To ask for your advice on career change? Am I too old to consider a career in fitness?

[NotNob]

I've been a SAHM since the birth of DC2 who is nearly 3. Eldest is in year 1 and DC2 is in nursery, part time.

I've been considering at length for some months what I will do in preparation for returning to work, either full time when they're both at school, or part time before. I left a career in IT project management, with little intention of returning to that field, mostly due to demoralisation within the sector. Also, DH works away during the week and I really want to be around for DCs as much as possible, which was difficult in my previous capacity. Initially I tried setting up a virtual business as a PM/ assistant, with zero interest from potential clients.

I have recently become quite disillusioned about my future career. For the past 6 months I have been going to the gym a few times a week when I get a spare hour (when DC2 is at nursery or at the weekend) and I love it! I am loving the change in mood and my body getting stronger. Thing is, I'm 37 and am surrounded by 20 something personal trainers/instructors and wonder how I could compete; who would want to hire an older personal trainer, for example, than a younger one?

I hope you can see where I'm going with this; I'm lacking a little self confidence in my abilities as a result of being out of the work place and I wonder if I'm somewhat deluded in thinking this could be viable.

Fwiw, if it's relevant, I'm capable of studying (graduate with managerial and various other qualifications), v organised and am told my people skills are good, although I'm an introvert.

I guess my question is, do people think there's a cut off point to make it in the fitness industry? Do those of you who work in the industry think I could 'fit', given what I've said? Thanks

I'm looking to get fit at the moment and looking at a gym this week. As a middle aged mum of 3 I would actively prefer you to get me fit than someone much younger. Not being agist against young people, but I think I'd be more comfortable with you. Go for it!

I moved into the fitness industry at 32, not as a or though.

Through my job I know loads of pts. Your ages isn't an issue. However making it as a PT is really difficult. The industry is flooded since you can do the qualification in a few weeks.

The most successful PTs I know are ex competitors who coach other people through competitions and PT non competeitors. Having a ukbff pro as you advert can really help. You need something extra the average PT doesn't have.

I think a lot of people would love to have an older fitness instructor. I am sure the older people going to the gym would feel more secure, more inspired by you than a 20 something year old.

I think it depends how fit you are now tbh.

Realistically, an averagely-fit 37 year old isn't going to be able to compete with a 25 year old personal trainer who's been doing it for 7 years. You would massively limit the amount of customers who would actually want to see you.

I want a fitness-nut as a personal trainer, someone who will push and push me, and for me to have to really push myself to keep up with them.

How fit are you now?

I run with a PT who does a lot of work with Mums from school (she is a Mum herself). She also works in a gym. Her prices are pretty reasonable and she does group discounts so there are several groups of friends who work out with her. I would guess that she doesn't make a fortune but I know she loves what she does.

Yes I think you could make it. Might be worth training as well to run classes for people with specific conditions such as cardiac or arthritis. These trainers tend to be older anyway. They are usually employed by the NHS, but there is no one as far as I know offering 1-1 personal training of this type privately, and I think it could be popular. You would have to advertise through charities and in pharmacists.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

In answer to your question around fitness, Eternal, I'm pretty fit as I do spin a few times a week, Grit, pump etc. Cardio is good, strength less so and my focus is currently on weights. However, I do have a slight bunion problem and consequently have had to give up running.

I hadn't considered the competitor angle, Spartans, thank you.

I guess it wouldn't have to be a PT goal I pursue, perhaps I am just being self indulgent by linking a possible career with something I love doing in my spare time.

I would say go for it.

DH has made a very successful career for himself in the fitness industry specialising in older adults and rehab after certain illnesses.

It has taken him many years and many courses/exams to get to this point (started off as a level 2 gym instructor) but he's slowly worked his way up and now works self employed for most of his work, but also has a few contracts with local council to provide certain rehab classes.

We are not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but he earns a decent wage and thoroughly enjoys his work, he absolutely thrives on helping older people exercise both their bodies and minds. He's been told so many times by the people he works with that they like the fact that he isn't some youngster with huge muscles coming to teach them! They like it that he's a bit older and even though he's fit, there's nothing in your face about his fitness(IYSWIM?).

That's v interesting, crikey, I'm wondering if older clients might be the way to go. I'll research, thank you.

I think that some people would definitely prefer an older personal trainer to a younger one. If it's what you want to do, I would try it.

The PTs at my gym range from early 20s to late 40s. They're all very into their own sports (triathlon, ultra running, weightlifting mostly) so they understand what it means to train.

I personally don't choose a trainer on the basis of how fit they are, but on the basis of how well I think they could coach me to improve my fitness. A super fit gym bunny 21 year old might be too obsessed with instagramming her abs to focus on working out what would work best for 40 something former couch potato me....

Things to bear in mind:

the hours of work might most often be evenings and weekends (when people have their leisure)
you'd need quals to work in a gym and it would def help to be a member of REP or some such http:www.exerciseregister.org
you'd probably need to be able to lead classes. Do you have any training/ certificates in any particular areas?
liability insurance, knowledge of physiology, health and safety, first aid, marketing etc etc etc

Do you have the time and money to tide you over and work towards getting the qualifications and experience you'll need to start building up your own business?

I think you can do it. I think a lot of people would like a trainer who is older and more like they are but I think you need to be very clear with yourself that working as a trainer is a very different thing from enjoying going to the gym.

did something different but also a job normally done by 20 year olds. The not-20 clients will LOVE you because you are someone they can relate to. You also understand what they can and can't do. And you don't say 'like' every three words...

BUT the points about hours, qualifications etc are very valid.

I used to go to classes run by Tina Baker. She was a soap corespondant (if that's a job?) on GMTV, before winning Celebrity Fit Club and becoming a fitness instructor. She was probably late 40s/ early 50s when I went to her classes, and she was amazing.

What she did was use her personality, and she was far more approachable than the 20 year old personal trainers. Lots of the people in her classes / personal training would probably never have even stuck at the gym if it wasn't for her. V inspirational.

Not comparing you to her age wise btw!

These are all useful points and I shall return to each and digest, thanks all.

Yes, I must remember that building a business is distinct from working out myself at the gym. A sticking point could be the hours; DH works away so my evenings are spent at home with DCs. But circumstances change and it would likely take a while to become qualified etc.

I'm particularly encouraged by replies even favouring an older trainer.

My pt/BOOTCAMP instructor is mid 30's and we all love her! The younger girls seem to look up to her if anything. She runs outdoor boot camps ( a franchise) and does v well. She has a few extras such as a running club and a cycling club. And we do challenges etc through the year.

I like my pt so much because even though she isn't as uber fit as some of the others she is absolutely brilliant at explaining what I'm supposed to be doing regarding my form with weights, keeping me going when I want to stop and being stupidly enthusiastic about everything. We talk about cake as much as high quality protein.

Different people want different things. If you're prepared to work hard (she always complains about the hours she has to work to fit around clients being at work) and you think it'll work financially even though you'll probably start off very slowly until your name gets out there then give it a go.

One of our neighbours, a retiree in her early 60s, has a PT who comes round her her house during the day for a session, so there are people who would want daytime sessions- and perhaps more in your market? I also remember a girl on a course I went on who did fitness for pensioners - again, more of a daytime market, and a market that's growing and growing i would say.

I think if you're canny you can put together a business plan, particularly if you live in a part of a country where there are lots of pensioners.

I know about classes in the city I live for older people with specific health problems. But no one seem to offer 1-1 sessions. Personal trainers all seem to be young people aiming their services at other young people.

Also in the US I know classes are run specifically for fat people. I don't know of anything like that here, there might be a market for it?

Yes, if you can focus on mums returning to fitness (maybe a postnatal course) or older people then you could work more 'normal' hours.

I think more women are discovering weight training too (best way to lose fat, great to protect against osteoporosis too), so maybe a focus on that?

If you want to train Kettlebells, StrongFirst do a very good course. Bloody hard to pass I understand! Most trainers I see at our gym teach terrible technique!

It's definitley do able. You just have to plan well, will you work out of gym or go to people's houses. Working out of a gym is good as will see you about and may feel more comfortable approaching someone they kind of know, but you will have to pay rent. Peoples houses has advantages but you need to factor in petrol and travelling time. Travelling time can cut down how many people you see.

Also you need to make sure you have time to build a business. I know a few people who have done the course but can not afford to spend time building their business and so have never given it a real go as they couldn't give up their day job.

My PT was a door man on an evening for 2 years before his business really took off enough to do it as his only job. But now he is booked up and so opened his own smallish gyn and employed more personal trainers. It's really paid off for him, but he does work a lot of hours. But around his kids. It's really been worth the effort he has put in.

I've just renewed my membership with the local gym, and have at PT who is over 50. I'm only a few years younger, and I love the rapport I have with her. She's great.

This is all excellent, thanks to all who have posted. I live in Norfolk which has an ageing population so targeting an older client group could well be the way to go.

I know quite a few people who've been in this line of work & who don't have hugely complimentary things to say about it in terms of predictability of hours & income.

But age shouldn't really be a barrier at all.

Pre- and post-natal PT-ing is [afaik] a growth market & it'd frankly be a bit of a nonsense to have a PT for that who hadn't been through it all.

Pretty much anyone over the age of 30 could be forgiven for preferring an older PT [one who understands creaking joints etc] over the usual 21 yr old Muscle Mary.