Problem with this once great Nation is that we have become so dang superficial. Don’t get me wrong, OP. You look great (no homo), and I’m sure you work hard to achieve the way you look. And although this is Bodybuilding.com, reality is that NOT all trainers / coaches / members of BB.com are bodybuilders.
Back to my point of being superficial. The mentality “Yeah, brah. It’s all ‘bout looks. It’s 95% looks and 5% performance” is so common in all walks of life and not just fitness. If looking good is your main selling point to attract clients, then more power to you. The best trainers / coaches I’ve seen are the ones who focus on their clients’ goals and help the clients achieve their goals, regardless of personal appearance.
I would donate my left scrotum to NASA to determine if they can create lifeform in outerspace to have the opportunity to learn from this “fatass trainer.”
Who is this “fatass” you ask?
He placed 8th at the Olympics, which is pretty dang good considering the overall placing of the US at the international level is 27th.
He also was once a top level Competitive Powerlifter before he switched to Weightlifting.
And hypothetically speaking, if he were to shed all that excess fat I guaran-damn-tee he would look like:
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Thread: Overweight Gym Trainers
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01-20-2013, 05:34 PM #61This above all..
To thine ownself be true..
And it must follow, as the night the day..
Thou can'st not then be false to any man..
-----------------------------------------------
Bros, my Weightlifters and Powerlifters are my credentials.
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01-20-2013, 06:33 PM #62
- Join Date: Jan 2009
- Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States
- Age: 38
- Posts: 103
- Rep Power: 213
Hi Norwich, I can tell you didn't read all of the posts and arguments in the last 2 pages and I don't blame you one little bit. I'm only talking about your average trainer when I'm saying they should stay in shape. I don't mean bodybuilder, I'm just saying they should look healthy. As for our U.S. power lifter above, he's a power lifter and therefore is in shape for his sport. Any good trainer or fitness enthusiast can tell the difference between a power lifter and someone who doesn't put any effort into their health or appearance.
I was mostly targeting gym trainers that I see all the time who are overweight and/or very sloppy. I believe as trainers we should practice the healthy lifestyle we teach.
Also, this is still a great country. True it's seemingly getting worse all the time and I don't see anything bright in our near future, but I wouldn't move my family anywhere else.Mike Esparza
Esparza Fitness
Personal Training & Fitness Classes
www.esparzafitness.com
www.********.com/esparzafitness
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01-21-2013, 04:52 AM #63
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01-23-2013, 03:01 PM #64
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01-23-2013, 04:11 PM #65
- Join Date: Feb 2006
- Location: Trevor, Wisconsin, United States
- Age: 64
- Posts: 416
- Rep Power: 223
I've had my my say, but needed to comment on this.
If we are so "superficial" as a nation, why is the vast majority of our population overweight, and over half, obese?
Am I shallow, or vain, for wanting to look good naked?
Probably.
But I also like being mistaken for someone 20 years younger than my age. I like being more fit, and stronger, than most of the young guys in my gym. I like not having back problems, and not being on any medications, like most people my age suffer from.
I'll admit I'm fighting Father Time tooth and nail, and will until I die. And I won't apologize for it either.
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01-23-2013, 04:44 PM #66
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01-26-2013, 09:05 AM #67
- Join Date: Jan 2009
- Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States
- Age: 38
- Posts: 103
- Rep Power: 213
The crazy thing is that people are getting more gym memberships and shopping at healthier markets more than ever but obesity still continues to grow. There are a lot of people that want to eat right and train, they're just not doing it right.
Mike Esparza
Esparza Fitness
Personal Training & Fitness Classes
www.esparzafitness.com
www.********.com/esparzafitness
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01-26-2013, 09:19 AM #68
- Join Date: Aug 2012
- Location: Newport, Rhode Island, United States
- Posts: 29,350
- Rep Power: 272551
This popped up for me under "new posts", so I thought I'd respond. As someone who has employed a PT, the eyeball test was important to me. You are your own advertising as a PT. If I want to be powerlifter, I want a trainer who looks like a power lifter. If I want to cut my BF%, I want a trainer who looks like he has experience with that. If my wife wants to get slimmer, or get in shape for an event, then she wants a svelte female trainer with a similar body type.
Obviously, being able to show before and after pictures of your clients is going to demonstrate that you can get these results for your clients, but you've gotta get me to want to look at your portfolio. Also, if you don't have a developed portfolio, then your body is all I have to go off of. Just something to think about.
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01-26-2013, 09:29 PM #69
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01-27-2013, 04:58 AM #70
- Join Date: Nov 2008
- Location: A house on a hill, Australia
- Posts: 6,931
- Rep Power: 18228
Just replying to the bolded bit directly, back in 2011, I did a weekend course with one of the top powerlifters in Australia, learning from one of the best. And if it weren't for his sport-loving fashion sense, looking at him I wouldn't have known he even did any kind of structured exercise. He wasn't skinny, he wasn't fat, he just looked like an ordinary guy.
SQ 172.5kg. BP 105kg. DL 200kg. OHP 62.5kg @ 67.3kg
Greg Everett says: "You take someone who's totally sedentary and you can get 'em stronger by making them pick their nose vigorously for an hour a day."
Sometimes I write things about training: modernstrengthtraining.wordpress.com
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01-27-2013, 05:30 AM #71
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01-27-2013, 06:15 AM #72
Well. I'm not a PT. I'm not even sure if I supposed to post here.
I am just one of those average people at the gym who has hired PTs (notice plural form of word). My decision to hire a specific PT comes down to my current fitness goal and how much knowledge that PT has about my goal (regardless of how they look).
When I hired my first PT, I had been injured. Badly. Couldn't run anymore. Wanted to learn to use the machines in the gym. I asked for a trainer who was very knowledgeable about injury prevention. She made sure I was using machines correctly to avoid injury.
Then I decided I wanted to lift weights. She admitted she did not know a lot about weight training. I stuck with her for a while out of loyalty, but I realized I needed to move on to someone who could help me achieve my new goal.
Just my 2 cents as a formerly-injured-still chunky-not-certified-run-of-the-mill-average-Joe-who-hires-PTs
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01-27-2013, 06:34 AM #73
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01-27-2013, 06:55 AM #74
- Join Date: Aug 2012
- Location: Newport, Rhode Island, United States
- Posts: 29,350
- Rep Power: 272551
I wouldn't let her train me because she's Canadian. I don't care that she's female, and if you look at a picture of her where she isn't wearing a parka, it's pretty obvious that she's in fantastic shape. I wasn't able to find a picture of her legs, but I'm sure that she doesn't have sticks either. In her case, her accomplishments (her body, her competition record, her own experiences with training for powerlifting) would be her advertising.
Using an extreme outlier to frame the entirety of a discussion is a poor way to find answers regarding a topic.
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01-27-2013, 07:31 AM #75
I've seen her in person several times, she looks like a normal girl. She's the one on the left.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/6442413.bin
But again, what does a "powerlifter" look like? Aside from extreme outliers (giant Wendler or whatever), they all look like NORMAL men. Have you actually been to PL meets? Surely if you have, you would see this in the average PL trainer.
And if you decide to change your goals, then what? Dump your trainer every time you change your mind?
Your wife wants to get in shape for an event, choosing a slimmer girl doesn't mean that slim girl knows a darn thing about getting that girl slim. A lot of female trainers have been naturally slim/fit their whole life, many of them have never been in the position to need to lose weight or even have a shred of sympathy for it. So, you are much better off choosing the person who has gotten the results for many people... regardless of what they look like.
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01-27-2013, 08:15 AM #76
I think people hire trainers for lots of reasons. I think the ones who stick with a training program/trainer are more likely to be thoughtful about it. Sure there's probably the woman who wants to lose weight so she hires the trainer who looks like her "ideal"--Does she stick with it? If so, maybe the person who "looked good" at the outset isn't the best for her.
I also think the relationship a trainer has with the client is important. It is a partnership. The person hiring a personal trainer is willing to tell that person a lot of info they might not share with others (weight, fears, etc). There is a certain vulnerability the client may have imo.
For me: When I first started, my PT wanted me to use the assisted pullup machine. I am afraid of heights. Had a panic attack the first time I used it. It was embarrassing. She witnessed that. Luckily, I trust her so I continued to go back.
^^^ Not sure if that is directed at me. Actually, I didn't "dump" her at first. She admitted she didn't know a lot about free weight training but was willing to learn. I stuck with her, but it became clear to both of us that she didn't feel comfortable with it. We still have a great relationship and I appreciate all she did for me to help me recover from an injury.
I don't change my mind a lot--but life sometimes forces a person to make different goals. Got another injury in November--from dancing (not lifting). Was in physical therapy 3x week. It has impacted by ability to lift weights. So yeah...I'm still lifting weights, but not doing the 5x5 program I had been doing.
Your wife wants to get in shape for an event, choosing a slimmer girl doesn't mean that slim girl knows a darn thing about getting that girl slim. A lot of female trainers have been naturally slim/fit their whole life, many of them have never been in the position to need to lose weight or even have a shred of sympathy for it. So, you are much better off choosing the person who has gotten the results for many people... regardless of what they look like.
I would be more likely to choose a trainer who was overweight but who had dropped 80 pounds already rather than an eternally skinny woman who can't understand my desire to binge on chocolate and bread when my mom drives me crazy.
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01-27-2013, 09:06 AM #77
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01-27-2013, 09:33 AM #78
Ahhh. Gotcha!
Am noticing how my gym is much less crowded these days as the Resolutioners lose steam.
Seems that PTs have a lot of challenges.
The ppl that hire someone who rep their physical goal would be tough I imagine. How do you motivate someone who probably hasn't honestly been thoughtful about the real work that needs to be done to attain that goal? (just speculating).
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01-27-2013, 10:40 AM #79
With regards to the bolded bit; I would love to work in a gym ATM. (only for that bit TBH) This should be the easiest time to sell PT to people. All you have to do is get yourself a list of people who started coming in regularly Jan and who are slowing down in Feb. Call them or go up to them and say "Listen, you don't want to fail this year like you've done every year up-til now. Hire me and we'll break the cycle".
Especially now that they've had a first paycheck since Christmas in so should have a few pennies in the bank again.
A PT should always be honest with their clients about the actual work required to get to a certain goal. I find that if I'm honest and explain to people that losing 20Kg is going to be hard work they will accept that. If I tell them "Yeah, I'll get you there in a few months time and you can eat whatever you want" they'll hate me for life.High quality Home Personal Training in Edinburgh, UK.
www.castlepersonaltraining.com
Look us up on ******** "Castlepersonaltraining" or just look me up "Peteratcastle"
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01-27-2013, 10:47 AM #80
I think everyone can agree trainers come in different shapes and sizes and different levels of knowledge and experience.
If a trainer that was or is a competitive powerlifter,football player or strongman most likely going to be a big guy,not always though.
A trainer that was say a swimmer or runner may be slim.
No you dont have to look like a Mr Olympia competitor to train someone.
Look at that picture of Arnold in the post he doesn't look all that great but we all know he would have tons of knowledge to offer to clients that wanted to be bodybuilders.His past speaks for itself.Would he be a good trainer?
Who knows, there are those other thing besides knowledge that would be a factor also but in this case his shape would not be a factor.He still does train himself be it around previous injuries and heart surgeries so he would still be some kind of example.
If you feel comfortable with a trainer that has no athletic experience,a pin puller and adjusts machines for you and is 30% body fat then good for you.
I certainly wouldn't hire that type of trainer.
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01-27-2013, 11:02 AM #81
- Join Date: Oct 2006
- Location: Massachusetts, United States
- Posts: 55
- Rep Power: 214
I don't know I just think a lot of people are missing his point here. I for one think if your job is to promote health and fitness then why wouldn't you be in decent shape. Not only does it set a bad example but i don't think it is great for their business. A lot of people seem to disagree with him but have yet to provide one example of a successful out of shape trainer. All the "out of shape" examples have been powerlifting or Olympic champions that would not work with the general population anyway. Most of these guys area of expertise is not getting the average gym goer in shape but to develope athletes for strength and power- totally different area. Not to mention just by looking at them you can see by their broad shoulders and big legs that they carry a lot of muscle. I would like to know how many people that disagree with him know an "average" out of shape trainer in an "average" gym that is tons of successful.
Hard work is the great equalizer!!!!!
taylorednutrition.tripod.com
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01-27-2013, 01:13 PM #82
I missed the OP's point because I did not read the whole thing, so I jumped to conclusion. As a result, you missed my point for missing the OP's point. But that's okay. It's just the web..
You brought up some interesting and valid points. This country has a lot of problems. You mention overweight, obese, etc... That is one of many, many problems.. But that part of the problem is NOT aesthetics in nature; that "problem" is more due to lack of personal responsibility, lack of pride in oneselft, lack of discipline, and I can go on and on.
Do I think you are vain? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! I wish more people in this country would be 'vain' the way you define it.
Great job taking care of yourself and exercising personal accountability and responsibility. Keep at it, and kick father time's ass.This above all..
To thine ownself be true..
And it must follow, as the night the day..
Thou can'st not then be false to any man..
-----------------------------------------------
Bros, my Weightlifters and Powerlifters are my credentials.
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01-28-2013, 04:22 AM #83
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01-28-2013, 05:23 AM #84
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01-28-2013, 05:25 AM #85
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01-28-2013, 07:15 AM #86
I tend to agree with this post. I'm recently recovering from injury that's had me sidelined for 2/3 years (knee issues after knee issues) I'm over at the minute but that doesn't question my knowledge of the industry, I can see how some would think that though. In my experience in the industry I've met a total of one person that doesn't train or seem to have any interest in the industry but they weren't overweight but they knew very little. You can't always judge people by pure looks alone.
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01-28-2013, 10:06 AM #87
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01-28-2013, 12:42 PM #88
I see a problem in the industry for the reverse of what the OP is saying. People who think they're good trainers because they like lifting weights and have a good physique. In fact, that kind of narcissism really shows, and scares away many of the typical gym-goers. I hear so many patrons express happiness when the big gym rats decide to move to a more "hardcore" gym.
"I am a leader, motivator, coach, athlete, competitor, supporter, friend, teacher, student, role model, alarm clock, counselor and daily reminder that hard work, discipline and patience are the keys to success." --You're right about this, and it all has almost nothing to do with your 6 pack. Can you relate, communicate, teach, empathize; are you knowledgeable, adaptable, likable?
It's funny at my gym the bottom trainer, out of 10, is the stacked guy who came from college strength and conditioning. He has the personality of a serial killer, and he's getting whooped by the everyday looking girl and the grey-haired male trainer who looks like a car salesman.Last edited by pcproffy; 01-28-2013 at 12:50 PM.
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01-28-2013, 01:40 PM #89
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01-28-2013, 07:57 PM #90
- Join Date: Jan 2009
- Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States
- Age: 38
- Posts: 103
- Rep Power: 213
pcproffy,
You know a lot of people took me writing this as a way of me saying that I'm better than everyone else. I'm just saying this what being a personal trainer means to me.
As for your questions:
can I relate - leader, motivator, coach, athlete, competitor, supporter, friend, teacher, student, role model, alarm clock, counselor all relate to different people.
communicate - leader, motivator, coach, supporter, friend, teacher, counselor, daily reminder that hard work, discipline and patience are the keys to success all require communication.
teach - coach, teacher and counselor all require you to teach
empathize - supporter, friend and counselor require empathy
knowledgeable - leader, coach, athlete, competitor, teacher, student and counselor all require and/or help build knowledge.
adaptable - leader, motivator, coach, athlete, competitor, supporter, friend, teacher, student, role model, alarm clock, counselor and daily reminder that hard work, discipline and patience are the keys to success, pretty much all of those involve being adaptable.
likable - I have been up until now. I'm getting the impression you may not like me very much, but my clients seem to be fond of me, otherwise I wouldn't get resigns and referrals.
As I said earlier, obviously I'm not saying that all you need is a good body to be a trainer. I'm saying you need to have knowledge and should have the body that promotes your knowledge.Mike Esparza
Esparza Fitness
Personal Training & Fitness Classes
www.esparzafitness.com
www.********.com/esparzafitness
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