Years back my gym hired a fat trainer, not one of those with a six pack. You know the type. Bald head, thick arms, and huge calves. Problem was that he hadn’t seen his calves in years because he couldn’t see past his gut. I couldn’t understand why anybody in their right mind would want to train with this guy. He wasn’t particularly attractive and definitely didn’t have six pack abs.
I would see him come into the gym with Nando’s chicken take out and quickly sneak in a few bites between clients. His floor demeanor was good but he constantly complained of being tired in the staff room. Maybe the weirdest part of the whole scenario was the purple drink that accompanied him wherever her went.
"Purple drink -- Not the same formula as grape juice.. ain't no vitamins in that s***" - Dave Chappelle
Why am I bringing this up now?
I started reading Dan John’s fantastic book Never Let Go
I also got thinking back to the story above and wondered what everybody thought was good enough shape to be a personal trainer. Did they have to have six pack abs? So I posed the question to my Facebook family (if you’re not friends with me on Facebook please add me here). Apparently I struck a nerve as a long and sometimes heated debate followed:
I didn’t expect such a passionate response and from looking at my post it would seem that my decision was already made up. I was simply stating my point but the comments gave me new perspective.
Much of the debate was started with one comment:
I’ve got a six pack too — it’s just in with the rest of the groceries
I get frustrated with friends when they make a big deal out of me reaching for a piece of cake. I’m a trainer and also a human being. I drink beer, I love cheese, my awesome clients bring me snacks weekly (which I eat), and my workouts experience an ebb and flow. True, I’m healthier than most but don’t understand why I’m ridiculed when I occasionally give in to temptation.
Is this what the public looks for when choosing a personal trainer? Better yet, is this what defines a good personal trainer? Is it the six pack abs?
Things aren’t always as they seem
Remember the trainer above with his purple drink? Well that trainer ended up being in remission from cancer. He was a previous bodybuilder and had been personal training for 15 years. Admittedly he took some PED’s (performance enhancing drugs) in the past but nowhere near as many as Ryan Braun (YES!!! first time ever using a topical reference in a post! *5 min of fist pumping ensues*). He was the stereotypical model of fitness with a six pack before cancer struck randomly and with a vengeance.
The chemo was particularly harsh and he had to take strong drugs to deal with the side effects. The effect of the drugs was that it caused him to balloon out. Makes sense that he was always tired now doesn’t it? The purple drink? It so happened that the mysterious purple drink was an electrolyte mixture meant to help with his constant nausea.
It took me 3 months to learn what this man was going through. That whole time I harbored negative feelings towards him because he was successful. Clients loved him and begged to train while I struggled because he did a great job. The guy had 15 years experience, a great educational base, and a specialty in post-running stretching.
Why do people become trainers in the first place?
I want to also make not of another comment on my wall:
Many trainers enter the profession because of powerful changes they’ve made to overcome. They may never have six pack abs but walk the walk and talk the talk. More important, they have passion and with passion anything is possible. These have the power to influence and effect. Don’t rule them out. Albert Bandura’s expanded social cognitive theory shows the powerful effect that this type of modelling can have in developing clients self-efficient.
So Should personal trainers have 6 pack abs?
No. Abs don’t define fitness. Six pack abs define low bodyfat.
Thankfully the anorexic teen look is out. Get some meat on dem bones
What are personal trainers responsibilities?
1. Vision to see the whole situation
Personal trainers are role models and shouldn’t be harboring negative feelings towards other professionals as I did with my co-worker above. Instead of being jealous of him I should have gone out of my way to learn from him. After all, he was at a huge disadvantage and kept raking in the dough. I should have gone out of my way to befriend him and learn some stretching or client retention techniques. Surely I could also have also picked up some of his work ethic. This guys body was fighting him every step of the way and he managed to overcome. Even if he didn’t have a six pack.
What physique should trainers have?
The answer doesn’t lie in physique or a six pack as I’ve demonstrated above. The answer lies in setting a good example. When looking for a trainer I beg that you look past the physique for a second and look for these traits:
1. Health and vitality – A trainer can’t look worn out. My co-worker above always had a big smile on his face and endless energy for his clients. It’s because he took care of himself before, during, and after the treatment even though it wasn’t easy.
I might not be the biggest trainer but I’m healthy and energetic. I sleep well and I eat well (except when my clients bring me chocolate). I exude energy. Most personal training clients are not looking to get six pack abs because they’re not willing to make the effort it takes to maintain such a low body fat. Instead, they want to be healthy and active for as long as possible. What good are 6 pack abs for the client if their life is miserable in all other respects?
2. Experience working with people like you - Let’s file this under physique. Do you want to be a bodybuilder? I’m not the right guy for you unless you want to compete in the under 150lbs category. Are you a post-menopausal women with 2 kids and 2 30-min slots per week to train in? Maybe you should train with an older female trainer. She probably won’t have six pack abs but you can be sure she knows what you’re dealing with. (Note: Neghar Fonooni did an amazing piece for the PTDC on how to cope with training for busy mothers. Check it out here)
Do you desire a specific physique? Well then find a trainer who has that physique. If you want to have six pack abs then find a trainer with them. If you want to be strong as hell. Find a dude who weighs 300lbs and lifts atlas stones
He might not have six pack abs but you can bet you a** he can show you how to be strong
The point is that there isn’t an ideal physique for a personal trainer. We come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. There are good ones and there are bad ones irrelevant of physique. Genetics plays a huge part in how humans look. Maybe the next time you’re looking for a trainer look past the 6 pack and speak to the guy drinking the purple drink.
What do you think trainers should look like? have I changed your view? Do you disagree with me? Comment below and, as always, please share.
Should Belichek have been a star football player? Of course not. Not everyone has the goal of having a 6-pack. But, as you said, you have to have lead a healthy lifestyle at least.
Some of the best coaches/trainers in the industry don’t have rock hard abs.
Very true. For lots of sports it’s advantages to hold more body fat. My argument here is more towards the common trainee and balancing what’s most important vs. how much time they have. It’s unreasonable to think that most trainees that a personal trainer encounters will get totally ripped. 1-2 stressed out workouts a week don’t lend themselves well to wash-board abs
“Health” in itself is an arbitrary concept. There are cultures around the world far “unhealthier” in the America’s eye — obese, sedentary, etc — yet they have far less incidences of heart attacks and whatnot because of reduced stress.
I just think a coach needs to do “enough” to show that they live the lifestyle they believe in. You can’t preach paleo unless you are paleo. So in that sense, I think you need to ask yourself what you want to stand for, and then that’s what you need to do.
Very true Anthony. We’re definitely on the same wavelength on pretty much everything it seems. To take your point one step farther. A point I didn’t make in this article but I believe very strongly in is to try everything before giving it to a client. Just because you did 1 week of intermittent fasting doesn’t mean your clients should try. Don’t give your clients GVG (German Volume Training) if you haven’t been through at least one full cycle.
Nice post, Jon. I think you and I have a fairly similar perspective. I also enjoy beer. And sometimes I give in to temptation for junk food. I am still very happy with my body, but I certainly don’t have a 6-pack. I think my clients actually prefer it that way. In fact a few of them have told me so: they like that I appear to be human. I have frailties just like them; and I make mistakes just like them. I do keep a bit more consistency than most in terms of my workouts and nutrition – frankly I consider it part of my job. But I don’t feel that my job requires me to have a 6-pack, and as I’m quite booked up, it would seem my clients don’t feel that way either. I’ll also add another wrinkle to this thought: remember that fat loss tends to occur all over the body – not just where we want it to. If I wanted 6-pack abs, my breasts would shrink. I’m not huge to begin with, and I want to keep what I got! Something to consider: If penis’s shrunk with fat loss the way breasts do, no man would have a 6-pack (of the non-barley variety).
hahahahahahahahaha. Can you please write a guest post using your last point as the basis and I’ll put it up here. That’s amazing and so very true.
As always, great post! I think with experience, and a solid resume…you can get away with much less of a ‘sculpted body’. Come in fresh off your certification, with no experience…looking like a bloated blob….and I doubt you’ll be attracting very many clients. To say that appearance doesnt matter at all, is basically like the old saying ‘do as I say, not as I do’. But, I honestly think it has more to do with experience, resume, and results you have shown thru clients. So, yes…I think the rookies need to keep their own bodies in top notch shape just to get the ball rolling. Of course, just my $0.02…
Great point Mike. It takes a ton of energy to get a career going but do a good job and build your relationships and your army will form (http://www.theptdc.com/2011/10/build-your-client-army-becoming-unstoppable/)
Thank you so much for putting me in your post.I have had a lot of times when I have felt extremely self concious of my mid rif. I have great legs, buns of steel and super toned arms. I can run marathons and and dead lift way more than most girls I know.But I have often felt as a personal trainer I should have the perfect wash board stomach.Surely as I trainer I should I be able to achieve that, right?..Nope..Like I said I have had a c section and that little muffin top, that is only visible if I have a short top on, just will not go.I was a size 18 after I had my daughter and I have had to work really hard to get to where I am now.That is why I became a personal trainer.The new lease of life I felt was incredible and I wanted other people to be able to feel as amazing as I did. Most of my clients got in touch with me after seeing on my profile that I had been over weight. A lot of the over weight female members that I have spoken to in the gym have said that after seeing me weight lift and my physique(muffin top hidden) that they felt to intimidated to talk to me and felt that I would judge them. I found it very sad as they are the kind of people that I did my training for.As soon as I tell them my story share my imperfections and admit that sometimes I will eat my own weight in chocolate, they immediately relax and a lot of them are now long term clients.I cry with my clients, I have been known to drag them out when they make excuses not train, I respect them and I take there journey as personally as they do. I get results and they enjoy the training. I feel like a weight has been lifted after reading this( no pun intended) and whilst I would love to look like I could break lamp posts with my abs I clearly do not need to..Thanks Jonathan loving your work..x
Thanks for the story Meg. I think it’s important to let our clients know that we’re not perfect (I’m definitely not). Social modelling is most effective when the client can put themselves in your shoes. if you try to show that you’re too perfect of an example you won’t be an effective coach.
Your background (which I don’t know a ton about) is extremely important for a lot of trainees. I might even argue that it makes you more valuable as a coach than people who are shredded but have never struggled with anything.
Thanks for the kind words.
Totally agreed
I have been seeing this topic pop up a lot lately and am glad to see people address it positively. I have a personal story that puts me in the no six pack category. At 26 I was unable to walk for 6 months, I had 3 epidurals and physical therapy to be able to function, then had a shoulder surgery, and 2 knee surgeries…after 10 years of injuries and exactly 1 year after PT for my 2nd knee surgery I squatted 425 after never attempting over or even getting close to 300lbs.
I have been working at an Air Force gym for 2 years and in that time worked with MANY different people. Some had injuries others were perfectly healthy. What I noticed is people would constantly walk up to the people that I was training and ask if they were trainers…lol seemed silly to the people that I trained as all they did was kinda chuckle and point to me. My contract with the AF has expired and am now running my own training business, but now that I am relying on training as a source of income I have had to take a serious look at myself. Was I a person people would assume was a trainer…NO I WASN’T.
Since that honest evaluation of myself 12 weeks ago when I decided to change that I have dropped 30 pounds from 246 to 215 and plan on dropping to 187 which is the weight class I plan on competing at in an Olympic Lifting meet this spring. Bottom line is my knowledge hasn’t changed, my workouts haven’t changed, but my goals have. There are many people who don’t know shit about training and get clients through the gift of genetics….people need to look for the students of our profession and those exude a passion that is contagious for fitness.
Nobody would have ever guessed that I hold 6 certifications and that I am in my 4th year working towards my Bachelors of Science with the goal of earning my Masters in Exercise Science…but those that have I have worked with have no doubt of my abilities, and those that have been my workout partners….well…people will keep assuming that they are training me lol
gotta go get my workout on now…nice blog post!
Great story Shawn. What are you thoughts in composing a blog post about your experience with some videos of you lifting? I’d love to include it on the site.
Sounds good to me…I have finals all this week then a month to do something like that feel free to email me s.fears@hotmail.com
Shoot it over when you’ve put it together and email me at jonathan@theptdc.com
I don’t think they necessarily have to have a six-pack, but ALL trainers should have some personal experience with some kind of their own transformation! Too many times people get into this industry simply because they like working out. Although a lot of the time it is unintentional, these are the same people that diminish the role of a trainer. A lot of times, potential clients or everyday gym-goers don’t see the need in paying for “workouts” which is why magazines, home-videos, or other randomly put together workouts do so well. People tend to not see the benefit in paying for “workouts.” Although these products were created for the masses, people tend to lose sight of what personal training/coaching really is! Yes, having a six-pack is great marketing, and can get one client’s possibly faster than others, but you can see through a set of six-pack abs. You can’t see through passion, dedication or commitment! The former can only get you so far! Saying a trainer should have s six-pack is the same as saying a trainer should have a degree. Way too often, we get caught up in the extremes. At the end of the day, people generally know what not to eat. People generally know they should be sleeping more, drinking more water, eating more greens and less sugar. People know they should be exercising in some way shape or form. They don’t need knowledge at first. They need inspiration! They need to be happier! They need to believe in themselves! That’s where WE come in! That’s the beauty of being a trainer. Certain qualities can’t be taught, and those that truly know how to relate to their clients will be the ones that are never relying on temporary “trends” or “looks.” Caring and empathy are two timeless qualities! Now, if you’re a caring and educationally driven trainer with a set of six-pack abs year around, then good for you- that’s all the better!
Good points Danny. I’m not saying that a trainer shouldn’t have abs. Just saying that it’s not a prerequisite to doing a good job.
Thanks for the comment.
Good blog and agree with your comments…I’m in my 50′s and have the fitness of a 40 year old female but I don’t have a six pack. Yet my whole core section works really well and is very strong.
The fitness industry worldwide is based heavily on selling fitness = good looks. Motivation, empathy with the client, supportive and teaching the correct, relevant exercises for each individual is what really matters when it comes to being a good PT. Fitness is more than just having a 6 pack. Fitness is having flexibility, strength, speed, power, agility, co-ordination and balance. A 6 pack looks great but it’s not THE most important factor a PT needs.
Very true Fiona
Funny, I posted the same question on my wall and everyone (except one guy who is not even a client of mine and out of shape), said that the reason they chose me as a trainer was because of my physic and the picture they saw on Facebook and website.
You all can think what you want, your physic is a selling point and for some determinant of whether they choose you or the guy down the street. People always be judgemental. If you think that they are not, you don’t get marketing.
just my 2 cents.
Valid point. Physique’s incredibly important. I agree that we’re judged on how we look initially but I would argue that it’s the job we do that brings people in later.
I completely agree with this article. When I was completing my certification several years ago I had someone tell me that they wouldn’t hire a trainer with out a six pack… this got my back up, cuz I grew up chubby.
I have friends who are naturally lean and have a six pack without even trying. A colleague of mine became a personal trainer after HER trainer helped her lose 100 lbs. She does not look “fit” by the standard high muscle, low fat sense, but she could kick my a$$ on a spin bike (and I teach spin too). She inspired larger clients to lose weight by sharing her success.
I competed in my first (and only, so far) figure competition last year (2010) and found that my diet was the hardest and have definitely not kept up the diet.
I find that if I’m totally honest with my clients, it shows them that I’m a real person, not some carved-from-stone gym junkie who intimidates them and doesn’t get where they’re coming from.
People may inquire to work with you because of your abs and if your good at your job on to of that, then good for you. But ultimately, they’ll stay with you and tell all their friends because of your talent and personality.
My point is, you can’t see my six pack (it’s there, just buried a little) but I’m damn good at what I do. I get my clients to their goals safely, helping them build a solid foundation for lifelong training, not just a lean rectus abdominus… and most importantly, we have fun while we sweat.
Very true Julia. Congrats on your comp.
Friends! We can all come up with stories and some excuses why we/some trainers don’t have six pack abs. For me though it’s a matter of whether or not my trainer has the discipline to create his or her own best physique. If there is an issue with a medical or genetic or other problem, certainly a client would understand. For me though coming from a life long desire for a defined body, I look to a trainer for skill and advice and some of that “6 pack look” shows me the trainer knows his/her stuff. Shallow maybe, but it’s usually IMHO the trainers that don’t have defined abs that make the biggest noise about having the skill vs. not having abs. Now at the age of 63 I have my abs showing for the first time in my life and I can’t tell you the scores of e-mails that I get from all over the world from guys 15 years of age and up who want to know how I got abs because that’s exactly what defines the “fit” look. If a trainer doesn’t have a defined core I believe that says lazy and without good meal planning, it also indicates that having a 6 pack is hard to get and maintain. I’m here to say that with the desire and goals in place most anyone can have a lean and defined 6 pack. Even at 63 with some loss of skin elasticity I show a darn good 8 pack actually. This is a calling card for many young men and women who look to me for advice. Like it or not you need to attract customers and a 2,4,6 or 8 pack is a pretty cheap way to advertise you know your stuff. I won an abs contest last year and that’s what put my body out there for the public to see as it was on a Facebood page that had the contest. Even after the passing of a year I still get messages from mostly guys who find it hard to get that elusive 6 pack and wonder how ‘this old guy” got his.
Would I personally train with somebody who didn’t have a defined athletic body? Yes, but, would that attract others? Not sure.
Thanks for reading.
Phil
Good points Phil. I agree and think that having a 6-pack (or just being jacked) is important early on when a trainer isbuilding up clientele as they don’t have their reputation to bring in clients through the door
Great post Jonathan
D Have always thought this way. Maybe it’s because I don’t have a rippling 6 pack or big gun show! It’s more to do with whats inbetween the ears and in the heart that matters i’d say. Great reading though.
True. Thanks for commenting Scott
Football lineman on the street would look like big fat guys when the fact is they are well conditioned athletes. They are that big on purpose. Find a trainer who looks like you want to or is fit the way you want to be and actually had to WORK to attain it. Some people can hardly work out and eat mostly crap and still look good because they happened to win the gene-pool lottery.
Good point
Hey Jon,
Excellent post. I do agree that a good trainer should be healthy and have a reasonable amount of leanness. Then again, it depends on the trainers goals. I’ve seen trainers with excellent physiques do things in the gym with their clients that would make you think you were watching the Cirque du Soleil. In my case, I still maintain a pretty good amount of leanness (maybe 14-15%), but I also do powerlifting. So keeping my body weight up is a priority. Being a strong mofo and being incredibly lean don’t go hand in hand unfortunately.
If a coach has helped his clients attain their physique goals, then I think it doesn’t really matter what they look like. It just doesn’t look good from a clients perspective if their obese coach is giving them advice on how to lean up. I think clients will be a little more willing to work and listen to someone who can walk the walk.
Very true. I guess the tough part is getting started if you don’t have an aesthetically pleasing physique. Once you’ve gotten results it’s easier to be a strength athlete.
That is an awesome article! I’ve gone through some hardships with bad injuries, that forced me to change my sport and I picked up swimming! At the beginning I was a total outsider and everybody was laughing, wondering why I was in the pool, but they could never get in my head and know the pain I was feeling-a former star basketball athlete, with bright future being robbed out of the opportunity to play her favorite sport. I tried to find an outlet in swimming, but others just thought I was an incapable swimmer, and I was just not talented enough….Truth is that behnd every smile there is a story…you never know how dark and painful is that story and you should never judge people!
SOme time ago I wrote this article on the topic “You will never know half of the things I will never forget” (http://www.inspiredfitstrong.com/blog/you-will-never-know-half-of-the-things-i-will-never-forget/) … ANd once again awesome article!
Thanks Ines. It’s very true — you never really know what’s going on in somebodies life now or in their past.
Too often we’re judged superficially.
Wow, I can’t believe so many people are buying into the idea that a trainer must be or have been in incredible or decent shape in order to be a good trainer.
Isn’t the job to train OTHER people? In order to be a good trainer you must know exactly what it takes for any person to their goal of the fitness level that they want to be at. This doesn’t meat at all that they must have been or be at that level. All they need to know is how to get there. There can be a variety of reasons, that don’t matter at all, why they aren’t fit themselves, but that doesn’t make them any less of a trainer.
For example, a friend of mine is considered to be one of the best coaches of Canadian Olympic long distance runners there is, but if you look at the guy, you can tell he’s never run once a day in his life. His personal fitness has no effect on the level of performance of this runners, and therefore has no effect on his ability to inform athletes how to be the best at what they do.
The reference of this guy that got cancer doesn’t seem to be the best to back up the point of not needing 6-pack abs to be a good trainer though. He was, at one time, as you describe at an elite fitness level himself.
What i’m saying is that trainers don’t even need to ever have been in shape at all, they just need to know how to. You can call them fat and lazy and unhealthy, but does that really change the fitness that YOU can get in? No.
It’s not a necessity I agree. I would however feel comfortable making the overall statement that somebody must practice what they preach. Is Tiger Wood’s caddy a better golfer then him? No. But I bet you the guy golfs.
I have clients who can lift more weight than me but that doesn’t mean that I don’t weight lift myself. It’s pretty hard to completely understand a modality your teaching without having done it yourself.
The times i was the leanest in my life i didn’t nearly feel as good from an energy perspective. Even bodybuilders feel like garbage when they are cutting down before competition. This isn’t to say that one can’t be lean and many can achieve a moderate six-pack, however, one needs to find their own balance and be honest with themselves as to how much of their life outside of the gym they are willing to sacrifice.
The second reality smack-to-the-face is that, in personal training, people will gravitate towards the personal trainer that they can either most closely identify with or are most comfortable with being around for extended periods of time. I’ve seen some fat trainers at the gyms i’ve worked at over the years that have a full clientele list and they work the angle of being a friendly, energetic personality that encourage and motivates in a way that isn’t necessarily a blow-the-whistle drill sargeant style of training. This suits certain individuals, however, others may want the masochistic styles of training (or they might lie to themselves that they need someone like that because they don’t believe there is another way).
And finally, just as in any industry, everybody’s got their niche. The “Situations” out there will always be selling training to those that want to do dumbbell fist-pumps, pound protein shakes together, and talk about what kind of ice they are wearing on friday night. And there are other trainers that will take a different approach. Different strokes, different folks. Personal training is a service industry and there is more than one way to package it, as long as the route from point A to point B is as healthy and efficient as possible, who cares what the delivery system is. As the old saying goes, it’s not the man in the fight, it’s the fight in the man.
Cheers,
Charlie
so true. I like everything about this comment Charlie and really don’t have anything to add.
Cheers,
-Jon
I love your thoughts in this piece; and I agree it’s a contentious topic.
Whilst I agree that you need to practice what you preach, to me this isn’t about how having a 6 pack or being cut. It’s about being fit in the way you want to be fit.
I’ve been a PT for nearly 8 years; I have never had a 6 pack. My nutrition isn’t perfect, so I’m not the ‘perfect’ shape; I’m a UK dress size 12. But I compete in triathlons, 10kms and marathons and I did an ironman a few months ago. If clients choose to not train with me because I’m not a size 6; I’m OK with that, as my main interest isn’t training people who are all about aesthetics. I want to train sports men and women, people who want to run farther, be faster, find a new sport, kick a ball with their kids. I want to train people like my 75 year old hip replacement client, who just started walking again without a stick this week, after 8 weeks of work together. I want to train people who want to feel great and be fit to live the life they want to live.
Quite a few of my fellow trainers, at clubs in London, look fantastic and don’t play sport. They are dedicated to watching their nutrition and training to look good. It’s not easy and I respect that they look after themselves. But their goals are not my goals, and so to be considered not a ‘good enough’ trainer because I don’t wish to look that way is ridiculous. I’ve got an Msc in sport and exercise science, I know I’m good enough. And I guess that’s what it comes down to. To not worrying what other people think, but being strong and happy in your own decisions.
Yep. it all depends on the clientele you hope to train. Some clients are attracted to ripped trainers because it’s the physique that they wish to attain. That’s fine as these trainers know more about looking that way than you or I.
GREAT post.
I must say, this is something I have struggled with personally.
As someone who ballooned up to about 260 by the age of 21, and was able to shed 90 pounds, i have been searching for the elusive 6 pack for a few years.
Unfortunately, due to my poor choices earlier in life, and insulin resistance over the course of time, the 6 pack has been tough. 4 is about all I can get, and I’m still dealing with some excess stubborn fat at the lower back.
Am I the perfect trainers physique? NO.
Am I in great shape? Yes, I would say so. Do I have a high level of fitness? Yes, again.
My greatest asset, without a doubt is my ability to relate with my clients, feeling they can connect with someone who has emotionally “been where they’ve been”
We all have our strengths and weaknesses within our profession.
Think I’m a shitty trainer because of my weak points, go right ahead. You’re not hurting me feelings.
I guess when I think about it, we all come from different places, with different experiences, and I’m at a place where if I had to choose between a 6 pack or being able to empathize and relate with my clients, I’ll take that emotional connection hands down.
And that thinking is why you’ll be successful in your career while many others won’t.
I am one of those trainers that by looking at me, you would never think so. When I went to school there were people in class that thought it was great what I was doing and others that wondered why I thought I could do it. I had huge weight issues years ago and with the help of my trainer I lost a lot of weight. I am still on my journey. I could not afford to go 3 times aweek but her motivation got me to love exercise and believe I could do anything if I tried hard enough. She actually persuaded me to become a trainer knowing I couild inspire others. My cliients tell me they chose to train with me because I not only have the education and certifications, but I have been through it all and understand what they are going through. They were not comfortable going to a gym or training with someone that had the perfect body and didn’lt understand why they were how they are right now. They wonder why I don’t have the perfect body when I workout on my own am all over the place when they are here demonstrating what they need to be doing with the proper form. My clients love how great they feel since training with me and are all seeing great results, not just in weight loss but in strength and cardio health. My goal was to motivate people, like myself, that for whatever reason did not exercsie, to figure out that they actually can and really enjoy it. Seeing the awesone results my clients are making and seeing then reach their goals makes me as happy as if it were myself. I totally agree that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. My trainer is adorable and anyone would be thrilled to look as good as she does, but that’s not what keeps me giong to her. It’s her personality, creativity to keep it interesting, her education, and being able to make me want to continue no matter how frustrating plateaus can be.
I’m really glad you’ve found somebody who’s both passionate and knowledgeable. That’s great!
My trainer is passionate & knowledgeable. I also consider myself to be a good trainer because of her,giving 100% to the hours of schooling and practical training I had through NPTI and because I can relate to everything my clients are going through.
LOVE this blog!!!! I agree with the points you make…. I like the recommendation for people to find a trainer who will fit what they are looking for. We are all unique, individuals with our specialized areas and respect for each other is key! And, as you said, not every client wants six-pack abs because we all know it takes discipline & hard work to get those abs showing and keep them showing. It’s my goal for my cleints/participants to be healthy – mind, body, soul and spirit – and to understand moderation. I enjoy reading your blogs because you make us stop, think, reflect and put into action.
Thanks Angela for the kind words. I’m really glad you enjoy my ramblings.
I’ve been struggling with this very question! I’ve 51 years old and have spent most of my adult life overweight and out of shape. I’ve been working out for about 4 years but I’ll never have 6-packs, or look like He-Man. But I don’t want to look like He-Man and I’ve found others don’t want to put that much time into it either. We just want to be in shape to do more of what we want to do and to do it without getting tired. We also want to avoid high cholesterol, hypertension, and syndrome X. Which I have, and so will those I work out with.
Thanks for the vindication from the stereotypical view of ‘fitness trainer’.
My pleasure Don. keep up the great work!
I disagree. I’ve been an acsm cpt for 4 years and do not have a sic pack. I was taught by my college professors and acsm trainers and profs that only 15 percent of humans can build a genuine six pack naturally. The Genectics required for “six packs” are just not in every person. My clients refer me because I have knowledge and I’m passionate of helping people reach goals. I used to be over 300 pounds with cancer and crohns disease. I am now a healthy 205lbs at 6 foot 3. I can also say that a good percentage of trainers that have too much muscular build are one dimensional teachers as apposed to others. One dimensional as in “strength training and hypertrophy training is the only way”.
This particular blog post has been the most enlightening that I’ve read on the subject — that we can’t judge a book by its cover. That being said…
These comments just go to show how DIFFICULT attaining a six pack can be. Therefore, with that reasoning it seems that when comparing trainers of equal education, experience, and communication skills, the trainer with six-pack abs has ADDED VALUE on the basis of an external display of personal dedication, skill, and ability.
I also see a lot of rationalizations here. Sure, if you are successful without a six-pack, then go enjoy your beer etc. But if you’re newer to the industry or particularly handsome with six pack abs, there could be additional doors that open which simply don’t exist for the softer people.
Most people are interested in weight loss and our country still struggles with obesity issues. I personally believe that as a personal trainer living the lifestyle is mandatory. How could I motivate others to train and identify with my clients if I haven’t been in their shoes?