. I've heard horror stories of people getting really ill from it on a daily basis, and in their mind they're skinny and where they want to be, but they're not healthy. Getting people to understand the difference between quick fixes and sustainable, healthy lifestyle changes is a constant challenge.

The values most important to me are having compassion, being understanding, and helping people build a sustainable lifestyle rather than just achieving temporary results. I believe in being direct with people but in a nurturing way, not taking that hard approach. I think it's crucial to meet people where they're at and build trust so they feel comfortable enough to let their walls down and share what they really need. I'm focused on helping clients achieve longevity and live their later years in a healthy, sustaining environment rather than in a wheelchair or nursing home. I also value following the science but doing it in a natural, holistic pathway. I believe we should start with holistic approaches first, and if that's not sustainable or getting the job done, then look to Western medicine for help. For me, the gratification comes from being able to help individuals reach their goals and maintain them, seeing them become healthier and happier. I want people to build realistic expectations and understand that this is about lifestyle, not temporary fixes.