As a longtime fan of Gokuflex (Matt Kido), a renowned fitness YouTuber and bodybuilder, I recently took a significant step towards achieving my fitness goals by investing in his coaching program. Having spent a decade trying to navigate the world of fitness on my own with mixed results, this was a dream come true and a much-anticipated item to check off my bucket list. While I can’t provide any dramatic before-and-after photos just yet (give me a few months), I want to share my honest and concise review of the program so far.
The Excitement and Anticipation:
When I signed up for Gokuflex’s coaching program, I was filled with excitement and anticipation. I had followed his fitness journey for years, and his incredible physique and transformation stories had inspired me. Finally getting a chance to work with him directly felt like a dream come true.
Mixed Feelings about Limited Access:
At the beginning of the coaching program, communication seemed decent. I had what they called “full access” to the coach through text messages. I had so questions and wanted to make the most of this opportunity.
During the first two weeks, I made the most of this access, messaging Gokuflex once a day or every other day with just a quick question about nutrition, form, and conflicting advice I found online. His responses were relatively prompt, but I noticed they were very short and less helpful over time. It seemed like he was skimming questions, occasionally missing a question, or giving quick replies only. It was usually something like “that’s fine.” “no” “not my area of expertise” “just stick with it.”
The Disappointing Shift in Communication:
To my dismay, after the second week, I received a message that caught me off guard. Gokuflex asked me to limit our text message exchanges to only once a week during the scheduled check-in. I was taken aback because the “full access” I was promised seemed to be dwindling away.
It felt like Gokuflex was packing in as many clients as possible without genuinely engaging with any of us. This lack of care and attention left me feeling undervalued. It seemed like he was interested in scaling his services as much as possible rather than offering meaningful care, interaction, or community.
Frustration Over Lack of Interaction:
I mustered up the courage to discuss my concerns with Gokuflex. I raised the issue of limited access, hoping for an understanding response. However, his reply pointed out that he had mentioned the limited interaction briefly in an email before I signed up. I must admit, I had missed that detail, but I still felt let down by the reality of the situation.
The Cons:
1. Limited Access and Interaction: Despite paying a considerable amount for the program, I was disappointed to find that the access to Gokuflex was restricted. Communication was limited to vert short text message responses, and the once-a-week check-in felt insufficient, especially for someone who admires the coach and sought personalized guidance. I don’t know if he realizes we are looking for and paying for the celebrity access, not just coaching. And that’s just not part of any available package or option. You only get this limited text message access.
2. Lack of Credibility Verification: One concerning aspect of the coaching experience was the inability to verify Gokuflex’s involvement personally. He declined requests for voice memos or video interactions, which left me feeling uncertain about the authenticity.
3. Standard Workout & Nutrition – No Secret Sauce or Anything Special: The workout plan provided was not unique or original, it’s solid yet similar routines could be found elsewhere online easily. And arguably, you could calculate your macros on your own without having him come in every week to give you them or adjust. So, then, what are you paying for? The verification that this is all you need to achieve your fitness goals? The custom interaction and tips straight from the man? Oh, but wait. I mentioned earlier that this access is limited. There’s nothing that special to the program that you couldn’t get from a lesser-known coach; he’s able to charge more because of his social media marketing. You could probably get more interaction and support than he’s offering from another coach for less money. With all that being said, it’s working. I can see my body change for the better every week. And I think it’s because I found some mistakes I was making and the money invested made me very accountable to just doing everything I was told or was previously skipping. More on that in the Pros section…
4. It’s Tough. And Not Much Support to Help With That: Bulk meal prepping, finding out what to eat, sticking to a 5-day gym routine, avoiding a bunch of foods I typically eat – all of that is fairly new to me. It was (and is) tough to stick with that. I am proud to say that I get it done every day, and I have almost never missed hitting my protein and fat goals every day. I take it one day at a time. With all the difficulty, I was hoping for more support from him. Here’s an example of what I got. I asked him via text about how I’m struggling come up with ideas for foods that hit my macros and if he could review what I’ve logged for MyFitnessPal and/or give me some ideas for what he does. His response was just “Check TikTok or YouTube for ideas.” I brought it up later that I tried, but it was hard to find good ones. He told me to check again. I ended up more or less figuring it all out on what seems like mostly my own. I mean if the response if often just check free YouTube content, then, what’s the difference from doing it myself?
The Pros:
Despite all the drawbacks, it was worth it for me because I realized I was making two huge mistakes on my own, and I’ll be much better off afterwards. I wouldn’t recommend you taking this program, and I wouldn’t purchase again because of the cons mentioned. You can probably get the same or better for cheaper. I still think a real, interactive coach is the way to go over ebooks and YouTube videos (what I used to do). Just not Gokuflex / Matt Kido. That said, here are the big mistakes I learned:
1. Accountability and Macro Tracking: One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the importance of tracking and hitting my macros consistently. Before, I was somewhat lax with my nutrition, often indulging in junk food with a focus solely on protein intake on workout days. I wasn’t giving this the importance it needed. Gokuflex’s coaching made me realize the significance of tracking and diligently hitting all my macros every day, promoting a balanced and sustainable approach to nutrition. It sounds obvious but I didn’t weigh the importance of this enough. I thought I was eating enough but I was probably averaging 100 to 110 grams of protein on a good day when I should be hitting 160 grams a day. I was relying on my high metabolism and was eating way too much fat as well. It’s not easy for me to get those last 40 grams of protein in every day. I get it done though.
2. Workout & Nutrition Commitment: The coaching program has instilled in me a sense of discipline and commitment to my workouts. Perhaps, it’s because I invested all this money. Previously, I would often skip leg days or not push myself as hard as I should. Now, I diligently follow the provided workout and nutrition plan, hitting the gym five days a week and giving my all during each exercise.
Conclusion:
While the accountability aspect was valuable, I had hoped for a more tailored and personalized approach to my fitness journey.
While my experience with Gokuflex’s coaching had both its highs and lows, I am grateful for the lessons I have learned and the accountability it provided. However, considering the limitations in interaction and credibility verification, I would not recommend this program to others seeking a more interactive and hands-on coaching experience.
The investment, though not financially devastating, was significant ($600 to $800 at the time), and I believe there are other coaches out there who can offer more accessibility and personalized guidance for a similar price. I used to pay around $165 a month for CrossFit, so it’s not the end of the world. For now, I will take the valuable lessons I’ve learned and apply them to my fitness journey. Instead of hopping from one coach to another, I’ll use my newfound knowledge and continue making progress. I think I learned enough for now that I don’t need another coach for a while.
In the future, if I do decide to invest in coaching again, I will be more discerning in choosing a credible and interactive coach who can provide the support and guidance I need to reach my fitness goals. He was credible from his physique and testimonials; the interaction was lacking. Ultimately, the first month of coaching with Gokuflex was a step towards growth, but I’ll keep my eyes open for a more suitable fit in the distant future.
