Personal trainers challenges

Vshape · 05-08-2009, 04:46 PM

Hi all,

For all personal trainers out there, please share your challenges as a PT.
It could be as an independent PT or as a PT in a well known gym, etc.

What are your concerns, challenges, and worries.

How you deal with them, etc.

Have a great weekend
Sincerely
Lucas

rawlife · 05-09-2009, 07:45 AM

I've been working full time as a PT for the last 5 years. The biggest problem is your own boredom. Everyone has the same structural issues as well as the same goals-it get's very monotonous.

Vshape · 05-09-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawlife

I've been working full time as a PT for the last 5 years. The biggest problem is your own boredom. Everyone has the same structural issues as well as the same goals-it get's very monotonous.

what as personal trainers, we could do to avoid boredom or monotonous?
Thanks for replying bro
Lucas

Keltron · 05-09-2009, 08:41 AM

convincing people that we know what's best for them and their goals. No matter how many times I've told one particular client about the fallacies of spot reduction, she still asks for more "ab stuff" because she wants to "focus on her midsection"

Other things like:
"Why are we doing heavy weights? I don't want to get muscles, I want to tone"
"My co-worker is in really good shape and she says women shouldn't lift heavy. Women shouldn't strain or it'll create wrinkles."

Or when I suggest ONE protein shake for postworkout recovery, she says, "I don't want to get muscles. This is for men who want to get muscles. Let me ask my husband if I should take this stuff... Okay I asked my husband and he said I shouldn't take it."

Other clients who say:
"Why are we spending so much time on stretching? Can't we just work out? I don't care about imbalances and stuff... I just want to lose weight.. I'm not into all of this technical stuff"

Vshape · 05-09-2009, 11:18 AM

lol so true Keltron. Its a challenge because people don't trust one another.
Finding what will make your client trust you, can be hard at times. Because there is always somebody in their entourage that will say, no don't agree with him/or her...
I always make it clear with my client, listen to me, or go else where. Direct, but I get the most of them after. But this attitude you are telling us, is basically a way of saying I want this now without making a lot of effort. Laziness!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keltron

convincing people that we know what's best for them and their goals. No matter how many times I've told one particular client about the fallacies of spot reduction, she still asks for more "ab stuff" because she wants to "focus on her midsection"

Other things like:
"Why are we doing heavy weights? I don't want to get muscles, I want to tone"
"My co-worker is in really good shape and she says women shouldn't lift heavy. Women shouldn't strain or it'll create wrinkles."

Or when I suggest ONE protein shake for postworkout recovery, she says, "I don't want to get muscles. This is for men who want to get muscles. Let me ask my husband if I should take this stuff... Okay I asked my husband and he said I shouldn't take it."

Other clients who say:
"Why are we spending so much time on stretching? Can't we just work out? I don't care about imbalances and stuff... I just want to lose weight.. I'm not into all of this technical stuff"

bossanova · 05-09-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keltron

convincing people that we know what's best for them and their goals. No matter how many times I've told one particular client about the fallacies of spot reduction, she still asks for more "ab stuff" because she wants to "focus on her midsection"

Other things like:
"Why are we doing heavy weights? I don't want to get muscles, I want to tone"
"My co-worker is in really good shape and she says women shouldn't lift heavy. Women shouldn't strain or it'll create wrinkles."

Or when I suggest ONE protein shake for postworkout recovery, she says, "I don't want to get muscles. This is for men who want to get muscles. Let me ask my husband if I should take this stuff... Okay I asked my husband and he said I shouldn't take it."

Other clients who say:
"Why are we spending so much time on stretching? Can't we just work out? I don't care about imbalances and stuff... I just want to lose weight.. I'm not into all of this technical stuff"

Haha.. It amazes me people hire a professional personal trainer, then question and have serious doubt on what their teaching.

I'm on my way to becoming a PT, my many concerns are about the recession and current climate, people will prefer a PT who has years of experience etc..

rawlife · 05-10-2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vshape

lol so true Keltron. Its a challenge because people don't trust one another.
Finding what will make your client trust you, can be hard at times. Because there is always somebody in their entourage that will say, no don't agree with him/or her...
I always make it clear with my client, listen to me, or go else where. Direct, but I get the most of them after. But this attitude you are telling us, is basically a way of saying I want this now without making a lot of effort. Laziness!!!

This is my approach as well. For you newer guys, it would be really smart to think about adopting it. If they are going to be there client, make it real clear that they have to do as you tell them to and if they don't then they're not going to get the results they are paying for...if they do otherwise on a consistant basis and complain to you about it, tell them they would probably be better off with someone else.

Boss-Don't worry about the economy, people are spending more money on health than ever, despite their financial difficulties. I'm turning people down on a daily basis.

jules_d1 · 05-10-2009, 05:25 AM

Mine at the moment is hiring staff which I am confident will train my clients as well as i do.

Simmo0508 · 05-10-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jules_d1

Mine at the moment is hiring staff which I am confident will train my clients as well as i do.

Let's go into business together bra

I have the same problem as well. We get a ton of scrawny kids apply at ours. I don't wanna be rude but i'm always thinkin like piss offfff! lol

jkdman81 · 05-10-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawlife

I've been working full time as a PT for the last 5 years. The biggest problem is your own boredom. Everyone has the same structural issues as well as the same goals-it get's very monotonous.

even if every client you have has the same goals, you can have very different programs....
Also not everyone is going to be exactly the same doesn't mean they will the same!!!!
Clients limitations, strengths and weaknesses will all vary from person to person
They way i train my clients is every session is different from the last!!!! I am a big fan of circuit training....
Training sessions can be varied from person depending on client's abilities!!!!

jkdman81 · 05-10-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmo0508

Let's go into business together bra

I have the same problem as well. We get a ton of scrawny kids apply at ours. I don't wanna be rude but i'm always thinkin like piss offfff! lol

Don't judge a book by it's cover!!!!
I am not a big guy but i am great trainer....
but I am lean and mean....
best way to see how good a trainer is to have them train!!!!!

iron_reign2008 · 05-10-2009, 09:36 AM

I am gonna go with my main thing is establishing compatibility. I personally have to know this person is not going to waste my time, whether your paying me or not if your gonna bitch, not listen, not learn, and argue then they can find themselves another trainer who doesn't care. The other one is the challenge or establishing a persons confidence and getting that intrinsic motivation going. So many clients, especially when severely out of shape or say recently divorced have no confidence and it is so hard to boost them sometime. With this I found that the best approach is making that personal connection with them and therefore gaining the already discussed all important trust.

rawlife · 05-10-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkdman81

even if every client you have has the same goals, you can have very different programs....
Also not everyone is going to be exactly the same doesn't mean they will the same!!!!
Clients limitations, strengths and weaknesses will all vary from person to person
They way i train my clients is every session is different from the last!!!! I am a big fan of circuit training....
Training sessions can be varied from person depending on client's abilities!!!!

That was a lot of exclamation points. I understand what you are saying, but despite the vast number of exercises you can choose from and the equally large number of differences from client to client, there are clear advantages to certain exercises for certain structual inefficiencies that most people living the same lives share. Of course they all have individual limitations, but usually not enough to change programs dramatically. Attachments sites and function are hard to argue. Use an exercise or create one that is most suited to the function of the muscle(s) that are weak in the client.

Vshape · 05-10-2009, 06:50 PM

Connection is everything with your clients.
Some how you always need to tell yourself, what do I need to do, or what did I do wrong.
Its your business, and you need not only to know your craft in the field of fitness/sports, but also in communicating.
As a personal trainer, we sometimes have many roles. to know your client, somewhat deeply, will give you an idea on how to approach them, and also how to intervene.
Motivation is a big part of our job. but it should not be only on our part. we show the way, but we don't push all the way.
Most of us are personal trainers because we have life experience, its always good to use those to connect with your clients.
Its not an easy business, but if you are willing to be there for your clients, they will be there to listen and train. but always be direct and straight, with what you are looking for, and what they are expecting from this.
goals setting, really good to remind your client once in a while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iron_reign2008

I am gonna go with my main thing is establishing compatibility. I personally have to know this person is not going to waste my time, whether your paying me or not if your gonna bitch, not listen, not learn, and argue then they can find themselves another trainer who doesn't care. The other one is the challenge or establishing a persons confidence and getting that intrinsic motivation going. So many clients, especially when severely out of shape or say recently divorced have no confidence and it is so hard to boost them sometime. With this I found that the best approach is making that personal connection with them and therefore gaining the already discussed all important trust.