How Did You Get Started In Personal Training?

[kserajuddin]

I've got a running joke that I still haven't met a single person that started out WANTING to be a Personal Trainer - you know, through high school or college -

I've talked to some big-name trainers, and even all of them ended up in this profession sideways somehow and took it from there - that's my story too -

So I'm interested in how you guys got started in training - I'm going to write a post on my blog about it, and if I use your comment I'll rep you fa sho -

[Namus]

Very true here; it never even crossed my mind in high school or the first few years of uni;

But then I started to put on a bit of weight, and I looked around and thought 'hey, I don't want to be stuck behind a desk 9 to 5 for the rest of my life'; plus I have a notorious habit of not being able to sit still for overly long periods, so I needed to find a reason to be running around or moving all the time, so I figured why not...

Next thing you know, I got my certification, and switched from a Psychology degree to an Exercise Science degree....lovin' every minute of it

[MVP]

I got started in 93. I was in the USAF, and they sent me to the Coopers Institute to get certified as a PT. My job in the USAF was a PT. I started working out, and seeing changes, and working with those in the fat boy/girl program. On my days and time off, i got a part time job as a PT at PowerHouse gym in the same town i was stationed at.

I got out the USAF, and began my career as a PT. I like most everyone else, got a job at a commercial gym and bounced from gym to gym like a car salesman in a car lot. I then landed a FM job at 24hr. What a joke that was.

I then met a very successful independent personal trainer with his own studio. He took me under his wing and taught me a whole lot on what personal training is all about. Something you will never learn working for a commercial gym. I went independent since, worked for him and built up my clientel

2 years later, i have my own PT studio of 1356 sqft. I have 2 successful independent trainers who work for me (1099's). I have had my studio for 3 years now, and will be opening up a 2nd is the next town 12 miles away in 09. 85% of my clients are referral.

When i first started, my first cert was through the Coopers Inst. I then picked up AFAA, ACE, and NCCPT just for the heck of it. For the past 6 years the only certs i have now are the ISSA and NESTA. None of these certifications have made me who i am today.

[kserajuddin]

Yeah, exactly! That's how everyone tells it - they started in something else, and just kind of wandered into this thing, and when they did, they realized how great it was and that it was their passion -

But MVP, I guess that means you started as a PT at age 17? I guess that makes you the first bonafide lifetime Personal Trainer - everyone please rep him ...

[dasixthsun]

used to work out off and on from 18 to 20 and at age 21 i got picked up by a recording company. Late night in the studio eating crap and traveling eating nothing but fast food and every day except for monday there was a party that i was attending so that means drinking alchohol daily and eating more crap. so after doing this for a while i decided to get a physical and the doctor said that if i dont change my habits and loose some weight i would have a heart attack at 33. i was 25 at the time so i thought it was all smoke up my ass ( like yeah im a have a heart attack at 33) until my brother who was 34 at the time went to the hospital and found out he had 3 clogged arteries and the 4 was partially clogged. They put stints in and that really opened my eyes. I threw away the cholesterol drugs they wanted me to take and started back working out two a days. lost 40lbs in the first 4 months and didnt look back. Started training my cousin and brought him down from 290 to 230 so i decided to start learning what i needed to learn and got certified. Unfortunately my brother didnt take the hint and he just had a Triple bypass surgery at the age of 39. So without exercise i could of been on the same road as him.

[pu12en12g]

....started in something else, and just kind of wandered into this thing, and when they did, they realized how great it was and that it was their passion -

^^^^

x4

My passion is living life to the fullest and helping others do the same.

[jules_d1]

I was looking to get into elite athlete strength and conditioning....but liked PT'ing better.

[kserajuddin]

My passion is living life to the fullest and helping others do the same.

Those are some winning f'ing words -

I was looking to get into elite athlete strength and conditioning....but liked PT'ing better.

Yeah, and you've still got plenty of time do that - everyone that's in elite S&C started with Personal Training - you've got to get in this industry somehow, get good at it, and then take it from there -

[nickmanzoni]

I had a desire to do some sort of gym work when I was in highschool... I couldn't wrap my head around personal training, but any interest was squashed by my mom when I was starting college. "Nursing is the way to go"..... hahaha, it kills me I make more hourly than many nurses I know.

Long story short I tried to build a gym in my back yard, my dad actually crafted a "jungle gym workout area" with a weight set and I did pull-ups from a low hanging tree branch in my yard. When I moved away, I didn't get to take it with me!