View Full Version : Friends "problem" with a client
trainer227
06-06-2008, 02:41 PM
One of my friends is a trainer at our gym and she's had this problem she's been telling me about. I don't think she's a member of this site ... I saw the Trainer forum and thought some of you might have a suggestion?
Evidently she's got this one client who's a young guy fresh out of school who is very thin to the point of being emaciated and she's working with him and likes him but she feels very uncomfortable wearing anything that exposes her own physique because she feels like she's showing him up or something. If she wears shorts she feels guilty every time they both can see their legs in the mirror ... bicep curls she feels like her biceps so outclass him that she's weirded out. Of course she know it's stupid ... but anything she's missing that would help? Anyone had this problem and worked it out? She thinks the male/female thing and the fact they're close in age doesn't help ...
HardGainer82
06-06-2008, 03:15 PM
Has he ever actually mentioned it bothering him or is this all in her head?
carl.c
06-06-2008, 03:37 PM
She should relize that the client hired a personal trainer and expects that person to be in shape. Who knows it may be a motivation for him to work out more and start eating right, since her body shows what that can lead to.
SunKissedDreams
06-06-2008, 03:57 PM
I agree 100% with carl c. above ^ ^ ^
Your trainer should not only be someone who teaches and motivates, but someone who inspires as well. That is the last thing she should think or worry about. She needs to not think about that and push him to be the very best he can be.
EMISGOD
06-06-2008, 09:55 PM
People really get hung up on weird ****. While it's nice of her to be thoughtful, she should not be conceding to weakness and flaws...
Spiceygamble
06-06-2008, 09:55 PM
So, she is facing some of the realities of her job choice, is she?
Well... not to sound harsh, but... good.
If she is going to be worth anything to anyone, this will be one of the smallest challenges she will face. Dealing with her perceptions as a trainer, as well as her client's state of mind are either going to make her a better trainer... or cause her to doubt her skills & eventually stop taking clients.
She has to learn how to manage her personal thoughts & put her client first. If she is so concerned about this young man's size, perhaps she should put some focus on tracking his diet & supporting his personal gains... not comparing body parts.
Let this be something she grows from... for the benefit of all her future clients.
;)
good chunk of trainers out there can be very insecure with thier looks, kind of why they get in the business in the first place.
sounds more like she needs to see a counselor and deal with whatever issues is going on there.
Addicted2Iron
06-07-2008, 07:39 AM
tell her to buy him some cell tech
seriously, wear whats comfortable but nothing that may upset the guy who is paying your electric bill!
nickmanzoni
06-07-2008, 08:38 AM
This seems like the trainer may be more upset with herself than the client.
It's not like it's a suprise that the client is thin. He knows it.
I have smaller legs than really heavy clients I have. I don't feel bad for them.
Mr. Aries
06-07-2008, 11:07 AM
i'm sure this guy didn't look for a trainer that is in even worse shape than he is.
mydamnself
06-07-2008, 11:23 AM
When I was 21 I weighed 114 lbs. Yep. So I have a good idea of where this guy's head would be at. He doesn't give a crap. This is completely in her head. When I was in the gym the only thing I was thinking about was improving. I don't think I ever once saw someone else who was in better shape than me and felt bad about myself. It just fired me up to keep moving forward. Also, as someone stated previously, if she wants to get this guy results she needs to make sure he's eating a truckload.
johnrss
06-07-2008, 05:02 PM
She should relize that the client hired a personal trainer and expects that person to be in shape. Who knows it may be a motivation for him to work out more and start eating right, since her body shows what that can lead to.
yup
FreddyKrueger
06-07-2008, 06:38 PM
As long as she is not telling him that "you can look like this" than she is ok. LOL. Just kiddin' :)
I don't see a problem here. If I was her client I'd use her good looks as motivation. ;)
neatofrito1618
06-07-2008, 08:52 PM
Who the hell wants a PT that's in worse shape than they are? Even if it IS a women.
Spiceygamble
06-08-2008, 07:47 AM
Seriously, a PT has to be the core of reassurance, inspiration & confidence.
He/she is often the surrogate source of these things & MUST have a solid foundation in them from their own being. A wishy washy PT is worthless, every issue they fail in, is an issue they will ultimately transfer to their client.
She needs to put her big girl panties on & do the job. (sorry, crude... but true)
As Grampa would say... "sh*t or get off the pot".
(yeah, he's a handful)
*grin...
FeralGoth
06-09-2008, 07:55 AM
He's probably focusing on the exercises and his form in the mirror and not what she looks like. Us girls can sometimes get weirded out if we're bigger than some guys though, and thats probably all it is. Happened to me at the pool a few weeks ago - a friend of a friend showed up and his slight frame made him about half the size of me (visually at least), it sure didn't stop him from checking me out, obviously it didn't bother him at all. Tell her not to worry about it and treat him like any other client - I would assume that is what he would want from her too.
The Adam
06-09-2008, 03:09 PM
One of my friends is a trainer at our gym and she's had this problem she's been telling me about. I don't think she's a member of this site ... I saw the Trainer forum and thought some of you might have a suggestion?
Evidently she's got this one client who's a young guy fresh out of school who is very thin to the point of being emaciated and she's working with him and likes him but she feels very uncomfortable wearing anything that exposes her own physique because she feels like she's showing him up or something. If she wears shorts she feels guilty every time they both can see their legs in the mirror ... bicep curls she feels like her biceps so outclass him that she's weirded out. Of course she know it's stupid ... but anything she's missing that would help? Anyone had this problem and worked it out? She thinks the male/female thing and the fact they're close in age doesn't help ...
She has to remember it's about him in regards to training and not her and how she feels. Show him how to execute the exercises by doing them herself and then have him do it. While he's performing the exercises she can correct positioning and biomechanics and so on, as well as bring attention to the muscle(s) he's working out. Get him to focus on the feel of the exercise, establish that mind muscle connection and not how great she looks or other people in the gym.
The mirror should be the last tool you want to use as an aid (given his current weight), but if she does, I would suggest her stepping behind the client or to the side, make him the focal point.
edit...
That is if he's even self-conscious about it.
pan321
06-09-2008, 09:51 PM
I don't think she has a problem herself ... it's that she knows her client is embarrassed and that bothers her because she feels like she's showing him up when she's just doing her job. She's not sure if she should ignore it. Say something about it to confront it head on ... completely cover up with warmups, etc, etc.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll tell her she should join and read all these herself.
HardGainer82
06-10-2008, 10:40 AM
Never answered the question if she KNOWS he's uncomfortable (like, did she ask him) or if she's just assuming...