Testimonials

What were you struggling with or hoping to accomplish before starting online coaching?

I started with in-person training (with Coach Cayden), and wanted to keep the momentum going by moving to online coaching. While I struggle with weight, my main hope/focus is to be physically healthy as I age. This means investing in myself to ensure I engage in functional strength training in a healthy, age-appropriate way.

What made you decide to work with me rather than try to reach your goals on your own?

I know that I do best when I am accountable to someone else in addition to myself. I am motivated to go to the gym and engage in strength training, but it is still easy to skip a day and tell myself I'll make it up later, or I don't feel up to it today. Having Coach Cayden put together a plan for me gives me an additional accountability partner; I feel a sense of responsibility to carry out the plan and report my activities. It was also important to me to have a professional who plans a balanced set of activities based on science and who is there when I need form checks and advice.

What has changed since you started coaching with me?

I feel much more confident in the gym. I know what I want to accomplish and how I will proceed with my workout each day, which gives me a sense of confidence and purpose.

What specific results or accomplishments are you most proud of since starting?

I am proud of the progression I've made in terms of exercises I can do and the weight that I can move. I'm proud that I can walk into the gym and work with a variety of machines and free weights. It's a really good feeling to know that I'm doing something that is good for me and that each time I do it, I get better at it, and Coach Cayden makes sure I do it right and get better and better at it.

What has been the most valuable part of the coaching experience for you?

The most valuable part is having a coach who knows the research and the science and puts together a well-rounded plan that is right for you. Coach Cayden understands my goals, strengths, and limitations, and puts together a plan that makes sense for me. It is also really important for me to have the check-in, where I can ask questions and better understand what's next in the plan.

How would you describe my coaching style and the way I work with you?

Coach Cayden is an educator at heart; he also ensures you understand why you are doing what you are doing. He also is a good listener, and wants your input in terms of goals, what you like/dislike, etc. He motivates through support and encouragement; I've never once felt judged or felt like I disappointed him, but rather always feel like he has my best interests at heart and really wants me to succeed, even if it takes me a while to get there. I also appreciate that Coach Cayden is focused on the whole person, and not just the strength training aspect - he considers nutrition, hydration, sleep and recovery, and mental wellness as part of the coaching experience. Finally, I appreciate that Coach Cayden has a sense of humor - he takes training/coaching seriously, but also makes sure it is enjoyable as well.

Who do you think would benefit most from Iron Strong Training and why?

On the one hand, I am certain that Coach Cayden is great with athletes who are looking to hone their performance, given his own experience in sports and his ability to connect with athletes - they will certainly benefit from working with Coach Cayden/Iron Strong Training. On the other hand, from my own experience, I know that Coach Cayden works well with individuals of all ages who are just starting their strength training/health journey. Working with Coach Cayden has built my confidence, ability, and strength, and has contributed to my overall health, and if he can do that for me (older, non-athlete, no gym experience), he can do it for anyone!

If someone was considering working with me but wasn't sure, what would you tell them?

I'd tell them to go for it! If you are ready to start this journey and want an educated, supportive, positive coach who cares about your goals and wants to see you succeed, Coach Cayden is a terrific resource and I highly recommend him. I've been working with him for four years (including a start with in-person), and now my 30-year old kid has been working with him for over a year. I couldn't be happier with my experience, and look forward to continuing to train with Coach Cayden.

What were you struggling with or hoping to accomplish before starting online coaching?

I was looking for a coach who could help me come up with workout plans and help me figure out how to meet my wellness goals. I wanted to get stronger and feel more self-confident, and Cayden is great about incorporating my aims and feedback into his workout plans for me.

What made you decide to work with me rather than try to reach your goals on your own?

I don't know anything about the science of exercise or how to best go about my goals, so I decided to work with Cayden because I know that he is very knowledgeable and is great at putting together customized plans. I wanted to work with someone who would be able to adjust things as needed for me and who would be responsive to and supportive of what I want, and Cayden was that for me.

What has changed since you started coaching with me?

I feel more confident in not only my own strength/fitness, but also in being able to recognize what my body needs in terms of exertion and rest. I feel more balanced. I also feel like I am really making the most of my workout time.

What specific results or accomplishments are you most proud of since starting?

I'm proud of greatly increasing my push-up count. I'm also proud of building muscle mass in my upper arms. With the way Cayden does weekly progressions, it's amazing to be able to see the increased expectations and how well I'm able to meet them each time something (reps, weight, time) goes up.

What has been the most valuable part of the coaching experience for you?

I really appreciate how responsive Cayden is. He is great about giving detailed form checks when requested and is also great about switching out exercises that aren't working for me for whatever reason. I get the feeling that Cayden really cares about how I feel toward the program, and he does so much to make sure that I'm enjoying myself and making the most of it.

How would you describe my coaching style and the way I work with you?

Cayden is really friendly and has a great way of explaining things. He's really interested in the scientific aspects of exercise and why/how we move the way we do, and I find it really enjoyable to learn about that from him.

Who do you think would benefit most from Iron Strong Training and why?

I think anyone could benefit from Iron Strong Training. Cayden is really personable and not at all intimidating, and he's also able to work with people at any spot in their exercise journey. I think both beginners and more advanced people could learn a lot from his scientific knowledge, and that anyone would benefit from his flexible coaching style.

If someone was considering working with me but wasn't sure, what would you tell them?

Cayden is a fantastic person and a great coach! He will work with you to make sure you get what you want out of your training and won't stop until you're satisfied!

What were you struggling with or hoping to accomplish before starting online coaching?

I was always a little lazy when it came to working out, and it was hard for me to stay consistent. Sometimes I think it's because we simply don't know what to do, and sometimes we just need someone to keep us accountable and push us a little. Before working out with Cayden, I was worried that I wouldn't have the motivation to keep going. But with his online coaching and guidance, it became much easier for me to stay consistent and actually make working out part of my routine.

What made you decide to work with me rather than try to reach your goals on your own?

I had tried using fitness apps and other online workout programs before, but they were usually designed around specific equipment or focused heavily on either the upper body or lower body. Most of the time, I can only access the gym in my apartment, so I have fewer machines and equipment available. Cayden is able to customize my workouts based on what I actually have access to and what I want to achieve. I also had some shoulder issues in the past. Instead of simply telling me to keep working out, Cayden adjusted my exercises based on my specific situation and helped me work around the issue safely. Another thing I didn't understand before working with him was how to properly increase weights, manage sets, and track my progress. Cayden helped me understand the logic behind the programming instead of just giving me a list of exercises.

What has changed since you started coaching with me?

Normally, after work I would just become a lazy potato and want to do nothing. But since I started working out with Cayden, I actually go to the gym after work, and I feel more refreshed afterward.

What specific results or accomplishments are you most proud of since starting?

I can now do full push-ups consistently, including sets of 25, which was something I couldn't do before. I'm also starting to see more muscle definition instead of just body fat, so it feels really rewarding to actually see the physical changes from the work I've been putting in.

What has been the most valuable part of the coaching experience for you?

The customization has probably been the most valuable part for me. My schedule, available equipment, and sometimes even my physical condition can change, so having a workout plan that can adapt to my actual situation is extremely helpful. Instead of trying to force myself into a standard workout program, Cayden's training plans are built around what I have and what I need. That makes the workouts much more realistic and sustainable for me.

How would you describe my coaching style and the way I work with you?

I would describe Cayden's coaching style as accurate, thorough, and very thoughtful. Before I started training seriously, I had a lot of misconceptions about exercises, muscles, and how to actually achieve results. Cayden doesn't just tell me what exercise to do—he explains why I'm doing it and how I should do it properly. For someone who is new to fitness, I think that understanding is one of the most important parts of getting started. Everyone's body is different, and sometimes we naturally compensate with other parts of our body when doing certain movements. Cayden pays attention to these details and adjusts the exercises based on my individual situation. I also think he is a very smart coach. A lot of the exercises he chooses are multifunctional, so instead of spending a huge amount of time doing many different exercises, he can use a limited amount of time to achieve a more efficient workout while training multiple muscle groups.

Who do you think would benefit most from Iron Strong Training and why?

I think Iron Strong Training would be especially helpful for people who have some basic understanding of fitness but still don't really know where to start. There are so many different exercises, machines, and workout methods that it can be overwhelming to figure out what is actually right for you or how to use the equipment properly. Iron Strong Training can take those individual differences into consideration and create a workout plan that is actually tailored to the person, their goals, their equipment, and their current ability.

If someone was considering working with me but wasn't sure, what would you tell them?

If you feel like you don't really know where to start, or you want to make a change in your lifestyle and your body but don't know how to do it, I would say: why not give it a try? For me, working with Cayden gave me the opportunity to change not only the way I work out, but also the way I think about exercise and build my habits. You don't have to know everything before you start. Sometimes you just need the right person to guide you in the right direction.