Am I a creep?

[Iamanon55]

I've been going to a personal trainer since June 2024 ~ he's in his 20's ~ I am overweight and was always nervous about being in a gym. I feel I have made massive progress and enjoy his company. He told me yesterday that he is leaving the gym and suggested another PT. I am really upset as I feel I've built up a good rapport and he has really helped me become more confident. My family have all said I should send him a message asking if I could follow him to the other gym ~ I sent a message last evening. But now I'm feeling like a massive creep and like I'm being inappropriate. My sensible head tells me that I'm being silly but I can't help but feel really anxious. He hasn't responded yet and I'm due to see him later today.

Of course you are not a creep.

You feel comfortable with him and work well with him and are getting results. Its only right that you wouldn't want this to stop.

If it were your hairdresser moving to another salon you would surely feel fine about asking them where they were going and if you could continue to be their client there?

If he doesn't address it when you see him today then ask him outright. Its not creepy or inappropriate to want to keep working with someone who has got you the results you have.

He should feel flattered that you still wish to train with him.

You are his client, and wish to remain so. How does that make you a creep?

It really depends how you phrased it. If you were respectful and said ‘Hi John, thank you for sending over details of another PT. over the last year I made very good progress with my exercise and help which I’ve struggled getting in the past, I’m conscious that this may slow down if I don’t continue with the support you have been able to give me. Would you be open to taking me on as a client in your new location?’. Nothing wrong with that. If you said something along the lines of ‘heyyy, bit weird I know but can I follow you to the new gym pleaseeee’ - probably.

Not at all! It's common for clients to follow service providers around (hairstylists, financial advisers, agents, therapists etc).

Just keep your communication friendly and professional, and it'll be fine.

Solicitors often take their clients with them I believe, as do hairdressers and all sorts of professionals. I’d just say you feel you might slow down with a new PT. If he can’t or doesn’t want to continue he will say so.

is this not just the same as when you have a hairdresser you like and they go and work in a different hair salon, so you start going to that one.

He’s probably not allowed ask you to follow him, it has to come from you, otherwise he will be seen as poaching clients.

Not creepy at all. He might have something contractual with the gym that he isn't allowed to take clients so wants to speak face to face instead of on the message.

Why would this be creepy? You pay someone for a service that you're happy with. You'd like to continue doing so. Nothing weird about that. You're his client and the service he provides is bespoke to you so it's normal to want to continue with that if you're happy with it and don't want to get to know a new trainer - it's not you're asking to change gyms to follow the receptionist!

I'd move to a new salon to keep getting my hair done by the same hairdresser and I'd move to a new clinic to keep seeing the same physiotherapist for my back, for example. This is normal.

I agree with PPs that this is fine.

I imagine this isn’t at all unusual. I think a lot of people would prefer to keep a PT that they like, who knows them, who they’ve made progress with, rather than starting again with someone new.

This was my first thought. My hairdresser can't get rid of me 😆

What you've asked is totally fine, he may well not be allowed to suggest his clients come with him due to gym policy (they clearly won't want to lose members)..the hair salon example is a good analogy - I've found in the past that stylists haven't shared where they're going because their existing salon doesn't want clients to follow them. You've done nothing wrong. Hopefully he gets back to you and you can switch to the new place.

I've followed my Dentist to 3 different employers now!

No. He should be flattered that you think he's a good PT. He might have a clause in his contract though which prevents him from taking clients with him bit that'd be difficult to enforce.

He won't be allowed to poach clients, which is why he didn't suggest you made the move with him, but he will be looking for new clients if he's starting up a business. You've done nothing wrong. If you'd asked him that question while stroking his leg, that would make you a creep!

No, service providers build client bases on rapport and relationships. You wont be the only one asking either. It may come down to contracts he has eith his chrrent gym not to take clients, or indeed maybe he is going to focus in on one area such as body building in which case he might not be able to move gyms and book him there. But creepy, no, quite normal. Like a dentist or hairdresser, you are perfectly normal to ask if you can follow them if you like their services.

No not at all! It's possible he might have a radius or non-complete clause in his contract so he can't be seen to be openly "stealing" clients (it's common in some industries).