Poop Shute

Sometimes Personal Training is headache.

Very early you begin to see why these people need trainers in the first place.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying its because they are out of shape, I'm saying it's because they have no motivation of their own to fuel them. There is no fire lit under their asses to make them want to do this in the first place, so they pay me to be that fire. They pay me to hold them accountable... But then they call in a half hour before their appointments to say things like

Client: Um... I have all these job interviews today and I can't make it.

Me: Well let's reschedule then, I can fit you in almost anywhere until about three this afternoon.

Client: Well... I can't make that. I have job interviews.

Me: You have job interviews continously for the next six hours?

Client: Yeah.

Yes, it is possible that she will be going from one interview to the next for six straight hours. But she already has a history of bailing on gym time, so I don't believe her. Her first week she No-Showed on me once, so then we rescheduled for the following week and she bailed again. When I called her the second time she seemed startled that she had an appointment and said she forgot (which I believed) but then made up lame excuses why she couldn't just come in late (which I did not believe). So far this is the fourth week she has been my client and I have seen her in the flesh once. We'll call that Client Type I. I have two others just like her.

Then there is the type who shows up, but won't follow directions. Client Type II. This client comes in every week, and on time, but doesn't listen to me. This client type will ignore my every word.

Me: Ok, that's good, but lift your legs up.

Client: .... (does not comply)

Me: Did you hear me? Lift your legs up.

Client: .... (continues to ignore)

Me: You're not getting the full benefit of this exercise unless you lift your legs up. (losing patience now) Look, I can't help you unless you let me do my job here.

If she were to argue with me, that would at least give me something to work with, but instead she shows a complete lack of respect and flat out ignores me. She does not even acknowledge that I have said anything at all. And I know she hears me.

This same client will stop an exercise, saying she can't go on and disregard all my attempts at "One more, come on, you can do one more." That right there is one of the biggest parts of the trainers job; getting that "one more" out of you when you would otherwise quit, and she won't even give me that. I only have one client like this, and thank god for that.

Thus far the only other type (and the rarest type) are the Client Type III people. They come in on time, they follow directions and they are nice people and fun to work with. These people make the job worth doing. They are responsive, respectful and appreciative of the work I do for them. So far I have two of these, and I look forward to my time with them. Great people.

The point here is that people who come to a trainer have made the first step in the right direction. They recognize they have a problem and that recognition drives them to take action. But many people lose that drive as soon as they have made that first step. It's like some bizarre part of their psyche says "All right, congratulations, you fixed the problem. Now we're done." I've seen it happen many times. Hell, I've done it in my own life. It seems to be human nature. Until these people really want it, and can keep that drive alive, there is very little I can do to help them. It makes me sad to take their money, but a man's got to eat.

The money is good and the hours are flexible, which I love. I just need more clients. Who knows maybe I'll find some more Types to write about too.