For those interested. Key points to being a good Personal Trainer.

[PHABIO]

Please don't be offended by this but in most of the gyms I've been to the PTs look shit and know shit.

They are just kids who were into sports in the high schools, got some muscle toning and got their certificates in the 3-day courses.

This is the only way they can make decent money. Unfortunately they talk the talk but never walk the walk.

They always get very intimidated by the fact that I am so much bigger then them and usually more knowledgeable about the stuff - because I not only talk the talk but also walk the walk (and I am not PT).

As the explanation and excuse for their physical and intellectual inadequacy they usually give few reasons:

1. They don't want to became big as Schwarzenegger

2. It is not good for their business to be too big

3. Not everyone has the same genetics

4. Big guys use chemical enhancement and they don't want to

[LewdTenant]

Your base pay usually depends on(in no particualr order) the following among other things:

1)whether you work in a gym, or run your own biz going to client's homes
2)the city you work in
3)experience

I live in NYC and trainers in gyms make $22-$40/hr
trainers who run their own biz make $50-$100+/hr. If you charge $70/hr in Manhattan that woulb be considered cheap generally.

Find out how much the gyms charge their clients in your area for personal training and that is about how much you can expect to charge clients if running your own biz.

There are a lot of things to consider when running your own biz such as insurance, travel time,marketing, and other expenses that can make working in a gym more appealing even though the payout is less.

find the gym where the older rich people work out and work there. that is your best bet when starting off.

Lewd

[LewdTenant]

this is the first thing that most of my clients tell me " I do not want to get big". I am a very big guy and it is a turn off for some clients. If I put on 10lbs more muscle I am sure I will get less clients since I am riding the cusp of the juicer look.

the demographics of my club is people over the age of 30 with lots of cash and need to lose weight, increase energy, or just want to get fit. Of the 20 clients on my list only one wants to put on muscle and it is only 5lbs.

It is very important to note this thread is not about bashing personal trainers. so start another thread for that.

Originally posted by PHABIO
2. It is not good for their business to be too big

[PHABIO]

Why start a thread then from the beginning which has nothing to do with Body Building or AAS?

[rude]

Originally posted by PHABIO
Why start a thread then from the beginning which has nothing to do with Body Building or AAS?

Why not bro? I just got some good information from this tread

[rado]

Originally posted by PHABIO
Why start a thread then from the beginning which has nothing to do with Body Building or AAS?

WTF...you mean personal training doesn't have to do anything with BB, really? hmm...I guess I learned something new then...please explain why then?

[rado]

Re: For those interested. Key points to being a good Personal Trainer.

Originally posted by Mike P.T.
I know this game inside and out.

no offense to you, but at 22 you would not know the game inside and out, even at 30 sometimes you don't...I know some guys that are in the early 40's and make all kind of loot and still learning from the game of personal training, it's good that you know your shit though...

[PHABIO]

Hey Lewd,

Your gym sounds just like Equinox!

And no offense Bro - I have nothing against PTs like yourself.
I just wish there were more bros like you in this business without being in a disguise as "fitness trainers" having to deal with common stereotypes and misconceptions.

[PHABIO]

Originally posted by rado
WTF...you mean personal training doesn't have to do anything with BB, really? hmm...I guess I learned something new then...please explain why then?

Yes Rado, it doesn't. Not on the East Coast. Read LewdTenant's post - out of his twenty clients only one wants to gain like five(!) pounds of muscle!!!

[newgirl]

Well if Lewd is training at the gym I am thinking of, there are alot of fancy pants high net worth people who join this gym that is more spa than gym. And this is not to insult you Lewd -- as you know I am one of your fans waaay back from the FB...but most of these high net worth people love to brag they have a trainer (my boss' wife is one of these and throws herself at my husband -- a trainer -- and asks him a gazillion questions and incessantly talks about her trainer to him).

It is all about cache...these people do not want muscle. Most of the women want that skinny ass flabby look. To them eating 6 meals a day is all about lettuce and carrots! They want to burn and be small.

As for the men....well almost the same rule applies.

Being a GOOD trainer is one of the hardest careers I know. It is incredibly personal on so many levels. The dignity you must exude in order to stomp on the stereotype is exhausting......and the job is just as much mental and physical.

I applaud the good trainers out there -- who have the patience, knowledge and skill -- and who recognize that each body is different and reacts differently and what works in a textbook or for 20 other of his clients may not work for that one or two.

#4 is tough yes. The whole job is tough. Being truly professional about the assignment, I believe is your best seller (never being late, looking polished and pulled together....never allowing other gym members to talk to you during your training session with your client, rarely canceling on your sessions etc). No matter how good you are at everything else, the minute you make the job less than professional -- you are sunk.

[LewdTenant]

Bodybuilding does not only have to do with putting on mass bro.

And my club is just one of the clubs where PT's can make money. My clients don't want or need AS so what do I care as long as they get the results they want.

Go to any over 30's AS forums and their goals are different than the users 30 or so and under.

fact of the matter is:
it is much tougher to train a juicer than a non-juicer.

This is not a flame fest. If all my clients are 65 years old and just want increased energy and flexibility...Who cares? I need to tell them AS is the answer? hehe

Lewd

Originally posted by PHABIO
Yes Rado, it doesn't. Not on the East Coast. Read LewdTenant's post - out of his twenty clients only one wants to gain like five(!) pounds of muscle!!!

[rado]

Originally posted by LewdTenant
Bodybuilding does not only have to do with putting on mass bro.
Lewd

it also has to do with some personal training...

[newgirl]

RARE MOMENT I DISAGREE WITH LT: well I will say that some over 30s and *cough cough* over 40s are looking for some added mass!

Okay -- I agree with everything else......just rare is all that I disagree with Lewd.

[LewdTenant]

I'm just saying you are less likely to find people who want to add over 20lbs of mass like you see in the other forums.

i should've went out tonight instead of opening this thread. LOL.

Originally posted by newgirl
RARE MOMENT I DISAGREE WITH LT: well I will say that some over 30s and *cough cough* over 40s are looking for some added mass!

Okay -- I agree with everything else......just rare is all that I disagree with Lewd.

[rado]

Originally posted by LewdTenant


i should've went out tonight instead of opening this thread. LOL.

It's still a young night