What If Your Teen Doesn’t Need a Drill Sergeant?

When it comes to behavior change, wether youre adult or teenager, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

Some people respond well to the intense, “bootcamp” style. You suck it up, push through the discomfort, and eventually develop the grit to do hard things. With enough motivation and discipline, it becomes routine. That approach absolutely works… for some.

Then there’s another approach. It’s slower. Gentler. You ease into things. You do what feels realistic instead of trying to overhaul your whole life at once. It’s not built on motivation or willpower—it’s built on consistency and sustainability. And guess what? That approach works too.

As a personal trainer who’s worked with thousands of adults over the past 15 years, I’ve seen people succeed with both extremes. I’ve also seen people fail with both when the method didn’t match their needs.

And here’s what I know for sure:
Most people—especially adults—have lost the ability (or never developed the skill) to do things that feel uncomfortable or new. They mistake the feeling of overwhelm as a sign they “can’t.” 

But that’s just not true. That feeling? That’s what learning feels like.

It’s the same feeling they had when they learned to ride a bike, drive a car, or how to add and subtract for the first time. The skill that once felt impossible, eventually became possible. 

We forget how many hard things we’ve already mastered.

And now… we’re seeing the same struggle in teenagers. But it’s worse. Much much worse. Technology changed the game and have created a virtual world people can escape to, in order to avoid doing hard things.

We have more teens addicted to video games, completely sedentary, staying indoors, lacking confidence, and unmotivated to do much of anything. It’s frustrating—and scary—to witness.

But instead of blaming the kids, let’s equip them with better skills because society have set them up for failure. 

Just like adults who let their health decline, these kids need the same two options:

• Go all-in with a hard reset
• Or ease into it without coddling

We believe in the second one.

That’s why this summer, we’re launching a 6-week strength + movement program for teenage boys (ages 16–19).

🗓 Starts June 10th
🕧 Tuesdays at 12:30pm
📍Enhancing Life Personal Training
👥 Small group (8–10 max)

This is for kids who:

• Don’t play sports
• Aren’t physically active
• Spend most of their time on screens
• Lack motivation or confidence
• Have parents worried about their mental and physical health

Here’s what makes this different:

• It’s gradual. We don’t throw them into something painful. The intensity slowly ramps up over the 6 weeks so they build the skill of doing hard things safely and confidently. 
• It’s in a group. There will be 8–10 other kids just like your son. This matters. Group environments create belonging, peer support, and reduce the “I’m the only one like this” mindset that makes teens feel stuck. That’s why group therapy works so well—especially for adolescents.
• It’s not led by a drill sergeant. We’re not here to shame them or yell at them. We’re here to validate their experience, meet them where they’re at, and guide them toward healthier habits—mentally and physically.
• They’ll have a positive role model. Someone they can relate to. Not mom, not dad, not grandma. Someone who’s old enough to lead but young enough to be respected.
• It’s bigger than just exercise. We’ll talk about mental health, long-term thinking, lifestyle habits, and how movement can genuinely change the way you feel and show up in the world.

If it works—and we think it will—we’ll offer few weeks of sessions to finish out the summer strong.

By the end of the 6 weeks, they’ll:

• Have more energy
• Feel more confident
• Experience less discomfort or pain
• Make new friends
• See the impact of small, consistent effort
• Start believing in themselves again

This program will give them more than just exercise.
It gives them a supportive community. A place to start slow. A chance to succeed. And most importantly—someone rooting for them who isn’t their parent.

If you’re a parent worried about your son, this is worth trying. There’s no risk. It’s affordable. It’s not a huge time commitment. And it’s led by a team who’s been helping people make sustainable changes for 15 years. We specialize in working with groups and creating environments that are safe, encouraging, and effective.

So let us help your kid—by helping them help themselves.

You’ve got nothing to lose. But they’ve got so much to gain.

📅 Ready to Take Action?

We’re here to help.

📅 Book a Free Consultation at Enhancing Life Personal Training and start moving forward—without needing all the answers first.

Text “FREE KID CONSULT” to 859-251-2707 and we’ll chat on a phone and book a free consultation before agreeing to buy anything!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What if we’re out of town and can’t make all the sessions?
   No problem. For any session your teen misses, they can make it up using our regular semi-private training sessions, which run 42 times a week. We’ll help you schedule a convenient time so they stay on track.
2. How do I describe this to my teenage son?
   Keep it simple. You don’t need to mention mindset, habits, or long-term thinking (we’ll take care of that part). Just say:
   “It’s a class that teaches you how to be a little more physically active in a low-key, small group.”
   That’s it. Once they show up, our job is to earn their trust and get them curious about growth.
3. What if my teenager doesn’t want to do this?
   That’s actually… pretty normal.
   We’ve had adult clients who’ve now been with us 5–7+ years, and the only reason they came in the door was because their spouse made them.
   Most people don’t wake up excited to do hard things.
   That’s exactly why we made this once-a-week and low-pressure—to help ease these kids into a routine that actually feels good.
4. What’s the price?
   The full 6-week program is $300.
   Payment plans are available—just ask!
5. Why is group training so valuable for teens?
   Even though we love one-on-one coaching, there’s something powerful about being in a group—especially for teens.
   In group settings, kids realize:
   “Wait… I’m not the only one who struggles with this.”
   That kind of shared experience builds connection, confidence, and accountability.
   It’s worked for our adult groups, coworkers, and peer-based programs for years—and it’s even more important today in such an isolated world.
6. What if this works—can we keep it going?
   That’s the goal. If we get 10 boys to show up consistently, and it’s as impactful as we know it can be, we’ll create a follow-up program for the school year.
   After-school sessions, continued group support, and an ongoing way to help these boys stay active, build confidence, and create long-term healthy habits.