Client Spotlight: Nikki Rifkin
As a personal trainer, I am blessed to work with some amazing people. I’m very grateful that they put up with me and allow me to have some say in what to do with their body and life.
It makes my “job” really fun and their dedication gives ME the motivation to go out and do what I need to do every day.
These people deserve to have some recognition, so over the next few months, I’m going to be featuring clients who have really gone above and beyond with regard to really going after what they set out to do.
I’m really excited to do this “Client Spotlight” series and I have a lot of great ones lined up.
First up, I have a distance-coaching client of mine, Nikki Rifkin.
Intro
Nikki is a relative of one of my in-home training clients, and she happened to be visiting from Chicago one day when I was there. My in-home client thought it would be a great idea if I took her and her husband (Ted, who will be featured in the very near future…tongue-twister) through an assessment and training session.
Of course, I was more than happy to, and it was a blast. Since they live near Chicago and the hyperloop has yet to be invented, I talked to them about the online training I do and they were interested. This was back in August 2014.
Fast-forward to today, and the next thing you know, they’re absolutely killing it!
As you will hear in her story, Nikki had not been on any structured training program, so for her to jump in and do what she has done with long-distance coaching is pretty incredible.
Before her, I had come to the conclusion that online training was reserved for those who already had a strong base and needed some extra motivation and accountability.
But she has really surprised me, and demonstrated what good, old-fashioned hard work and consistency look like. And as she told me when she sent me her photo, the side-by-side does NOT do her justice (she was holding her son in the pic on the right).
I’ll let Nikki take it from here!
What was your previous exposure with exercise like?
I had a monthly gym membership, which never seemed possible with so many time constraints.
How would you say you felt about your body and life before you started training?
I generally felt content, but not satisfied. I knew I could look and feel better, but never took the initiative to exercise. Though I had dieted in the past, I had never exercised.
Over the course of the program, what would you say were the biggest benefits you received?
The biggest benefits of this program were the specific details and feedback on every single exercise, including quick and specific responses to the concerns I had. My range-of-motion and flexibility has greatly improved, as well as my strength…especially my core strength.
Nutritionally, what would you say had the biggest influence on your success?
Drinking more water and eating a healthy breakfast to boost my metabolism was a game-changer. I never ate breakfast before this program and even though I drank water every day, it was not nearly enough!
Online training is tough for a lot of people because the trainer/coach is not there in-person to provide accountability. How did you stick with the program when times got busy/stressful?
I did take breaks when I needed them, but I was always honest about them! With this program, it’s understood you get what you put in.
You should be your own accountability. If I was busy and slacked, I generally felt like I was letting myself down and not Kasey.
Numerically, what weight and dress/pant size did you start at versus now?
At the start (August 2014) = 190lb., 18 pants
Now = 160lb., 12 pants
What would you say to someone who is skeptical of online training?
It’s easy, inexpensive, and rewarding! The specific care of a virtual trainer is way better than any experience I have had at a gym.
What is the next step for you and your goals?
I would like to lose another 20 pounds, maintain my energy, and continue to drink more and more water. It has definitely helped my energy and complexion!
Wrap-Up
Well, there you have it. 30 pounds down and hungry for more!
I’m really proud of what Nikki has accomplished and I’m excited to see her progress through 2015.
I think the thing that stuck out to me the most about that brief interview is the part about being accountable to yourself and feeling like she let HERSELF down if she messed up and not me.
No matter who you are, YOU have to want it more than your coach. If the coach wants it more and you are entirely dependent on them, then you will never learn to be self-sufficient, which honestly, is the goal of coaching.
To teach a set of skills to someone and develop them to a point of mad proficiency
Nikki is a great example of taking responsibility for her results and having great things happen.
I hope you enjoyed this first spotlight! If you think her story would benefit someone you know, please share!
Dominate All Life,
Kasey, CSCS
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