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The Problem of Perfect explores why striving to "do it all right" in fitness coaching can sometimes do more harm than good. Claire and Maggie unpack the difference between healthy conscientiousness and unhelpful perfectionism, looking at how rigid rules, all‑or‑nothing thinking, and self‑criticism can impact both trainers and clients. This episode offers practical ways for personal trainers to recognise perfectionist patterns, build more flexible, realistic plans, and model imperfection to create safer, more trusting coaching relationships.   Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

In this episode, Claire speaks with Maggie about what weight‑neutral coaching really looks like in practice. They explore how moving away from weight‑centric fitness shifts the focus toward function, joy, and client autonomy, and why this approach can create safer, more inclusive coaching environments. Maggie shares her journey transitioning to weight‑neutral coaching, practical changes personal trainers can make to language and marketing, and how to hold clear boundaries with clients seeking weight loss without losing business or integrity.     Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

Claire and Maggie explore anti‑glycolytic training, a high‑intensity, high‑rest approach rooted in Soviet sport science, and why avoiding the burn can lead to better endurance, recovery, and long‑term results.   Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

In this episode, Maggie sits down with Caroline, physiotherapist and founder of Rebalance Physiotherapy, a mobile and care home practice serving South Manchester, Cheshire, and Derbyshire. Caroline works with some of the most complex client presentations in the field, incl neurological conditions, frailty, post-hospital rehabilitation, and falls prevention, delivering high-quality physio in people's homes and care settings rather than behind a clinic door. They talk about what building a business actually looks like outside of your training, the real challenges of working mobile, and what it takes to grow a team that genuinely fits your model. And of course, the relationship between physios and personal trainers. Where the two professions complement each other, where the friction is, and how PTs can work better alongside physios for the benefit of shared clients. If you've ever referred a client on, worked alongside a physio, or wondered how to strengthen those professional relationships this one's for you.   Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar  

In this episode, Maggie and Claire explore what belonging really looks like in personal training. They discuss how trainers can create connection through listening, language, and intentional culture‑setting, without forcing community or relying on surface‑level friendliness. Drawing on real coaching examples and behavioural science, the conversation unpacks the difference between interpersonal and structural belonging, how environments influence client comfort, and why genuine one‑to‑one relationships matter most. This episode is for coaches who want clients to feel seen, understood, and supported and to build training relationships that last.   Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

What does it take to lift over 23,834kg in a single hour? We're joined by world-record holder and personal trainer Megan Kelly to discuss the mental and physical grit required to achieve a Guiness World Record. But this isn't just a talk about stats; it's a deep dive into the heart of coaching. Megan opens up about the resilience she gained from her successful and "failed" record attempts, her journey of opening her own studio, and why she recently decided to become a total beginner again by learning calisthenics. We explore her person-centered philosophy and why her primary metric for success isn't just a number on a scale, but the happiness of the people she coaches. In this episode, we discuss: The logistics and mindset of a world record. How to handle setbacks and turn them into professional growth. Why staying a "student" makes you a better coach for your clients.

In this episode, Claire chats with Steffie Murray to explore her journey as a competitive strongwoman, from discovering the sport to becoming Scotland's Strongest Woman, Britain's Strongest Woman, and finishing second in the world. Steffie shares what drew her to strongman competition, the variety of events that keep her motivated, and how the sport has transformed her confidence, discipline and relationship with her body. We dive into the realities of training for strongwoman competitions, including how Steffie structures her strength sessions, event days, and recovery work to stay healthy and competitive. The conversation also covers her role as a PT as well as looking ahead to the future of women's strongman and Steffie's commitment to competing as a natural athlete while maintaining integrity in the sport.   Follow Steffie on Instagram: @dawnstrength88   Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar  

What is it actually like to be on the receiving end of our coaching? To find out, we've flipped the script. In this episode, Maggie sits down with three of her own clients, Mara, Helen, and Eleanor, to get the unvarnished truth from the gym floor. From the initial nerves of walking into a gym to the specific things a coach does that build (or break) trust, these women share their honest experiences of the fitness industry. We talk about what keeps them motivated, how they balance training with high-pressure lives, and what they wish all PTs knew about the client experience. If you've ever wondered what your clients are really thinking, this episode is for you. In this episode, we discuss: "Green flags" and "Red flags" from a client's perspective. Why community and safety often matter more than the workout. The reality of balancing fitness goals with real-world stressors.   Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

What if your personal training business was guided by your values, not just trends or tactics? In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore how clearly defined values can act as a compass for decision making, client relationships, pricing, policies, and team culture. Drawing on real examples from Maggie's studio, they discuss how values like community, joy, and confidence show up in day‑to‑day operations and why values should shape how you run your business, not just how you market it. A practical conversation for personal trainers who want a business that feels aligned, sustainable, and genuinely enjoyable to run.   Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

Claire chats with Pete Yardley Patel about his personal training career.  Pete qualified 13 years ago and has built a sustainable business in a commercial gym and it is brilliant to hear about his  long term success in an environment which can sometimes be seen as a short term stepping stone   Find Pete: @peteyardley.hf Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

Why do some clients struggle to achieve results despite having the 'perfect' plan? In this episode, we step outside the gym bubble to talk with Dr. Dharmi Kapadia from the University of Manchester. We dive into the systemic, social, and environmental barriers that personal training qualifications often overlook. Dr. Kapadia shares her vital research on how the chronic stress of racism and stigma acts as a physical health barrier, affecting everything from mental illness to long-term conditions like diabetes and obesity. This is a must-listen for any coach who wants to move past individualistic advice and understand the true "why" behind their clients' challenges. In this episode, we discuss: The "Dose-Response" relationship between discrimination and health. Why "just doing it" is harder for some than others. How systemic stress shows up in your clients' physiology.     Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

·        Claire chats with weight loss coach and personal trainer Simon Graham about how starting sport later in life led him to become a personal trainer and continues to shape the way he coaches people with more athletic or sports focused goals. From fuelling strategies and periodised training plans to balancing resistance work with endurance sports, Simon shares practical tips for building strength, preventing injuries, and managing extreme challenges. Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar    

Maggie and Claire chat about behaviour change and relevant models to support it in clients. Exploring how individual capabilities, both physical and psychological, influence a person's ability to change, as well as the importance of identifying and addressing environmental and social opportunities that either support or hinder behavior change. Members can access more on the member site including the Self Determination Theory and Behaviour Change Courses.  Non members can access a 2 week free trial via the link below. Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

·       Claire chats with Dani from Curious Fitness to explore the art of training clients with injuries and niggles. From integrating prehab and rehab into regular sessions to fostering trust through clear communication, they share practical strategies and personal insights from their experiences of their own injuries. Discover how creativity, empathy, and experience shape effective programming, helping clients stay strong and confident, even when setbacks arise.   Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

Maggie chats with personal trainer and mother Elle Brown to explore what it really means to help clients "find their movement groove" in a world that often makes that far more complicated than it needs to be.   Together, they dig into: The role running has played in Elle's life and how her relationship with movement has evolved The intersection of fitness, motherhood, identity and societal expectations and how these forces shape women's experiences of movement What needs to change in the fitness industry if we want to genuinely help clients (and ourselves) in the long term The gender gap in fitness, the very recent history of women's exercise, and the systemic barriers that still shape who feels welcome in movement spaces What we can do, as PTs, to build fitness environments that feel safer, more inclusive, and more responsive to everyone's needs   This episode is for anyone interested in movement beyond "exercise prescriptions" especially coaches, trainers, and women navigating movement alongside work, care, and complex lives.   Books Mentioned: As promised, here are the recommended reads from the episode: Let's Get Physical - Danielle Friedman What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat - Aubrey Gordon Disobedient Bodies - Emma Dabiri Invisible Women - Caroline Criado Perez Teaching to Transgress - Bell Hooks   Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar