to be so upset about a personal trainer

[VMumToBe]

I saved my Christmas money and finally plucked up enough courage to hire a personal trainer for a block of sessions. Session 2 was last Thursday and I am still in absolute agony after he misspitched the session (jogging, lunges and kettleballs). I am struggling to lift my 5 month baby, the pain is constant and I have had to visit a physio to try and get things sorted. Physio advised that the training was pitched at far too high an impact level for me (but how was I to have known that - that's what I was paying the trainer for!!)

He is being agressive and unpleasant and given I have done 2 sessions, he is only offering me 1/3 of my money back, the rest being taken for "planning, administration and sessions cancelled at short notice".

My confidence is shot to pieces, I am in a worse position than before, still unfit and back behind square one!!

Thank you for any thoughts / guidance / advice on getting back on track by myself...

As a former fitness instructor I am quite appalled that a) the trainer pitched the level at one that was too high an impact for you and b) that he's only offering you 1/3 of your money back. Did he do a full health questionnaire and fitness assesment before starting sessions? Were you in pain or did you find it difficult during the sessions and if so did you tell him?

Is he attached to a gym? If so, complain, complain, complain as high up as you can go.

If not, consumer direct is a good place to start re. what your rights are. Google them and give them a call.

By now you should be ok VMUM. The day after you tend to be sore and the day after that.
I too am a former fitness instructor so I know you shouldnt be in absolute agony now. You must tell him this and complain to someone.. .but I am not sure if he comes to your house or you go to a gym. If a gym then please let the manager know you situation and upset you are.

Am not blaming you at all,,,, but I just wonder how very hard you worked during the sessions. . (very by the sound of it !).
The trainer must have been a right bully for you to be in such pain. You must always pace yourself. . .and if something is too hard, just say so and he must take know for an answer. Stop when you cant do anymore....listen to your body, especially for the first few weeks when its all so new, and your body isnt used to it all.
They always encourage but you are obviously new to exercise and have just had a baby so ligaments are still lose and your fitness levels may be low.
Dont despair, stay strong and you will get there. Important to make a complain thought. Maybe find another instructor somewhere else.

Have you posted this before? I am getting deja vu.

Where you in pain?
No wonder your confdence shot. Although personal trainers are good for motivation and pointing you in the right direction, they shouldnt be aggressive with you and push you too much. I think you have just had a bad experience as most personal trainers are very good.
If you want to go it alone, obviously when better, I recommend the couch to 5k plan, its a walk run programme. Just listen to your body, if your finding it hard repeat the week instead of going to the next week.
As for your money only 1/3 back is disgusting, but Im not sure what your rights. Hopefully someone maybe able hep you a bit more with that but I would probably start with a complaint perhaps even threatening to get in touch with the association he is registered with

Have you told him that you have had to see a physio? Would you consider telling him that you would take some sort of legal action (no idea about that though or what legal action you could actually take, i mean it as more of a threat though) unless he gives you your money back?

It does sound like you've been pushed too hard, if you are still unable to pick your baby up from a session from last Thurs.

Did you tell the trainer? Part of a job of a trainer is to push you further than you'd do on your own. If you didnt say anything, perhaps he carried on pushing you as he didnt realise.

After a good session, you should expect to hurt for a couple of days at the beginning as your muscles get used to kicking up a gear. It's how you get fit.

I've also seen this on here before PaperView

TY Treas! It's virtually the same...

Not me posting before papermum!!
But I will search to see if there's other threads of this ilk as always helpful to have as many thoughts as possible - not good that someone else has been through this too.
Thank you all for your thoughts too.
DH is of the view that I should just accept the 1/3 refund and be done with it, given "life's quite stressful enough"
Nope trainer is independent of a gym unfortunately.
He did do an assessment before and knew of my fitness levels, and I did say I was concerned during the lunges / kettleballs whether they would be okay for my back coz of the quite jerky motion he was getting me to do. I don't think I was pushing myself very much ironically!!! THink it was the sudden movements that have caused the issue.
Totally agree that he was there to push me a bit - but in a safe way.
I have trained before pre preg (netball, PT sessions with another trainer that I would love to go back to but we have moved etc) and also am a snowboard instructor, so know how sore muscles feel - but being still broken nearly a week after makes me feel that the exercises weren't suitable for my stage of "rehabilitation".
I think that swimming only is for me for the next few weeks whilst I get my back back to normal, then I can hopefully start back doing some land exercises.
Fingers crossed....(I have to stop getting emotional about it too, grrr!)

lunges and kettlebell movements shouldn't be jerky, in fact nothing should be jerky, movements are meant to be smooth and controlled. 'Sudden movements' is also really ringing alarm bells.

Did you see any qualifications before you started? It sounds like his technique was way off and that's basic stuff.

It's unfortunate that the industry is so unregulated but that doesn't mean you can't sue him. Try looking him up here reps.netxtra.net/directory/default.asp?dir=1 but I would be surprised if you found him

Sorry I forgot to do the link

reps.netxtra.net/directory/default.asp?dir=1

thanks mmsmum - looked him up and he is level 3!
hmph.

He is on it! That's interesting. You can make a complaint about him to reps, but that's as much as I know. It might be enough to tell him you are thinking of doing it to scare him into fully refunding you but if you think this man is truly dangerous then a complaint might be in order to protect other people. Reps is voluntary but it is strict and as a freelance pt not being on it might harm his business

Thanks mmsmum - I have written him a calm measured email in response to his (rude) one requesting money back for sessions I have not undertaken. If this is not forthcoming or I have not received a response in say a week I will then take things further.

Thank you all everyone else for your thoughts - it really helps to have some people to talk things through with and I am glad for some very helpful comments!

Please have a big from me!