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Original poster

How can I sack my personal trainer?

29 replies

FreedomFries · 05/03/2022 14:33

Any advice please? I've been with them 5 years. I'm not enjoying it any more but I don't want to hurt their feelings. Anyone who has successfully done this please tell me how!

OP posts:
1idea · 05/03/2022 15:19

Be vague and say a change in circumstances means you can no longer continue. You could say you want a change. 5 years is a long time alternatively you could be honest and say you’re thinking of stopping and that you’re not enjoying it and give your PT a chance to improve it for you.

Loopytiles · 05/03/2022 15:20

How do you pay? If in ‘blocks’ would wait until after your last session, then email them!

NutellaEllaElla · 05/03/2022 15:21

You could suggest a break over some holiday or something, say you'll get in touch if you want to schedule another session.

Loopytiles · 05/03/2022 15:21

Would also consider how much prioritising their feelings over your own feelings and cash has cost you so far.

Lbnc2021 · 05/03/2022 15:22

I’m a personal trainer and I’d wonder what I was doing wrong if someone was still having to come to me after 5 years.

GregBrawlsInDogJail · 05/03/2022 15:23

Just tell them you won't be booking any more sessions after your current block as you're going to do something else!

You're overthinking it. Clients will stop seeing them all the time for all sorts of reasons.

NarrowboatDi · 05/03/2022 15:23

I think you need to be honest. If you are vague or flaky they will be out of pocket whilst they hold a space open for you. If you tell them you won’t be continuing after x date they can fill your spot. And they will appreciate your honesty as most of the time people just ghost them.

GregBrawlsInDogJail · 05/03/2022 15:24

@Lbnc2021

I’m a personal trainer and I’d wonder what I was doing wrong if someone was still having to come to me after 5 years.
Hmm why? Does someone achieve Fitness Nirvana and just stay there after they've been seeing you for a year?
CMOTDibbler · 05/03/2022 15:24

Its a business arrangement, not a relationship, so keep it simple. 'Hi X, I have decided that much as I have enjoyed training with you for the last 5 years, that personal training doesn't work for me anymore so I will not be booking any further sessions. Thank you for all you have done, and all the best for the future'

earsup · 05/03/2022 15:26

I told mine after some sessions.....was a friend also...that i was resuming yoga again....no issues....we still meet up etc...

Thatsplentyjack · 05/03/2022 15:29

@Lbnc2021

I’m a personal trainer and I’d wonder what I was doing wrong if someone was still having to come to me after 5 years.
Can I ask how long a client is usually with you, roughly?
Scbchl · 05/03/2022 15:30

Thats madness to of been with one so long. They should be training you how to independently know how to exercise and work out yourself within a period of time.

Just message thanks for everything decided to go it alone for awhile will be in contact in the future if I'm looking to use a pt again.

Scbchl · 05/03/2022 15:32

@GregBrawlsInDogJail someone should absolutely of learned enough within a year with a personal trainer to be confident enough to know how to train themselves to the same level

GregBrawlsInDogJail · 05/03/2022 15:48

Why do you think that's the only reason someone would see a PT though? To learn technique? Why couldn't someone value having someone else create a routine for them, judge how to keep building fitness/strength/intensity, or like the accountability and relationship? By your theory, pro athletes don't need coaches, because after all they've all been doing their sport for longer than a year and should know how to "train themselves".

Flexitarian · 05/03/2022 16:04

Do people not keep their PT for motivation and accountability?

Personally I'm a softy and would tell a white lie, that I have been doing some budgeting and need to tighten my belt so I'll be going solo for a while. That's just me though.

CovidCurious · 05/03/2022 18:03

I cannot see any reason why someone would automatically get rid of a PT after a year. A second pair of eyes can be invaluable if you do weights work (video is not the same) and you may want a spotter. I do boxing pad work, which I clearly need someone for. Yes, you could learn how to program yourself, just like I could probably learn to do my plumbing. But that's only part of it.

As to the question, OP, it depends on why you really want to stop the sessions. "Not enjoying it" is a bit vague. Would you want to work with the person if you did enjoy it? If so, give them a chance to make things enjoyable (and after 5 years you should surely have an honest relationship with them). If money is tight, tell them. They get this all the time. If you truly have lost your mojo then they're not going to force you to stay, but any trainer worth their salt should be prepared to explore with you why, after 5 years, you are feeling you don't want to do it any more. Do you not get results? Has it become too tiring?

Scooby5kids · 05/03/2022 18:08

I had literally the exact same situation with someone I know, who was my personal trainer. At first it was great for a few months, but after a while as we became more friendly and more like mates he started to put less and less effort into planning the PT sessions. For example he used to always record my weight and and write down all my progress, but then he started to not bother. It didn't feel like a proper workout plan anymore, it was just like "Do 20 burpees, 10 mins on the bike, 3 sets of 10 squats" etc. i could have done it all at home! it just became very generic like he was just making it up. He had also started to become really flakey and would cancel the sessions last min. It started off just occasionally but because I was always ok with it it started to become a regular thing nearly every week. To be fair he would always reschedule, but it was annoying and inconvenient, because I don't particularly like exercise and I just wanted to get it over with and not have to keep rescheduling in my free time. I think it was because he started to see me more as a mate, rather than a client, so he didn't feel as guilty for being flakey. The final straw came when he cancelled twice in one week so I just sent him a really nice long email explaining that I don't feel like I have the time and the money anymore, and that it makes it really hard with all the rescheduling, and it's just not working out anymore. I wished him well, thanked him for his service and he was absolutely fine with it. I've still got him on my Facebook friends.

WoodlandLuteOrdeal · 05/03/2022 18:18

I'm a PT. I have long term clients who absolutely know their way around a gym, but know that they work harder with me. They value our continuing relationship as they progress and their goals change. Equally, I have clients who will be upfront at the very start and tell me they only want 5 or 10 sessions as a push to get them back into training. It's always a bonus if these clients return in the future, or extend our time together.

I always make clear from the start that client should be honest and open about how they feel things are going, and that I will never be offended if they want to stop, or go to a different trainer. There are plenty of clients to go round, and circumstances change. If you have built any kind of relationship with your PT over the last 5 years they should be able to take your honest reasons for stopping. If they make you feel guilty about your decision, they weren't the right PT for you in the first place and you will know you have done the right thing.

LaChanticleer · 05/03/2022 18:40

I’m a personal trainer and I’d wonder what I was doing wrong if someone was still having to come to me after 5 years.

Oh dear ....

I'm on the start of my 4th year with my PT, and I"m fitter than ever. For me, it's a luxury. My job is highflying stress, and in my PT sessions, I don't have to think or make decisions; I just do what he tells me. And we have fun, and I am strong as fuck. Pushed 200 kg on the sled over a 10 metre track ten times yesterday. And felt great.

But no way would I do that on my own. So for me, it's not what's wrong with my PT, but what's wrong with me, that I can't do this unless someone "shouts" at me! Grin

Original poster
FreedomFries · 05/03/2022 18:42

@Scooby5kids

I had literally the exact same situation with someone I know, who was my personal trainer. At first it was great for a few months, but after a while as we became more friendly and more like mates he started to put less and less effort into planning the PT sessions. For example he used to always record my weight and and write down all my progress, but then he started to not bother. It didn't feel like a proper workout plan anymore, it was just like "Do 20 burpees, 10 mins on the bike, 3 sets of 10 squats" etc. i could have done it all at home! it just became very generic like he was just making it up. He had also started to become really flakey and would cancel the sessions last min. It started off just occasionally but because I was always ok with it it started to become a regular thing nearly every week. To be fair he would always reschedule, but it was annoying and inconvenient, because I don't particularly like exercise and I just wanted to get it over with and not have to keep rescheduling in my free time. I think it was because he started to see me more as a mate, rather than a client, so he didn't feel as guilty for being flakey. The final straw came when he cancelled twice in one week so I just sent him a really nice long email explaining that I don't feel like I have the time and the money anymore, and that it makes it really hard with all the rescheduling, and it's just not working out anymore. I wished him well, thanked him for his service and he was absolutely fine with it. I've still got him on my Facebook friends.
My situation is pretty similar to this.
OP posts:
Scooby5kids · 05/03/2022 18:59

@FreedomFries I think honestly is the best approach here. I put the decision off for a while because I got sucked into the situation and saw him more as mate. We would share private information about our lives so I knew he was struggling financially and just split up with his wife and he was sofa surfing with mates, I felt really bad for him but it made it more difficult to cancel because I felt like I was helping financially supporting him. My husband made me see sense and said the end of the day you're paying him quite a generous amount of money for a service that you're not happy with. You have no obligations to feel sorry for him in his private situation because you're only a client.

There is a really good saying about keeping business and social life separate. It's for a reason so you don't get taken for a mug 🙂

GoodnessTruthBeauty · 12/03/2022 14:11

I think I have lived in the USA too long! All this hand wringing over someone you are paying to do a job. No need to be rude but just say you have decided to make a change, no need for any apologies or justification. It would be decent to give a couple of weeks notice or whenever the current block of workouts ends. This is normal for PTs.

spleencoffin · 16/03/2022 22:03

I'm a PT and friends with some of my clients. I'd hate to think they were staying out of obligation. I actually like starting with new clients so wouldn't be bothered at all

HollowTalk · 16/03/2022 22:30

@Scooby5kids Wouldn't you think if he was short of money he'd put a bit more bloody effort in and make you really happy with your time with him? The way he was behaving it's not just that you'd leave him, you wouldn't recommend him, either!

Scooby5kids · 22/03/2022 09:32

[quote HollowTalk]@Scooby5kids Wouldn't you think if he was short of money he'd put a bit more bloody effort in and make you really happy with your time with him? The way he was behaving it's not just that you'd leave him, you wouldn't recommend him, either![/quote]
No I absolutely wouldn't recommend him at all and yes he definitely should have put more effort in. It left me feeling a bit used like I was being taken for a mug. It's like he knew he was providing a less than professional service but knew he could keep me paying by talking about his hardships during our training sessions so i would feel sorry for him and it made me feel like I was doing him a favour as a mate by carrying it on. Interestingly when I did finally say I was stopping the sessions (£120 a month) I saw that he started selling loads of his gym equipment off on Facebook marketplace, the next day. So I can only assume that I was the only person still stupid enough to be carrying on and then when he realised nobody was paying at all he gave up. I do still have him on Facebook, I don't think he's a really bad guy or anything, but I do feel like he used me and took advantage of my patience and empathy. I am working on being more assertive with people now as I realise that it's a big issue for me