average age of trainers?

[John Prophet]

wow..im looking at these threads and its all 19 yr olds posting. Whats up with that? Do trainers go bad after they turn a certain age??? thats news to me.

Do people not value life experience anymore?

[Richoss]

wow..im looking at these threads and its all 19 yr olds posting. Whats up with that? Do trainers go bad after they turn a certain age??? thats news to me.

Do people not value life experience anymore?

while i am apart of that young group, i think more young people are posting because we want to learn more about the profession and what not. and while the more experienced trainers such as yourself have already established yourself as a trainer. i value life experience a great deal, heck i have a million questions (yes hyperbole) to ask you, and im sure i would get great answers from you, than if i asked another 19yr old.

so i wouldnt worry about the age of posters, some of the more experienced trainers may not have found this section yet. but us youngins' are just out to learn about the profession. well thats my point of view anyway

[John Prophet]

yourself have already established yourself as a trainer.

I wish, lol. I got a pretty late start

[xJKAx]

I'm 21 years old and just getting into the profession. But this is something I plan to continue for years to come!

[JNo20]

I dropped out of college to be a full-time trainer at age 20. I'm currently 23, and back in school in order to LEAVE personal training.

[adoniscomplex]

wow..im looking at these threads and its all 19 yr olds posting. Whats up with that? Do trainers go bad after they turn a certain age??? thats news to me.

Do people not value life experience anymore?

its just a really hard line of work
high burn out rate

plus to be honest most people arnt willing to put in the marketing work to own their own business

imo when your a trainer you own your own business even if you work at a large gym as an employee , since you are responable for basically everything that needs to be done

think about the 95% failure rate of business in general

thats why
sde not my "boss" is a trains at the studio i am at he pulls in about 150k on training alone
plus money off the trainers who rent from him

[ThatArmyKid]

half of the guys posting here judging by their pics cant even train themselves

negg me if you want but its true

[abdomin]

I know the feeling. I got my ISSA-CFT when I was 22, and now i'm 26. I'm working on my SPN, waiting to get out of the Army to continue as a personal trainer. If i hadn't joined the army i could already be an established trainer. That's life though isn't it?

[John Prophet]

half of the guys posting here judging by their pics cant even train themselves

negg me if you want but its true

the flip side of that is that a 17 yo can look great no matter what, lol..he hasnt had time for his bad habits to catch up to him yet

[ThatArmyKid]

btw im not trying to be the smart ass kid who thinks he knows everything because im sure i can learn from alot of you guys


the flip side of that is that a 17 yo can look great no matter what, lol..he hasnt had time for his bad habits to catch up to him yet

i get what your saying

but i hardly have any bad habits(don't drink, smoke or do anything regular teens do...) besides a ton of stress that leads to sleeping problems nothing is holding me back in the gym

no bad habits are going to catch up to me because i do my best to stay away from anything that might hurt my training!

[jdmalm123]

wow..im looking at these threads and its all 19 yr olds posting. Whats up with that? Do trainers go bad after they turn a certain age??? thats news to me.

Do people not value life experience anymore?

I officially started 2 years ago at age 31.

There are good trainers on here (like SICSHIFT) that are ending their training careers at age 29...

[Tempest87]

Going to the army in august for a year, when I get back I plan on studying to become a PT as a side-job. So guess I'll be around 23-24 before I can start bragging about actually being a PT.

[vike272000]

I got my certification last year (27). I personally wouldn't depend on it as a main source of income, but it helps. Especially in this time of high gas prices.

[johnrich69]

I've been training since I was 22yrs. old.
I'll be 39 in July! Can be tough hours but I've always loved what I do.

[AussieMike]

Mate as someone said, it is easy to burn out when all you do is personal training, they key is to try and diversify the training here and there to refresh your mind, eg start a group session, help train elderly in retirement homes, volunteer to train kids/teenagers in youth clubs, etc. These may not be as monetary rewarding as 1 on 1 ( except group training - big $$$ ) but the satisfaction and the challenge will keep you motivated.

Lets be honest, as trainers we have more than enough time on our hands, and pull in more than enough money to give up and hour or two a week to help some of these groups out who need our services.
Also, there was a mention in other threads about donating sessions to charities to be auctioned off - this is one of the best ideas that i have heard and will definately be implementing it in the future.

A lot of older trainers that i consistently quiz all follow the same rule. They try to implement two sources of income:
1. They work for the money
2. They make the money work for them

The second point is the most prevelant of the two as it allows them to take a backseat a little. So, for example, getting some young PT's who are straight out of college and letting them train their clients and take a percentage. That way, they can focus just on the marketing side and let the money come in.

The investment can even be outside fitness, as long as the idea of money working for you is there. ie property

[josephinedalton]

wow..im looking at these threads and its all 19 yr olds posting. Whats up with that? Do trainers go bad after they turn a certain age??? thats news to me.

Do people not value life experience anymore?

Many states do not require trainers to be certified and there are dozens of companies online who will offer a "certification" for as little as $99 after you answer a dozen idiot-proof questions

I think training is popular with young people because physical activity, exercise, sports, etc. is more popular with younger people. And they see dollar signs around something they already enjoy doing. But then again; this is bodybuilding.com and I think the general population of its members are younger.

[skarotum]

33 and studying for my cert right now.

[gischer]

I'm one of those new, young trainers you were talking about. (20yrs old right now). I have been training for aproximatly 4 months now for a coorporate gym (24 hour fitness), and am loving it so far. It pays the bills, and them some, while I am studying nutrition through college. Really though, I love it when I see people physically changing. It's awesome to see your work paying off, and then to see your clients becoming as adamant about exercise as myself. The personal relationships you develope (on a friendly basis), are great as well.

I could deffinetly see how the burnout rate could be high. Even though the gym gives me some of my clients, it can still be tough to consistnetly pick up more over time. Also, you deffinetly end up working some quirky hours at first to really establish a full clientel. I suppose if you were doing this as a private practice, it would be a lot more stressful, and a lot more difficult (though potentially far more rewarding).

As much as I enjoy it, I don't really see myself doing it as a primary source of income for much longer than after I get my master's degree (I could see myself doing it for some extra spending cash on the side however, for a long time down the road).

[mavrick77]

half of the guys posting here judging by their pics cant even train themselves

negg me if you want but its true


HAHAHAHAHA thank god someone said it....in general most of the personal training profession is a joke. just because I can read a medical book, doesn't mean I am a doctor, so why is it that because someone can memorize a book and take a test, they can be a personal trainer. its pretty sad. Most of the personal trainers at my gym are a joke, they weigh about 150lbs, look like they dont have a ounce of muscle on them, and none of there clients make any progress...wonder why? now don't get me wrong, my gym also has some very good trainers as well....but most of the good trainers are older, have competed, and have delt with a wide variety of diets and routines...not just what some book told them to do or what works in "theory".

[FeralGoth]

hoping to help manage the women aged 25-50+ wanting to lose weight crowd ;) A lot of my local friends are having serious body issues and pointing the blame everywhere but their lifestyles - as a trainer I would love to be able to help people gain control back over their bodies and maybe even their lives. Perhaps I am too optimistic?

[Zipsfb]

HAHAHAHAHA thank god someone said it....in general most of the personal training profession is a joke. just because I can read a medical book, doesn't mean I am a doctor, so why is it that because someone can memorize a book and take a test, they can be a personal trainer. its pretty sad. Most of the personal trainers at my gym are a joke, they weigh about 150lbs, look like they dont have a ounce of muscle on them, and none of there clients make any progress...wonder why? now don't get me wrong, my gym also has some very good trainers as well....but most of the good trainers are older, have competed, and have delt with a wide variety of diets and routines...not just what some book told them to do or what works in "theory".

I partly agree with you. It's pretty pathetic when a trainer looks to be out of shape/not healthy, and is trying to teach people how to live healthier and look better. I think its hilarious that Dr. Phil has a weight loss book, or that a lot of the trainer at my gym give really horrible advice, usually about form, probably because they don't lift often enough.

With that said, I can also understand how someone who doesn't look healthy or ripped could be a good trainer. One of my best coaches in college never played the sport, but he knew his **** better than anyone else. Also, the way someone looks now may not reflect on their past, even if they're young. For instance, as an athlete, I used to weight 230 and had a relatively low bodyfat percentage (11-12 %). Looking at me now, I'm smaller, which may say to someone I don't know how to bulk, but I just am going for something different now.

Anyway, I'm done blabbering. Sorry.

[oregonpanthers]

I am 23 and have been personal training formaly since my freshman year of college when I was 19 which just a field experience course. Since then I have done commercial and private personal training, as of recently I did contracted training as well. Every domain except corporate. I got my NSCA-CPT at 19 and my CSCS as 22 and then my NESTA CPT and CFN at 22 as well. My BS degree came through just last September. Working on this MS now. I have not been involved with PT since I left Madison, WI in late January this year for grad school, its been athletic enhancements since then.

[CantSeeMe]

I'm 28 and have been working as a PT for over 5 years. I expect to continue working in the fitness industry for many more years to come. Didn't make a lot in the beginning but make a very good living now. You have to seriously hustle to be successful in this industry. I've seen countless trainers come and go over the years because they think it's an easy way to make a quick buck. They soon find out that you don't make **** unless you bust your ass.

[Ethereal]

Currently 22 and been doing training clients for two years. However, have been lifting seriously for football since 16 and currently compete in USAPL raw division in the 181 weight class.

[FreddyKrueger]

I personally think its a great thing younger people are getting into PT. Younger people are more aware of fitness nowadays. I am 24, so I guess I am still young and I've been very interested in fitness. I played every sport in HS, I wrestled in highschool and as an amature for few wrestling companies (think wwe style here). I wasn't that big when I begun and it took me a while to get where I am comfortable with myself.
For me the biggest drive happened when I gained 20lbs in about 4 month period. I loved what I saw, I loved the 'pump' and I knew than and there that I wanted to pursue this more seriously. I knew that the only way to go about lifting weights right is to take it seriously and study. A lot of stuff is available on-line for you to read about, and its a great tool if you have some common sense. All in all, I think younger personal trainers are a great thing because to be aware of fitness at that early age is irreplaceable.

On the other hand though, experience in the gym is priceless. Thats why you need to keep reading what mistakes people made, and practice what you preach.

[likwidmunki]

i agree with FreddyKrueger. I don't think life experience comes into play an awful lot, it's the experience in fitness that counts. I couln't take a guy seriously if he was obese and tried tellin me how to eat right. appearance is everything when it comes to what we do (i too have jus started training for PT Diploma).

I can also understand where Maverick77 is coming from int he sense that some of the best trainers or most knowledgeable aren't necessarily people who have being taught by textbooks. But, at the same time, the college or learning provider have to make sure that you do know to qualify you. Mavericks right in saying experience counts more than theory. you can get a qualified personal trainer from reading the textbooks and theories, but the great PT's know more and it's up to us to gain more knowledge.

think i blabbed a bit there, so sorry if some of it doesnt make sense!

[Be-Be]

Maybe older trainers have more sense than to spend all their time around here posting... :p :)

Or maybe they're out there doing things that actually make them money... :D Gotta go...

[kserajuddin]

I think training is popular with young people because physical activity, exercise, sports, etc. is more popular with younger people. And they see dollar signs around something they already enjoy doing. But then again; this is bodybuilding.com and I think the general population of its members are younger.

Not only beautiful, but smart as well -


Personal Training is an unregulated, non-corporate field - it's basically survival of the fittest -

Most can't handle it - the ones that can write the books you see in the bookstores, and own the gym you workout at, and train the athletes and celebrities you see on TV -

[CoQ10]

I dropped out of college to be a full-time trainer at age 20. I'm currently 23, and back in school in order to LEAVE personal training.

Me too. I started a little younger, but same story, more or less.

What are you pursuing now?

-C10

[jules_d1]

wow..im looking at these threads and its all 19 yr olds posting. Whats up with that? Do trainers go bad after they turn a certain age??? thats news to me.

Do people not value life experience anymore?

your past your used by date didnt you know bro? :p

I've just finished my exercise science/ rehab degree and am just starting up. Not us young as these tiger but I reckon i'd know a thing or two more ;)