Why I ask About Favorite (and Least Favorite) Movements During Onboarding

A key question I ask new clients during our onboarding call is:

“What are your favorite accessory movements?”

Right away, most people light up. They’ll list a few exercises they enjoy and things that feel good, make them feel strong, or give them a sick pump bro. Then I follow it up with:

“What movements do you dislike?”

Almost every time, the answer is the same:
“As long as it works, I’ll do it.”

That sounds like the right attitude on the surface… Dedicated. Willing to grind. Down for whatever gets results.

But the reality is, if I give you a movement you hate, you're not going to tackle it with the same effort as something you enjoy. You’ll go through the motions, maybe, but the intensity and intent won’t be there.

On the other hand, if I give you a movement that’s maybe not the “perfect” fit biomechanically or from a programming theory standpoint, but it’s something you actually like, you're going to bring real energy and effort to it. You’ll push harder. You’ll be consistent. And you’ll grow.

That’s the trade off I think about as a coach…

✖ Programming the “textbook best” movement

✅ Or choosing the movement you’ll actually go hard on every week

When I explain that to clients, suddenly the list of exercises they don’t like gets a lot longer. And that’s great because now I can make more informed decisions. I might still include some of those “less enjoyable” movements here and there because sometimes we do need to attack weak points or build discipline but I want training to be something you look forward to, not dread.

If you hate your program, you’re probably not going to stick to it, or give it your full effort. Enjoyment matters, psychology matters, and feeling empowered in your training matters.

That’s why I ask. Not just to customize your plan, but to make sure you stay consistent, stay motivated, and keep progressing because the best program on paper is useless if you can’t bring yourself to do it with intent.

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