What should I look for in an online fitness coach?

A good coach does not just hand you numbers. She works through your actual obstacles with you. Nikkiey explains that when a client says she has no time to meal prep, she pulls up the client's calendar on their one-on-one, picks a date and time that works and blocks it. If the client still doesn't follow through, Nikkiey digs into what is going on behaviorally, even asking to see screen time. She also notes she has meal prepped in under 30 minutes, so part of a coach's job is showing you it doesn't have to take hours.

Be wary of anyone who promises an exact timeline on day one. Nikkiey says she only gives timelines once she knows a woman's metabolism and can predict the next steps, and that good coaches know metabolism changes with every cut, maintenance and surplus phase. At the start, the focus should be solid habits and systems, because that foundation is what keeps you off the hamster wheel of losing the same 10 pounds again.

Look for teaching, not a rigid menu. Erica shares that she was frustrated by online macro calculators she didn't understand, and that learning the science behind each macro and when to eat certain foods was a big shift for her, since many programs give you a meal plan without explaining why. One WarriorBabe coach adds that set meal plans are restrictive because brands differ at every grocery store, while building your own plan gives you food freedom and the quantities are easy to adjust.