becoming a personal trainer

tattoosandheels

So Ive realized that I am becoming more invested in my fitness and health ( I mean why else would I be here). I am overweight, yeah. That's a given. Recently, I've become more and more interested in becoming a Personal Trainer. I feel weird about it for the fact that I am a chubster. I have my own personal trainer, and I love the push and extra motivation I am given to obtain my goals. I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember, and my trainer is changing my life and giving me a new outlook. Theres a community college near me that offers an associates in Fitness and Exercise and I'm thinking about starting the classes in the Fall. Anybody out there have any advice. I mean, I have essentially 5 months to train hard, and get into better shape (which is a pretty decent amount of time). I think it would be a job that Id really enjoy.

What do ya'll think of my situation?

ninerbuff

So Ive realized that I am becoming more invested in my fitness and health ( I mean why else would I be here). I am overweight, yeah. That's a given. Recently, I've become more and more interested in becoming a Personal Trainer. I feel weird about it for the fact that I am a chubster. I have my own personal trainer, and I love the push and extra motivation I am given to obtain my goals. I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember, and my trainer is changing my life and giving me a new outlook. Theres a community college near me that offers an associates in Fitness and Exercise and I'm thinking about starting the classes in the Fall. Anybody out there have any advice. I mean, I have essentially 5 months to train hard, and get into better shape (which is a pretty decent amount of time). I think it would be a job that Id really enjoy.

What do ya'll think of my situation?

Here are some of the things you need to know:
You will be a sales person. That means to get clients, you'll have to understand how to sell, over come objections, be forward and self motivated. Most of the time people aren't going to come looking for you unless you have a real good rep.

You'll have to be adept at understanding how to create programs for people. One thing I always see with new trainers is that EVERYONE they train is usually on the same program. But not everyone has all the same capabilities.

You will be in the gym alot. And sometimes that can play a toll on your own fitness. Doing exercises all day with people can sometimes demotivate you to do your own workout.

Be in it for the passion of helping people. I chose to work in a Wellness Center and not a regular gym because a lot of the people I deal with are rehabbing from surgeries, cancer, accidents, stroke, obesity, diabetes, etc. I do have a fair amount of regular clients, but they don't need as much help as the others mentioned above.

Good luck if you expect to continue.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

tattoosandheels

So Ive realized that I am becoming more invested in my fitness and health ( I mean why else would I be here). I am overweight, yeah. That's a given. Recently, I've become more and more interested in becoming a Personal Trainer. I feel weird about it for the fact that I am a chubster. I have my own personal trainer, and I love the push and extra motivation I am given to obtain my goals. I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember, and my trainer is changing my life and giving me a new outlook. Theres a community college near me that offers an associates in Fitness and Exercise and I'm thinking about starting the classes in the Fall. Anybody out there have any advice. I mean, I have essentially 5 months to train hard, and get into better shape (which is a pretty decent amount of time). I think it would be a job that Id really enjoy.

What do ya'll think of my situation?

Here are some of the things you need to know:
You will be a sales person. That means to get clients, you'll have to understand how to sell, over come objections, be forward and self motivated. Most of the time people aren't going to come looking for you unless you have a real good rep.

You'll have to be adept at understanding how to create programs for people. One thing I always see with new trainers is that EVERYONE they train is usually on the same program. But not everyone has all the same capabilities.

You will be in the gym alot. And sometimes that can play a toll on your own fitness. Doing exercises all day with people can sometimes demotivate you to do your own workout.

Be in it for the passion of helping people. I chose to work in a Wellness Center and not a regular gym because a lot of the people I deal with are rehabbing from surgeries, cancer, accidents, stroke, obesity, diabetes, etc. I do have a fair amount of regular clients, but they don't need as much help as the others mentioned above.

Good luck if you expect to continue.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Thank you! I appreciate the insight from someone who is already active in the field.

Sunny____

What better way to motivate yourself. If you're going to be a personal trainer, you best look the part - that will keep you pushing yourself. And think of all you will learn, that will help you get into the shape you desire. You will become the expert.

I think deciding who to be certified by is important. Such as the man above who is A.C.E. I researched several and it seems the program which is most popular among many of the top gyms as far as hiring pt. They also have good reviews. What concerned me about them is that the testing is done at home, open book, not timed. I would think that would discredit them, but the fitness industry doesn't seem to think so. Most other certifications require you to go to a testing center with cameras and moderators. You must show your identification and sign with a form claiming you are who you say you are.

I am going to get certified as a personal trainer also. After researching. I decided to use A.C.E. I am also out of shape, but what better way to become in shape. Plus I know I have the other qualifications which will help me succeed. Also, I used to be a school teacher so I work well with kiddos. That said, I want to train kiddos. Did you know that for the first time in the history of the world, our children are the first generation EVER to have a life expectancy less than their parents due to poor diet, and inactive lifestyle and toxins in foods? Every generation since the beginning of time has had their children's life expectancy be greater than their parents due to development of modern medicine and discovery of disease cures, etc until THIS generation.

So many children are bullied in schools and I want to help them. Sorry to ramble with MY story, I got off subject, but just excited for YOU and for ME and for our future clients.

ninerbuff

What better way to motivate yourself. If you're going to be a personal trainer, you best look the part - that will keep you pushing yourself. And think of all you will learn, that will help you get into the shape you desire. You will become the expert.

I think deciding who to be certified by is important. Such as the man above who is A.C.E. I researched several and it seems the program which is most popular among many of the top gyms as far as hiring pt. They also have good reviews. What concerned me about them is that the testing is done at home, open book, not timed. I would think that would discredit them, but the fitness industry doesn't seem to think so. Most other certifications require you to go to a testing center with cameras and moderators. You must show your identification and sign with a form claiming you are who you say you are.

I am going to get certified as a personal trainer also. After researching. I decided to use A.C.E. I am also out of shape, but what better way to become in shape. Plus I know I have the other qualifications which will help me succeed. Also, I used to be a school teacher so I work well with kiddos. That said, I want to train kiddos. Did you know that for the first time in the history of the world, our children are the first generation EVER to have a life expectancy less than their parents due to poor diet, and inactive lifestyle and toxins in foods? Every generation since the beginning of time has had their children's life expectancy be greater than their parents due to development of modern medicine and discovery of disease cures, etc until THIS generation.

So many children are bullied in schools and I want to help them. Sorry to ramble with MY story, I got off subject, but just excited for YOU and for ME and for our future clients.

Actually I just re upped my certs and had to go to a testing center to have it done. Same when I first got it too. It's still expensive though. But a cert is just evidence that you passed the test. The real test comes with how one gets results with clients.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Sunny____

What better way to motivate yourself. If you're going to be a personal trainer, you best look the part - that will keep you pushing yourself. And think of all you will learn, that will help you get into the shape you desire. You will become the expert.

I think deciding who to be certified by is important. Such as the man above who is A.C.E. I researched several and it seems the program which is most popular among many of the top gyms as far as hiring pt. They also have good reviews. What concerned me about them is that the testing is done at home, open book, not timed. I would think that would discredit them, but the fitness industry doesn't seem to think so. Most other certifications require you to go to a testing center with cameras and moderators. You must show your identification and sign with a form claiming you are who you say you are.

I am going to get certified as a personal trainer also. After researching. I decided to use A.C.E. I am also out of shape, but what better way to become in shape. Plus I know I have the other qualifications which will help me succeed. Also, I used to be a school teacher so I work well with kiddos. That said, I want to train kiddos. Did you know that for the first time in the history of the world, our children are the first generation EVER to have a life expectancy less than their parents due to poor diet, and inactive lifestyle and toxins in foods? Every generation since the beginning of time has had their children's life expectancy be greater than their parents due to development of modern medicine and discovery of disease cures, etc until THIS generation.

So many children are bullied in schools and I want to help them. Sorry to ramble with MY story, I got off subject, but just excited for YOU and for ME and for our future clients.

Actually I just re upped my certs and had to go to a testing center to have it done. Same when I first got it too. It's still expensive though. But a cert is just evidence that you passed the test. The real test comes with how one gets results with clients.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

That said, creating a portfolio with people from all shapes, sizes and ages would be key. It's great advertisement. Pictures don't lie. And word of mouth is gold.

I just saw that you were cert with I.D.E.A. I bet that is why you had to go to a testing center. I missed that before.