I'm sorry, did my last post freak you out a bit? Not all "trainers" are like that. Please note that "" around the word trainers. I really don't like that word. Here comes my first little tangent!
"Oh, I have a 9:15am appointment with my trainer at the gym."
Don't we take our dogs to trainers? Trainers teach dogs how to sit, stay, and poop outside. When meeting with a human (I'm only certified for human training) client for the first time, I hope he/she already knows how to do those things.
Coaching is a better word. A client comes in and wants to work out, I coach them through the workout and make sure they're staying on task and not killing themselves. Coaching is a better word.
Tangent over.
Okay that felt good to get out. Now to the real topic. There are a plethora of "trainers" out there. How/who do you choose?
Bobby Jones (NASM-CPT, ACSM, Crossfit Level 1, CPR/AED)
Joe Smith (NSCA-CPT)
Melissa Morgan (BS Exercise Science)
And the answer is???? Anyone? Anyone? There is NO correct answer, because the letters after a trainers name mean absolute crap!
Clients need to do further investigation and actually talk with these "trainers". The clients also need to watch them train on the fitness floor and see how there relationship is with their clients. When doing so, consider the following questions:
Does the client look like they're having fun but still doing work?
Do the exercises look appropriate for that client? Are they SAFE? (SOOOOO important!)
Is the "trainer" a creeper? The touchy/feely type who is flirting with the client? Sending you "motivational" text messages at 2am? (Not so good, avoid...see video)
Interview the clients...ask them if they have seen results. From there you will get a better understanding.
Once you feel comfortable, choose.
Once again, letters after a "trainer's" name means nothing. Look for a people person with experience and look for the R's. Is it a good, positive working RELATIONSHIP? Are the exercises REALISTIC? (An 85 year-old lady on a balance board catching a medicine ball is not realistic) And are they getting RESULTS?
Good luck!
Brendan (NASM-CPT, CES, FMS, CPR/AED).....I swear I'm not a creeper.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The 45-Minute Personal Trainer vs. The Doctor - Who is more important?
Ahhhhhh...My first fitness rant! This is scary.
Wanna hear how crazy this industry is? I'll try to keep this short.
My brother is an MD/Phd. He has spent the last 10 years of his life studying to be a doctor, and he is finally going into his residency this spring. In a couple of years he will finally be able to practice on his own. He will see patients who are out of shape and tell them they need to work out or they will die. Patient gets freaked out by the educated doctor but has no clue how to exercise.
Enter the meatstick "certified" personal trainer.
The personal trainers credentials? A 45-minute online certification...but the dude is JACKED AND TAN! He must know what he's doing...he carries a gallon of water everywhere! The posterbro of health!
Unfortunately, the trainer has no people skills (have you ever met someone like that? It's freakin' awkward) and puts you on his training program 3x a week.
10 Sets of Bench
10 Sets of Incline
5 Sets of the pec deck
5 Sets of cables
Blast the bi's with hammer and preacher curls
200 spine breaking crunches
1 hour of "fat burning" cardio
Oh, and don't forget to carry around a gallon of water with you at all times. Hydration, bro.
Lets finally give the patient a name...Herbert sounds good. Herb sees his doctor once every 6 months, and sees meatstick (he does not deserve a name) 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR 6 MONTHS!. During those sessions, meatstick is on his cellphone texting people, drinking massive amounts of coffee, and not even caring about Herb's "progress". Herb complains by saying "I'm always sore and can hardly walk down stairs." Meatstick replies with "no pain, no gain, bro. If you're not sore, you're not getting JACKED!" Herb literally gets the crap beat out of him every session. He leaves the gym broken every day. He's still overweight, and is not in constant pain.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: HERB'S QUALITY OF LIFE DECLINES BECAUSE OF HIS TRAINER. THAT WAS NOT HERB'S GOAL.
Eventually Herb develops an injury (most likely from excessive leg extensions) and stops seeing meatstick because he has physical therapy. Insurance pays for a couple of sessions, cuts him loose, and recommends Herb do some personal training. Herb contacts meatstick. And the cycle begins again.
My brother and meatstick are polar opposites, but share one vital responsibility...people's health. But who really has more influence? Probably meatstick. Scary stuff. A lot more goes into personal training than people think. Unfortunately we have a ton of awful trainers in this industry who take this career as a joke.
It may sound like I'm bashing my own industry...just a little bit. Through my experience, I have learned what to do as a strength coach. More importantly, I've learned what NOT to do. There are a lot of people like Herb who need our help. We cannot look at training as just a paycheck...it is a whole lot more. In many ways, we are more important than a doctor.
Stay tuned...I'll tell you what to look for when considering a personal coach.
Wanna hear how crazy this industry is? I'll try to keep this short.
 |
| Avoid the 45-Minute trainer. What works for him does not work for you. |
My brother is an MD/Phd. He has spent the last 10 years of his life studying to be a doctor, and he is finally going into his residency this spring. In a couple of years he will finally be able to practice on his own. He will see patients who are out of shape and tell them they need to work out or they will die. Patient gets freaked out by the educated doctor but has no clue how to exercise.
Enter the meatstick "certified" personal trainer.
The personal trainers credentials? A 45-minute online certification...but the dude is JACKED AND TAN! He must know what he's doing...he carries a gallon of water everywhere! The posterbro of health!
Unfortunately, the trainer has no people skills (have you ever met someone like that? It's freakin' awkward) and puts you on his training program 3x a week.
10 Sets of Bench
10 Sets of Incline
5 Sets of the pec deck
5 Sets of cables
Blast the bi's with hammer and preacher curls
200 spine breaking crunches
1 hour of "fat burning" cardio
Oh, and don't forget to carry around a gallon of water with you at all times. Hydration, bro.
Lets finally give the patient a name...Herbert sounds good. Herb sees his doctor once every 6 months, and sees meatstick (he does not deserve a name) 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR 6 MONTHS!. During those sessions, meatstick is on his cellphone texting people, drinking massive amounts of coffee, and not even caring about Herb's "progress". Herb complains by saying "I'm always sore and can hardly walk down stairs." Meatstick replies with "no pain, no gain, bro. If you're not sore, you're not getting JACKED!" Herb literally gets the crap beat out of him every session. He leaves the gym broken every day. He's still overweight, and is not in constant pain.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: HERB'S QUALITY OF LIFE DECLINES BECAUSE OF HIS TRAINER. THAT WAS NOT HERB'S GOAL.
Eventually Herb develops an injury (most likely from excessive leg extensions) and stops seeing meatstick because he has physical therapy. Insurance pays for a couple of sessions, cuts him loose, and recommends Herb do some personal training. Herb contacts meatstick. And the cycle begins again.
My brother and meatstick are polar opposites, but share one vital responsibility...people's health. But who really has more influence? Probably meatstick. Scary stuff. A lot more goes into personal training than people think. Unfortunately we have a ton of awful trainers in this industry who take this career as a joke.
It may sound like I'm bashing my own industry...just a little bit. Through my experience, I have learned what to do as a strength coach. More importantly, I've learned what NOT to do. There are a lot of people like Herb who need our help. We cannot look at training as just a paycheck...it is a whole lot more. In many ways, we are more important than a doctor.
Stay tuned...I'll tell you what to look for when considering a personal coach.
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