AAS users that are Personal Trainers

[GymIntensity]

well there are alot of good posts on here I need to reply to.
big kracker, Ya I realize when it comes down to it, its gonna take someone that is already strong in the sales department. I guess like someone else said, if you strive to be successful, you will be, whether you are a PT or car salesman, and that is what i'm determined to do ultimately, be successful. Also I think my gym takes 5$ off of like 25 or 35$ an hour. I'm not sure about other "bigger" gyms because I haven't really looked into the fees of PT's at other gyms.

Ulter, thats pretty much what im wanting, just a qualified broad certification but i also want to learn the "bookwork" of personal training, not just have a certificate, because I know right now that I'm not educated enough about personal training to feel comfortable being one.

T-Matt hit on the subject about basically looking good and looking like you at least know how to lift. I still dont consider myself in good enough shape to be a PT either, I have alot of work to do. Hopefully within 2 years , by the time I get my dietetics degree, I can be in good enough shape that I feel like clients will want me to be their PT. I'm also highly motivated and determined to do this, and it is my dream career, being a dietician/personal trainer.

Thanks for all the comments. K

 

[T-Matt]

I don't doubt that but your physique isn't going to make the corporation that has to satisfy the liability insurance carrier hire you. My point wasn't that ACE is any better or any worse. My point is that if you don't have a certification the big gyms couldn't care less what you look like. Since any certification will do and ACE is the easiest and cheapest (last time I looked), and ACE gets you in; it makes more sense to get that one.

I was under the impression that most gyms preferred trainers to be NASM certified.

You're absolutely right now, if ACE gets you in and it's more widely accepted, that would, without a doubt, be the way to go. I wasn't doubting your point, I just so happened to respond to your thread, that comment wasn't directed at you, Ulter.

But yeah, the best thing you can really do is start PT and show a progressive change in your body composition and people will start asking for questions.

It is incredibly hard these days to find a gym who will allow you to be independent. They are just losing entirely too much money that way. If you can find one do it.

The fact is is that I was set on being a personal trainer/athletic trainer. Realistically I looked at the men who have been in the field for 10 years and I wasn't happy with where most of them were at, ya know? They weren't spending anytime with their families (if they even had any because most were single due to so many working hours with the athletes)

I have always wanted to open up my own wellness center to teach solid principles, to have a definite system, to franchise and really teach people the truths about fitness and educate them on steroid use. I switched to the financial industry because that is where I'm going to learn the business principles and obtain the capital to begin.

I can't work for other people.. Common sense isn't very common these days. People try to complicate business and that's where the bottom falls out and your business dies.


T-Matt

 

[velvett]

I have always wanted to open up my own wellness center to teach solid principles, to have a definite system, to franchise and really teach people the truths about fitness and educate them on steroid use. I switched to the financial industry because that is where I'm going to learn the business principles and obtain the capital to begin.
T-Matt

That's a great dream - I hope you can achieve it sooner than later.
Good Luck!























ps. I have/had two ISSA certs - I really wasn't impressed but I did get to spend a week with Tom Platz.

 

[Cauliflower Ear]

im graduating with a bio chem degree...i have buddies in exersise science...i would say the most important thing for a trainer to have is a prestine body and a great attitude...

 

[BigCracker]

One way I got my biz rolling was by training my hotbody gf for free. I also trained a few of her hot bimbo friends for $15 a session on the condition they tell anyone that asks about my service that they're paying me $40/session and I'm worth it.

Another way to make more $$$ is by offering less time per session. Notice how I refer to it as a session and not an hrly rate. My sessions are only 45 mins-which allows me to squeeze 1-2 extra clients in during the day. It made me look busy even when I wasn't. Successful trainers will have theri own little cult following over time if they're good. Eventually I replaced my cheapo paying clients w/clients that paid my full session rate. Once my schedule was full, I'd raise my rate to $50 for all new clients.

I'd also recommend selling individual diets and 2 wk/6 session start up programs that they can pay you to update for them every other month. You should also provide group rates for people that want to get trained together.

And most importantly, make it very clear that if clients don't give you 24 hrs notice yo cancel their appointment they will still be charged. Clients often take advantage of the pt/client friendship. Make it known from the begining that this is a biz and you have bills to pay so you can't cut anyone slack. It takes sensitive talents to be able to handle these situations without you clients acting all butt hurt and not wanting your services anymore. I gave away too many freebies in the past to flakes-so even my good clients that pay on time have to abide by my nazi cancelation policy.

 

[GymIntensity]

One way I got my biz rolling was by training my hotbody gf for free. I also trained a few of her hot bimbo friends for $15 a session on the condition they tell anyone that asks about my service that they're paying me $40/session and I'm worth it.

Another way to make more $$$ is by offering less time per session. Notice how I refer to it as a session and not an hrly rate. My sessions are only 45 mins-which allows me to squeeze 1-2 extra clients in during the day. It made me look busy even when I wasn't. Successful trainers will have theri own little cult following over time if they're good. Eventually I replaced my cheapo paying clients w/clients that paid my full session rate. Once my schedule was full, I'd raise my rate to $50 for all new clients.

I'd also recommend selling individual diets and 2 wk/6 session start up programs that they can pay you to update for them every other month. You should also provide group rates for people that want to get trained together.

And most importantly, make it very clear that if clients don't give you 24 hrs notice yo cancel their appointment they will still be charged. Clients often take advantage of the pt/client friendship. Make it known from the begining that this is a biz and you have bills to pay so you can't cut anyone slack. It takes sensitive talents to be able to handle these situations without you clients acting all butt hurt and not wanting your services anymore. I gave away too many freebies in the past to flakes-so even my good clients that pay on time have to abide by my nazi cancelation policy.

this is probably one of the best/most useful posts ive seen you put out in a while BK k


What's the average number of clients per week or per day that could usually be done without going overboard with working hours??? Say a normal 40hr week of work "PT wise" ???? 3, 4, 5 per day?

 

[BigCracker]

this is probably one of the best/most useful posts ive seen you put out in a while BK k


What's the average number of clients per week or per day that could usually be done without going overboard with working hours??? Say a normal 40hr week of work "PT wise" ???? 3, 4, 5 per day?

The hours never really mattered much to me. I'd just set aside a block of time like 4pm to 9pm M-F and try to squeeze as many clients in that time as I could-and possibly train myself or do cardio between. If I was hurting for clients, I'd open up a block of time in the early AM too like 5 Am to 9AM??? Saturdays I did noon appts til ???

The pain in the ass is seeing the same people so often in a week's time. Often you become their therapist instead of their trainer-unfortunately you're only getting your rate, not a $250 hr shrink's rate. You guys hear me talk about dysfunctional marriages/relationships a lot. Most of them I hear about are from pt clients. Woman bitch their hubby thinks they're fat. Guys bitch that their woman won't have sex with them, etc. I try to keep the topics fitness related-but when you see someone 45 mins 4x a week eventually you're gonna talk about other stuff. Like any other career-you take the good with the bad. At least you're helping people and giving back to society-which is an honorable thing no matter how you look at it or what you get paid.

 

[T-Matt]

The hours never really mattered much to me. I'd just set aside a block of time like 4pm to 9pm M-F and try to squeeze as many clients in that time as I could-and possibly train myself or do cardio between. If I was hurting for clients, I'd open up a block of time in the early AM too like 5 Am to 9AM??? Saturdays I did noon appts til ???

The pain in the ass is seeing the same people so often in a week's time. Often you become their therapist instead of their trainer-unfortunately you're only getting your rate, not a $250 hr shrink's rate. You guys hear me talk about dysfunctional marriages/relationships a lot. Most of them I hear about are from pt clients. Woman bitch their hubby thinks they're fat. Guys bitch that their woman won't have sex with them, etc. I try to keep the topics fitness related-but when you see someone 45 mins 4x a week eventually you're gonna talk about other stuff. Like any other career-you take the good with the bad. At least you're helping people and giving back to society-which is an honorable thing no matter how you look at it or what you get paid.

LOL.. Bro, we would have an awesome time with our PT horror stories over a couple beers.. I saved a few marriages in my time--I'm still owed $25,000 in marriage couseling fees..

I had this one lady that specifically told me that she couldn't ride the exercise bike without getting creamy up in her insides. She then went on to mention that she hadn't had sex in 13 yearssssssssss... For some reason, she never looked at me the same after that..

T-Matt

 

[T-Matt]

That's a great dream - I hope you can achieve it sooner than later.
Good Luck!

ps. I have/had two ISSA certs - I really wasn't impressed but I did get to spend a week with Tom Platz.

Thank you! I'll need it!

That was an awesome experiece with TP. What was the most important most informative bit of advice he gave you?

T-Matt

 

[BigCracker]

LOL.. Bro, we would have an awesome time with our PT horror stories over a couple beers.. I saved a few marriages in my time--I'm still owed $25,000 in marriage couseling fees..

I think I ruined a few marriages myself. lol Nailing a pt client whose hubby pays for her sessions is completely unethical, but definitely a perk of the job if you want it to be. Personal trainer/gigolo services = same thing. However this definitely isn't the best image to project for biz long term. Ya know the rule-don't get your meat where you make your bread.