About AFT Fitness Coaching
AFT Fitness Coaching began in a single health club and expanded over the next 15 years to more than 200 locations across the United States. As the business grew, Arcos was developed as our internal programming system to help deliver consistently high-quality programming at scale.
Over time, our coaching expanded beyond health clubs into remote coaching. Today, we also share what we've learned through evidence-based articles and tools, so anyone can apply the principles behind our programming.
Why Arcos Exists
There has never been more fitness information available than there is today.
Workouts, videos, articles, podcasts, templates, and opinions are everywhere. For many experienced trainees, the challenge is no longer finding information — it's knowing what matters and applying it consistently over time.
Arcos was built to filter through the noise, organize the fundamentals into one training system, and make it easier to focus on the work instead of constantly questioning the plan.
Built From Coaching Experience and System Development
The foundation of what eventually became Arcos began in 2005 as the internal training system behind our coaching business. Over the next two decades, it evolved through coaching experience, client feedback, and steady refinement into the training platform we use today.
Over the years, our coaching team has included backgrounds in powerlifting, bodybuilding, track and field, Olympic weightlifting, college and professional sports, physical therapy, and exercise science. Each discipline brought a different perspective, helping challenge assumptions, refine ideas, and strengthen the programming over time.
At one point, our coaching operations spanned more than 200 health clubs across the country. Maintaining programming quality at that scale required systems, not just good coaches. Every program was reviewed by a Director of Programming, coaches took part in required continuing education, and client feedback was regularly used to improve the programming. Those same principles still guide the way Arcos evolves today.
A System Built on Structure, Not Guesswork
Arcos is not a random workout plan.
It is a structured training system built around progression, recovery, accountability, and long-term implementation.
The purpose of the system is to give effort a clear direction, make training decisions more objective, and help you stay consistent long enough for the plan to work.
Structure
Training should have a plan, a purpose, and a path forward.
Accountability
Following a structured plan and tracking your progress keeps execution honest, even when motivation comes and goes.
Progression
The plan should evolve as your performance, recovery, and goals evolve.