Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below Just out of curiosity, anyone here use a personal trainer? In addition to all of the stuff I do on the board, I started personal training at World Gym in Boca in September. Business has been incredibly slow. In addition, most of the clientele are not Bodybuilders--most need to lose fat and just get started on an exercise program (read novices). I am surprised by this observation. Any of you have any comments regarding personal training or working with a personal trainer capable of providing extra essential services?
Personal Trainers
- Thread starter DrJMW
- Start date
The_Eviscerator
New member
MaxBiceps said:
Max, I agree, but I guess that is where you have to start to get the big clientele. I was doing a little personal training and it was annoying. Most the people had no desire or drive. Until you compete and win a show, I doubt you will get the big clients. You have to prove that you know what you are doing before you can tell others what to do.
Bar Room Hero
New member
Mike80 said:
HAHAHA...There are plenty of deusch bags at my gym too.
The_Eviscerator
New member
Bar Room Hero said:
I agree. It is pretty bad when a guy is getting trained by his personal trainer and he starts asking me questions about training right in front of his trainer.
diamonddiceclay
New member
first of all, Boca is an older persons community-secondly, personal trainers usually work with novices, serious lifters hire pro bb'ers to train them
Mike80 said:
im sure u may bro. it all depends on the trainer. some are good. some are great. some fucking suck. some are certified with good groups and continue to learn more from people, and reading and through regular observation. while others just get certified and thats it. nothing else. they think once they are certified they know it all. to top it off some arent even certified with a good group. and lastly, some arent certified at all that know so much while still others arent certified and know nothing. it all depends. there are so many traineres out there. well, i can tell you this. im a personal trainer and im young (21) but i know my stuff. im not saying i know everything but i have a reputation in my gym for knowing my shit. i have pretty good knowledge in all aspects of the fitness lifestyle including the "underground" shit. hahaha as for your trainers in your gym that do jumping jacks in the free weight area, bro i would hate your gym as well.
the_only_sepe
New member
personal trainers
most of the personal trainers I see, cant even train themselves, much else anyone else, fat fuck was trying to stand on a flex ball and impress his new chic client, he ate his shit!! funny as hell....
most of the personal trainers I see, cant even train themselves, much else anyone else, fat fuck was trying to stand on a flex ball and impress his new chic client, he ate his shit!! funny as hell....
JohnnyHollywood
New member
most of the trainers in my gym couldn't tell a person how to put a clasp on the ends of a bar 
Really good responses. The football coach is the guy with the most knowledge and leading the team, but he is generally the worst athlete on the field. Why does a trainer need to "win a show" or have the best physique? Even a fat fuck like me can train anyone to be a winner (with help from juice of course). I have the knowledge and experience; I do not have the genetics. So, because of my appearance, I will never be a successful trainer--is this generally correct? Be honest folks.
the_only_sepe
New member
if you know your stuff
I think if you know your stuff, most overweight folks dont give a shit how ripped u are or big, you just need the knowledge, to help them, but If your targeted customers are bodybuilders, your appearance might matter more.
I think if you know your stuff, most overweight folks dont give a shit how ripped u are or big, you just need the knowledge, to help them, but If your targeted customers are bodybuilders, your appearance might matter more.
My Veiw
I think you guys are really stereotyping trainers when you say they don't know what they are doing, and most can't even train themselves. I am trainer, and I consider myself to have a good body. I am 5'8 190 lb at 6% bf. I train my clients hard and heavy. I train some very fit people including a woman that will be competeing within the next 6 months. Bad trainers and fat clients are out there, but don't stereotype! I know you guys don't like it when the media stereotypes roid users for roid rage and other sides.
My two cents,
Pl8s
I think you guys are really stereotyping trainers when you say they don't know what they are doing, and most can't even train themselves. I am trainer, and I consider myself to have a good body. I am 5'8 190 lb at 6% bf. I train my clients hard and heavy. I train some very fit people including a woman that will be competeing within the next 6 months. Bad trainers and fat clients are out there, but don't stereotype! I know you guys don't like it when the media stereotypes roid users for roid rage and other sides.
My two cents,
Pl8s
I am a certified personal trainer and bodybuilder. I am also majoring in nutrition in college, and try to accuire as much knowledge about building a great physique as I can. I would love to train people for a living, but it is almost impossible to get started in this field. A trainer cant get started on his own(guess you guys are right about needing to win some shows and get some fame), and I was offered a job at Gold's to train people and they charge their clients $50 an hour, and only give the trainers about $8 an hour. AND you have to get your own clients by walking around in the gym and asking "Do you need a trainer?" I said FUCK THAT! Well guys I guess this is just a rough field to get into without being a well known athlete or bodybuilder, or having advanced degrees(besides a damn certification).
chicho1234
New member
What do you guys usually charge per hour?? And what do you think about A.C.E/? I am working in a gym now and the pay is shit! What certifications do you guys have/?
chicho1234
New member
Do you guys think its possible to make a decent living off of this?? I LOVE being in the gym its just like you other guys said its so fucking hard to start out in this field!!! The money in the beginning is shit!!
Good Job
I pay for my college through my training. I make $20 a session and my sessions last between 30 min - 1 hour depending on my clients needs. I have great hours, it pays for my cost of living and my education. I love my job!
A.C.E is a very reputable certification program.
Pl8s
I pay for my college through my training. I make $20 a session and my sessions last between 30 min - 1 hour depending on my clients needs. I have great hours, it pays for my cost of living and my education. I love my job!
A.C.E is a very reputable certification program.
Pl8s
You can make some good money as a Personal Trainer. I work in a Health Club in Manhattan. I make between $25 and $40.00 an hour(per session) Yeah, I train mostly unmotivated, fat, out of shape women that have no desire to body build...just lose fat.
So what!!!!! that's my job, that's not how I train myself.
So what!!!!! that's my job, that's not how I train myself.
My hourly average is about $30..most sessions last between 1/2 hour to a full hour. I am at World Gym. My problem is getting the clients. "Working the floor" is BS..and clients really aren't assigned/apportioned properly anyway. Personally, I like working with the obese clients--they are on a mission and they renew their training sessions--I just can't get enough. As far as making money--I feel that you've got to sell at least $10,000.00 per month in training. At World Gym, we get 50% of all sales..no salary. I don't have enough working capital to sit on before my business grows--so yes, getting started is hard, and building the business to a proper level is hard.
TRAINERS
I used to belong to a little gym in So.Cal. and was friends with the owners and they were trainers and they told me they made O.K. money. They told me in order to be a good trainer and make money, is own the Gym. I also had another friend who opened a Gym and he also made good money, owning and training. That's just my 2 cents.
I used to belong to a little gym in So.Cal. and was friends with the owners and they were trainers and they told me they made O.K. money. They told me in order to be a good trainer and make money, is own the Gym. I also had another friend who opened a Gym and he also made good money, owning and training. That's just my 2 cents.
My trainer is $170/hr (no typo - the gym gets 50% or so - I get a very decent discount 
) - here's his deal.
He has 6 (six!) certifications and is a M.E.S. His clients include half the ex-Baywatch cast and a good portion of the prime-time lineup AND A LOT OF FAT PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET IN SHAPE AND LEARN TO DIET. A LOT. I know this cuz the ones usually training before or after me are, well, fat and out of shape, no offense to them cuz they are trying. He's also a registered dietician and god knows what else.
The reason he can charge so much is a) his certifications (he sure didn't start at such a high price and b) amazing publicity. Media savvy is a big part - first featured in the LA Times, so next he can claim that he was featured in the papers... then regularly consults for MF (he's in there pretty much every month, including ipcs) etc etc etc...
And he really does know everything - I haven't been able to stump him yet, both as far as roids go and as far as training goes. He's in model-shape, but not a BB or anything - I think a very solid training background is important for more advanced people like myself (he KNOWS what part of my shoulder hurts when I do flys for too much weight), but for the outta shape older people I completely agree, being in great shape ain't near as important as knowledge.
Just an opinion.
) - here's his deal.He has 6 (six!) certifications and is a M.E.S. His clients include half the ex-Baywatch cast and a good portion of the prime-time lineup AND A LOT OF FAT PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET IN SHAPE AND LEARN TO DIET. A LOT. I know this cuz the ones usually training before or after me are, well, fat and out of shape, no offense to them cuz they are trying. He's also a registered dietician and god knows what else.
The reason he can charge so much is a) his certifications (he sure didn't start at such a high price and b) amazing publicity. Media savvy is a big part - first featured in the LA Times, so next he can claim that he was featured in the papers... then regularly consults for MF (he's in there pretty much every month, including ipcs) etc etc etc...
And he really does know everything - I haven't been able to stump him yet, both as far as roids go and as far as training goes. He's in model-shape, but not a BB or anything - I think a very solid training background is important for more advanced people like myself (he KNOWS what part of my shoulder hurts when I do flys for too much weight), but for the outta shape older people I completely agree, being in great shape ain't near as important as knowledge.
Just an opinion.
femhardbody
New member
I've been personal training for about 10 years, did some competing including one national show, had a career as a dancer before that, and have managed to acquire enough clients to support myself and two children. If you're dream is to work exclusively with bodybuilders, get over it-- most of them take it upon themselves to learn enough about training and diet to get to the point you see them at without YOUR help- those are the people who get the look they are after. The average client is NOT planning on being a bodybuilder, just look better, feel better, play a sport better, or just enjoy a higher quality of life. These people NEED our knowledge, and I find it very personally satisfying to help them, for whatever reason they come to me. Now, what upsets me is the high number of trainer HACKS out there who have NOT built up their own body, bothered to take the time to learn the basics, and look terrible themselves. If you haven't done it on yourself, you can't possibly communicate to another what the process feels like, and you probably won't be able to explain proper form, which is the bottom line for being effective as a trainer. Get good at what you do, and evolve beyond the shallowness that is bodybuilding, and help the people who really need it- and reap the financial and spiritual reward of doing something worthy!
liftsiron
New member
My wife and I are both personal trainers, and goddam good ones at that. Our clients range from the retired to the competitive bodybuilder. Among our clients are more than a few well educated people who work in the medical field including MD's. Training is our bread and butter we have no other income. This year one lady that I advise won her class in the jr. Nationals and finished fourth in the USA. I believe that a trainer should look fit and be as knowledgable as possible in all aspects of fitness and nutrition. I left a state job to work as a trainer eight years ago and have never regretted that move. In the time however that I have worked at the gym where I train people, I have seen a few dozen assholes claiming to be trainers come and go. It is far to easy to get certified in this field I for one would welcome some national regulation as to minimun qualifactions.
hardbdygrl
New member
DrJMW said:
hey DrJ,,,,,,,if ur ever at Golds Gym in deerfield,,,,,let me know
I'm a trainer. Been doing it for over 5 years at a commercial fitness setting. No babysitting. All group training ($18 per hr. per person, 3 - 5 people per group). Gym takes 30%, but has 401K, paid health insurance, 3 weeks paid vacation, etc.
I train veteran lifters, competitive bodybuilders, and average everyday folks that like to train hard. About 70% women. Oldest female about 56 (can leg press 540 for 50 reps). Oldest male is 77, can leg press 360 for 50. Have some overweight clients, but again, no babysitting or rep counting. The sessions are one hour and move very quickly.
If you do it right and produce results, the money is there. I think the older crowd, if marketed properly can yield big bucks.
W6
I train veteran lifters, competitive bodybuilders, and average everyday folks that like to train hard. About 70% women. Oldest female about 56 (can leg press 540 for 50 reps). Oldest male is 77, can leg press 360 for 50. Have some overweight clients, but again, no babysitting or rep counting. The sessions are one hour and move very quickly.
If you do it right and produce results, the money is there. I think the older crowd, if marketed properly can yield big bucks.
W6
Liftsiron and Mike P.T. what certification program do you recommened? I have been thinking of doing a little training on the side since I get hit up for info at my gym on a regular basis. What is the best cert. or are they all pretty much the same shit?
yep, when getting ready for a show.
But the PT is a competitive BB himself. Not some ACE spadex ass. A lot of the PT are like lawyers (no offense), but they hang a shingle (degree/sertificate) that a chimp could pass. My gym used to let anyone PT, as long as the clients invited them in. Now even that is banned, since the ACE PT were losing money. Hard to see to fat asses (finally getting in gym!) and iun 3 months they look the same; while the non-ACE is getting better results then the ACE PT. Book learning is not everything.
But the PT is a competitive BB himself. Not some ACE spadex ass. A lot of the PT are like lawyers (no offense), but they hang a shingle (degree/sertificate) that a chimp could pass. My gym used to let anyone PT, as long as the clients invited them in. Now even that is banned, since the ACE PT were losing money. Hard to see to fat asses (finally getting in gym!) and iun 3 months they look the same; while the non-ACE is getting better results then the ACE PT. Book learning is not everything.
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