Just came across this thread and I'd thought I'd share my opinion.
So, I joined the gym back in June and knew right away that I wanted a trainer because I had no clue what to do, how to do it, and I just wanted some assistance cause I work better when someone is pushing me.
Over the past four months, I've had a total of three trainers.
My first two trainers were really in shape, as soon as I saw them, I was like **** I'm gonna get my ass kicked in these workouts. Now, obviously they were all very kind, helpful, knowledgeable and helped me get to where I am so far. My last trainer wasn't in shape as the other two, but still was very knowledgeable, but he had a bit of a stomach and wasn't that muscular.
My personal opinion is that you don't have to have a bodybuilder physique and have muscles on top of muscles, but you should at least be in very good shape. Now, I don't like to be judgmental, but when I signed up and they said here's your trainer, the first thing I look at is looks. I looked at the his physique, his muscles, etc. I think that ultimately inspired me and motivated me because my trainer looked good, why can't I. Obviously it's not about him showing off to me, but it's more motivating when someone that has a good physique is pushing you, verses someone who is not.
Also, I think what's also is more important is not just the trainer's looks, but how he trains you. All of my trainers would show me what to do, and explain what that would do for the muscle group I was working on. Now, I understand that when there's a whole lot of people in the gym training at once, your trainer can't be hogging a machine when someone else wants to you use it. But for example, I have a track in the middle of the gym where I'd do sprint intervals and such. What I liked was that he wasn't just standing on the sidelines going "Good job, keep it up", he would be right there next to me, either doing it with me, or at least keeping up with me and telling me that. I felt more of a drive or push to finish that sprint when they were right alongside with, as oppose to just standing there watching you.
To sum up, I think that looks are important to me because it in return motivates me to improve my physique and also someone who is right there doing the workouts with you because it drives you and makes you want to finish it not only for yourself but for your trainer.
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Thread: Overweight Gym Trainers
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02-13-2013, 06:00 PM #121
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02-13-2013, 06:09 PM #122
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02-13-2013, 06:20 PM #123
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02-13-2013, 06:23 PM #124
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02-13-2013, 10:11 PM #125
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02-13-2013, 11:22 PM #126
that's absolutely presumptuous and anecdotal of you, something you should avoid if actually inherited any of the traits of the apparent "intelligent trainers" you accompanied.
there are many people who take into account what their PT looks like. Anyone who thinks otherwise is likely just hoping that isn't the case, thus deludes themselves into believing that none of their clients are going to size them up. trust me some have.
then you shouldn't have the concete to apply for a specialization.
what kind of human being doesn't fully actualize themselves, yet have the audacity to try and guide others? explain this to me.
if you're obese, then you haven't mastered your craft; why are you teaching?Last edited by AngryBaby; 02-13-2013 at 11:30 PM.
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02-13-2013, 11:52 PM #127
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02-14-2013, 12:00 AM #128
I really wouldn't look at the trainer's look, I am serious. But I rather look at his(her) career and experiences and what he really knows and knows how to properly train, that's all I care about.
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02-14-2013, 01:47 AM #129
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02-14-2013, 01:54 AM #130
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02-14-2013, 01:57 AM #131
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02-14-2013, 02:40 AM #132
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02-14-2013, 02:43 AM #133
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02-14-2013, 04:05 AM #134
The appearance of a PT can definitely help in picking up certain clients. However, this alone will not guarantee success since its client retention that matters. Keeping your clients will depend on factor such as knowledge, experience, professionalism, personality etc etc., not your six pack or guns
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02-14-2013, 04:07 AM #135
Not sure if it has been posted but:
An ad hominem (Latin for "to the man"), short for argumentum ad hominem, is an argument made personally against an opponent instead of against their argument. Ad hominem reasoning is normally described as an informal fallacy, more precisely an irrelevance.
An Ad Hominem is a general category of fallacies in which a claim or argument is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact about the author of or the person presenting the claim or argument. Typically, this fallacy involves two steps. First, an attack against the character of person making the claim, her circumstances, or her actions is made (or the character, circumstances, or actions of the person reporting the claim). Second, this attack is taken to be evidence against the claim or argument the person in question is making (or presenting).
The reason why an Ad Hominem (of any kind) is a fallacy is that the character, circumstances, or actions of a person do not (in most cases) have a bearing on the truth or falsity of the claim being made (or the quality of the argument being made).Sports Science & Health Undergraduate
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02-14-2013, 04:57 AM #136
Okay, I'm not a PT, still working on that. But I *am* a trained teacher I'm not sure you truly understand how to teach others. Are you a teacher? Do you understand learner motivation, explaining concepts, etc? My specialization is English as a Second Language. Do you know how many people think they can teach ESL to people just because they can speak English? They can't. You might know how to speak English, but can you explain that English has no future tense to students whose language has a written future tense? And not just tell them this, but have them understand it and then use it when speaking? It is a LOT harder than it sounds.
And training may not be all that different. You might be fit or know how to do a squat, but can you teach it effectively to someone who has been morbidly obese all their life and has zero flexibility? How do you teach and motivate this person??
I respect the OP's opinion even though I disagree, but my reason for disagreeing comes from being an experienced teacher. Knowing a subject (being fit - speaking English) does not translate to effective teaching.
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02-14-2013, 07:32 AM #137
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02-14-2013, 08:53 AM #138
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02-14-2013, 09:33 AM #139
To be honest, this more concerns the hubris of the individuals who despite not applying this "knowledge" to themselves effectively, feel "Hey, I should train people and they should pay me." In my pinion that takes an incredible arrogance.
I keep hearing the "client doesn't care" lol yes, the client likely isn't going to turn you away for not looking spectacular, however many observe; and fortunately for that said overweight trainer, that individual will simply deal with it on the premise of "well maybe he knows what he's doing". and if that's good enough for you, if you're "cool" with that, then that's an indication of complacency; the very antithesis of the characteristic you should have if you plan on guiding others.
also, I'm tired of this blatant disrespect in the overly common assertion that the person who attained the physical prowess of his own well being, "probably doesn't know how to train"; or "probably doesn't know how to teach". Such an assertion is teetering towards the idea that you feel alot of people just got there by not educating themselves. Which seems like a mentality developed in order to defend one's present notions and state of mind, more so than an idea of objectivity.
well I have some bad news, most (with a real physical standing) have educated themselves thoroughly, and most know how to teach it; and teach it well.
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02-14-2013, 11:29 AM #140
I didn't assert that. Where did I assert that? Of course the majority of fit trainers have the knowledge and can reasonably communicate this to clients.
Can we talk in plain language? You write your responses like they belong in a formal college essay but you spell some of them wrong and use others inappropriately. Like I tell students - be clear, be concise, write for your audience, and don't try to be overly wordy to appear more intelligent, especially when those words are chosen incorrectly.
A personal trainer who ate too much pizza doesn't exhibit hubris. Good grief.
Anyways...
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02-14-2013, 11:53 AM #141
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Original argument aside, what you're not realizing is that the majority of people that hire a trainer have mobility and flexibility issues and deviant movement patterns that have been acquired over the years. There are muscles that have are weakened and have trouble "turning on" while there are opposing muscles that have the opposite problem, they are tight and hyperactive.
Case in point: You have a person that has had a desk job for most of his life and as a result has a bit of a slouching posture. Slouch for a second and you'll see that the muscles in the front of your body will be in a shorter than normal state while your spinal erector muscles will be in a lengthened state.
Try to get this guy to bend over from his hip joints w/a straight back for a deadlift or a bent over row and see what happens.
My point is that you might be very skilled in teaching yourself or someone like yourself who's been fairly active for most of their lives or is young enough to not have these issues but most people you'd train won't be like this. They'll have issues that you'll have to address and have solutions for.
Don't think for a second that just because a young, fairly active person w/no flexibility issues can teach himself, he can teach everyone else.Sept of Baelor was an inside job. Wildfire can't melt stone masonry.
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02-14-2013, 11:59 AM #142
lol nothing I said was all that complicated guy/lady. and I responded pretty quickly so this isn't "formal college" **** for me. maybe it is for you....
and you misinterpreted my use of hubris, i specifically said hubris in the regard of that individual applying to teach others before applying the knowledge to themselves...was pretty clear in saying that.
there's a huge difference between alittle too much pizza, and being visibly overweight.
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02-14-2013, 12:06 PM #143
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02-14-2013, 12:12 PM #144
I don't think you understand what the concept of hubris actually means. It isn't simple arrogance. It doesn't apply to the overweight trainers in this discussion. How is a trainer "arrogant" because they are overweight? I mentioned "use plain language" because you are using words in your argument that you don't seem to understand. That isn't meant to be an attack, I'm just pointing out the obvious.
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02-14-2013, 12:20 PM #145
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02-14-2013, 12:44 PM #146
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I suppose that I should add that I've made more detailed arguments in this thread and elsewhere. But you've not bothered reading them, you just read the last post or two and respond to that. There's no need for me to endlessly restate things when the words are there for anyone to see. If you won't bother reading a thread before responding to it, then you are too lazy to participate in the discussion. Which is why you are wrong and stupid.
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02-14-2013, 12:47 PM #147
It always makes me laugh when trainers try to use fancy words during assessments (or internet posts) thinking that they are impressing anyone. Yet another thing that clients really don't give a crap about in the real world.
well I have some bad news, most (with a real physical standing) have educated themselves thoroughly, and most know how to teach it; and teach it well.
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02-14-2013, 12:56 PM #148
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We can all play the fancy word game.
It is in my opinion a not unjustified assertion that individuals in possession of physiques of some significant development combined with depressed subcutaneous fat and glycogen levels in a state of systemic dehydration will in general exaggerate the aesthetic value of such a state, exaggerating it because in their dysmorphic mind they are never large or lean enough, and to avoid difficult self-contemplation of these issues will project these feelings of insecurity outwards and in compensation assert that all share their neuroses, and thus nobody will hire chubby trainers.
I could say all that. But once I've actually explained how things really are, rather than letting my long words fall in an obscuring mat like tea leaves clogging the drain, it's much easier to say you are wrong and stupid.
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02-14-2013, 01:21 PM #149
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02-14-2013, 01:29 PM #150
No, im using it properly lol i'm saying it's arrogant to apply for a position of authority within the subject of fitness before fully actualizing your own personal health and aesthetic.
it is you and keltron who aren't processing the post that well....nice try though.
I even utilized the definition of the word within that statment, for clarity:To be honest, this more concerns the hubris of the individuals who despite not applying this "knowledge" to themselves effectively, feel "Hey, I should train people and they should pay me." In my pinion that takes an incredible arrogance.Last edited by AngryBaby; 02-14-2013 at 01:35 PM.
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