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Personal Training Courses Requisites

by Armando
(Houston,tx.)

I am 52 years old and just started back to working out 3 years ago. Slowly at first, I have lost 45lbs. so far. My question is should I wait and be in the best shape ever before starting a personal training course. I want to help people my age, especially the Hispanics.

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not ready yet
by: Anonymous

I'm thinking the same thing. I'm 58 and started back a year ago but still have about 29lbs to lose and am working on it. But I don't feel comfortable training anyone yet.

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Don't wait to lose
by: Louise Corley

You will find that women do not want to train with a skinny little thing that never had to watch their weight. You want someone that you can relate to, especially if you are a boomer or a senior. Go for it, girl.

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Be the change you wish to see
by: Nancy Matican Bock

I have been a personal trainer for over twenty years. I started in NYC and now live in Florida. IN NYC I was in the best shape of my life, running marathons, pushing a lot of weight and doing very well.

Since then, in 2000, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease...a degenerative thyroid condition. If you don't know, endocrine disorders reak havoc on the body. My point is, that despite the fact that my weight keeps fluctuating upwards of 30 pounds, my knowledge and experience are unaffected. I actually use my condition as a selling and motivational tool (as I am continuing to workout harder and push myself to maintain my health and well being). If you talk the talk and listen to your own advice and are out there exercising and eating healthy, whereby providing your clients with your credibility, then you can and will be successful. To that, I am actually more successful in Florida then I was in NY. Simply because I need to keep improving and proving myself (to my self) which instills confidence in my clients.

Have confidence in your ability as a personal trainer, in your knowledge base, in your selling techniques and how you relate to people and your clients will have faith in you.

Best of luck

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Finding Your Healthy Lifestyle
by: Anonymous

This is a very good question and I must admit that I have been on both ends of the spectrum. I have been officially training for 3 years from personal training, healthly lifestyle workshops, and aerobic classes.

When I was at my heaviest, I had to turn away clients. The main reason why my clients loved to work with me is because I offered them the best training they had ever received.

If you know love what you are doing and have invested the time and energy into perfecting your knowledge and skills, you will be just fine.

I am now at a point where I am looking to change my body shape because it is my choice not because I want to impress my clients.

There are alot of trainers that have the look but are not knowledgeable.

Good Luck!

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personal trainer at any weight or age
by: Christine

I am 55 and have been a personal trainer for 3 years. My clients all say that they are more comfortable with me because they can relate to my struggle with weight loss and gain and also to my issues with menopause and ageing etc. So go for it!!!

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Don't do it
by: In Gr8 Shape

It's like going to a fat nutritionist or a dentist with jacked up teeth ... no one wants to do it.

You may have all the knowledge in the world but if you can't show you can apply it to yourself how can other people trust you to help them?

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GO FOR IT
by: linda

I think you should start training people and use your own success (the wait you have lost so far )as a model for your clients. By showing that while you are currently a "work in progress yourself, you can also show that your techniques are working. Make sure you have before pictures available so your potential clients can see how far you have come and be sure to share some of your own trials and triumphs.

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Don't listen to in GR8 Shape
by: Anonymous

"In great shape" probably can't relate to anything that your clients are facing. You can. Beleive in yourself and forget the critism from an outside source.

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Walk the talk
by: Anonymous

How can you expect a client to do something if you can't even do it yourself as a trainer? Lose the weight, get healthy, be fit and STAY like that. If you don't practice what you preach, you are a hypocrite.
Congratulations if you have changed the way you live and are now becoming healthier. But if someone calls themself a trainer and does not exercise hard and eats junk then I have no respect for them.

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I can easily relate to my clients
by: In Gr8 Shape

What are you talking about? I can easily relate to my customers because I have been overweight. I experimented with fad diets, supplements, and pharmacueticals in order to achieve a great body. All of them them worked temporarily and I regained the weight. It wasn't until I started studying to become a trainer that I learned the proper techniques to live a healthy lifestyle.

So when I see an overweight trainer I have doubts as to their commitment, training regiment, and diet.

I take this personally because it effects my bottom line. If people see fat trainers in the gym then they start to question the certification.

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Overweight trainers
by: T.P.

For some of us, health and wellness are the motivation for wanting to train people. And not ALL clients have the goal of being thin. Some might just want to be healthy.
Everyone has their own comfort level and some people are more comfortable with less-than-perfect-LOOKING trainers.
I appreciate all the positive comments and I guess I will have to live without the respect of "In Gr8 Shape" and "Walk the talk by: Anonymous". :-( How will I survive?

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Begin when it's right for YOU!
by: Anonymous

You are ready when you believe that you are. I own very profitable personal training studios. I lost nearly 100 pounds, but began my companies when I was still 40 pounds overweight (in MY opinion). I hire equally based on a positive personality, education and committment. Unfortunately all of the responders are correct. But business depends on your market. My non-perfect (based on society) trainers earn $60-$70 grand each year just like my barbie doll types. I have been VERY successful for over 20 years. Please follow your heart and begin whenever you feel like it's right for you.

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Let your confidence shine through
by: Anonymous

If we all waited until we felt "perfect" we'd never do anything.
Be your own success story, share with people about your journey, be open with them and they will love you for it. I think it's easy for people to forget sometimes that this is a relationship based on trust- earn it!

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Looking fit does not necessairly mean super fit
by: Lou D

I am not yet certified so I comment as a potential client. I would never want a trainer who is not appear to be fit. A bit over weight is OK and,if they have photos of what they looked like 2 years ago, even better.
I would also not be comfortable with a trainer that looks like he/she pumps iron every day. Yes there is a market for ultra body builders but that is more of a niche. Most potential clients simply want to look and be more fit and healthier. If you can show that you are that or have made significant gains to that goal, go for it.

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