difficult client

[catheitz]

okay who doesn't have a really difficult client that you DREAD coming in once in awhile but this kid is 19; home from college needs to drop 40lbs but is so out of shape he gets winded walking from his car 10ft to the front door of our studio. I agreed to train him and am stuck because he is my co-workers wealthy client's son. Everytime his father comes in to train with my co-worker he is up my ass about how i have to push his son..

look

everytime we train no matter WHAT we do; no matter what he eats or doesn't eat the kid pukes.

i know he's out of shape but anyone have any ideas?

i know it would be more helpful to write out a workout regiment that i've been giving him but honestly it's been 5 sessions and we have done everything from cardio mixes, to just straight lifting, to an outdoor tire bootcamp type of thing-- surprising the best thing he had done and i think we're going to try it again today

but the other thing is..he's so sensitive. i hardly talk because anything i say something even motivational he changes it and makes me feel like my job is being threatened. His dad knows better as well as my co-workers but the kid goes around saying i call him fat or that last session we did situps using a mat yet somehow guess he got rug burn on his elbow and blamed me! Its honestly so obnoxious any ideas?

oh and the part also about it is; his parents call me up and tell me verbatim: cat kick his ****ing ass he can come home crying get him off his lazy ass, etc.

soooo i do...but then he pukes and then they ask me wtf he's puking. ugh

[Environ]

First of all, keep detailed records of everything you do with him. He sounds like the guy who would sue you because you made him work 'too' hard.

Secondly, ignore his parents and deal with him as an individual. His parents want you to push him, but he apparently pukes (does he actually puke or does he just feel sick or have you seen him puke or is he just saying it).

Thirdly, use the stuff that he seems to be able to do. Remember that you must work within his abilities (at the start anyway) and, as he gets fitter, up the intensity.

But he just sounds like a lazy so-and-so, so make him work. Tough love I guess.

[catheitz]

yeah hah we had our session this morning it was all tough love but he got through it amazingly-- of course after i seek help i finally get him through a workout go figure.

he actually throws up; not a pretty sight, he is just lazy but eh thanks for the advice i've just turned off the sympathy factor towards him.

[jando]

Yea throwing up is not a good thing. some people are so deconditioned you really need to baby them even if they look somewhat fit. establish a base and improve on that. I don't care how much you're babying them. Some 19 year olds will get deconditioned on half rep walking lunges for a few reps. Workouts should not be at a fear factor level. Your job as a trainer is to try to the best of your abilities to teach your client to love and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. If every workout theyre borderline throwing up or throwing up it's a good way to ensure they'll never workout again after your sessions

[carl.c]

catheitz: The puking thing bothers me, when someone pukes its usally a sign of to much work.
From what you posted I think you are working him to hard and the puking is a sign of this. I would probably have a doctor check him just to be safe.
Have you tried using a basic workout where you start him out on a routine that dos'nt make him puke then every week add more routines or difficulty.
Its the challenging clients that make this feild interesting and rewarding don't give up on him yet and keep use posted on progress.

[bigdaddy425]

I agree with Carl here. At any point in your intake process did you recommend that his doc clear him for training? If he's barfing every workout there's something wrong. That being said... bootcamp style workouts are great for beginners and drop eight fast. Tell his parents to train him if thet won't stop riding you. You're a professinal and they need to treat ou as one... no matter how much money they throw!

Originally Posted by carl.c

catheitz: The puking thing bothers me, when someone pukes its usally a sign of to much work.
From what you posted I think you are working him to hard and the puking is a sign of this. I would probably have a doctor check him just to be safe.
Have you tried using a basic workout where you start him out on a routine that dos'nt make him puke then every week add more routines or difficulty.
Its the challenging clients that make this feild interesting and rewarding don't give up on him yet and keep use posted on progress.

[carl.c]

Bigdaddy425: I will admit to knowing little about bootcamp programs. You don't think they a little to intences for a unmotivated and deconditioned kid??

[catheitz]

i'm a bootcamp teacher as well; i think regular bootcamps are way to high intensity for him but i do some duller ones...and honestly i have given him the most basic workout i possibly could have thought of. he was medically cleared- to workout at our facility we require it and do contact the physician. I've talked to my co-worker about it that used to train him last summer when he was home and he said that i just have to keep pushing him...

thanks for the advice though i def do agree

[bigdaddy425]

Thats actually the great thing about bootcamps. Each person pushes to their max, not yours. If you can get a group thing going, most people stop wussing out and take their training seriously. I did this for my most difficult (and lazy) client and now she's getting jacked! I've seen better results in 6 weeks that from 4 months of gym training. It's easier to motivate a client in the "drill instructor" persona. They think its fun to be barked at... its part of the experience.

Originally Posted by carl.c

Bigdaddy425: I will admit to knowing little about bootcamp programs. You don't think they a little to intences for a unmotivated and deconditioned kid??

[FreddyKrueger]

I have few very deconditioned clients. Also have clients who never lifted a weight in their life. NASM 'step ups' are challenging for some people. So all in all best advice I can give you is baby them and find some easy exercises (to you) that will be easy for your client but will get harder after few sets. One client I have has issues doing step ups and I have him do it on the smallest box and I push him even though they are pretty easy at first.

I also had a client who barfed after a workout and he LOVED it. So it goes both ways.

Hope that helps a bit.

[EMISGOD]

Originally Posted by carl.c

catheitz: The puking thing bothers me, when someone pukes its usally a sign of to much work.
From what you posted I think you are working him to hard and the puking is a sign of this. I would probably have a doctor check him just to be safe.

I don't believe you should train him at all anymore unless and until he is cleared by a medical professional.

[Grinners]

Poor kid is gonna have a hard time when he starts squatting if he's already puking

[nickmanzoni]

I don't care who you are or why you're there.

Puking is NOT good. I think you should cease training until you learn how to prioritize his safety BEFORE making him sweat.

[FastevoIV]

The little guy could be nervous...in a room with a bunch of oversized men, he might not be mentally able to handle all the testosterone. How's his home life? Maybe train him out side of the gym? Running on a high school track, bike riding. Get him out of the gym and see how he does. See if he pukes after eating a gallon of ice cream in one sitting! He might be doing it on purpose to get out of the training thing. It's hard to really tell.

[icklyd]

I'm thinking the puking is a psychological thing rather than the training. I've trained some pretty unfit people and run bootcamps and had obese people, even a woman w/ a walker attend and they all push to their intensity-no one's ever puked. They may say they feel like it but they say it w/ a smile.
Perhaps he is taking something to induce the vomiting during the session - as a rebellion to the training or more to the parents insistance of the training.
And I don't feel 40 lbs isn't that much for a young man to be over weight and overcome, it seems he is exagerating his condition. I had a 15 yr old about 60 lbs to lose and he did it-he was determined and wanted it, wanted to make the basketball team and did. So I really think your clients problems are psycological-he just doen't want it. Is he on any meds that may cause the puking or even causing his lethargy and negative attitude?

[catheitz]

Originally Posted by FastevoIV

The little guy could be nervous...in a room with a bunch of oversized men, he might not be mentally able to handle all the testosterone. How's his home life? Maybe train him out side of the gym? Running on a high school track, bike riding. Get him out of the gym and see how he does. See if he pukes after eating a gallon of ice cream in one sitting! He might be doing it on purpose to get out of the training thing. It's hard to really tell.

we work in a private studio it's me and him during his session

[catheitz]

Originally Posted by icklyd

I'm thinking the puking is a psychological thing rather than the training. I've trained some pretty unfit people and run bootcamps and had obese people, even a woman w/ a walker attend and they all push to their intensity-no one's ever puked. They may say they feel like it but they say it w/ a smile.
Perhaps he is taking something to induce the vomiting during the session - as a rebellion to the training or more to the parents insistance of the training.
And I don't feel 40 lbs isn't that much for a young man to be over weight and overcome, it seems he is exagerating his condition. I had a 15 yr old about 60 lbs to lose and he did it-he was determined and wanted it, wanted to make the basketball team and did. So I really think your clients problems are psycological-he just doen't want it. Is he on any meds that may cause the puking or even causing his lethargy and negative attitude?

since i posted this he has made it through 2 sessions without puking..ironically those being a couple of the hardest workouts i've put him through because i just went with no sympathy. i think it was just his parents- he is there for himself but at the same time they ride him so hard about being fat and they actually say it to his face but i think after hearing again that he puked his dad apparently knew he was bs'ing and since i mean he's still out of shape but def. has improved.


i think he'll be okay just a teenager but thanks for the advice everybody

[nickmanzoni]

yeah, stop training.

"Those being the hardest workouts I've put him throught because I went with no sympathy"

They are not their for YOU, YOU are there for THEM.

In priority

Safety
Comfort
Goal
Enjoyment

Those are the things a trainer should focus on for the de-conditioned types.

[icklyd]

Originally Posted by catheitz

since i posted this he has made it through 2 sessions without puking..ironically those being a couple of the hardest workouts i've put him through because i just went with no sympathy. i think it was just his parents- he is there for himself but at the same time they ride him so hard about being fat and they actually say it to his face but i think after hearing again that he puked his dad apparently knew he was bs'ing and since i mean he's still out of shape but def. has improved.


i think he'll be okay just a teenager but thanks for the advice everybody

Cool! Congrats, you pulled it off. Hope it continues to get better. Keep me posted, I'm curious of the overall outcome and his results/changes physically and attitude-wise.

[catheitz]

judge as and what you want; i'm a great trainer and i love what i do. my clients needs and health are always put forth before anything and everything but you can't always baby them especially a lazy teenager. the puking was the main concern and that's why i made a thread

[adoniscomplex]

no joke
i fired a kid recently

[PowerD]

Maybe you could get his dad to financially motivate him to reach his goals. Also, sounds like he should get his hormone levels checked, lol.