If you wish you had a Personal Trainer or went to the gym, what stops you?

[Watchkeys]

I'm curious about this, as a PT myself. I'm sure there's billions of people out there who are too shy or not financially able or... well, I wonder what else stops people. I train beginners and my aim is to get non-starters started, and build confidence.

What would help you get started?

There's a governing body, and industry regulations. We're really only taught to teach the 'Eatwell Plate' at Level 3. There are plenty of extra qualifications that those trainers might have, or they might just be pushing the boundaries.

@BreviloquentBastard @rinseandrepeat1

You're my ideal clients! What would convince you?

(not touting for business here, we're all anonymous)

I had to find the right person - my PT is a woman, a bit younger than me but not a kid, is also a mum so gets it (her gorgeous youngest comes to our sessions in his pram), and just gets it. She’s also a generally lovely person! Finding that PT who’s approach works for me was the big barrier I had to overcome. Some 20 year old lad who just wants to coach humungous men would not have worked for me.

You have to find your niche as a PT - work out who your perfect client is then tailor all your comms to finding them. Is it women, men, weight loss, menopause, older people, young people, athletes? You can have more than one niche but a niche really helps. Trying to be all things to all people is hard.

Time and energy. As a busy mum, I don’t need more exertion, I need to sit down for five minutes and rest!

@JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn

Do you run yet, or still want to? My advice would be to get a heart rate monitor and work according to that, rather than according to how fast you're going. It's worked for quite a few of my clients to get them to 'confident to do a Parkrun' stage, and then they're off on their own. It's great to see.

The cost definitely, I would find it hard to justify.

The thing that puts me off gyms is the “trendy” aspect of it, and this goes for yoga studios too. I know you shouldn’t judge people but their clothes, but I’m really put off anyone who wears Lululemon, especially if they’re a brand ambassador. And as someone with large breasts, I’m put off instructors who wear tiny crop tops because it makes me resent them. I know that’s not the PC answer, but it is the truth. I’ve been to a lot of fitness and yoga classes in the past, and none of the instructors have a clue how much work it is carrying around so the extra weight on your chest. And yes, I’ve already been to a million bra fittings, before anyone starts. Even the world’s strongest sports bra has its limitations.

Absolutely this. I’d need someone who understands what it’s like to be slightly older. I’m also put off people who’ve been into fitness their whole lives, because I’m one of the millions of people who hated PE lessons. In terms of marketing and advertising, my ideal PT would be someone over 40 who used to have desk job and then had a career change to become a PT.

Thank you to every one of you for posting your thoughts. This is really useful!

Lack of results, been training for years, struggle with the basics. Not my PTs fault, more random health/fatigue issues I've never got to the bottom of. But feels like a waste of my money and his time to have PT watch me struggle through yet another set of simple air squats 🙄

At the moment, money.

I'd love a PT, and have had one in the past. He really knew his stuff but occasionally called women 'females' which really wound me up!

When funds permit I will have some sessions with a PT. I have a slightly dodgy hip at the moment and will need to look for one who has some experience with that, rather than a newly qualified 20 year old who has always been in perfect health and trains for looks rather than function.

Mostly money.

It's also quite "intense" one on one, it feels like the PT watches you a lot (I realise that's necessary!)

I often think mini group PT sessions so circa 4 people would make it cheaper, less intense and a nice "we are all in this together" vibe would be good.

I appreciate slightly more complex to arrange the people, levels and find a time, but I think it could work well in the long run.

I’m glad you find it easy but perhaps that’s because you’re absolutely brilliant or maybe you just have less interactions that weigh you down. Either way OP was asking why not, and I just wouldn’t enjoy yet another small talk relationship. Some of us already have full plates.

I'm in my 60s and have had the same one for 4 years...even through lockdown she did it online.
I consider it like therapy for me...she pushes me to things I'd never do on my own. I am so much stronger now.
We have a lot of fun!

Money mostly and time too.

I use a PT, but I'm happy to tell you why I like it?

She offers home workouts.

• comes to me every Friday morning, so no fannying around packing a bag & going anywhere.
• can fit in a lunch hour if needed.
• Good for people who might be self conscious?
• the equipment she brings can be replicated at home (free weights, kettle bells, sand bags, suspension trainer etc) so I can put together a decent home workout in between.
• no need for a gym membership
• resonable (I think?) £26ph

My goal was strength & I'm seeing results. I've lost 1/2 stone without trying, I can now do the monkey bars & minor knee pain has gone💪

What's the best way to find a PT?

Money but mainly because i find pts don't understand/care about the changes having babies does to a women's body. I use to be a bit of a gym bunny and had a strong core but after 2 kids and 2 years of not going to the gym though covid, difficult pregnancies etc. When I've had gym inductions i find the push really hard and that knocks my confidence, if that makes sense.

Money. As in the lack of.

I had a PT for a while and saw good results. Unfortunately I couldn't afford to keep going with the sessions and there were a few other reasons why I don't get one in the cheaper gym I’m in now :

1. I'm quite busy and there are only a few slots that would work for me. Often things come up and I'd worry I'd end up paying for ones I couldn't use

2. When I did see a pt they expected me to go to the gym a minimum of 3 times a week. Often that's hard to fit into a schedule

3. At the end of my training sessions the instructor said he was a bit disappointed by the lack of weight increases and hoped I would be lifting heavier by that point. Whereas from my point of view I could care less about what weight I was lifting, I was there to tone up and see results instead.

4. I like to vary my exercise routine and do parkrun which is free. I found I was continually sore after weight sessions and unable to do cardio.

So it's looking to me as if I run some small group training, advertise as non-intimidating and for complete beginners, 'all welcome', keep the sessions short and very local, and keep the prices down, that would cover quite a few of the bases.

It's ironic how many people are self conscious and think they're 'too out of shape' to have a PT. Those are the most satisfying people to work with! Hope that reassures some of you who have been kind enough to post your insecurities.

Time and childcare? I went regularly pre-kids, but now I am either at work or looking after DS. Not much a personal trainer can do about that tbh.

That sounds awesome.
On the price front I don't think it needs to be ridiculously low, as once you've got more than 4-5 people in a session it becomes a group class rather than personal training.

I have had PTs in the past but my main problem is if I have a busy job with irregular hours. I can’t say I will do a session every Wednesday at x time. I then have a week where I amI quiet and local so could possibly go a couple of times a week. I suppose I need to find someone who has some sort of online booking where you can pay as you go and book slots as and when.

I do go to the gym and did get a PT to start me off but it's expensive on top of the gym membership. It's worth what they charge, but it's a lot if you can't afford it.