Burpees 🥴

As a newly qualified personal trainer, around 13 – 14 years ago, I went on a boot camp-style circuit course.

Carl was there too.

This is actually where we started to get to know each other more, but the main aim was to sharpen our skills and improve our programming knowledge.

Early on, the instructor told us, “You need to make your clients feel dead at the end of every session. Burpees are great for that!”

So he just hammered us with burpees, star jumps, and running around in a continuous circle for an hour.

I remember thinking, is that really the goal?

If a coach’s main aim is just to leave you in a heap on the floor every session, I’m pretty sure they don’t actually know how to get you in shape.

Killing someone with burpees or endless high-intensity exercises might feel productive, but it’s not a smart or sustainable way to train.

I mean, it leads to trainers just getting crazier and crazier with their sessions until nobody wants to attend their sessions.

That course taught me a lot.

Not about what to do, but about what not to do as a trainer.

I made a promise to myself then and there that I’d never rely on exercises like burpees just to make clients sweat or feel exhausted.

Instead, I’d focus on intelligent, effective programming to actually help people get stronger, fitter, and leaner.

The truth is, most people come to us with two main goals: they want to feel fitter and stronger, and they want to melt off body fat.

And here’s the thing: burpees don’t help with either of those that much.

They’re chaotic, hard to do properly, and leave most people frustrated and potentially injured.

If someone wants to improve their cardiovascular fitness, I’d much rather recommend 30-45 minutes of low-intensity activity they enjoy, like walking, cycling, or swimming.

It’s kinder to their body and far more sustainable long-term.

But for most people, strength and fitness are the priority.

Getting in shape doesn’t mean running yourself into the ground every session.

If you look at the most intelligent personal trainers.

The ones who are in mint shape all year round.

They follow a simple, consistent formula.

They’ll do three to four weight-training sessions a week.

They’ll hit 10,000 to 12,000 steps a day, eat a high-protein diet full of fruits, veggies, and carbs (yes, carbs!), and they’ll most likely be tracking their calories with a food log.

They drink two to four litres of water daily and make sure to get seven to nine hours of quality sleep.

And this is why they look great all the time.

Not because they’re grinding themselves into the ground with burpees or excessive cardio as Instagram portrays.

But because they’ve built habits that are smart, simple, and sustainable.

What about fat loss?

That’s where diet plays the biggest role.

No amount of burpees can fix a poor diet, and trying to “out-train” overeating is a losing battle.

Fat loss is about creating a calorie deficit.

Eating less than you burn.

But that doesn’t mean starvation or cutting out all the foods you love.

It’s about balance: eating mostly real, whole foods, understanding portions, and being consistent.

So here’s the bottom line: if your coach’s only goal is to leave you feeling destroyed at the end of a session, it might be time to rethink your approach.

The real secret to getting in shape isn’t chaos or exhaustion.

It’s consistency, smart training, and sustainable habits.

Lift weights.

Walk more.

Eat better.

Sleep well.

That’s all you need to feel fitter, stronger, and leaner without burning out.

And trust me—burpees won’t be missed.

Ryan
P.S
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Places are limited, so if you’re ready to feel stronger, fitter, and leaner, get in touch today—we’d love to help you transform!

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