What's Your Biggest Frustration? - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[mo256]

Hi guys,

I'm a little new around here and doing a some homework.

I'm looking to find out what your biggest frustration is that you have as a personal trainer?

What is the one biggest thing?



Appreciate your feedback. Mo

[Dinah]

Hi Mo,

I'm fairly new as well to the industry, but I would have to say my biggest frustration so far is the attitude of my clients. General whining and resistance to try new things really drives me nuts. I'm trying hard to accept that many people don't really like to exercise but by hiring us, they know that it's good for them. They just don't have to like it. I guess what they don't realize is that the more they are open to doing something a little different, the more accomplished they will feel and they can use that to progress in their program.

My second biggest frustration would be trainers who perpetuate the stereotype of the indifferent and lazy trainer whose primary agenda is NOT to safely train their clients and bring results, BUT find themselves a date or look cool in their spandex get up.

Be interested to see what other people have to say.


Dinah

[mo256]

Please keep em coming folks, gaining some good new insights here..

[ptjustinbowers]

I've already been up way too late tonight on this forum, so I'll try to make this short and sweet!

My biggest frustration is working with a client who I know mentally isn't ready for exercise. There's no other way around it-- in order for someone to lose weight with a trainer, that person has to WANT it first. If they aren't eating right and doing their exercise on their own time, then that could be a sign that my client isn't mentally ready.

I can tell when a client is ready to cut ties with me. Since they might not mentally be ready for exercise, then I will notice that they start putting half the effort into their sessions, taking longer breaks, procrastinating by talking about something on TV, etc. We've all seen that type of client.

The last straw for me is when the client cancels more sessions than they show up to.

At this point, I sit them down and present them the evidence of what I've noticed. I ask them what personal issues they might have, and ask them to open up about what the problem could be. I explain to them that I hate it when people waste money. When they pay me to come to their home twice a week, give them a workout and tell them exactly what to do-- I expect them to do it. But when none of my advice is being followed, it is frustrating. I tell them that it's either time to knuckle up and take their fitness seriously, or that they should take a break from me for a while to re-evaluate what they want.

Trust me, some people that inquire about personal training have no idea what they're getting themselves into. I've actually had clients look me dead in the eye and swear that they want to lose weight without doing any kind of exercise. Some people also don't know the amount of commitment that a fitness lifestyle actually takes. A drunken promise on New Year's Eve is a lot easier than actually waking up at 430AM and working out.

So after we've had that conversation, my client has two choices. They can buckle down and take the training seriously, or they can part ways with me. Most of my clients at this point take this conversation as a wake-up call. A few will realize that they're not ready mentally to commit to such a lifestyle.

Say what you will, but as trainers, we CANNOT force someone into this lifestyle. They have to want it from day one. It's our job to remind them what their goals are, especially during the tough times-- and THERE WILL BE TOUGH TIMES! We are contracted employees and we are consultants. It's up to us to give the client the information and encourage them to use it. It's up to the client to make the change.

Justin.