Programming Systems That Scale: Train 20 Clients Without Custom Plans

You're spending 10+ hours/week writing custom programs for every client from scratch. That's 520 hours/year wasted. Here's the template system I use to train 20 clients efficiently while still getting better results than most "custom" programs.

Why Custom Programming Doesn't Scale

The problem with writing fully custom programs:

Takes 1-2 hours per client per month
Inconsistent quality (some programs are great, some suck)
Hard to track what works
Reinventing the wheel for every client

Reality check: Most clients need the SAME foundational movements. They don't need 47 exercise variations.

The 3-Template System

I have 3 core templates that cover 95% of clients:

Template #1: Fat Loss (Beginner-Intermediate)

Template #2: Muscle Building (All Levels)

Template #3: General Fitness/Athletic (Maintenance)

For each template, I have 3 experience levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Total: 9 templates cover EVERYONE.

Template Breakdown: Fat Loss Program

PHASE 1: WEEKS 1-4 (Foundation) Day 1: Lower Body A1. Goblet Squat: 3×12 A2. Romanian Deadlift (DB): 3×12 B1. Walking Lunges: 3×10/leg B2. Glute Bridges: 3×15 C. Plank: 3×45sec Day 2: Upper Body A1. DB Bench Press: 3×12 A2. DB Rows: 3×12 B1. DB Shoulder Press: 3×12 B2. Lat Pulldown: 3×12 C1. Bicep Curls: 2×15 C2. Tricep Pushdowns: 2×15 Day 3: Full Body A. Trap Bar Deadlift: 3×10 B1. Pushups: 3×AMRAP B2. Inverted Rows: 3×AMRAP C. Farmer Carries: 3×40m

Customization points:

Swap exercises for injuries (knee issues? Replace squats with leg press)
Adjust weights based on strength level
Modify reps if needed (older clients: 8-10 reps instead of 12)

Time to customize: 10 minutes (vs 60+ minutes writing from scratch)

How to Implement Templates With Clients

Step 1: Assess and Assign

Initial assessment (Week 1):

What's their goal? (Fat loss, muscle, general fitness)
Experience level? (Never trained, trained 1-2 years, advanced)
Any injuries/limitations? (Note and modify template)

Example: 45-year-old woman, wants to lose 20 lbs, never lifted weights, knee issues.
→ Assign: Fat Loss Beginner Template + modify squats to goblet box squats

Step 2: Run the Template for 4-6 Weeks

Don't change programs every week. Run the same template for 4-6 weeks with progressive overload.

Week 1: Learn movements, lighter weight
Week 2: Add 5-10% weight
Week 3: Add another 5-10% weight OR 1-2 reps
Week 4: Peak week, test strength gains
Week 5-6 (optional): Deload or move to Phase 2

Step 3: Progress to Phase 2

After 4-6 weeks, move to next phase:

Increase volume (add 1-2 sets per exercise)
Increase complexity (goblet squat → barbell squat)
Change rep ranges (12 reps → 8-10 reps with heavier weight)

Same template structure, different intensity/volume.

The Progressive Overload System

How to progress clients without rewriting programs:

Week 1: Learn exercises, establish baseline
Week 2: Add 5-10 lbs OR 1-2 reps
Week 3: Add 5-10 lbs OR 1-2 reps again
Week 4: Test max performance
Week 5: Deload (reduce weight 20%, focus on form)

Example progression:
Week 1: Goblet squat 25 lbs × 12 reps
Week 2: Goblet squat 30 lbs × 12 reps
Week 3: Goblet squat 35 lbs × 12 reps
Week 4: Goblet squat 40 lbs × 12 reps

Client sees progress. You didn't rewrite anything.

Template Modifications for Special Cases

Client Has Knee Pain

Swap: Squats → Leg Press or Step-Ups
Swap: Lunges → Split Squats (less range of motion)

Client Has Shoulder Issues

Swap: Overhead Press → Landmine Press
Swap: Bench Press → Floor Press or Pushups

Client Trains at Home (No Equipment)

Swap: All DB/barbell exercises → Bodyweight variations
Goblet Squat → Bulgarian Split Squat
DB Bench → Pushups
DB Row → Inverted Row (table)

How to Track 20 Clients Efficiently

Use Google Sheets or Excel:

Sheet 1: Client Database
Columns: Name | Template | Phase | Start Date | Progress Notes

Sheet 3: Progress Photos
Links to Google Drive folders with client photos every 4 weeks

Time investment: 5 min per client per session to log lifts

The Template Library

What you need to build (one-time):

Fat Loss Template: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced (3 total)
Muscle Building Template: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced (3 total)
General Fitness Template: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced (3 total)

Total: 9 templates

Time to build: 10-15 hours one time
Time saved annually: 500+ hours
ROI: Infinite

When to Actually Customize

You DO need custom work for:

Athletes with sport-specific needs
Clients with multiple injuries requiring significant modifications
Advanced clients (5+ years training) who need periodization

Everyone else? Templates work perfectly.

The Results Speak

My data over 13 years:

Clients on templates: 92% retention, average 12 lbs fat loss in 12 weeks
Clients on "custom" programs (early years): 85% retention, average 10 lbs fat loss in 12 weeks

Templates deliver BETTER results because they're proven, refined, and consistently executed.

The Bottom Line

Stop reinventing the wheel for every client.

Build 9 templates once. Use them forever.

Customize only what's necessary (injuries, equipment limitations).

Result: Save 10+ hours/week, train more clients, deliver better results.

Want My Exact Templates?

I'll give you all 9 templates, progression systems, and tracking sheets. Everything you need to scale your programming.

Get The Complete System

← Back to Blog