Demotivated by the gym instructor * help me gain it back *

DavPul

So . . . I'm a body pump instructor and a body step instructor and I teach random other classes (tabata, core, whatever). I've been doing this for a few years at various weights and capabilities. I'm not saying that his approach is correct or that you're is correct all I'm saying is I've learned that

-while I like to talk about how much I'm sweating it really only indicates how far away I'm standing from the fan, the temperature of the room, and the humiditiy level of the room.

-different people are motivated in different ways, I prefer the "get off your *kitten* and move" method . . . I find that the coddling method may get people to move some, but does little to improve their intensity.

-Exercise is uncomfortable, if it was supposed to be comfortable it would be called "tea."

-I stand up there and push myself to the brink, when I see someone phoning it in (sometimes they just don't go harder, sometimes they don't know that they can go harder) I find it frustrating for me. If they are someone that I think really wants to work at capacity I'll give them tips ("hey, I bet you could get to ___ weight on that squat track." "Come on now, you're not even making this look hard." "If you did ___ with your form I be you could ____.")

-in order to keep doing it you have to find what you're doing worth it.

-some instructors are better than others, and some instructors mesh better with certain members than others. if you really don't like the instructor find a new one.

penrbrown

This is why I started working out alone. I don't respond well to that kind of 'motivation'.

I think it's complete jackassery and I don't find it inspiring. Basically it's like hearing all my inner demons speaking out loud. It's like the little voice in my head that says: "You're not good enough. You'll never be good enough. You're wasting your time." gets an external validation.

So I dumped the 'trainers', dumped the 'workout buddies' and started working on my own. -I- keep me motivated just fine without insults or put downs or rude comments like that *kitten* of a trainer said to you.

All that said. if you can. Ignore him. Keep going. Do your thing and don't worry about him. He's just a jerk with a complex.

RachNRoll

Hey everyone,
Thanks a lot for all your replies, I've read them all and appreciate every single one of them.
I guess you're right when you say that if he really saw me as a tourist he wouldn't bother to push me harder. I haven't thought about this in this perspective, and it's actually a nice one. I'll prove him I can do better, and make myself proud.

At the end he hugged me and I told him that I would be in his nightmares from now on, so he's not really that bad.

Today is my day off from gym, tomorrow is a new day and I'll be there at 110%

P.S. my sweat really comes from me, the windows are always open and I always stand next to the window in the back and the fans are always maximum

Big kiss to everyone, you don't imagine how helpfull you guys were!

DavPul

Love it. Take today off and channel your frustration and go back tomorrow and show him what you're all about.

ThickMcRunFast

Its great that you've taken the right perspective on this.

In track, if my coach wanted to make me run faster, he would look at his watch after my lap and just shake his head sadly and look disappointed. Oh man did this get under my skin. But he knew what I was capable of, and I damn sure ran faster the next lap.

Go get 'em.

jj1973

a part of this is probably based on your own personal goals.

I would have told him that my only reason for being there was so that i could drink a coke when I left, so being ugly is only going to make me move my membership to a friendlier gym. :bigsmile:

Jasmine_James

Remember you're doing this for you -- not for him. And you'll get there in your own way. You've been successful in the past, so you know you can do this. I would get him out of your life. You're making great progress. You should feel proud of going to the gym as often and consistently as you have.

Admiral_Derp

Hey everyone,
Thanks a lot for all your replies, I've read them all and appreciate every single one of them.
I guess you're right when you say that if he really saw me as a tourist he wouldn't bother to push me harder. I haven't thought about this in this perspective, and it's actually a nice one. I'll prove him I can do better, and make myself proud.

At the end he hugged me and I told him that I would be in his nightmares from now on, so he's not really that bad.

Today is my day off from gym, tomorrow is a new day and I'll be there at 110%

P.S. my sweat really comes from me, the windows are always open and I always stand next to the window in the back and the fans are always maximum

Big kiss to everyone, you don't imagine how helpfull you guys were!

Best attitude ever!