Why Personal Trainers Are Not Worth it

Is it worth it?

Being a personal trainer and coach myself, the above title may sound a little nuts. But, I want to be honest with people.  I don’t want to BS my way through this industry ESPECIALLY since people’s health and well being is at stake.  I have been in this industry for quite a while now and I have had the absolute pleasure of being around some of the best names in the industry.  But why do so many people still look at us in a bad light and think we only want their money?

Well, below I’ll list a few things you MUST look out for if you ever want to work with a trainer as there is only a small handful of good trainers out there- Please take these seriously;

1. If your trainer doesn’t carry out any form of lengthy consultation and gives you bank details right away after you first speak with them – look the other way.  They clearly don’t care.
2. Does your trainer ask you how you are when you see them?  Ask more about you?  Show genuine interest in your life?  Think about those and decide how you would feel if your trainer DIDN’T.
3. If your trainer doesn’t give you any options/facilities to keep in touch with them outside of the gym, get rid of them.  They should be supporting you at all times.
4. If your coach sends you emails/messages that appear to be copied and pasted (as if sending to all clients) – again, get rid of them.  They clearly don’t value you as an individual.
5. Does your trainer look at their phone during sessions?  This one is unbelievable as a lot of trainers still do this and it pi**** me off.  Get rid of them after that session.
6. Is your trainer responsive towards questions?  If they appear closed off and always in a rush, their mind is clearly elsewhere and they don’t value your time.
7. Does your trainer put out content out there for people to educate, or does he/she post selfies of their body every other day?  I’ll let you decide which one the better coach is. 
8. Does that PT offer very low rates?  This may sound nuts, but chances are, they are looking to fill up their diary.  NEVER work with a trainer who is overbooked.  Every single client cannot be given the same, undivided attention as there are simply too many for the coach to handle.
9. Does your trainer take notes and track your progress?  He/She should be reviewing your progress and highlighting improvements.  It sounds insane, but there are A LOT of trainers who just take spontaneous sessions with clients over and over.  This is an absolute joke as there is no indication of progression.
10. If you approach a potential PT who “guarantees results” in “4-8 Weeks” then look elsewhere.  Success is NOT guaranteed.  4-8 weeks is too little time unless you are already an avid gym goer and are looking for that last push to drop the remaining body fat.  But for most of you, NO.  Please, I know it sounds too good to be true, and it is. 
11. Honesty.  If your coach sits down and openly tells you that it will take  time to get you where you need to be, but they encourage you and show you how you will get there – give that trainer a gold star!  Changing your body takes time.  The majority of people can lose weight of course, but they put it back on immediately because it isn’t sustainable.  Having a trainer who tells you like it is, you have found someone you can work with.

I want honesty, trust and respect to be established before I work with anyone.  I will even tell them straight that they aren’t right for me because I have criteria I work with.  I will even openly tell people that what I charge them is not always easy because of my worth and value I provide to people.  I refuse to fill up my diary and become over-booked.  From a business view that may seem great, but think about what happens to the quality of my sessions and feedback to my clients if I have so many people to work with.

Any time you are thinking about working with a trainer please do bear the above in mind, it will save you money and time!