Any personal trainers out there? Other opinions welcome! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

cadre · 05-20-2009, 10:27 PM

I'm looking at part time jobs to help me pay the bills and I've been thinking about getting certified to be a personal trainer.

A little background on me, I've always been a gym goer but I am by no means a "gym rat." I'm fit but not bulky and I'm at 17% body fat now. I plan to be at 15% by the end of the summer. I also have experience dealing with injuries and am currently taking a bio course on human movement. I've also taken courses in nutrition (actually thought about switching careers for a while). I have a lot of the basic knowledge a trainer needs. I know I need more knowledge and am happy to do more reading and all of that in order to get it while I get certified.

My main concern is, since I am not bulky or especially skinny, will I have trouble attracting clients? I know that male clients tend to prefer muscular men as trainers but what do females prefer?

What certifications should I stay away from? I know that there are a lot of certs out there and that different companies prefer different ones but are there any that are just not worth the trouble? Any that are generally considered the best? (if this works out I'll probably get more certifications over time).

Am I correct in assuming that work would be more stable with a commercial gym than a small gym or working on my own? I realize that commercial gyms tend to pay less but I already have one unstable job and I don't need a second.

I'm happy to get opinions on this from both trainers and non trainers by the way. Thanks!

Plan9 · 05-20-2009, 10:38 PM

Body fat at 17% is trivia. How much muscle do you have? Everybody is so obsessed with cutting fat regardless of actual fitness level.

I guess my point is that attitude is everything. Your expertise will show through regardless of what you look like on the first glance.

My karate instructor is a 7th degree black belt and a world champion fighter with over two dozen years of experience. To most? He's just some dumpy Asian guy with a raggedy beard. One on one? He'll wow you with his charisma, knowledge, and the ability to kick a 220 pound man across a room.

We are what we do. I think you'll sell yourself in what you say and do, not necessarily how you look (although not looking like a couch commando helps).

...

I'd imagine a commercial gym will allow regular clients, predictable hours, and you'll essentially clock in and out via appointments set up by mouth, text message, or email. Such has been my experience as a guy who goes to gyms once in a while. You'll probably acquire a few devoted "regulars."

cadre · 05-21-2009, 11:53 AM

Cromp, while I agree with you that attitude counts for a lot I would also say that I don't know if you example fits in this situation. Your karate clearly knows karate and that's what he's teaching, I would be teaching how to lose weight/build muscle/live healthy so wouldn't it be kind of important for my body to show that? Kind of a walk the walk thing?

And for what it's worth I'm 5'3" and I weigh 107#s. My avatar is a picture of me just for reference.

Baraka_Guru · 05-21-2009, 11:59 AM

I've had experiences with two trainers—one male, one female. By looking at them, you wouldn't know they were personal trainers. Neither of them had muscular definition. Both had roundish midsections (but nothing major). However: the male had previously weighed 50 lbs. more than he did and the female was a competitive cyclist, swimmer, and runner.

The bottom line is: both of them had professional designations for personal training and they knew their shit.

If you want to be a trainer, don't worry about how you look. A client will know after a workout or two just how effective you are. Be more concerned about your training knowledge, being able to customize to your clients' goals, and learn to build an excellent rapport. Clients that concerned about looks are not the kind of clients you want anyway. You want clients who respond to instructions, corrections, and motivational cues. You want clients who want to work hard to achieve their goals.

Both of those trainers kicked my ass on the floor.

Quote:

And for what it's worth I'm 5'3" and I weigh 107#s. My avatar is a picture of me just for reference.

I've seen several trainers with that kind of build. (The females anyway, of which there are many.)

kramus · 05-21-2009, 12:14 PM

I have had limited experience with personal trainers, but do know that what turns me off is poor focus/attention, inability to remember appointments, poor spelling when writing out diet and exercise regimens/goals, not learning enough about the client to know what sort of encouragement works/doesn't work, and being the obvious goal of a sales pitch.

I appreciate good knowledge of diet as fuel, and the ability to teach me how to think of food. I want to know about what types of exercise hurt me and why, what is good for various injuries and what is bad. I want to learn about how my body works and responds to various exercises and pieces of equipment so I can better understand what I am doing and how I am supposed to be approaching the various exercises.

I have seen some pretty hefty female trainers, and I think the hefty ones get more work than the scrawny failure-to-thrive ones. A clear ability to communicate and the skill of making the client feel like they are getting their money's worth will go a long way.

You would possibly get some clients just because you look healthy and hot. You will keep clients and get referrals because you know your job and you do it well.

my .02

cadre · 05-21-2009, 10:43 PM

Hmm, good insight. Thanks everyone!

Plan9 · 05-21-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadre

...so wouldn't it be kind of important for my body to show that? Kind of a walk the walk thing?

As others have revealed in this thread: No.

Make sure you wear a shirt and a belt, though.

ratbastid · 05-22-2009, 04:42 AM

The best trainer I know is NOT a bulky gym-rat of a guy. He's fit, but not ostentatiously so, and he doesn't show off his physique. What I love about him is, he's a fitness geek--he's all about the science of it, anatomy, biochemistry, etc. So, he'll stand there and count while you grunt, but he'll also tell you precisely the mechanism different foods perform in your body, in countless subtle ways.

genuinegirly · 05-22-2009, 04:54 AM

Your avatar is you?
You definitely look like a personal trainer I would want to work with. You're not sickly thin, you're a healthy weight. You obviously care about health. Yet you wouldn't be intimidating.

Go for it.

vinceco252 · 05-22-2009, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

The best trainer I know is NOT a bulky gym-rat of a guy. He's fit, but not ostentatiously so, and he doesn't show off his physique. What I love about him is, he's a fitness geek--he's all about the science of it, anatomy, biochemistry, etc. So, he'll stand there and count while you grunt, but he'll also tell you precisely the mechanism different foods perform in your body, in countless subtle ways.

I have a female trainer that's the same way. She's in good shape, but she's not bulky or anything. She's functioning as my nutritionist as well, understands the motivational aspects (per session; she can read my mood and adjust accordingly), and is consistently, consistently, consistently harping on form and injury prevention. Would much rather work with someone like her than someone who looks like they're on roids. BTW, I'm a 6'1", 295 lb (started at 340) guy and she has no problem making me do what I need to do.

---------- Post added at 07:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:58 AM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by genuinegirly

Your avatar is you?
You definitely look like a personal trainer I would want to work with. You're not sickly thin, you're a healthy weight. You obviously care about health. Yet you wouldn't be intimidating.

Go for it.

You may find some male clients that want to work with you for, ummm, other reasons. Very alluring picture.

highthief · 05-22-2009, 09:00 AM

Cadre, the best personal trainer I know has a similar build to you. She works with the local pro football team here (the Toronto Argonauts). Physique has zero to do with it - your knowledge and more importantly how you convey that knowledge to others and how you relate to them are the most critical elements.

Personal trainers who obsess over their own body image tend - in my experience - to be LESS understanding of their clients needs and are overly focused on their own workouts.

You look great, BTW.

cadre · 05-22-2009, 05:55 PM

Great insights everyone. I really appreciate your opinions because it helps so much to have a different point of view. Thank you!

I'm going to get started getting my CPR and AED certs when I get back from my current trip and after that I just have to figure out which trainer certification I should get out of the many that I've seen thus far.

05-20-2009, 10:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
cadre The Worst Influence Location: Arizona	Any personal trainers out there? Other opinions welcome! I'm looking at part time jobs to help me pay the bills and I've been thinking about getting certified to be a personal trainer. A little background on me, I've always been a gym goer but I am by no means a "gym rat." I'm fit but not bulky and I'm at 17% body fat now. I plan to be at 15% by the end of the summer. I also have experience dealing with injuries and am currently taking a bio course on human movement. I've also taken courses in nutrition (actually thought about switching careers for a while). I have a lot of the basic knowledge a trainer needs. I know I need more knowledge and am happy to do more reading and all of that in order to get it while I get certified. My main concern is, since I am not bulky or especially skinny, will I have trouble attracting clients? I know that male clients tend to prefer muscular men as trainers but what do females prefer? What certifications should I stay away from? I know that there are a lot of certs out there and that different companies prefer different ones but are there any that are just not worth the trouble? Any that are generally considered the best? (if this works out I'll probably get more certifications over time). Am I correct in assuming that work would be more stable with a commercial gym than a small gym or working on my own? I realize that commercial gyms tend to pay less but I already have one unstable job and I don't need a second. I'm happy to get opinions on this from both trainers and non trainers by the way. Thanks! __________________ My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

05-20-2009, 10:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Body fat at 17% is trivia. How much muscle do you have? Everybody is so obsessed with cutting fat regardless of actual fitness level. I guess my point is that attitude is everything. Your expertise will show through regardless of what you look like on the first glance. My karate instructor is a 7th degree black belt and a world champion fighter with over two dozen years of experience. To most? He's just some dumpy Asian guy with a raggedy beard. One on one? He'll wow you with his charisma, knowledge, and the ability to kick a 220 pound man across a room. We are what we do. I think you'll sell yourself in what you say and do, not necessarily how you look (although not looking like a couch commando helps). ... I'd imagine a commercial gym will allow regular clients, predictable hours, and you'll essentially clock in and out via appointments set up by mouth, text message, or email. Such has been my experience as a guy who goes to gyms once in a while. You'll probably acquire a few devoted "regulars." __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake." Last edited by Plan9; 05-20-2009 at 10:41 PM..

05-21-2009, 11:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
cadre The Worst Influence Location: Arizona	Cromp, while I agree with you that attitude counts for a lot I would also say that I don't know if you example fits in this situation. Your karate clearly knows karate and that's what he's teaching, I would be teaching how to lose weight/build muscle/live healthy so wouldn't it be kind of important for my body to show that? Kind of a walk the walk thing? And for what it's worth I'm 5'3" and I weigh 107#s. My avatar is a picture of me just for reference. __________________ My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes. Last edited by cadre; 05-21-2009 at 11:56 AM..

05-21-2009, 12:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
kramus loving the curves Location: my Lady's manor	I have had limited experience with personal trainers, but do know that what turns me off is poor focus/attention, inability to remember appointments, poor spelling when writing out diet and exercise regimens/goals, not learning enough about the client to know what sort of encouragement works/doesn't work, and being the obvious goal of a sales pitch. I appreciate good knowledge of diet as fuel, and the ability to teach me how to think of food. I want to know about what types of exercise hurt me and why, what is good for various injuries and what is bad. I want to learn about how my body works and responds to various exercises and pieces of equipment so I can better understand what I am doing and how I am supposed to be approaching the various exercises. I have seen some pretty hefty female trainers, and I think the hefty ones get more work than the scrawny failure-to-thrive ones. A clear ability to communicate and the skill of making the client feel like they are getting their money's worth will go a long way. You would possibly get some clients just because you look healthy and hot. You will keep clients and get referrals because you know your job and you do it well. my .02 __________________ And now to disengage the clutch of the forebrain ... I'm going with this - if you like artwork visit http://markfineart.ca

05-21-2009, 10:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
cadre The Worst Influence Location: Arizona	Hmm, good insight. Thanks everyone! __________________ My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

05-22-2009, 04:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	The best trainer I know is NOT a bulky gym-rat of a guy. He's fit, but not ostentatiously so, and he doesn't show off his physique. What I love about him is, he's a fitness geek--he's all about the science of it, anatomy, biochemistry, etc. So, he'll stand there and count while you grunt, but he'll also tell you precisely the mechanism different foods perform in your body, in countless subtle ways.

05-22-2009, 04:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Your avatar is you? You definitely look like a personal trainer I would want to work with. You're not sickly thin, you're a healthy weight. You obviously care about health. Yet you wouldn't be intimidating. Go for it. __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

05-22-2009, 09:00 AM	#11 (permalink)
highthief Junkie Location: Ontario, Canada	Cadre, the best personal trainer I know has a similar build to you. She works with the local pro football team here (the Toronto Argonauts). Physique has zero to do with it - your knowledge and more importantly how you convey that knowledge to others and how you relate to them are the most critical elements. Personal trainers who obsess over their own body image tend - in my experience - to be LESS understanding of their clients needs and are overly focused on their own workouts. You look great, BTW. __________________ Si vis pacem parabellum.

05-22-2009, 05:55 PM	#12 (permalink)
cadre The Worst Influence Location: Arizona	Great insights everyone. I really appreciate your opinions because it helps so much to have a different point of view. Thank you! I'm going to get started getting my CPR and AED certs when I get back from my current trip and after that I just have to figure out which trainer certification I should get out of the many that I've seen thus far. __________________ My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.