GEORGE SPELLWIN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Enlightening Men about Anabolic Steroids and Bodybuilding for over Two Decades
|
 Elite Fitness Bodybuilding, Anabolics, Diet, Life Extension, Wellness, Supplements, and Training Boards
 Women's Discussion Board
 an etiquette question for the personal trainers
|
| Author | Topic: an etiquette question for the personal trainers | ||
|
Amateur Bodybuilder 
Posts: 96 |
I was seeing a personal trainer for a while but had to suspend my sessions with him because my husband broke his neck in a car accident and the i was unable to go to the gym during the day when he was there. I want to go back and use him again, and here's my question. Is it okay to tell him that i really don't want to weigh myself on such a regular basis? (we were doing it every week) i am okay with doing bf% and even using a tape measure to track progress. but the scale frustrates me. While i was with him in the beginning i would get very upset when the scale wouldn't budge and when it dropped and then when back up. little did i know that the reason for that was i was dropping body fat and it was being replaced by lean muscle mass. my body structure was changing but the scale wasn't. and being a slave to the scale is to damaging to my self esteem . will i possibly offend him?     | ||
|
Pro Bodybuilder 
Posts: 500 |
Blueeyed, what reason did he give you for weighing you once a week? | ||
|
Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 96 |
now that you mention it, none. he never gave me a reason. I saw him once a week and he always told me to weigh myself. Should i have not been weighing myself that much? this was my first experience with a personal trainer. so i just assumed that it was something i was supposed to do. | ||
|
Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 500 |
Provided you are satisfied with his knowledge thus far, maybe ask him some simple questions about your body comp changing..."Is it true muscle weighs more than fat? Could I be gaining lean muscle mass while losing fat? etc, etc." Then ask him why you're weighing yourself once a week if those are true?...kinda trap him....hehehe. | ||
|
Elite Bodybuilder 
Posts: 1397 |
Any trainer worth their salt wouldn't be offended by such a request. You, after all, are paying HIM. If he really really REALLY has the need to weigh you for some kind of record keeping on his part, just weigh yourself backwards so you don't see. But I am positive he will work with you - maybe weigh once a month or something...or not at all if that is your preference. He should understand the basic mechanics of the muscle vs fat etc. We all have stories of looking better at a heavier scale weight due to more muscle. Myself included. You are on the right path. Go kowgrl!! ------------------ [This message has been edited by skydancer (edited January 17, 2001).] | ||
|
Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 280 |
It could be possible that he is using it as a way to keep you on track with your training and eating. Weight-loss programs such as Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig rely heavily on scale weight as a measure of success. Hence, if you know you are going to have to step on the scale you will probably comply better. Just like if you are training for a show or photo shoot and you've got to wear a bikini it motivates you like crazy to work your A** off! I hope he is testing your bodyfat about 1x per month so you can see what that scale weight actually means. | ||
|
Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 96 |
yes he was testing my body fat usually about once a month or so. But the scale is so horrible for me. Gosh before my menstrual cylce i can gain anywhere from 5-10 lbs and it stays for a week before i get it. I am tired of watching that F*****g scale. I don't really care what it says. I was looking at a pic on my wall taken 6 yrs. ago i am 10 lbs heavier than that pic but i am a full pant size smaller and i look a hellava lot better. I don't want to be "thin" and squishy i want to be lean and hard! i want a butt like bikinimoms!!!! i just didn't know if telling him this would get his boxers in a bunch. thats all i would need a trainer with an attitude! no thanks! | ||
|
Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 280 |
Put a little sugar on your request and be a sweetie. No trainer can be mad at you if you are smiling :-) :-) :-) Keep in mind that depending on what method of BF% method he is using you may need to weight yourself for that calculation. | ||
|
Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 278 |
Tell him he does not need to weigh you that often!! That should be your decision. Plus scales are not all that great, its body fat and how you feel and look  I have a few female clients and I weighed them their first session and they weigh themselves when they want, they also hate the SCALES!!! Tell him what you want to do, you are paying him, so do it how you prefer | ||
|
Moderator 
Posts: 2770 |
Hey Kowgirl - bottom line: YOU are PAYING HIM! As the others before me said that if after explaining your feelings to him he gets his boxers in a bind then tell him that you would feel more comfortable if you trained w/someone else. I know that it can be difficult to "question" someone's knowledge. Jeeze, when I think about how many times I had (in another lifetime - LOL) walked out of the doctor's office without understanding A FUCKING THING THEY SAID because I was afraid that if I asked to many questions they might think that I was stupid......I could've put MYSELF THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL! The way I see it now, if a professional that I AM PAYING, whether they are a cleaning lady or a doctor or ANYBODY ELSE does not take the time to answer my questions in such a way that I FULLY UNDERSTAND - I may be slow, but all that means is THEY have more 'splainin' to do OR I need to take my business elsewhere! PS - on the butt thing - DEAD LIFT, DEAD LIFT, and then DEAD LIFT S'MORE! hehe ------------------ | ||
|
Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 1282 |
Hey BMOM, was that straight leg or bent leg dead lifts????????????????? | ||
|
Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 1317 |
My .02 based on being a trainer that trains women only. He works for you. Anything that makes you uncomfortable, you should tell him. Unless it is an outrageous request which will hurt you in the long run, he should honor it. I get my clients to PROMISE that they will not weigh themselves more that once every two weeks. Most will even agree not to look at themselves in a full-body mirror(naked) for the first 4 weeks. This allows ample time to see REAL and Meaningful results. After the initial 4 weeks period, it is difficult to get them NOT to weigh but every two weeks. Then I have accomplished my goal of getting them over the dreaded scale wight.
| ||
|
Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 96 |
thank you for all the replys. I didn't want him to think i was trying to insult his knowledge. He has helped me alot but the i just can't do the scale any more. once a month or twice a month would be MORE than enough for me!!! thanks again! |
All times are ET (US) | |
 |
| |
posted January 17, 2001 04:39 PM