Overweight / Out of shape personal trainers - what's the deal here?

BrooklynBB · Nov 14, 2007

I'm sorry, but in a physical industry that demands dedication to diet, training and self-discipline, I don't see how anyone can call themselves a qualified personal trainer if they are overweight (yes, with STOMACH fat hanging over their bellies) OR just simply out of shape (i.e., look like a normal person) and have any credibility when it comes to giving advice.

I don't care what degrees you have, nor do I care what new swiss-ball technique you've developed to bring out the intercostals and serratus with your revolutionary rest-pause principles while breathing heavily for exactly 36 seconds a set: If you don't look the part, you should not be giving advice.

I wouldn't be posting this if it didn't have to do directly with me, but lets just say a not-so-trainer-looking-trainer criticized my form on biceps yesterday and ended up fucking up my workout because he felt the need to qualify his critique. The bottom line is he's not knowledgeable even at basic lifting, the conversation veered off into non-bodybuilding areas, and clearly he was fishing for information and not trying to help me at all.

I've decided upon a new conviction: I'm not engaging anyone in the fucking gym anymore. I've tried to be a nice person and gently tell people to fuck off by not saying fuck off but rather, "I'm busy, gotta train. Talk to you later..." But it doesn't work - not in New York City. NYC seems to have a problem of epidemic proportions when it comes to gyms - they are treated like social hang outs and not the training facilities that they should be.

So the new policy for me at least, is no friends in the gym. If I'm known as the gym asshole, that's cool with me. I can't bother with fat fuck trainers or non-qualified trainers coming up to me and telling ME that I'm wrong when I didn't ask for thier advice and obviously have years of experience physique wise and knowledge wise on them.

Anyone else suffer the problem of these gym-rats who pose as trainers telling them they're wrong when clearly you're doing everything correctly? I know I'm not alone here.

Kane · Nov 14, 2007

Just put those earphones on and do your thing. It doesn't keep everyone away, as there are still those that come up to you and motion you to take the earphones out so they can ask you something anyway.

BrooklynBB · Nov 14, 2007

Kane said:
Just put those earphones on and do your thing. It doesn't keep everyone away, as there are still those that come up to you and motion you to take the earphones out so they can ask you something anyway.

First of all, if I'm at the gym I shouldn't have to use techniques like this to keep people away from me.

Second, as I posted up above, I used several "techniques" already to get them away, headphones being one of them. If they want to talk to you, they will, no matter what, until you walk away yourself (which shouldn't have to happen) or tell them off (which also shouldn't have to happen). I'm paying for my time in the gym to use the facility, not to engage someone in conversation as if I was in a bar or nightclub.

Finally, if the guy happened to be a seasoned lifter who looked the part, I wouldn't have minded, honestly. But a fat person telling me what I'm doing is wrong who just admitted that they haven't worked out in a year giving me advice? That's a slap in the face and downright disgusting.

So again, thanks for YOUR advice (lol), but I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels the way I do about this.

joshbarnett · Nov 14, 2007

i know what you mean...i work with out of shape trainers and it amazes me the number of people that hire them to "help" them when they cant even keep themselves in shape!

MilitaryMuscle · Nov 14, 2007

just buy a truck load of those shirt that say "shut up and train" or print your own that say "dont talk to me i'm training"

nah on a serious note the only way you could probably completely avoid this is to either....

A - home gym
B- or a highly private gym...... which cost mucho $$$$

public gyms especially in a very populated area like NYC are more of a social gathering now a days. People go to just go.

goodluck

TooPowerful4u · Nov 14, 2007

I tried to lose weight but the doctor says i have a weak thyroid, my food addiction is stronger than others, and im big boned. I think im going to refer back to my IFA certification and pick out a diet and bosu ball plan and get myself back into peak condition.... il show you!

ALLEX · Nov 14, 2007

Just say this:

"Me no speek englis"

That's it.

gtj220 · Nov 14, 2007

This subject really hit home with me. I've been training for 20 years and do pretty well at the state and regional level shows. I've recently made the career switch to personal training, I applied at a very upscale club in the area and didn't get hired, I was told I was not a good "fit". I'm 5-10 around 235 roughly 10% bf. BUT, they have a bunch of housewives that have nothing more than some certification with a lot of letters and a big ass w/ saddle bags but they're a "fit'. It was very discouraging, and i'm not just a meathead, I present a very good professional appearance and i'm doing well at another club that didn't mind hiring a body builder and my clients say they like a trainer that looks the part, who would have thought that???

BOOMSHAKER · Nov 14, 2007

People are people and people come in many shapes sizes and colors. With this being said the shape of a person bares no qualification on his or her mind. Many of the greatest minds of our times came from people who were not into working out. And at no time did they reffer to themselves as a highly affective form of intelligence because of their non-bodybuilding stature.

When you go to a doctor do you really care if he or she is 50 to 60 pounds over weight? NO! What you are going there for is advice and healing. Once he or she is done with you do you tell your gym buddies "man that doctor was so fat I couldn't let him cure me of cancer because he was fat and so I left"? NO! You take the advice, you use it and should you want to reffer someone to him or her for "their works" then you do or don't. I know plent of lung transplant and heart transplant surgeons that are out of shape. NOT because they are lazy but because there is simply no time to work out. If you happen to have the time to work out then God bless you.(meaning anyone) But if you don't that simply means you have no time. It does not bare witness to your work ethics. You simply just don't have time to work out. I know 100% for a fact that is my case. To many times I can't work out. And I have a very busy clientel list that I train. Never once has anyone ever asked why I don't train. The see with their own eyes that I have really no time. But yet the keep coming back because of what I can do for them, and not what i can do for myself.

You do have some fat asses that really are lazy, yes this is true. And some of those fat asses act like they know it all and then want to give you advice. BUT, not every one who is out of shape shouldn't be listened to. Advice is just that Advice. You can either take it or leave it. And if you don't want to listen just tell the person no thank you and walk away!

(just my .02 folks)

BrooklynBB · Nov 14, 2007

TooPowerful4u said:
I tried to lose weight but the doctor says i have a weak thyroid, my food addiction is stronger than others, and im big boned. I think im going to refer back to my IFA certification and pick out a diet and bosu ball plan and get myself back into peak condition.... il show you!

HAHAHAH!!

I don't think that they are smart enough to come up with that but you know what, that is the best damned explanation yet!! LOL!!

BrooklynBB · Nov 14, 2007

BOOMSHAKER said:
People are people and people come in many shapes sizes and colors. With this being said the shape of a person bares no qualification on his or her mind. Many of the greatest minds of our times came from people who were not into working out. And at no time did they reffer to themselves as a highly affective form of intelligence because of their non-bodybuilding stature.

When you go to a doctor do you really care if he or she is 50 to 60 pounds over weight? NO! What you are going there for is advice and healing. Once he or she is done with you do you tell your gym buddies "man that doctor was so fat I couldn't let him cure me of cancer because he was fat and so I left"? NO! You take the advice, you use it and should you want to reffer someone to him or her for "their works" then you do or don't. I know plent of lung transplant and heart transplant surgeons that are out of shape. NOT because they are lazy but because there is simply no time to work out. If you happen to have the time to work out then God bless you.(meaning anyone) But if you don't that simply means you have no time. It does not bare witness to your work ethics. You simply just don't have time to work out. I know 100% for a fact that is my case. To many times I can't work out. And I have a very busy clientel list that I train. Never once has anyone ever asked why I don't train. The see with their own eyes that I have really no time. But yet the keep coming back because of what I can do for them, and not what i can do for myself.

You do have some fat asses that really are lazy, yes this is true. And some of those fat asses act like they know it all and then want to give you advice. BUT, not every one who is out of shape shouldn't be listened to. Advice is just that Advice. You can either take it or leave it. And if you don't want to listen just tell the person no thank you and walk away!

(just my .02 folks)

I hear you, and I agree with you. I just wish the bigger ones who aren't so "in shape" weren't so aggressive to guys like me who actually look like something, and were actually more helpful to those who need the assistance, know what I'm saying? It's like I'm the one who needs help with defined large muscles and those who are "normal" are doing just fine in their eyes

BOOMSHAKER · Nov 14, 2007

BrooklynBB said:
I hear you, and I agree with you. I just wish the bigger ones who aren't so "in shape" weren't so aggressive to guys like me who actually look like something, and were actually more helpful to those who need the assistance, know what I'm saying? It's like I'm the one who needs help with defined large muscles and those who are "normal" are doing just fine in their eyes

I absolutely understand where you're coming from! Sometimes people just need to shut the F up. You're exactly right. The one thing that pisses me off is when someone comes over and says you're doing that wrong! That's enough to make me want to turn to them and curse them out. Me personally I would much rather someone come up to me and say "have you ever tried that same thing but with a different twist"? And if I have never done so, then they have my full attention and I say "sure please do demonstrate what you mean".
Hell I just may learn something new I can use.

There is always a right and wrong way to say something or ask something. Some people just don't know how to go about it tactfully I guess.

tkav1980 · Nov 14, 2007

the gym i use is pretty hardcore . the trainers look like trainers but there is this one kid that works the front desk...lmao... this little shithead has the nerve to tell me my form is wrong when i have 315 over my chest on a bench(like mid rep). even from him that wouldnt bother me if it was true but one thing i concentrate on most is form and intensity. mind you he's like a buck twenty soaking wet with a 135 bench press. and he's relentless with his damn nagging. telling me oh thats too much weight for you when im squating or your not supposed to let your arm go totally straight when your doing curls. some days i just wanna pop his head like a pimple.......sorry i had to get that out. so yesterday i saw him walking over to give some unwanted stupid advice and i let out one giant nasty protien fart...so if all else fail when someone is bothering you try a nice big protien fart...it worked for me.

db006 · Nov 14, 2007

i try to make myself as unapproachable as possible when i train...but i still take the time to talk to people if they ask me something when my workout is finished...the problem i have with these trainers are they exercises they come up with for their clients....showing people the the absolute WRONG way to do things...like last night the guy had this girl who it was her first night in a gym trying to do bent over rows with the straight bar, and he had no clue how to do these....or this real jerkoff who thinks he invented the wheel, had some girl walking up the step mill with her holding 5 pound weights on each shoulder why he pulled up a chair to the stepmill....i used to work at la fitness now i train at bally's...uggghhh

tkav1980 · Nov 14, 2007

ugh! bally's and la fitness aaahhhh!! ive worked at both i feel your pain.

PlateStacker45 · Nov 14, 2007

I am a personal trainer and I get pretty chubby offseason..... does that count?

gooer · Nov 14, 2007

YES i cannot agree with the original poster more. when i am at the gym i am there to lift weights.. not to socialize! lots of people at my gym are friendly with each other and that's fine but they insist on approaching me while i'm training. just today i'm doing preacher curls, doing my own thing, having a great time. and one of the personal trainers comes up to me asking advice on arm training. it was extremely bothersome and fucked up the whole rhythm of my work out.

i dont want to be anti social but if i wanted to meet people i'd be at a bar or club, not the gym.