Trying to talk to some overweight people is like talking to a wall

[abolish the weak]

I just got into personal training, and it's definitely a reality check for me. Some of these people are just pathetic, and I'm not just talking about looks. Their lack of ANY sort of discipline in their lives outside of sitting on their ass at the office is non-existent. You just get to the point that you almost dont even want to give them the real answers anymore because you know they wont do it. They know what they need to do, that's the kicker!! They know eating shit is bad for them, not exercising enough is not going to cut it, and drinking excessively and smoking is not healthy. But they're full of every excuse in the world of why they do what they do. And everyone of them has the same line, "I dont want to look like you or anything" sometimes I just want to reply, "Well that's good, because I dont want to look like you either" but I try to be rational and friendly. I think the personal training will be a good fit for me, I just kind of need to candy coat shit a little and not come off like a drill sergeant, because I know half of these people are not going to do it anyways, I guess I just need to hold their hand as long as their money is green

 

[tatteredxangelx]

90% of them just want to feel like they are making progress and want you to tell them that they are doing good.

 

[klowndog]

I just got into personal training, and it's definitely a reality check for me. Some of these people are just pathetic, and I'm not just talking about looks. Their lack of ANY sort of discipline in their lives outside of sitting on their ass at the office is non-existent. You just get to the point that you almost dont even want to give them the real answers anymore because you know they wont do it. They know what they need to do, that's the kicker!! They know eating shit is bad for them, not exercising enough is not going to cut it, and drinking excessively and smoking is not healthy. But they're full of every excuse in the world of why they do what they do. And everyone of them has the same line, "I dont want to look like you or anything" sometimes I just want to reply, "Well that's good, because I dont want to look like you either" but I try to be rational and friendly. I think the personal training will be a good fit for me, I just kind of need to candy coat shit a little and not come off like a drill sergeant, because I know half of these people are not going to do it anyways, I guess I just need to hold their hand as long as their money is green

If that doesn't work, just bash their fuckin skulls in!!

 

[abolish the weak]

90% of them just want to feel like they are making progress and want you to tell them that they are doing good.

yeah, and I have nothing wrong with that. I just need to stop putting expectations on them for anything. Just sort of look at it like ,hey i'm doing my job, now its up to you to do yours. Sort of like that I suppose. In my head I'm sometimes wishing it was like Full Metal Jacket , "NOW CHOKE YOURSELF!! WTF IS THIS? A JELLY F'IN DOUGHNUT!!!"

 

[IRON37]

thats why when I start training Im going to be up-front and make them sign an agreement that I can cancel their sessions with me if I feel like theyre not trying. Seems like money can motivate most fatasses to do anything these days lol

 

[shawnkarbabacz]

yea if its your job its all about the money dude. But i know what you mean about gettin pissed. I did it for a while (but found i couldnt make as much as my current occupation) and the part i hated was the people blaming me that they werent seein results when it was THEM messing up the diet and routine that was causing it. I felt like i was getting a bad name due to their lack of ANYTHING resemballing control

 

[bigguns078]

I hit this wall too when i first started personal training.. It's sad, but you have to think of it as a business and catering to your clients needs.. Sometimes that is not always getting them in shape.. Some clients would come just to tell me about their problems while they walked thru the motions of a workout.. Some have never done anything in their life and have zero tolerance for being out of breath or having a muscle burn.. So you have to treat them like babies and give them very basic workouts. Some clients want you to kick the shit out of them and want to crawl out of the gym after their workout... (The best clients)

 

[Mid-Life]

Just watch the "Biggest Loser". Some folks really want to lose the weight.

 

[klowndog]

That would suck. Im a builder and thast would be like me trying to build a house out of half size 2 x4s , and crooked bricks. I like to take pride in my work, but you have to work with what you're given. Basically, it is very difficult to polish a piece of shit.

 

[SacToSD]

I feel you bro. I have some fat friends that are so full of excuses and bullshit it's not even funny. I'm trying to help a 250 lb (fat) buddy of mine drop some weight, and he keeps telling me that he "absolutely has to have his chocolate cake and huge glass of milk before he goes to sleep," and if I say "BULLSHIT!!! DROP THE FACK'N CAKE YOU FACK'N FROTO LOOKIN' BITCH!!" he gets all condescending. Ok, so I don't say that, but I say "wouldn't you progress much further/faster without that crap late at night?" I'm sick of people like that. I couldn't imagine having to deal with them 24/7 like you do.

 

[SacToSD]

Some have never done anything in their life and have zero tolerance for being out of breath or having a muscle burn..

Jesus I hate people like this

 

[jstforme]

Just watch the "Biggest Loser". Some folks really want to lose the weight.

i never watch it but somehow i never miss the grande finale lol. that show always makes me happy, wish more people had the same drive

 

[hellraiser27]

90% of them just want to feel like they are making progress and want you to tell them that they are doing good.

This is very true. Just encourage them. Don't take it personal if they never lose a pound. People are motivated by praise. I have a personal training business where I go to peoples homes and business and work them out and coach them on their diet. It actually can be very rewarding when you see them making progress. But don't expect large leaps.

 

[abolish the weak]

Well I'll be damned. What do you know, a 205 lb woman just emailed me telling me that she has been sticking to my diet and drinking more water like I told her, and she is down another 3.5 lbs in just a few days. Someone who is listening to me, thank God!! Normally I wouldnt condone that much weight loss in a few days, but for someone this overweight it could be something as simple as just fluid loss, so no worries

 

[Lenny]

Everytime I try to break the fitness myths they believe in (or heard) and preach the reality of health and wellness, I find them spinning on it. They believe it for one second and then go back to making excuses! The 5 principles I tell them they need to follow in order to succeed are: 1. Patience (it is not sprint, but a marathon), 2. Consistency (duh!), 3. Proper Nutriton (wellness eating), 4. Knowledge (ask questions, seek the truth), 5. Genetics (you are given a set bones and a structure, now worked to improve the different aspects of it.

If can get them to listen to that and meet me half way on it, well shit anything can happen in regards to improving health (this is in regards of sedentary, overweight, and low fitness level population)! But, it will always be ongoing battle because of the motivation/dicspline factor.

 

[doug1]

something to keep in mind is how you define in shape and how they define in shape maybe totally different. to you in shape is for a man 8% bodyfat, for them it may be getting into a pair of pants they haven't been able to fit into for awhile. none of us are perfect in our diets so expect some serious failure on their part, it will only slow their progress, that's their decision, better for them to have bumps in the road then to fall off the wagon and never get back on because of a personal trainer that to them is being an a-hole and who thinks he is better than them. even if these people do not progress on the outside to your expectations they are still better off on the inside(health) due to the fact that they are at least exercising now when before they weren't. thats one the key differences between most bodybuilders and the average joe, is that bodybuilders(generally) are not all that concerned with their health but obsessed with the outward, cosmetic look.

 

[abolish the weak]

something to keep in mind is how you define in shape and how they define in shape maybe totally different. to you in shape is for a man 8% bodyfat, for them it may be getting into a pair of pants they haven't been able to fit into for awhile. none of us are perfect in our diets so expect some serious failure on their part, it will only slow their progress, that's their decision, better for them to have bumps in the road then to fall off the wagon and never get back on because of a personal trainer that to them is being an a-hole and who thinks he is better than them. even if these people do not progress on the outside to your expectations they are still better off on the inside(health) due to the fact that they are at least exercising now when before they weren't. thats one the key differences between most bodybuilders and the average joe, is that bodybuilders(generally) are not all that concerned with their health but obsessed with the outward, cosmetic look.

Excellent point indeed, great advice!!! thanks

 

[RONJON]

ive done a little personal training back before my current job..and some are good some are bad. I love when the client wants to help themself..but those who are just doing it to do it and dont wanna listen it was almost a chore to work with

 

[King-kong]

Keep at it. Take the money - It will just make it that much more rewarding when you finally help that client who wants to help themselves.

 

[jfunk316]

I always looked at training like this:

1. People that won't listen or diet correctly so they will never get the results they want because they lack the discipline to do it. Well I make them feel supported and get paid from it.

2. People that will listen and learn from every word you tell them, well now i will help them anytime of the day or night. One lady used to call me about twice a day to ask if something was ok to put in her diet. She was great and lost a lot of weight and became quite healthy in the long term. These people, I still took their money but I went the extra steps to ensure they had my help whenever they needed it.

I no longer train but have a best friend that does and will still write diets (for free) for his clients he tells me deserve it. I have this thing about teaching anyone that wants to live a healthy lifestyle and giving them any tools I can to make it happen.