Coach Conzo on Strength Training, Shame, and Starting Slow
When people search for online coaching or strength training, they are often met with a flood of confident, specific advice. According to Coach Conzo, who runs Coach Conzo | Personal Training & Online Coaching, that flood can do more harm than good for beginners. In a short interview, Conzo shared what he sees when clients arrive with goals of getting stronger or more consistent, and why the usual advice often misses the mark.
The problem with one-size-fits-all strength advice
Conzo said most of his clients come to him wanting to get stronger, a trend he is happy to see. But he pointed out that the moment someone likes a single fitness post, they are inundated with advice from personal trainers who now have to act as content creators. That pressure leads to very specific training methods being marketed as universal necessities.
The most common hook, he said, is the claim that "You have to be doing this lift or you'll be small and weak forever." It is hard not to believe when it comes from someone in very good shape. But Conzo noted that most of his clients are still at the start of their journey and do not yet know how to be consistent. Throwing new methods in all the time, he said, could hinder their growth.
Shame is the hidden barrier
When asked what keeps coming up with people starting or restarting training, Conzo pointed to shame. "The thing that comes up most is the feeling of shame for having fallen off the path, like they are less for not being able to stick to it," he said.
He reframed that experience: "Failure is the best tool when it comes to fitness, it means you've tried something new and pushed yourself out of your comfort zone and most likely have learned something out of it." What online content often leaves out, he added, is that giving up or falling off for a month or even a year is part of the process. Most people are not training for a show or a competition, he said, but simply because they want to be kind to their bodies. Falling off teaches what does not work for a person's schedule and lifestyle, which can help the next attempt stick.
The all-or-nothing trap
Conzo also sees a common mistake when people try to get back into a routine: they set an idealistic schedule. They tell themselves they will train in the morning before work, or right after work, or every day that week. "It's not realistic and not even very productive unless they have a well thought out program," he said.
Instead of aiming for perfection, Conzo described success as "the frog in the water as it boils" — a gradual, sustainable build. He said he often has to hold people back from going too hard too soon. "You do not start a marathon by breaking into a full sprint," he noted.
Practical takeaways
For anyone starting or restarting strength training, Conzo's answers suggest a few clear steps. First, be skeptical of sweeping claims about specific lifts being mandatory; context and consistency matter more. Second, expect setbacks and treat them as information rather than evidence of personal failure. Third, choose a schedule you can actually keep, and resist the urge to sprint out of the gate. As Conzo put it, this is a long journey, and the goal is to be kind to your body along the way.
For more on his approach to personal training and online coaching, visit his site. Readers interested in broader guidance on building sustainable habits can also explore resources from the American Council on Exercise and the CDC's physical activity guidelines.