So a few weeks ago....

[DVCLiz]

Did she measure your body fat during the consult?

I do think some type of measurement would probably have been more palatable to the OP than a visual assessment and a frank comment. Don't they make some sort of body calipers that are supposed to measure body fat? I have heard they aren't that reliable, though.

 

[MinnieTink]

I was thinking of something similar to kittys ham fist action, but mine was I would have slapped her with some arm-wing.

To me it sounds very "mean girl."

 

[jemgumby]

I would call up and speak to the manager and say you really would like to get in better shape but that kind of motivation does nothing for you and could the manager recommend another personal trainer more suited to you?.....That way your kind of telling on her and complaining and I am sure the manager will speak to her. Also your not running away, you still get in shape and when you loose the body fat she so eloquently spoke of you can be a "mean girl" and rub it in her face knowing you did it WITHOUT her!!!

 

[FireDancer]

I wouldn't let her comment keep you out of the gym. I go to two gyms and know a lot of trainers and they all do one form of a hard sell or another. It was probably her ill-advised sales tactic. They should have at least done a body fat analysis if for no other reason than giving you a starting point. I don't mean with one of those inaccurate hold the two handle machines but with at least skin calipers. Any real trainer worth anything will have them and know how to use them. The one I use is a friend who is a professional athletic trainer. I don't use her for workouts but for things like the body fat measurements and dealing with injuries from sports or the gym.

There is so much free information out there that I don't see a reason to pay a personal trainer. A little time spent on Google or some of the fitness sites out there will get you the general information you need. Simply watching the people who are in the gym do a couple of different exercises will give you some ideas and it isn't hard to tell who is doing stuff right and wrong.

The best way to get back at her is to go to the gym and loose "all that fat" on your own without needing her or her service.

 

[minniecarousel]

uh, it's the "look up and down" that is soooo rude! She was being unprofessional with her "parting shot"!

 

[dismom2]

I had a free session with a personal trainer when I joined my gym too, and I realized soon enought that it was just a big ploy to get me to sign up for more (expensive) lessons. Honestly, if you have the discipline, you can do it all yourself for free. Sometimes it's nice to have someone there to 'make' you do things, or push you harder, but don't do it unless you really feel you need that, and want to spend all the extra money on it. All the machines should have instructions, or you can ask someone how to use it, or just watch someone else use it.

 

[Piecey]

I'd make a point to go to a different trainer... and wink at her while I was with the new one!

 

[XTinabell]

I just met with a trainer at my gym, I already pay for membership, the training sessions are in obviously priced packages. My trainer did NOT sales pitch me at all and was very encouraging and I can't wait to meet with her.

I would have been horrified if the trainer had said to me what she said to you and I agree with the poster that said you should talk to the manager. That was rude and absolutely unnecessary. If I were the manager I would want to know if my staff was talking potential clients out of a sale.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

I was thinking of something similar to kittys ham fist action, but mine was I would have slapped her with some arm-wing.

To me it sounds very "mean girl."

Arm wing!!

I just wanted to state that yes, she had me hold that machine thing and it said that I was in the "over weight category"...... but only by 1 point!!

And also, as I said I didn't go to that next session with her, but its not as if I just didn't show, I did call and cancle. I would never just not show up to anything.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

, but we stood up, she looks me up and down, and says "I really think you should take advantage of having a personal trainer, because (looks me up and down) you really do have a lot of body fat that you need to lose."

I just smiled, thanked her for meeting me, and left. Never did make it to that next training session.......

I sure hope you call and complain to the manager. She dosen't know anything about you that i sjust totally uncalled for

 

[ckay87]

She did NOT overreact. I had a session with a trainer one time and he was very good at sticking to the facts. This number represents your percentage of body fat / this number represents what is normal for your weight. As long as I had a functioning brain cell, I understood what he was saying.

What that trainer lacked was tact and manners. I'd feel like a dope working out with her.

You can work out on your own. If you feel like you need more intervention than what you can do completely on your own, you could take classes. Some classes (at my gym) are very intense (bootcamp-like). I get FAR better results taking classes than exercising on my own.

 

[DVCLiz]

Arm wing!!

I just wanted to state that yes, she had me hold that machine thing and it said that I was in the "over weight category"...... but only by 1 point!!

And also, as I said I didn't go to that next session with her, but its not as if I just didn't show, I did call and cancle. I would never just not show up to anything.

OK, if you called and canceled that makes it different. You didn't say that in your first post - just the winking smilie and the "I never did make it" statement. That made me think you had blown off an appointment.

I still think it wasn't as dire as everyone else is making it out to be - it is a gym after all and body fat was the subject - but if you felt like you were insulted you obviously shouldn't work with her.

 

[C.Ann]

Personal trainer or not, when it comes to weight issues (a particularly sensitive subject for many) there is a tactful way of talking to a potential client and a rude way.. This was rude..

Can you still go there and not be involved with this person? If so, that's what I would do..

 

[nutterbutter2010]

Personal trainer or not, when it comes to weight issues (a particularly sensitive subject for many) there is a tactful way of talking to a potential client and a rude way.. This was rude..

Can you still go there and not be involved with this person? If so, that's what I would do..

I haven't been in two weeks, actually since the last time I was there with that trainer. Not because of her, though, but because we have all been very sick in the house. Yesterday morning I was going to go, but never made it because I had been up half the night coughing. I did however get on my treadmill at home for 45 minutes and if felt great. I have all my work out clothes with me here at work, and fully plan on going there tonight. If I see her, oh well, if not, oh well. If she asks, I'll just say that the amount of money was to much for me. If she gives me a hard time, then I'll tell her something else.....

 

[OceanAnnie]

I haven't been in two weeks, actually since the last time I was there with that trainer. Not because of her, though, but because we have all been very sick in the house. Yesterday morning I was going to go, but never made it because I had been up half the night coughing. I did however get on my treadmill at home for 45 minutes and if felt great. I have all my work out clothes with me here at work, and fully plan on going there tonight. If I see her, oh well, if not, oh well. If she asks, I'll just say that the amount of money was to much for me. If she gives me a hard time, then I'll tell her something else.....

I wouldn't tell her that after she was so insulting. Just tell her you're going to exercise on your own. That's good enough!

If she revisits her insulting ways, look her up and down and say we all have room for improvement. j/k. Sort of.

 

[mmackeymouse]

The best way to get back at her is to go to the gym and loose "all that fat" on your own without needing her or her service.

I wholeheartedly agree (and trust me, I do not agree with firedancer all that often). You CAN do it on your own. I am living proof. I have lost 50 lbs on my own (that is not a ploy for praise by the way). Now, is it tough? Sure. Do I wish I could lose faster? Heck yes! Would I be more successful with a trainer? Maybe. Probably. But, even though it is not coming off as fast as I would like it, as long as I weigh less today than I did a month ago, and as long as I weigh less in a month than I do today......then I am happy. You can do it!

$1,800 is ridiculously insane. I mean, don't get me wrong. If it was a bonafide 100% guarantee that I would be thin, healthy, could keep the weight off.....to me, that is a small price to pay, and I would plunk it down right now in half a second without hesitation. But, you are paying for training that may or may not be succesful, that you may or may not be able to do on your own anyway. It's just too much of a question mark to invest that much money. If you'd like to get a personal trainer, I say, hey, go for it! But, I think you can find better.

I still think it wasn't as dire as everyone else is making it out to be - it is a gym after all and body fat was the subject - but if you felt like you were insulted you obviously shouldn't work with her.

Liz, I think we all understand your point. If you go in for an evaluation, yes you are going to be evaluated. But, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. "We have a way to go, but I am confident that together, we can get you in better shape." or "It's going to be a lot of work, but if you are really motivated to get it done, I will do all I can to help you." Those are much kinder ways to get the point across.

Also, I think you are missing a point. You don't go to a personal training consultation to be told how much fat you have. Most of us already know that, or are told so by our doctor. You go to a consultation to see how you can better yourself.

Can you imagine sitting down with a dentist for an evaluation, having a pleasant visit, and then before you leave, the dentist going, "Well, I sure hope you come back, because them nasty teeth of yours are rotting out of your head."? It may be the truth and the Doc may think it, but their job is not to state the obvious, but encourage you as a patient that they will do all they can to remedy the situation.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

I wholeheartedly agree (and trust me, I do not agree with firedancer all that often). You CAN do it on your own. I am living proof. I have lost 50 lbs on my own (that is not a ploy for praise by the way). Now, is it tough? Sure. Do I wish I could lose faster? Heck yes! Would I be more successful with a trainer? Maybe. Probably. But, even though it is not coming off as fast as I would like it, as long as I weigh less today than I did a month ago, and as long as I weigh less in a month than I do today......then I am happy. You can do it!

$1,800 is ridiculously insane. I mean, don't get me wrong. If it was a bonafide 100% guarantee that I would be thin, healthy, could keep the weight off.....to me, that is a small price to pay, and I would plunk it down right now in half a second without hesitation. But, you are paying for training that may or may not be succesful, that you may or may not be able to do on your own anyway. It's just too much of a question mark to invest that much money. If you'd like to get a personal trainer, I say, hey, go for it! But, I think you can find better.




Liz, I think we all understand your point. If you go in for an evaluation, yes you are going to be evaluated. But, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. "We have a way to go, but I am confident that together, we can get you in better shape." or "It's going to be a lot of work, but if you are really motivated to get it done, I will do all I can to help you." Those are much kinder ways to get the point across.

Also, I think you are missing a point. You don't go to a personal training consultation to be told how much fat you have. Most of us already know that, or are told so by our doctor. You go to a consultation to see how you can better yourself.

Can you imagine sitting down with a dentist for an evaluation, having a pleasant visit, and then before you leave, the dentist going, "Well, I sure hope you come back, because them nasty teeth of yours are rotting out of your head."? It may be the truth and the Doc may think it, but their job is not to state the obvious, but encourage you as a patient that they will do all they can to remedy the situation.

Durring our initial conversation (the trainer and myself) I told her that I had lost a good amount of weight already. About 110lbs. She seemed mildly impressed with it!! I told her that I really just want to / need to tone up. Truthfully, she was very nice and everything was fine untill I was about to leave, and thats when she said what she did. I think it was her way of just..... really pushing her sale or something like that.
And as far as your dentist comparision - I actually wrote that in here as well, but eraced it!!! LOL Great minds think a like I guess!!!!

 

[DVCLiz]

Liz, I think we all understand your point. If you go in for an evaluation, yes you are going to be evaluated. But, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. "We have a way to go, but I am confident that together, we can get you in better shape." or "It's going to be a lot of work, but if you are really motivated to get it done, I will do all I can to help you." Those are much kinder ways to get the point across.

Also, I think you are missing a point. You don't go to a personal training consultation to be told how much fat you have. Most of us already know that, or are told so by our doctor. You go to a consultation to see how you can better yourself.

Can you imagine sitting down with a dentist for an evaluation, having a pleasant visit, and then before you leave, the dentist going, "Well, I sure hope you come back, because them nasty teeth of yours are rotting out of your head."? It may be the truth and the Doc may think it, but their job is not to state the obvious, but encourage you as a patient that they will do all they can to remedy the situation.

I suppose I just don't put "you really do have a lot of body fat to lose" in the same category as "them nasty teeth of yours are rotting out of your head". I think the equivalent would be if a dentist said, "Well, I hope you come back for your next appointment because you really do have a lot of tartar build up." It just sounds like a medical assessment to me instead of an insult. Of course you are bound to feel a twinge because you were the person responsible for adding the extra body fat (or the tartar) but I just didn't take it as such an insult. If the trainer had said, "you really do look pretty fat still" I would feel differently!!!

And of course I do realize there is a right way and a wrong way to discuss a person's weight, and in most cases I say the kinder the better (actually in most cases I say the less said about a person's appearance AT ALL the better!). I just thought (and still think) that the discussion you would have about it with a personal trainer at a gym doesn't require the same tact. Obviously most people do!!


Really, it doesn't make any difference - the important thing is that the OP has a significant weight loss she can be really, really proud of, and a plan to move forward. That's totally admirable on her part and I wish her success!!!

 

[momrek06]

If you buy something like 30, 1 hour sessions, its $60 a session, for a total of $1,800.

30 sessions, OP, I do not think you need 30 sessions with a trainer. At my gym in Boston, (own a home in MA) it is 5 sessions to get the deal =$50.00 a session. So I signed up and it was worth every penny BUT after the 5, I was all set to continue on my own. My trainer (after the class) would write up everything we did at that session. The gym has a file cabinet with a file on every member that works out with a trainer. All your w/o's are in that file and you can refer to that file any time you want. In CA, I do allot more outside activities than inside. Jogging, biking, walking, etc.

 

[TinklednPants]

uh, it's the "look up and down" that is soooo rude! She was being unprofessional with her "parting shot"!

She's supposed to evaluate someone's body without looking at it???
How do we do that? Tea leaves?