what do women want from a personal trainer

[Leigh 87]

I want to start training women. I have my Cert 3 and 4 in fitness, and in addition to my casual jobs, I would like to train people too.

 

I want to know from women: firstly, WHAT do you want from your personal trainer? Secondly, WHAT sort of results are you after. I will use your individual cases, as practice for myself. I need to brush up on my knowledge and do a lot of research.

 

Aside from doing some reading, I definitly have the right attitude for training women. I have been through trauma with my own body and even lost too much weight, which made me mentally and physically ill.

 

Now, I am so dedicated to attaining a good body, but through the healthy way. I definitly WANT to help women through diet and exercise. I just have to brush up my knowledge on anatomy and technical skills.

 

I start a food sciene degree at University NEXT year, so I really hope I develop rapport and get results with some of the women, so that i can CONTINUE to train them as a "casual" job during my 3 years at University.

 

PLEASE give me as much feedback as you can girls! I want to know what YOU WANT from your trainer.

[Star Gazer]

I'll tell you what I want from my trainers, as I've had MANY over the years.

 

I want my trainer to have a healthy self-image on his/her own. They cannot help me if they have a warped perception of themselves, or ridiculous expectations for themselves.

 

I want them to focus on being healthy and strong, not necessarily being within a certain 5 pound range.

 

I also want them to have a good enough understanding of anatomy, particularly muscles, to know that you can't tell how strong a woman's vaginal muscles are just by looking at her.

[USMCHokie]

I want my trainer to have a healthy self-image on his/her own. They cannot help me if they have a warped perception of themselves, or ridiculous expectations for themselves.

 

I want them to focus on being healthy and strong, not necessarily being within a certain 5 pound range.

 

My friend and I recently had a discussion regarding the "image" of trainers and how potential clients feel and/or react to those images. Do you prefer a more "average" looking trainer, or one who looks and is exceptionally fit? By average, I mean a trainer who looks more like a normal everyday client...

 

My friend, who is a fitness model and personal trainer, claimed that he actually sometimes had trouble getting new clients because of his "image"...perhaps the potential clients were intimidated by his physique or thought that he would expect the same kind of effort and dedication out of them...most of his clients are already experienced folks who are looking for that little extra help to reach the next level...

[Star Gazer]

My friend and I recently had a discussion regarding the "image" of trainers and how potential clients feel and/or react to those images. Do you prefer a more "average" looking trainer, or one who looks and is exceptionally fit? By average, I mean a trainer who looks more like a normal everyday client...

 

My friend, who is a fitness model and personal trainer, claimed that he actually sometimes had trouble getting new clients because of his "image"...perhaps the potential clients were intimidated by his physique or thought that he would expect the same kind of effort and dedication out of them...most of his clients are already experienced folks who are looking for that little extra help to reach the next level...

 

Are you talking about the guy that posts all over your FB? If so, I'd never want him as my trainer. Granted, I don't know the guy AT ALL, but with people like that (particularly fitness models), the focus for them, IMO/E, isn't on being strong and healthy, but looking good. It's vanity driven. That's not really my focus when I work out. I guess in looking for a trainer, I look for someone who's going to lead by example, to look up to, to inspire me. That guy's not my example.

 

You can still be very fit and be vain (the "image" he honestly projects), or look like you're driven by appearance. I don't want an "average" looking person, but one who looks very fit. Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, quite honestly, are prime examples of my dream trainers. Or, quite frankly, CrossFit coaches, like these people: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLFunBPgPOo. Those are the types of bodies I admire most from a fitness perspective. Those are the people that inspire me.

Edited September 15, 2010 by Star Gazer

[USMCHokie]

Are you talking about the guy that posts all over your FB? If so, I'd never want him as my trainer. Granted, I don't know the guy AT ALL, but with people like that (particularly fitness models), the focus for them, IMO/E, isn't on being strong and healthy, but looking good. It's vanity driven. That's not really my focus when I work out. I guess in looking for a trainer, I look for someone who's going to lead by example, to look up to, to inspire me. That guy's not my example.

 

You can still be very fit and be vain (the "image" he honestly projects), or look like you're driven by appearance. I don't want an "average" looking person, but one who looks very fit. Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, quite honestly, are prime examples of my dream trainers. Or, quite frankly, CrossFit coaches, like these people: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLFunBPgPOo. Those are the types of bodies I admire most from a fitness perspective. Those are the people that inspire me.

 

Yes, that'd be him. But to his defense, he is very humble about his training and physique...one of the reasons I'm actually friends with him...he definitely works hard and sacrifices for it, and I know a lot of his clients who are inspired by his work ethic...but he definitely recognizes that he projects the gym douchebag image...and that might also be affecting his ability to attract new clients...

 

But that being said, you are obviously far from average when it comes to fitness training...so there is a certain level of dedication and fitness that you'd expect from someone you're paying to train you...

 

Now returning to OP, I only mentioned all of this because it's important for her to identify her target clientele and establish her image accordingly...

[Star Gazer]

Yes, that'd be him. But to his defense, he is very humble about his training and physique...one of the reasons I'm actually friends with him...he definitely works hard and sacrifices for it, and I know a lot of his clients who are inspired by his work ethic...but he definitely recognizes that he projects the gym douchebag image...and that might also be affecting his ability to attract new clients...

 

But that being said, you are obviously far from average when it comes to fitness training...so there is a certain level of dedication and fitness that you'd expect from someone you're paying to train you...

 

Now returning to OP, I only mentioned all of this because it's important for her to identify her target clientele and establish her image accordingly...

 

I have no doubt that he's a nice/great guy, but I still wouldn't want him as my trainer. I agree that it's important to identify a target clientele and establish your image accordingly. I don't think your friend would be seeking ME out to be his client.

 

And I'm not far from average. I'm just above it. Getting there though, but patience, grasshopper!

[USMCHokie]

And I'm not far from average. I'm just above it. Getting there though, but patience, grasshopper!

 

Oh come on now... I spend enough time bullsh*tting at the gym to know what average is...and you definitely are not average...and I'm not just saying that because I you...it's true...

[Leigh 87]

Thanks a lot guys for your feedback, it was very helpful!

 

I am about 119 lbs and 5 ' 5 - 5 ' 6, with a great body shape. I have DD breasts, and an hour glass shape with slim legs.

 

I am not super muscular, though. But that is what I feel like my best self in - it is the image I feel most comfortable in. I personally do not feel comfortable developing my msucles to the extent that a lot of female trainers do.

 

I do what I need to do to attain my goals, and that is what I want for my clients. Do female trainers HAVE to be muscly to garner interest? OR, can a slim women like me, with the right attitude and a good personality, be enough?

 

Star Gazer - as an intelligent professional, would YOU be put off by a women of my height and weight, who ahd a nice body shape and a flat stomach, but who WAS NOT as muscular as most women PTs?

 

I AM toned, but I just do not have muscles that are developed. I prefer to be slimmer and have a more Pilate's type of body.

 

I will describe abit about my attitude to food and fitness; I believe in clean eating, and eating REAL food, food that our grandparents recognize as food.

 

However, I will still happily have freshly baked white bread with expensive cheese, with a glass of red wine for a meal once in a while. AS LONG as the bread is ACTUAL bread, with no chemicals or artificial preservatives in it.

 

I believe in having pasta, breads and even potato chips in moderation, but my main thing is TO ONLY EAT REAL FOOD, with NO REFINEd SUGAR, and NO CHEMICALS.

 

I plan to adopt a diverse range of ways I approach clients. I will try to read them, and respond favorably. For instance, I can do strict if I feel the client WANTS a more strict diet, and has an event; I will prepare themn for their special event by giving them a higher protein and loower carb regiment.

 

So I will try to cater for the women who WANT strict, and at the same time I can easily be more laid back for people who just want a general meal plan, whilst still not sacrificing too many carbohydrates and etc.

 

The thing is, i believe that the hardcore women who really want that thin image,m or super fit image, are already AT a gym, KNOWING what they are doing, and ALREADY have a diet plan they havs researched themselves.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Can a 118 - 120 lbs 5' 6 women, who is genitcally blessed with an attractive body shape, be enough to project the body of a PT that others want to emulate? Or, do you only feel real confidence in a women PT who is actually more muscular and more developed than I am?

 

I will post a pic of myself SOON on this website, by the way!

 

Lastly, STAR GAZER - I also have the goal of just helping my clients attain their healthiest body possible. However, I also emphathize with women who want to do it for vanity, as I had an eating disorder due to the same urges ( I just wanted to be thin, regardless of if it eas healthy).

 

So while Iunderstand your attitude, about just wanting to be fit and healthy, I also know what it can be like for women, to want to also hure me for more image related reasons.

 

I will conclude this by saying that I personally keep myself in a certain condition because I NEED tohave a fit and healthy body, otherwise I would not be able to bear living a suc standard life, due to a poorly functionin body.

 

ON the other hand, I also like the added benifit of having a body that LOOKS good; in addition to NEEDING to be healthy, I also enjoy the nice body it lends me.

 

I hope I have articulated myself well enough, those are just my thoughts, I have my heart in the right place to be a good personal trainer, but I DO need to add 2 hard sessions of interval training to my current regieme.

 

Right now I do Tracey Andersons Matt DVD 6 days per week ( YES she is a bimbo and YEs she is a TERRIBLE instructor, but IT WORKS on my body and I have AN AWSOME body thanks!).

 

I also do an additional Pilates DVD MOST days of the week, in addition to Traceys DVD which I do 6 days.

 

I throw in one more intense gym session that a personal trainer set for me ( the hot guy from my other posts that i wanted to ...ahem).

 

I am also starting a martial art thing twice a week.

 

SO, in addition to Traceys method 6 days, 30 min Pilates DVD MOSt days, and one intense gym session with weighted squats and lunges, I WILL ALSO ADD two days of martial arts per week.

 

I will also add one day or interval training, in addition to the above! As you can see, I AM ALSO a work in progress! fortunately, I genetically have a ncie body shape as it is without getting all hardcore.

 

However, there are still some little things about my body that I need to tweak before I give my first PT session. NOt so much developing my muscular structure; but I need to be able to ramp upMY OWN fitness, in order to be able to do it for other people.

 

In about 2 weeks I would feel ready to train people, and hoepfully i would only gain more confidence as I stick to my routine.

[Leigh 87]

SO, one of the main points I want to highlight about myself, is that I CAN be strict and be a perfectionist who wants to look very good, and be in the best physical state ( health wise).

 

In contrast to this, I can also be very relatable, in that I also like bread and pasta and cheese and I can come across as an every day person, who just so happens to have a good body, in addition to enjoying my food and being normal about it.

 

I can be both a drill seargent, and also a down to earth person who eats their pasta at night. I have been in both predicaments before; I have been a hardcore gym junkie who zero body fat, and I have also been over weight.

 

I am finding a happy medium for myself, but based on my clients, and what i feel THEy will best respond to, I can be one fo those @sses who is very strict with diet and exercise, but I can also be more laid back.

[Leigh 87]

OH and one more thing! I think certain people skills are vital, and one thing I WILL strive to do is: make it all about the client.. I will not talk about MYSELF, unless I HAVE to ( they ask me).

 

With people in general, I know it is better to be a good listener, and not talk about yourself too much. So I will try to be endearing as a person, and make it all about my client, and take a genuine interest in their lives. It is not fake, after all, although I do recognize that asking people more about themselves, and refraining from talking too much about yourself, IS a great attribute to have, not only as as trainer, but as a person.

 

PLEASE GIVE ME HONEST advice and ways to improve myself, both physically and in how I deal with people!!

 

Be honest, I can take whatever you say, even if it is hard to hear, I always like to improve whatever i can about myself!

[Kamille]

I've only ever had two sessions with a trainer, but I have had various pilates or yoga instructors who have inspired me a lot.

 

I like the ones who are upbeat and remind us to smile right in the middle of a challenging pose.

 

What I also like about instructors is their hollistic approach. They tend to focus more on how the body feels than how the body looks. I love when an instructor makes us take a pause after an intense cardio work out and asks us to focus on feeling the blood - and endorphins- rushing through our veins.

 

I have a pretty good grasp on my body and what works for me, so I like professionals who rely on what I already know and strive to work with me instead of treating me like some ignoramus who has no clue. I would recommend you ask you client what they already do that works for them on use those positive habits as the basis for their program.

 

Basically, I know the math of fitness. I rely on trainers and instructors to 1) motivate me to push myself in my work outs and to 2) support me in acquiring and maintaining life-long healthy eating habits. I don't want a diet for a few weeks. I want to learn about healthy eating habits that are going to last me a lifetime.

 

Like SG, I like trainers-instructors who have healthy attitudes towards their own bodies. I want my trainers to respect that my goal is feeling good, not being the thinnest I can be for my weight-height.

Edited September 15, 2010 by Kamille

[tman666]

A guy that I've trained with on occasion has his own training business in addition to his regular job. The guy is one of the strongest guys I've ever met, in addition to being a former state champion bodybuilder back while he was still in high school. Needless to say, he physique portrays an image that he knows what he's doing.

 

In addition, he's very people oriented. He can carry a conversation with anyone and his knowledge is apparent in everything he says. He'll listen to what you want your "end result" to be, and he'll be able to work with you every step of the way on exactly how to get there. He's able to charge people a lot of money for his services. I think one of the reasons he's successful is because he knows exactly how to motivate and prepare his clientele for meeting their goals because he's been there. Incidentally, most of his clientele are bodybuilding/figure/bikini competitors.

 

I think the most important thing, whether you're training men, women, high school athletes, bodybuilders, powerlifters, old people, whatever, is that you focus on training people in areas that you have personally excelled in. You see a lot of trainers (especially those in "globo-gyms") who have a cookbook style manual that they go by without having any real experience in the areas that they're supposedly qualified to be training people in. Don't be a virgin giving out advice on sex, so to speak.

[Leigh 87]

Good point - I am only a women trainer - I specialize in keeping MYSELF as slim as I can for my body type - I do not have much experience in heavy lifting.

 

I am all about loads of squats, lunges ( with no more than about 5 kg weights, which is about 10 lbs), and I can give people interval training, as well as building them up to being able to run futher, if their goal is to compete in a half marathon.

 

My target clientel, is actually women who r recoverying from eating disorders. THAT is my area. I can be there for them in more ways then just the training.

 

These women have to go through weight gain after their disorder, and they do NOT want to sit around and get fat. They want to looki good, and be able to deal with their new bodies as best as they can.

 

I recovered from an ED, and I have learnt ways to get a lean and attractive body, WITHOUT having to resort to unhealthy measures.

 

 

So if possible, I want to target both; women recovering from ED's ; and secondly, teen women who are uncomfortable with their bodies, and just want a place to start.

 

I would be very good with teens, as I know what it was like to be an over weight teen myself; a lot of them set too higher expectations, such as to be very thin, when what they rEALLY need, is to stop being so unhealthy, and just take small steps.

 

i know the type of peopke i would be good for. I just do not have a wide range of people as yet that I can target. But hopefully I wil be able to find enough people that I will be a good match for.

[tman666]

Leigh87

 

That sounds like a very noble cause to me. You could potentially help out people in more ways than simply getting them in better shape.

 

Just remember (and I know I'm preaching to the choir here) that ED's are serious medical conditions that will likely need the intervention of medical professionals. Make sure that the training and advice you give to your clients aligns with their doctor's assigned protocol and advice.

[somedude81]

I am about 119 lbs and 5 ' 5 - 5 ' 6, with a great body shape. I have DD breasts, and an hour glass shape with slim legs.

You should probably leave that out of your bio.

 

Leigh87, from your posts you seem a bit self-centered. You have the, "look what I did, I'm so hot" mentally. I'm not a woman, but I think they would appreciate some modesty.

[Leigh 87]

How dare you, U do no know me or how I feel about my body. I have not said anything that implies that I love my body and think I am very hot.

 

The only positive thing I said about my body, is that I had a nice body shape and have slim legs; my legs are slim in comparison to the rest of my body.

 

Saying those two good points is not being conceited. I also dislike many things about my appearance, but it is a waste of energy listing them.

 

Liking my body shape and the shape my my thights ( or legs as I stated), is not being unmodest. I do not think I am very attractive or " hot". In fact, I hate the way I look so much it caused me to get anorexia.

 

Clients want to hear honestly, and the truth is I do have 1 or 2 good attributes, just like most people do. I do not and would not ever say to clients that I felt I was attractive or good looking. Because I am not those things.

 

And I would never work with women who had an eating disorder and were very ill, and had not sought out medical help; I just want to be the person IN CONJUNCTION with the rest of their medical team, that helps them find gentle and easy ways to feel good about their bodies ( through my gentle execises).

 

 

AND - A lady at the Cafe I work at commented today that I looked super healthy - even though I have been sick laterly. She said I just had healthy looking skin and a healthy look about me.

 

So that made me feel good, especially since I am not looking my best laterly!

 

I have decided what my target market is; teens and women who are not looking to become serious gym goers, but just want simple, sustainable things to do in their homes. In addition to this, I will say that I have experience with women with eating disorders, who are looking to start exercising again.

 

I am not overley fit myself, and personalyl, I do not ever want to be a super toned, ,muscular women. I will never aspire to be built up like a fitness model.

 

What I am good at, is just being consistent; I at least do SOMETHING every day, even if it IS NOT avery vigorous routine.

 

I think I will be good for people, who just want to start small; thast way, they can get satisfactiono of simply STARTING a routine, and being able to STICK to it.

 

I gave that women at the cafe my number, so she can always call me if she wants. My nutritional advice is part of my service too. Diet is at least 70% if the equation, and that is how I manage to naturally stay a slim weight ( for my body type any way).

[Star Gazer]

So if possible, I want to target both; women recovering from ED's ; and secondly, teen women who are uncomfortable with their bodies, and just want a place to start.

 

These people need help from the inside out from a trained mental health professional, not the outside in from a trainer.

[USMCHokie]

Leigh87, from your posts you seem a bit self-centered. You have the, "look what I did, I'm so hot" mentally. I'm not a woman, but I think they would appreciate some modesty.

 

How dare you, U do no know me or how I feel about my body. I have not said anything that implies that I love my body and think I am very hot...

 

I tend to agree with somedude. A majority of your posts are long exposés of "I" this and "I" that. And it isn't just your feelings about your physical appearance. It almost reads like you're trying to impress us.

[Star Gazer]

I tend to agree with somedude. A majority of your posts are long exposés of "I" this and "I" that. And it isn't just your feelings about your physical appearance. It almost reads like you're trying to impress us.

 

Agreed.

 

Leigh, your posts reek of vanity and focus only on looking good, rather than on health, strength and fitness - what a good trainer focuses on. You're in this business for all the wrong reasons, and it shows.

 

Even more important, you didn't "get" my first post in this thread...

[Leigh 87]

Stop having a go at me. I am simply being myself. I am not vain - I make friends with any one, and do not judge people on their looks.

 

I talk about myself a lot, because that is why I come on this site - to ask questions about issues relating to my own personal agenda. I don't want to talk politics with strangers on the internet - I come to ask personal questions that I am not able to ask in my real life right now, as I have just moved towns and have yet to meet friends.

 

In real life, I much prefer to ask people about themselves. It is more fulfilling and more comfortable for me.

 

And I DO believe in aiming for optimal HEALTH and FITNESS. It is NOT in fact, all about looks to me.

 

I talk about wanting to help women who have body image related issues, namely, people who have recently gained weight from an eating disorder; I am not disputing that they need MENTAL help.

 

What I am saying, is that these women not ONLY need psychological help, but in addition to this, they also need to learn gentle types of physical activity to help them build confidence.

 

People recovering from eating disorders, the ones who have been very underweight before, have to basically sit there and eat a lot and gain a lot of weight. They eat about 2500 or more calories a DAY, sedentary, until they are at a healthy weight again.

 

Obviosuly, women who are very underweight and need to gain weight SHOULD NOT COMMENCE any form of exercise UNTIL they are at a BMI/weight that their DOCTOR has deamed healthy! I want to help them with their bodies once they are getting the propper MEDICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL help, and are at a healthy enough weight to commence walking and gentle forms of exercise.

 

Because I am not ultra fit myself, ( hey, nto ALL trainers HAVE to be bloody muscle women and fitness models), I am more into gentle, easy ways to ease into a healthy life style. Simple squats, lunges, and exercisesd using your own body weight, that you can do at home, for people who are only just starting out with exercise.

 

I intend to increase my OWN fitness, and as I do this myself, I will THEN be able to train clients to meet higher fitness goals.

 

SOME DUDE, STAR GAZER, and others have misread my true intentions; I am all about attaining optimal health and fitness; starting to eat healthily and exercise literally saved my life years ago.

 

Getting my own body to function better was ther catalyst in changing my life, and that is honestly all I want for others. Getting my body to funtion better through diet and exercise, is the reason I went back to school and got an entrance score into a food science degree, and why I decided to live and not die.

 

Helping other people's bodies to funtion well is something I care about very much, given that it essentially saved my own life. It goes much deaper than vanity for me.

 

When it comes to others, I genuinly just want them to feel as fit and healthy as possible. My goal is to get their bofy functioning as best as it can, because the better your body is functioning, the more you get out of life.

 

Lastly, I am not trying to impress any one and I am taken aback that you said that! Sheesh, being myself is the best I have to offer, and that is all I try and do.

 

Thanks for being honest, I have learned a lesson about how I come across over the internet. In some ways I have misrepresented myself, and in other ways you are right about my character. I CAN be vain.

 

But I have not articulated myself correctly in one respect; improving HEALTH, through diet and exercise, is something I feel VERY STRONGLY about. I would be DEAD if it were not for the fact that I, myself, went through the process of educating myself on how to eat well and exercise.

 

I have b een through the process of being lazy/no execising/eating cr@p, and was very depressed as a result; I changed myself and learned to eat healthily and found ways to exercise that I enjoy enough to sustain. I have fined tuned things over the years, too.

 

I hope you hear me, when I say that it is MUCH MORE than vanity to me. I ow my life to improving my diet and exercise. I feel very strongly about it.