My struggle as BeachBody Coach

I've been looking around the BB forums and just about hit my limit with the amount of poor information being spread in the name of "helping".

It's really why I'm going to bow out of actively trying to coach....so bear with me, long post coming up, and no this isn't coming from not hardly making money it comes with fundamental ideas with beachbody that I don't agree with, and yes, this will piss a LOT of people off.


1.) There is a stigma surrounding BB coaches....if you don't think there is, you're blind. The second people see BB coaching, they run.



2.) If you are a coach, you should be certified in some way. If YOU are NOT, then YOU are NOT qualified to help anybody on their fitness journey in any way shape or form, with the exception of "oh you look great, keep working!" Don't give advice, don't offer nutritional information, ESPECIALLY no form or or modification advice if there is no modification on screen.....just....no. That's my BIGGEST beef with things. If people get hurt on a program YOU sell them, then YOU can be held liable.....if I give one of my custom designed programs to a client, regardless of waiver signing, I am held liable, it's why as a trainer I HAVE to carry liability insurance. Plus, if you are NOT in shape, then, while you may know or live the struggle, and want to help, you have NO IDEA how to do it because YOU haven't done it yet! You don't have to be perfect, but please, please PLEASE, be in better shape than me, and KNOW what the hell you're talking about OUTSIDE of regurgitating BB information or "what you read on a blog." Thee is SO MUCH mis-information and unsafe information put out there by unqualified people that it boggles the mind. There seems to be a fundamental difference between coaches who are trainers and coaches -- coaches who are trainers don't say things like "well here's what works for me", they get to the direct root of the problem and work on a solution that "works for them". It's incredibly easy to spot those folks.



3.) I'm not on board with Shakeology and yes, I DO believe that Beachbody is hiding things to support the hype. There are ZERO papers that can really tell you what's in it (exact amount of each "super fruit" for instance, not ingredients), and the only studies with Shakeology do NOT differentiate weight loss, diabetes, lower cholesterol etc with a direct effect of Shakeology because there is no control group. Plus, BB SHOVES it down the coaches throat! Basically, if you DON'T drink it (I hate the stuff, people love it, that's cool, I don't and won't drink it), you're a bad coach. The marketing of "ask me how you can drink your shakeology for free" is ridiculous. I'd rather take the $90 and buy a year's worth of other supplements. People CAN and WILL lose weight with out it, it's been done before, it will happen in the future (me). I'm tired of hearing Shakeology is essential to weight loss, it's not, that is a lie to get people to buy it. That's like saying (borrowing from Colbert) "World Hunger crisis is over, I just ate."



4.) The business is about helping people and building relationships....yes it is....I agree with that. BUT, what good is the relationship if you don't get a "coach" out of it. You've got another internet friend....great! Good for you! Another person to take away your time that you could be spending with people face to face rather than digitally. People are working their *kitten* off to sell this stuff, and the ratio of people who are coaches and who are coaches that do this full time will probably never be revealed. Over 50% of "coaches" never draw a single check. That leads right back to more people who have no business telling people what to do regarding fitness trying to turn lives around in an unsafe and irresponsible way.




Now, you'll notice I didn't say one thing about any of their programs. I DO believe in their programs. I think they are fantastic, and I will wear the brand with pride because I've DONE the programs, I understand the "why" behind the progression, and the clothing looks good! If it helps generate a few sales, then so be it, but my first plan of action is to get a client for personal training, to build that relationship face to face and to be a catalyst for them to unlock their potential. I will remain a coach because I've got a friend who drinks the Shakeology and buys it from me so it pays for my monthly coaching fee (which the "website" stuff is really a joke, it's cut and paste and not customized, so being included in the "price" isn't really value), and I still get the program discounts, which I will happily buy.