why would a trainer not want to work with someone - JP Fitness Forums

runtome · 03-27-2008, 06:35 AM

Hi,

I recently got a free session with a personal trainer, which I thought went well. When I tryed to set up a pay session with this trainer he said he would call me about it and he never has. I had his number and tryed calling him and got his voice mail so I left him a message. When he saw me he said he got my message and would call me. He hasn't and this has been going on for a month. I see him train other people and give people free sessions, so therfore he's not overbooked. Why do you think he's not setting something up with me? Only thing I can think of is he doesn't want to train me, but he doesn't know me. I asked him if I did something to bother him and he said no. What do you guys think? He's by far the best trainer in the club so I would really like to wrok with him, not someone else.

Thanks,

Tami

PowerManDL · 03-27-2008, 07:31 AM

1) He's a bad business man, ie lazy, or

2) You're an undesirable client for some reason

What makes him "the best trainer", and why are the alternatives not an option?

runtome · 03-27-2008, 07:44 AM

What would make an someone not a good client? The reason why I don't really want to use one of the other trainers there is becuase they are all relativly new at training. This particular gym opened up about a year and a half ago and hired all new trainers exept this one guy. He was transfered from another gym and has been doing it for over 10 years. I also have a couple of injuries and just by chance he has the same ones. This will help me as well to just be working with someone who has a bad back as well. This way I can be reminded that if I push through it, I will come out on the other end. He doesn't even need to say anything but it will happen just by working with him.

PowerManDL · 03-27-2008, 07:51 AM

That's some interesting logic.

I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt and assume (there's that dirty word) that he's actually got expertise in treating and/or working around the lower back problems, and in fact didn't get it because of how he trains.

But I used the dirty word, so.....

runtome · 03-27-2008, 07:56 AM

He got into a car accident.

riverbender · 03-27-2008, 08:59 AM

Tell him you don't want to wait any longer and ask him for names of other trainers with his level of experience in working with back injury clients. He'll either schedule with you or he won't.

If your convinced it's something with you, rather than him, my only guess could be given the information provided is that you sound as if maybe you've put him on a pedestal and maybe are expecting things from sessions that he doesn't have to offer. Perhaps he senses that? Though he should just tell you that. So, who knows.

There's no way to know another's motivations, or lack thereof. You asked, he gave you his answer - which is for you to sit around waiting for him to call. Oh how typical!!

He either doesn't want to work with you, or, you shouldn't want to work with him! A month is far, far too long to wait to set up a session. If he doesn't want to work with you, well, the reasons don't matter.

missjane · 03-27-2008, 09:19 AM

I'd not even want to work with him after that! Move on, IMHO.

GqArtguy · 03-27-2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runtome

What would make an someone not a good client?

Lots of things but its dependent on what the trainer finds annoying. For me its a whiny attitude, laziness, complaining about things when they dont put an effort to fix things, not doing what I say, etc. There are people who would pay me $100/hr and I still wouldnt take it because they were such a pain in the ass.

Quote:

The reason why I don't really want to use one of the other trainers there is becuase they are all relativly new at training. This particular gym opened up about a year and a half ago and hired all new trainers exept this one guy. He was transfered from another gym and has been doing it for over 10 years. I also have a couple of injuries and just by chance he has the same ones. This will help me as well to just be working with someone who has a bad back as well. This way I can be reminded that if I push through it, I will come out on the other end. He doesn't even need to say anything but it will happen just by working with him.

Just because he had the injury doesnt make him an expert in it or how to treat it. If that is your concern, then maybe a physical therapist would be a better route.

Willie · 03-27-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GqArtguy

Lots of things but its dependent on what the trainer finds annoying. For me its a whiny attitude, laziness, complaining about things when they dont put an effort to fix things, not doing what I say, etc. There are people who would pay me $100/hr and I still wouldnt take it because they were such a pain in the ass.

Ditto. And it's likely that you're not this person (?), but you did ask.

I'm not a personal trainer, per say, but I have several clients who are rowers and have sought individual rowing coaching. I "fired" one of them a few weeks ago for all of the reasons that GqArt stated above. The money wasn't worth having to spend my time, doing something about which I am deeply passionate, with someone who clearly was not interested in hard work.

Either way, I'd seek out another trainer.

runtome · 03-27-2008, 10:30 AM

Right, I would never trust that if I paid for sessions he would acually do them. It could be many things and I think at this point it's just bothering me since I have no idea why someone would act this way. The really weird thing is he does teach a couple of classes that I go to and he is visibly exited when I go, and he seems to sometimes go out of his way to strike up a quick conversation when he sees me. I work out twice a day at the gym once is a cycle or kickboxing class and the other time is weight time, so it can't be that i'm a winner or not motivated. If anything whenever I have had a trainer they need to tell me to slow down so I don't end up burning myself out.
So, I guess i'm just confused and it's bothering me since I have no clue why he won't train me.

LisaS · 03-27-2008, 10:34 AM

maybe he's attracted to you and to train you would be to complicated for him.
You'll never know what's going on unless you ask him.

Willie · 03-27-2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaS

maybe he's attracted to you and to train you would be to complicated for him.
You'll never know what's going on unless you ask him.

This is a FAR better reason than any others we've come up with. Is he cute? Single?

Perhaps further questioning IS warranted.

Good luck!

GqArtguy · 03-27-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaS

maybe he's attracted to you and to train you would be to complicated for him.
You'll never know what's going on unless you ask him.

Haha this would never bother me

nuphysiques · 03-27-2008, 01:27 PM

I know this is not the greatest excuse on his part. However, did you give him the interpretation that you were going to purchase "a session"?
He might feel that this is a (I hate to use the word waste of his time.)

Without getting to personal, what are some other things you all discussed during your consultation. If he is employed by the gym he will have to answer to someone as to why he is not training someone who wants training

runtome · 03-27-2008, 02:09 PM

He knows I want to train with him, I don't know if the gym knows. I did mention that I have a prepaid lesson left. I don't know if he knows that I would of bought more.
Lets see we talked about running, I run now he used to run and injuries. We also talked about the physical stuff I used to do before I got hurt and where I want to be.
Oh, and he loved my socks so we talked about socks and workout cloths for awhile. Also somehow we started talking about living alone and it being nice.
I don't see how he would think it would be a waste of time, since he knows I do have one session I already paid for and he would make money from it.
Does this info help?

trainerty · 03-27-2008, 02:47 PM

Man... you really like this trainer

PowerManDL · 03-27-2008, 02:58 PM

I think you should just build up your courage and wait until after he's done with a client. Then you can pass him a note asking if he wants to go steady.

Jean-Paul · 03-27-2008, 03:20 PM

Welcome to the forums, runtome.

Don't expend another iota of your energy pursuing that guy or worrying about why he didn't follow up. What he did is just so embarrassingly unprofessional that it honestly removes ANY credibility he could possibly have.

Interview the other trainers. Explain what you're looking for. Don't tell them about the idiot (they probably already know anyway), and give them a chance. Don't create any more drama around this event. It is not worthy... It merely needs to be forgotten and you need to move on.

People like him really piss me off, and as a gym owner and trainer myself, I would fire him over that action so fast his head would spin.