posted August 07, 2000 10:43 PM            

What do you charge?

How did you build your client base?

Do you carry insurance?

Any problems or other advice, thanks.

posted August 08, 2000 11:07 AM         

However, you asked about insurance and such. I would definetly get a lawyer to draft up a contract. It should spell out how long you plan on working with the person, how much they are to pay you. That it is understood they are able to engage in physical activities and that they have had a physical. That any supplements you recommend are strictly recommendations as is any dietary information. etc.etc.etc. In other words...COVER YOUR ASS! Too many people are sue happy today. (I didn't know I would be sore...I am sueing because I couldn't sit on the toilette and read people magazine!)

posted August 08, 2000 02:31 PM            

Having said that, I am somewhat knowledgeable (I say somewhat because I know what works for me and am adding to that specific knowledge daily - but I have just begun to scratch the surface of what I need to know in order to help others attain THERE SPECIFIC goals. ..not everyone wants to compete) about BB, but I want to learn more so I can be able to help others get exactly where it is that THEY want to go. If I can improve the quality of life for a 50- something year old man who has had a desk job all of his life and hasn't really ever been physically active or if I can help a 30-something year old mom be able to chase after her kids and keep up with her daily activities with more ease or if I can help a few adolescent girls avoid the devastating pitfalls of binge/purge or starvation wouldn't you say that it will have been worth it? I think it will. I honestly want to help all types of people live a better life. I feel that I need to be certified (and so do most gyms - I would hope) in order to do this effectively - knowledge is power. Also all of my children save one will be in school in the fall so if I can get a job at a gym where they have childcare I will be able to work several hours a week (flexibility) and earn a few bucks - all while I am increasing my knowledge and experience and hopefully, helping people too.

As far as contracts go - this isn't necessary. One need only have personal liability insurance. For @200$/year a personal trainer can obtain multi-million dollar coverage - seems like a wise investment to me.

Also about the "supplementation" advice. I was strongly advised against this. A personal trainer is just that - they are not registered dieticians,etc (unless ,of course, THEY ARE). They average person does not need creatine, etc or even a MRP. Regular old food should be enough.

You should have seen some of the people who were at the seminar I attended. They looked like the majority of "trainers" at my gym - true, anyone who can pass a test (which though you have to do some studying is like any other knowledge from a book) can get a certification and can call themselves a trainer. But which one would you hire if you needed help? The flabby, fat dude who looks 10 years older than he is or the chick with the hard body who looks 10 years younger than she really is?

posted August 08, 2000 08:12 PM            

I agree about people getting certification and not knowing a thing about lifting.

That is about half of the trainers in my gym.
It's pathetic seeing people getting ripped off by these kids who have been lifting for a couple of years and now they are training people.

I over heard one trainer telling her client that doing more than one set per body part was over training.

posted August 09, 2000 10:23 AM         

2) How can you be a trainer and not give dietary advice? What is the point of training someone who is eating like shit? The average person eats like shit, won't get the results they are paying for and will get discouraged and quit. Seen it dozens of times. I am not pushing "supplements" per se. Just sound eating habits.

3) Liability and contracts. What I was getting at is this, suppose the person is borderline diebetic, and doesn't know it. The trainer, without adding supplements into the diet, cleans up their eating habits. Suppose that person starts having health issues due to the change in diet. That person "could" sue the trainer. Unfortunetly, in this day and age, alot of people are out for the quick buck. Even when it is at anothers expense. All I am saying is CYA!

posted August 09, 2000 02:08 PM            

1) I don't know EVERYTHING there is to know, hell, like I said, I'm just starting to learn how much MORE I need to know. Having said that, I think (I hope) I know enough to realize what information is based on fact, what information is questionable, and what information is out and out nonsense. So far, the information that I have gotten from the certification course I am studying for seems to be on the money.

2) As far as supplementation, there is a difference between advocating healthy dietary choices and recommending supplements, ie creating, fat burners, MRP, etc. The average person who is out of shape does not need these things ANYWAY - an athlete is different. I would think that if any athlete were to consult me, they would have already been exposed to these supplements and would be able to be intelligent enought to make these choices for themselves. There is also a difference between a client asking me about a supplement they have heard of or read about, etc and me, as the personal trainer, saying, "And you might want to consider trying out Dymetidrine or Ripped Fuel, etc."

3) One of the First things we were instructed to do as a personal trainer is PROPER and THOROUGH CLIENT EVALUATION. If there is ANY QUESTION AT ALL ABOUT THE CLIENT'S HEALTH WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO REFER THE CLIENT TO THEIR PHYSICIAN AND PROCEED ONLY AFTER WE GET A LETTER ON THE PHYSICIAN'S PERSCRIPTION TO PROCEED.

posted August 09, 2000 11:16 PM            

It's hard to make any money. Even at $50/hr, if you work 40 hrs a week, it's only 50K a year. And very few trainers get 40 sessions a week.

Many clients just want someone to talk to while they work out. Others want a psycologist. I have given out lots of relationship advice while working as a trainer.

You will meet a lot of people, guys and girls. There are always those gym whpres that fuck every guy with a nice body - but you're married so if you have an ounce of integrity you'll be a looker not a toucher.

Bottom line, training sucks. If I offened some trainers, good!

posted August 10, 2000 12:04 AM         

Although, being a personal trainer looks like an appealing post-retirement part-time job for me (in about 40 years or so, heh).