Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you fire him?

29 replies

ThinkGlow · 19/08/2019 18:41

I have zero experience so I may well be unreasonable here, and my expectations may be too high.

I contacted a personal trainer to have chat about my fitness and goals. I turned up at his gym and he had me doing a few leg and balance exercises for an hour, told me to repeat the exercises I'd just done at home very day and booked me in for the following week.

Thing is, during the exercises he kept repeatedly looking at his phone and was instructing someone else there too, so sort of going between us. He asked no medical questions, did no assessment and wasn't interested when I mentioned I had balance issues due to a foot surgery.

But like I said I have no experience of PTs or gyms and I felt intimidated anyway, so I went back.

He forgot what he said we would do this week and it felt like he was just making up exercises as we went along. I also told him immediately when I had an odd twinge and he said keep going, and now I'm limping a bit.

Is not going 1-1, not assessing/asking anything medical and checking your phone/being distracted normal practice for a PT?

I was really, really hoping the first week to get an assessment of my fitness (is that a 'thing'?) and maybe have a plan for the future.

He's a nice guy so I feel obligated to go back :( he's also running in a race next month that I'm running too and I don't want to feel awkward if I see him (it's a small race so likely)...

What would you do?

OP posts:
Itsallgonewoowoo · 19/08/2019 18:44

My DM was permenantly damaged by an I'll informed trainer. Not worth it. Go with someone who is concentrating on you and understands the medical issues.

Original poster
ThinkGlow · 19/08/2019 18:45

@Itsallgonewoowoo permanently damaged? That's awful! :(

OP posts:
Welliesandpyjamas · 19/08/2019 18:45

Ditch. Move on. If he asks, tell him why. If he doesn’t, don’t give it another moment’s thought. You are paying good money, you expect to have a tailored product and to be listened to, especially if you are hvaing twinges.

Loopytiles · 19/08/2019 18:45

Never had a PT, but it doesn’t sound like he’s a good one!

Don’t shell out more money out of social obligation, he’s only an acquaintance.

ByeByeBike · 19/08/2019 18:46

It took me ages to find a really good pt - ask friends for recommendations.

Loopytiles · 19/08/2019 18:46

Unless he’d advertised as pair or small group sessions you should have had his 1:1 time.

ShirleyPhallus · 19/08/2019 18:47

Move on

I had a shite PT who couldn’t remember things week to week and would just make stuff up and be completely disinterested

My PT now is fantastic, he’s done a full programme with my goals in mind, provides nutrition support, I have an app where he logs my workouts so I can see progress etc

Sparklesocks · 19/08/2019 18:48

I would find someone else - not doing an assessment sounds worrying - he should find out if you have any health conditions at least. Aside from that, you are paying (and I assume not peanuts!) for a 1 on 1 session - not doing proper lesson plans and giving you full attention shows he is not making the effort you are paying him for. He shouldn’t be on his phone during time you paid for. And when you signed up, did he make it clear you would be sharing the time with another person? Or were you led to believe it was 1 on 1?

He sounds like he’s doing the bare minimum and I would shop around tbh.

You can just say you don’t think you’re a good fit, you don’t owe him anything more than that.

BizzzzyBee · 19/08/2019 18:50

Do you really need to ask? It’s false advertising if he didn’t say you’d be in a group rather than one on one. And the phone thing would annoy the heck out of me.

Original poster
ThinkGlow · 19/08/2019 18:54

And when you signed up

There was no signing up. I literally turned up at a pre-arranged time at his gym, expecting a chat and some information, and he said right let's do leg exercises, I thought it was an assessment until it kept going and going for an hour and he said 'how often do you want to come'.

No plan, no questions, no communication. He seems nice enough but not what I was hoping for. But then I was doubting myself thinking maybe this is just how it is? It's a new world to me!

Reading all this back though I can't believe I returned!! Why I can't stick up for myself and trust my own gut I don't know.

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 19/08/2019 18:56

ThinkGlow that’s really poor! So he didn’t even ask you about fitness goals or what you want to achieve? How do you even know what you’re working towards (and how does he know!) if you haven’t even had a chat about it? Definitely not normal

HundredMilesAnHour · 19/08/2019 18:59

Did you sign up for a package (block booking) with him or are you paying for session? If it's per session, just stop seeing him. Tell him you were limping after your last session so you are stopping the sessions.

How much did you pay him? Was it a 1:1 price or was it a reduced price if he was supervising someone else? Did you sign a PARQ or any kind of medical/health waiver? Did you check he's Level 3 qualified? (check the Register of Exercise Professionals).

It's not the norm to do a fitness assessment as such but if that's what you want, you need to say. Some trainers will spend most/all of your first session asking about your goals, medical/training history etc whereas some will get you moving straight away and find out what you're capable of as you go. It depends on the trainer and the client.

MatildaTheCat · 19/08/2019 19:00

Consider finding a rehab therapist. They are very similar in training to physios but deal with injury. Mine is completely body aware and an excellent Pilates instructor and fitness instructor.

You should have had a full medical history, discussion about your goals and obviously his full attention.

Just cancel and say you didn’t feel it was right for you.

Cherrysoup · 19/08/2019 19:02

He sounds like an idiot. No conversation re goals/abilities? Sounds ridiculous. Half ignoring you to talk to another client/stare at his phone is plain rude: did he say it wasn't a private session? Ditch him and tell him why.

Lulualla · 19/08/2019 19:05

He's not doing the job correctly. Does he own the gym? Or is he just employed by the gym? Or has he got nothing to do with the gym but just uses it for his sessions?

If he is employed by them gym then speak with the manager about all of those issues because they are real concerns. Then get out and get a different trainer.

Pipandmum · 19/08/2019 19:06

My pt went thru medical stuff and my goals etc. Asked what exercise I did, what I enjoyed, what my commitment was likely to be...she then took me thru a few exercises to see what my fitness level was. She now has a folder on me and keeps track of what we do, what weights I lift, etc. She’s encouraged me to take up Pilates and has discussed diet, though as she is not a dietician does not assign a diet as such.
My hour with her is my hour - she has her phone off and concentrates solely on me. We have cardio for about 20 min, then weight training for 20 and last 20 Pilates and core exercises. But within that she shakes it up so one week might be treadmill and bike, next week rower and elliptical, some sessions it’s suspension training, sometimes kettle bells... but all so it pushes me without making me hate so much I’ll never come back!
It sounds like your pt is either too busy or not interested in building a relationship with you. It’s so important to feel like the trainer is supporting you and interested in you achieving your goals, not just someone with routine exercises not bespoke to your needs.
Find another trainer!

Spingtrolls · 19/08/2019 19:06

I’ve had a few over the years.
The ones that ask about limitations, goals arc are the ones that I have returned to.
After the first session I’ve always gone away with a plan for a few weeks as a minimum.

When I’m shopping around I don’t book blocks I until after the first session. There are some very bad ones out there that shouldn’t be pt’s.

TheSheepofWallSt · 19/08/2019 19:07

No. That’s nonsense.
My PT was amazing. 1-1 , totally focussed on me, my goals, and perfecting my technique, had a weekly plan for me, and if we were in the gym at the same time, and he wasn’t training someone, would often pop over to chat about what I was doing
etc.
Took measurements regularly, helped me to
stretch out sticky damaged hip joints (physically helped) and was an all round amazing trainer.
Yours sounds shit, sack him off.

Raphael34 · 19/08/2019 19:10

This is not the norm at all. The first meeting should have been an introductory session with you both discussing your goals, what you want out of the sessions, and how to get there. He should have asked you about any medical issues, and these should have been discussed in detail when you told him you had one. He should have come up with a package tailored especially for you, and he sure as hell shouldn’t be on his phone training other people at the same time. This man is inconsiderate, incompetent and putting your health in danger. That isn’t ‘nice’. Definitely don’t go back to him.

LordEmsworth · 19/08/2019 19:14

Just to echo what everyone's said, he sounds appalling.

I assume you're paying a fair whack, PT's don't come cheap - why on earth would you want to pay premium prices for a below-par service?

Jaxhog · 19/08/2019 19:18

Yes, sack him; he sounds rubbish. I've had several PTs and expected their undivided attention for every minute I was paying them for. I also sacked 2 of them for either not giving me their attention, or for being unreliable. It's an expensive business, so you should have high expectations!

Cornettoninja · 19/08/2019 19:29

Bin him off. Don’t feel uncomfortable around him if you bump into him, he’s the one who should be worrying about what you might say to other people.

chipsandgin · 19/08/2019 19:37

Ex PT here, that’s appalling & not doing a proper assessment of fitness level/injury/medical injury could put you at risk - not to mention your programme should be tailored to your needs, well explained, have your goals in mind and have very specific instruction on technique. Anyone can call themselves a personal trainer as it isn’t as well regulated as other professions. I often was asked about my qualifications/experience & specialisms (or offered that information as well as case studies & recommendations from other clients).

You wouldn’t return to a restaurant that served terrible food or a beauty therapist that didn’t know what they were doing - let alone someone who could cause physical damage! Sack him off straight away..

Original poster
ThinkGlow · 19/08/2019 19:41

Thanks everyone.

I think I'll make my excuses with him and look for another one.

He hasn't charged the earth - after the first session (when I was just expecting a chat) I said how much do I owe you and he said £25, and same again for next week. Though when I paid him the second time he looked a bit offended and said 'oh, okay, that's fine.' It was awkward.

OP posts:
Happyspud · 19/08/2019 19:41

My PT gave me a rotator cuff injury. I should have kicked up a lot about it but didn’t want to be impolite. He watched a match on the tv screen while told me to keep going through the pain. I wasn’t experienced enough to realise it shouldn’t hurt to lift weights like that.