Ask a Coach: What Do You Say When a Member Asks Why They Aren’t Progressing?

When members go through their fitness journey, there will be periods of ups and downs. During periods where performance may not feel strong, they can get frustrated and feel like no progress is being made. The way I answer this question will vary from athlete to athlete, but I’ll start by digging into three different areas:

1. Do they know for a fact they aren’t progressing? Is that what their numbers say?
2. Are there any lifestyle factors that may be impeding their progress?
3. Are they getting what they need in the gym?  

Are They Truly Not Progressing?

There are a couple of factors to consider here. Some competitively driven athletes may see they are not climbing the “leaderboard” at the gym compared to people with several years more experience. This is one of the times when having athletes log their scores is invaluable. You can go back through their workout log or data-tracking platform and objectively point out all areas in which they have improved. A lot of times, athletes forget where they have started. So, discussing where they were when they first began and where they are now can be a huge motivator. 

Athletes may also be frustrated if they are not hitting PRs with every test. This will naturally happen as time progresses, and letting them know this is part of the process is an important aspect of what you can provide them as a coach. However, most of the time, you can look at various data points and conclude the athlete is still improving their overall fitness. Maybe their back squat didn’t go up, but their Fran time got faster, their Cindy score improved, their 2K row got better, and they can now handstand walk. If these gains don’t feel meaningful to them, it’s probably time to talk about their specific goals so you can plan to help them achieve them.

Lifestyle

The harsh reality is that the factors outside the gym significantly impact performance and recovery. I will ask questions about how they sleep, what’s going on in their life (e.g., stressful time at work), and their nutrition. If something is not helping move the needle in the right direction, I give one or two things to consider as a starting point for improvement. For example, if someone is busy and doesn’t have time to make meals every day, I will discuss one or two strategies they can use to try to eat more quality food instead of relying on processed foods without adding extra stress to their life. I will try to make these initial goals or plans very achievable to help build confidence. 

In The Gym

As a coach, it’s my job to help and educate my athletes and get them comfortable with adding the right amount of intensity to their workouts. Intensity is the independent variable, most commonly associated with maximizing the rate of return on favorable adaptations. We need intensity to get results, and people often get scared of that. 

We have all witnessed the scenario where an athlete starts CrossFit and loves the feeling of working hard. They don’t “game” the workout; they simply focus on working hard. Over time, however, athletes may shift their mindset and start to fear the hard effort because they know what it feels like. They may have lost some of that intensity they initially fell in love with. It’s understandable, but the reality is that if athletes are not consistently coached toward intensity, results will plateau or drop off. Intensity doesn’t need to occur every day, but a couple of times a week of a really hard, focused effort can do wonders. As coaches, we must be mindful of managing an athlete’s threshold and consistently providing new challenges. 

I actually get energized by this question because it means a member is paying attention, has goals, and is willing to do what it takes to get results. This allows me to dig in to find out what’s really going on and then set them on a path to achieve their goals.

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About the Author

Greg Kerschbaum (CF-L4) grew up in a competitive household as the youngest of four brothers, where sports were a cornerstone of family life. He played football and tennis through high school before focusing on tennis in college for four years at Walsh University. After graduating, Greg faced challenges with weight gain and fitness until his two brothers introduced him to CrossFit. From his first visit to a local CrossFit box, he was hooked by the supportive community, challenging workouts, and noticeable improvements in his health and fitness. Within six months, Greg earned his CrossFit Level 1 certificate and began coaching, immersing himself in learning all aspects of the CrossFit methodology. His passion for CrossFit continues to grow, and he is committed to constantly improving both as a coach and an athlete, sharing his enthusiasm for fitness with others every day. Greg is a CrossFit Seminar Staff member and coaches at Bombers CrossFit in Beavercreek, Ohio.