THE TOP FITNESS COACHES
In the fitness world, having a great coach can truly transform your journey. I reached out to some of the top fitness coaches to learn what sets them apart and makes their coaching so effective.
Their responses reveal a variety of unique approaches and philosophies, all aimed at helping individuals achieve their fitness goals.
From personalized online training and gait analysis to holistic well-being and mental health support, these coaches offer exceptional guidance for a healthier lifestyle.
Do you think you or a coach that you know deserves to be featured as a top fitness coach? If yes, then fill out this form and we will consider your application and get in touch with you for the next steps.
In Brief : The Top Fitness Coaches
- Sean M. Hogan – After facing a devastating downturn in 2017, including financial loss, a challenging divorce, and a stalled career, I hit rock bottom. But that was the turning point. Determined for a comeback.
- LucyT Fitness – LucyT Fitness – Your guide to fitness transformation! As a dynamic fitness presenter and award-winning instructor, LucyT is the visionary founder behind the multi-award-winning Decades Reloaded dance fitness program
- Jay Garcia – Jay Garcia – Elevating lives through fitness! With 15 years of experience, Jay is a well-known Filipino fitness coach committed to promoting physical wellness and personal growth.
- Erika Marie Odlaug – Erika Marie Odlaug – A holistic approach to fitness and well-being. As a certified personal trainer, life coach, and mindfulness expert, Erika is on a mission to empower clients through challenging workouts and positive psychology.
- Taylor McAllister – Taylor – Holistic Nutritionist and Empowerment Coach. With a personal weight loss journey of nearly 60 pounds, Taylor is dedicated to empowering women for optimal health and confidence.
- Shawn James – Shawn James – Health and Fitness Coach. With 12 years of experience, Shawn has been guiding clients to achieve their health and fitness goals. Having personally lost 50 pounds at the start of his fitness journey.
- Julia McCabe – Julia McCabe – Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and Body Confidence & Wellbeing Coach. Voted one of the best personal trainers in the UK in 2019 and 2020, Julia specializes in empowering women to feel strong.
- Tammy Foxx – Tammy Foxx – Fitness Expert and Founder of Bridal Fitness Coach. With a career that began in 2009, Tammy has been dedicated to helping countless brides and grooms achieve their fitness goals.
- Kiril Iliev – Kiril Iliev – Renowned Bulgarian Fitness and Bodybuilding Coach. With over 30 years of experience in the fitness industry, Kiril began his journey as a competitive bodybuilder and powerlifter in Bulgaria and Kuwait.
- Andy Griffiths – Andy – Your Fast-Track Body Transformation Coach. As an online coach, Andy specializes in accelerating body transformations for everyday busy individuals, helping them achieve their desired results faster than they ever imagined.
- Jeff Raybould – Meet Jeff – Your Expert Trainer, Nutritionist, and Online Coach. With over 12 years of personal training experience, Jeff has dedicated the last 6 years to helping hundreds of individuals achieve their fitness goals.
- Darin Starr – Your Bodybuilding Guru from Knoxville, Tennessee. Beyond sculpting muscles, [Coach’s Name] shares his life with his wonderful wife and two dogs in the heart of Tennessee.
Adrian Collins
Adrian Collins, distinguished by Institute of Personal Trainers as one of the world’s best, specialises in posture improvement. With training from the Australian Institute of Fitness, Adrian seamlessly integrates Pilates, strength training, core-based workouts, and HIIT. His online training, designed for personalized fitness goals, caters specifically to individuals navigating sedentary lifestyles. Adrian’s innovative Social Butterfly Program, featured in Daily Mail, seamlessly combines online and onsite sessions for personalized goals.
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
My personal training stands out through Gait Analysis Mastery, using video-based analysis to uncover unique movement patterns and prevent long-term injuries. Emphasizing a Personalized Online Focus, I specialize in crafting tailored fitness journeys with one-on-one online training, departing from generic programs. A distinguishing factor is my Rehabilitation Expertise, derived from overcoming personal injuries. Drawing on experience in osteopathy and Pilates, I guide clients back to strength. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill training—it’s a bespoke, preventive, and seasoned approach to fitness.
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
The single most important thing as a successful coach, in my view, is empathy towards my clients. Understanding their motivations for seeking coaching, we collaborate to craft the best version of themselves. Building confidence and knowledge about their own bodies, my coaching approach fosters a deeper connection, empowering individuals to feel in control of their fitness journey.
Sean M. Hogan
In 2017, after a 2 year struggle, the bomb finally dropped, lost it all, went through a terrible divorce, cooked a career and went from high life to my oldest son offering $86.00 from his piggie bank to purchase groceries one week. ENOUGH we said!
I went back to school, became a Nutritionist, completed 4 national/international personal training and movement certifications, borrowed funds to hire a top coaching service, lost 65lbs in 100 days and built now the top google rated physique transformations business’s in our region. We’re now in 11 countries and this time, I know what I’m fighting for.
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
There is an incredible amount of mis-information surrounding gut health, nutrition and fat loss or muscle growth. We start with the route cause.. Mindset. Non-negotiable daily routines, goal association, accountability sessions and we have the tough conversations. Generic diets just don’t work, so we build and test every single plan with each individuals gut health t find the problem. Every client completes a mindset session to find the “pain”
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
Radical transparency, relenting honesty and an inability to quit on humans, especially when they’re quitting on themselves. 2 steps forward and one back. If we’re unable to address our mistakes, how might we grow? It’s ok to fall, we just make sure to get back up.
LucyT Fitness
LucyT Fitness Fitness presenter, award winning instructor and founder of multi award winning Decades Reloaded dance fitness. Specialising in supporting mental health in the local community and breaking down mental health related barriers to physical activity.
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
There are two areas to my businesses LucyT Fitness and Decades Reloaded®️
LucyT Fitness is a local and online offering of fitness classes and support, built with mental health and community at the forefront. The timetable is designed to ensure optimum mental wellbeing benefits, with a variety of classes to compliment one another and encourage the development of a supportive community.
Decades Reloaded®️ was created to utilize the psychological benefits of Nostalgia, group exercise, dance and socially connected communities. To truly support the mental health, increasing perceived support, breaking down mental health related stigma and barriers to physical activity. I train fitness instructors in the concept of Decades Reloaded®️, ensuring that instructors are knowledgeable and have the tool kit they need to support anyone looking to improve and maintain good mental health. From the contemplation stages through to years of continued attendance. Instructors break down mental health related barriers, are confident in recognizing the signs of a mental health crisis or needs for sign posting clients to seek specialist mental health services.
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
The most critical thing that has contributed to my success is being able to empathize, identify and support my clients and instructors from the first conversation and maintain long term lines of contact and support, building social connections between clients and instructors to enable them to develop a strong support network. Creating a judgement free, safe space of knowledge, understanding and awareness. Being able to address the reasons why many people never make it into an exercise class, from initially considering attending. Identifying how to overcome these barriers together and being supportive through the entire process, not just to get a new client through the door. Clients and Decades Reloaded®️ instructors form our league of Diamonds, our community of support that becomes an extension of my family and one another’s.
Jay Garcia
Jay Garcia is a well-known Filipino fitness coach with 15 years of experience in promoting physical wellness and personal growth. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Clinical Management, focusing on fitness. Jay is certified as a personal trainer, medical exercise specialist, corrective exercise specialist, and associate acupuncturist.
His approach prioritizes long-term, sustainable lifestyle changes and emphasizes functional fitness. Jay has shared his expertise as a guest on CNN Philippines and empowers clients with a positive attitude and empathy, helping them achieve their fitness goals for a healthier and happier life. He is the founder of Coach Jay Wellness, specializing in online fitness coaching.
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
My coaching stands out for its personalized approach, addressing each client’s unique needs and goals. I focus on holistic well-being, combining fitness, diet, stress management, and mental health. With a background in exercise science and nursing, I offer a balanced approach based on the latest research. My aim is to inspire a lifelong commitment to health and well-being, acting as a mentor, teacher, and friend to my clients.
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
My coaching success is driven by empathy, as I understand and tailor my approach to each client’s unique needs. Continual learning keeps my methods up-to-date, and strong, authentic communication builds trust with my clients. In summary, empathy, ongoing learning, and effective communication are the keys to my success as a coach.
Erika Marie Odlaug
Erika Marie Odlaug is a personal trainer, life coach, and mindfulness expert. She is certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, a Registered Yoga Teacher, and a Certified Life Coach for the Deeper Self trained in the Art of Humanistic Hypnosis and Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology. Though challenging workouts and positive psychology, Erika believes in helping her clients connect to the deeper part of themselves that is empowered and determined.
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
As a competitive Athlete and someone with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I’ve journeyed the path of healing the body and mind through therapy, coaching, mindfulness, yoga, meditation, physical therapy, personal training, inquisitive self-exploration and reflection, education and training in various healing modalities. Not only have I found healing, but a core belief that we are all here to live beyond healing. To live our Big Life (i.e.: The most enriching fulfilling beautiful mind blowing life you can possibly imagine.)I now use my story, my experience, and my training to help others on their own wellness journey.
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
My success is attributed to having to overcome my challenges as an athlete that had mental health issue and my passion for showing others that life can be better than they often think.
Taylor McAllister
Taylor is a dedicated holistic nutritionist empowering women for optimal health and confidence. With her own weight loss journey of nearly 60 pounds, she educates and inspires through valuable insights on living a healthy and happy life through her social media presence. As a self-made model signed with multiple agencies, her unique perspective resonates with clients. Taylor’s unwavering commitment has made her a sought-after expert in the field.
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
With my own experiences, I have a unique ability to connect with and assist others. People seek individuals who have triumphed over similar challenges. By delving deep into your habits, desires, struggles, and physiological limitations, I can provide genuine help in overcoming your struggles. Together we can establish those long-term vital habits that create the healthy lifestyle that’s necessary for you to see and feel results. A lifestyle that you’re empowered by; not dependent on.
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
During a difficult phase of my life, I reached the lowest point of both physical and emotional well-being. It was a state of constant defeat that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. However, this personal journey motivated me to ensure that no one will feel the way I did if they were willing to let me help. If I can help them avoid that, or pull out of that quicker than I was able to do for myself, then I have found my purpose and therefore my passion.
Shawn James
Shawn James has been a health and fitness coach for the past 12 years helping his clients reach their goals. Shawn lost 50 pounds at the start of his fitness journey. While it was challenging, he found discipline, resources, hard work and motivations that kept him on his path to becoming healthier and happier.
As a fitness coach, he knows what it’s like to struggle with being overweight and stick with new eating habits and workout routines. His experience inspired him to apply what he learned and help others lose their unwanted weight and have the once and for all! Shawn’s mission is to help people feel strong, healthy, confident, and, most of all, happy.
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
Shawn specializes in helping men in their 40’s feel strong, confident and getting the best out of yourself. I combine mindset, fitness, nutrition and hard work. This is a lifestyle, so my passion is in the long term and hopefully lifetime success of my clients.
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
I believe my success comes from genuinely caring for my clients success. I am passionate about helping my clients reach their health and fitness goals. A lot of my business comes from referrals from clients that have made me feel very successful at my purpose in life.
Julia McCabe
Julia McCabe is a certified personal trainer, nutrition coach and body confidence & wellbeing coach. She was voted one of the best personal trainers in the UK in 2019 and 2020. She specializes in helping women feel strong, confident and happy in their own skin. Julia is the founder and CEO of fitandhappy, a female health and fitness company that helps women to quit dieting and create healthy habits that last. Fitandhappy coaching is all about feeling fitter, more energized and ready to live life to the fullest.
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
I help busy female entrepreneurs and professionals with little time to feel strong, confident and happy in their own skin. My coaching is science-based and I stay well clear from nutrition fads and diets. My approach intelligently combines fitness, nutrition, mindset and lifestyle coaching. I’m interested in the long term success of my clients and teaching the skill of habit creation is a top priority.
As a business owner and busy mother of three, I understand the challenges life throws at us. I’m very aware of the need to make our own wellbeing a priority, albeit one that doesn’t eat up hours of our day!
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
There are not one but two things that are not only the most important things for my own success but also my clients’ achievements:
- Really getting to know each client
We might all have similar goals (live well and feel good about ourselves) but we all have unique limiting beliefs that hold us back from achieving those goals. Empathy, never blaming a client for not achieving her goals and great listening skills are what has helped me most.
- Keeping a sense of fun and enjoyment.
A good sense of humor goes a long way. Change happens when you enjoy yourself.
Tammy Foxx
Tammy Foxx started her career in the fitness industry in 2009 when she launched Bridal Fitness Coach. Since then, she has helped scores of happy brides and grooms achieve their fitness goals. Over the years, Tammy noticed most gyms were male-dominated. She always envisioned opening her own female-focused fitness studio. In 2019, her vision became a reality when she opened Eden Fitness Studio.
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
In my opinion, it’s not beneficial if I spend time comparing myself to others. To be honest, I don’t really know what other coaches do. I focus my attention on my clients and their individual needs and being the best coach possible.
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
I feel what’s contributed to my success is my attention to detail and my efforts to provide an excellent client experience.
Kiril Iliev
Kiril Iliev is a Bulgarian professional fitness and bodybuilding coach with more than 30yrs of experiencein the fitness field. He starts competing as a bodybuildier and powerlifter in Bulgaria and Kuwait and then later in Vienna and Bahrain where he currently working as a Head coach in one of the biggest and modern fitness centers! He have been a coach since 1995 till today with few hundreds clients and more!
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
For me the personal approach is the most important and base on that I believe I have such! Never the less the passion that I build and the experience that gathered have been a big help to understand the body and the mind how they both work together.
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
I believe that it’s the TRUST in between that helped me be the coach that I’m today as its one of the most – important aspects between coach and a client.
Andy Griffiths
Andy is an online coach who specializes in fast-tracking body transformations. He helps everyday busy people achieve the results they have always wanted, quicker than they ever thought possible. He comes from a military background where he spent five and a half years in the Royal Welsh Infantry. In the Army, he was an All Arms Physical Training Instructor (AAPTI).
It was his job to ensure the Battalion was at peak physical fitness ready for operations.
What do you do differently or how is your coaching different from others?
Andy creates bespoke results-focused Training and Nutrition Plans, based on an individual’s lifestyle and fitness goals while providing weekly personalized coaching/feedback videos. All this while ensuring he takes a no-nonsense, evidence-based approach. Andy completely removes the guesswork; his clients know exactly how many calories, protein, carbohydrates and fats they should be consuming each day. They know what foods to eat, what foods to avoid (or consume in moderation), as well as when and what to eat to optimize their training and recovery, all while enjoying delicious recipes. Andy’s plan will educate his clients on the nutritional and caloric value of different foods to cultivate lifelong healthy eating habits.
What according to you has been the single most important thing that has contributed to your success as a coach?
The single most important thing that has contributed to my success as a coach is the weekly personalized feedback videos; these separate me from other coaches who take a less personal approach. I want each one of my clients to know that I’m checking up on them and that I’m here to support them every step of the way to their transformation.
Jeff Raybould
Hi I’m Jeff, I’m a trainer, nutritionist and online coach. I’ve helped 100’s of people lose fat, gain muscle, get stronger and perform better in sports like martial arts, football and bodybuilding. I have been training over 12 years and been training people on a professional basis over 6 years.
I have a degree in sport and exercise science from the institute of sport and exercise science, Worcester. My independent study was on amino acids and their affects on muscle recovery, strength and muscular endurance. I competed in the PCA midlands championships in my first show and came second, less than two years later I won my first show in the prestigious NABBA federation. I’ve tried and tested many different training programs, nutrition plans and supplements so I have a great understanding of what works and what doesn’t work. My goal is to help as many people as possible get in shape and feel better about themselves.
Darin Starr
I live in Knoxville, Tennessee with my awesome wife and our 2 dogs. Clearly bodybuilding is a constant presence in my life, but outside of that my greatest passion is music. I’m a songwriter, pianist and guitarist for Sketch Eclectic, which is just me and my wife. You can listen to our stuff on all streaming platforms and we’re constantly working on new music. I also dabble in woodworking and home renovation projects – some big and some small!
Conclusion
Each of these top fitness coaches brings something special to their training programs.
Whether it’s through personalized online focus, empathy-driven coaching, or breaking down mental health barriers, their methods have proven to be highly effective.
If you’re looking to elevate your fitness journey, learning from these experts can provide the motivation and support you need.
Our highest-rated course lays the necessary foundations about this for you. This is a paid course but you can register for FREE for a limited time here.
Do you think you or a coach that you know deserves to be featured as a top fitness coach? If yes, then fill out this form and we will consider your application and get in touch with you for the next steps.
Thanks for the well-researched post!