Expectations of a PT's physique - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[ptjustinbowers]

My niche is women's weight loss and toning. I'm not a buff trainer by any means. I am however, toned and lean. I've found that most clients generally pick their trainer based on what they themselves want to look like. Since I'm a smaller guy, an overweight potential client might look at me and say "Yeah, that's what I want to look like". Then, when I tell them my specialty (weight loss) it seems like a good fit.

[kettlebell king]

I think it does also make a difference where you are looking for clients. I train folk in Brighton England- it has a big gay population - in many ways it is very similar to san fran over there.
It may be a stereotype but gay fella's here generally like to look good and will go with a trainer who has also taken his body to where they want to be at eventually. The bodybuilder look may be dated - for most it would be impossible to achieve this look anyway- but I do get many clients asking to look like one of the 300!
My client base is split between 40% gay fella's 20% women looking for weight loss and 40% serious athletes so I have to appeal to all of these markets through my knowledge, experience but also my physique.
I recently dieted down to get some photos for my web site as close to that 300 look as possible-it was extremely tough and recommend a trainer does this at least once in a life time if only to appreciate what some of our clients go through when we set them a diet to stick too! I blogged about it here- Circuits and Training Advice

[healthbuff]

It's really sad when other people would base on the superficial aspects of a person. Well, it's really up to us to prove them wrong. Do your homework and do good on the interview and the demo...They'll soon find out that the physique isn't the most important thing that a PT should only have...one should always have the skills, especially in relating to clients.

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

It appears to be a fact that the most respected people in fitness often are the smallest. they workout but they also work their minds out too. It would be nice if there was a correlation between biceps size and intelligence but things are not as simple as that.
joe

[portlandGymRat]

I've had a few different "looks" of personal trainers. The first was a body builder who put me through body builder work outs. Another was a short, skinny, not "buff" older (about 35-38) year old guy, who put me through an intense circuit training utilizing exercise balls emphasizing on core strengthening exercises. This skinny guy destroyed me during these work outs, it was fabulous. Whereas the body builder workouts were only tiring.
So in my experience you get "who" your paying for.

I just got recently certified and am having a hard time finding a job. I was first trying to get hired at a 24 or bally's just trying to get experience before branching out on my own, but with the economy the way it is it seems that many trainers are now going to these gyms looking for work that have tons of experience and overshadow me with little to no experience actually training (selling more like it). As a skinny guy myself however, I don't want to be grouped into one category or the other. I strive to be able to provide many different routines and training regimes for whatever client comes my way. I just don't want to get stuck in one niche, I want many! Maybe I am just hoping for too much but a boy can dream can't he!

[Dre]

Definitely don't let your physique get in your way, however as it was said previously just practice what you preach. I'm a competitive bodybuilder, and its definitely "easier" to get more PT jobs privately or franchised. But the keyword I used was "easier" it doesn't translate into bodybuilders having a longer life as a PT, we may be getting more opportunity but the longevity of it is short lived IMO. Personality and knowledge will get you further than the size of your muscles.

[GetMeFit4Life]

I think that in today's society you are going to find those that might judge you for how you look in terms of being a trainer rather than how much you know, and I find that it would be far more important to judge the trainer by what they know since that will ensure that they have more to offer. I myself and making a comeback to training and I am trying to get into better shape in the process, its not easy especially having been one who trained more as a powerlifter over the years, but I have seen some great success as of late in changing my body due to changes in my training so I am very happy.

[Pro-Fit]

So i'll ask the obese trainer how to get a six pack? I would find it hard to take that trainer seriously. Sure we can drop names of skinny successful or overweight successful trainers, but what % of those trainers make up the entire trainer population? Trainers should practice what they preach, look their part, because you are selling yourself. You don't have to be MR. O to be a trainer, but geez, their are far more out of shape trainers than in shape trainers. Any trainer who says that they don't have to be in shape to be a trainer is just an excuse to be lazy. Those trainers don't practice what they preach, because it's difficult. I don't see how a trainer can honestly sit there and tell their clients what they need to do, when that trainer can't do it themselves.

Anyone can study, pass a test, and become a personal trainer. The problem is, is can they apply what they've learned to their actual clients.

I'm not some buff guy. My clients see me for weight and fat loss.

[Absolute Concept]

I don’t agree with personal trainers not being in good shape, I deal with body transformations of my clients and I believe that they need to see if the person in this case "me" is in good shape himself before trying to change their bodies. I think they should represent what they are selling or promoting!

That’s me on my display picture, my services are fat loss, muscle gain and both which I what I think I represent when I am having consultations with clients.

[Pro-Fit]

I don’t agree with personal trainers not being in good shape, I deal with body transformations of my clients and I believe that they need to see if the person in this case "me" is in good shape himself before trying to change their bodies. I think they should represent what they are selling or promoting!

This is true