Overweight gym staff
Replies
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barbecuesauce wrote: »BasicGreatGuy wrote: »In the absence of other information, choosing a fitness expert based on their fitness level is completely logical.
As a consumer, it's not my job to dig under the surface and educate myself about a company's offerings - it's a company's obligation to make that information clear to me.
If you are the consumer looking to hire a trainer, you should do your own research, in my opinion. You should have a proactive interest in your money and your health with the company involved.
If one is not willing to educate him or herself before making an important decision, then the consumer is opening him or herself up to disappointment at best, or worse, personal injury.
It is no different buying a house. If a consumer is wise, he or she does not go by the word of the agent who says there are no problems with the house before purchase. The consumer gets an inspection done. The consumer gets a title deed search done. The consumer checks the license of the agent involved.
What? Do you really approach hiring a trainer the same way you would a house? Fantastic. How do they react when the inspector shines his flashlight around their buttresses?
Personally, I would just as soon watch them work with other clients or base my decision off appearance. If I choose incorrectly, well, good thing I'm constantly open to the possibility of disappointment.
That is what she will never say.
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MoiAussi93 wrote: »
SOME people make decisions like that, but many don't. It's really not logical. You are hiring someone to give you advice...what they know seems to be the only thing that is really relevant if you're being logical about it. If you're not being logical...well, then I hope you are at least lucky and get a good one despite your lack of research.logical
ˈlɒdʒɪk(ə)l/
adjective
adjective: logical
of or according to the rules of logic or formal argument.
Being logical doesnt mean it has to be the best argument. Considering it an important factor in hiring someone who practices what they preach is prefectly logical because they see someone who is capabale of getting the body they aspire to. Other people might look into other factors more deeply, but not everyone does.
Now you are twisting the argument making it the only factor, when I had stated all things being equal. Even if it was the only factor its their choice to make, people make such decisions all the time based on looks, its hardly new ground.0 -
yopeeps025 wrote: »BasicGreatGuy wrote: »In the absence of other information, choosing a fitness expert based on their fitness level is completely logical.
As a consumer, it's not my job to dig under the surface and educate myself about a company's offerings - it's a company's obligation to make that information clear to me.
If you are the consumer looking to hire a trainer, you should do your own research, in my opinion. You should have a proactive interest in your money and your health with the company involved.
Therein lies a logical problem. If you are needing a trainer, you most likely do not have the tools to "logically" evaluate trainers.
So you resort to what you can actually verify - which is their own fitness level.
100% logical, under the circumstances.
I can't go to a obese powerlifter who can squat 1000 pounds? My goals are to be shredded.
You can go wherever you like - it's your choice, and it's not my place to say your choice is wrong for you.
:drinker:
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Better get rid of all the male OB/GYNs since they are obviously "unqualified" for pregnancy and birthing advice.
That's different the birthing process is the same for every woman (unless getting a c section which again is the same for any woman that gets one) contractions, pushing, crowning, the vagina having to be wide enough to a certain length. More to it but it is something that is constant. Just because a man can't feel contractions doesn't mean he doesn't knyow what goes on biologically when one occurs.
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barbecuesauce wrote: »BasicGreatGuy wrote: »In the absence of other information, choosing a fitness expert based on their fitness level is completely logical.
As a consumer, it's not my job to dig under the surface and educate myself about a company's offerings - it's a company's obligation to make that information clear to me.
If you are the consumer looking to hire a trainer, you should do your own research, in my opinion. You should have a proactive interest in your money and your health with the company involved.
If one is not willing to educate him or herself before making an important decision, then the consumer is opening him or herself up to disappointment at best, or worse, personal injury.
It is no different buying a house. If a consumer is wise, he or she does not go by the word of the agent who says there are no problems with the house before purchase. The consumer gets an inspection done. The consumer gets a title deed search done. The consumer checks the license of the agent involved.
What? Do you really approach hiring a trainer the same way you would a house? Fantastic. How do they react when the inspector shines his flashlight around their buttresses?
Personally, I would just as soon watch them work with other clients or base my decision off appearance. If I choose incorrectly, well, good thing I'm constantly open to the possibility of disappointment.
You get a resume. You get references. You verify credentials. If that checks out, you set up a few training sessions to see if the two of you work well together etc.
Not difficult at all. The point was, you don't make assumptions and you don't leave everything to the company that is selling its product to do the legwork for you.0 -
yopeeps025 wrote: »BasicGreatGuy wrote: »In the absence of other information, choosing a fitness expert based on their fitness level is completely logical.
As a consumer, it's not my job to dig under the surface and educate myself about a company's offerings - it's a company's obligation to make that information clear to me.
If you are the consumer looking to hire a trainer, you should do your own research, in my opinion. You should have a proactive interest in your money and your health with the company involved.
Therein lies a logical problem. If you are needing a trainer, you most likely do not have the tools to "logically" evaluate trainers.
So you resort to what you can actually verify - which is their own fitness level.
100% logical, under the circumstances.
I can't go to a obese powerlifter who can squat 1000 pounds? My goals are to be shredded.
You can go wherever you like - it's your choice, and it's not my place to say your choice is wrong for you.
:drinker:
Your logic. I don't get it. You would feel that choice is wrong base on the fact that he is the opposite if my goals. Big and stocky means strong and slow. Lean and mean means . . . . lets spar powerlifter.0 -
MoiAussi93 wrote: »
SOME people make decisions like that, but many don't. It's really not logical. You are hiring someone to give you advice...what they know seems to be the only thing that is really relevant if you're being logical about it. If you're not being logical...well, then I hope you are at least lucky and get a good one despite your lack of research.logical
ˈlɒdʒɪk(ə)l/
adjective
adjective: logical
of or according to the rules of logic or formal argument.
Being logical doesnt mean it has to be the best argument. Considering it an important factor in hiring someone who practices what they preach is prefectly logical because they see someone who is capabale of getting the body they aspire to. Other people might look into other factors more deeply, but not everyone does.
Now you are twisting the argument making it the only factor, when I had stated all things being equal. Even if it was the only factor its their choice to make, people make such decisions all the time based on looks, its hardly new ground.
The trainer having the body you aspire to does absolutely nothing to help YOU get it.
Their advice can help you get it if you are willing to put in the work.0 -
yopeeps025 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »BasicGreatGuy wrote: »In the absence of other information, choosing a fitness expert based on their fitness level is completely logical.
As a consumer, it's not my job to dig under the surface and educate myself about a company's offerings - it's a company's obligation to make that information clear to me.
If you are the consumer looking to hire a trainer, you should do your own research, in my opinion. You should have a proactive interest in your money and your health with the company involved.
Therein lies a logical problem. If you are needing a trainer, you most likely do not have the tools to "logically" evaluate trainers.
So you resort to what you can actually verify - which is their own fitness level.
100% logical, under the circumstances.
I can't go to a obese powerlifter who can squat 1000 pounds? My goals are to be shredded.
You can go wherever you like - it's your choice, and it's not my place to say your choice is wrong for you.
:drinker:
Your logic. I don't get it.
What's to get?
If people want to avoid unfit trainers as a first filter, that's a perfectly logical course of action. It's like using GPA to filter CVs of job applicants. Lots of false negatives? You bet - and that's fine as long as the applicant pool is big.
If other people have the time to spend and want to go Magnum PI on an obese trainer to see if they might be good, that's ok too.
It's all good - chacun à son goût. Use a process you're comfortable with to find someone you're comfortable with.
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I totally agree with first impressions and in some ways I think you cannot really help your first impression.
But the OP came here to have a rant and didn't even take a few moments to consider other options that have been discussed here. I just think it's rude and catty, and there's plenty enough of that to go around without adding to it.
I believe if I was faced with a super toned gym instructor, next to an overweight and out of shape out then I too would cast a judgement (in my head) of their ability to lead and motivate me, but I would ever say it on a forum to try to fat shame or ridicule overweight gym staff like the OP has. It certainly wouldn't irritate me either, I'd just chose the best person for the job, as rabbitjb has pointed out, their qualifications should matter more than their physical appearance.
I had a PT session with a guy who was very tall and technically overweight. I didn't have a choice as it was just a taster session, so he was the person I got. Once I got talking to him he said he used to be in the army but he had a brain tumor and had just come back to personal training, he showed me the scar over his head. Now, I know that's a one-off example, but it's an example of how you can mistreat someone just because they look out of shape.
Anyhow, just a bugbear of mine when people judge fat people. I'm fat, and I got treated a hell of a lot better when I was slimmer.
How is it fat shaming when the parties involved are not here and the op identity is not known even if they were here. Plus by the title one can assume this wasn't going to be a positive topic. Also the funny thing about shame is you can only feel it if you are already ashamed by it. If you have no problem with your body you can't be shamed by it. Also sorry that happened to you but you are making this discussion about you and your opinion comes off a little biased. OP has the right to rant about something bothering him in an anonymous setting. He disn't personally insult anyone
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yopeeps025 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »It's like when a member/poster who is 19 with a profile picture of a rapper throwing a sign and answers threads with a know it all snarky attitude, I ignore his knowledge/advice
So ya, wouldn't take the gym staff seriously with their advice
Judging a poster's advice by their profile picture seems really silly and I'm unsure why you felt the need to turn the discussion into an attack on another poster anyway . . .
I'm pretty sure someone can like rap and also have solid knowledge to offer on fitness/weight loss.
You missed the other two important factors which was age and snarky attitude. The profile pic was that of a rapper and not himself. That was my point on the picture reference. If he had a picture of his fit body like some of the veteran posters here, I would probably take him more seriously. It's not about if he likes rap. You just selected the rap part of my post and assumed attack on rap. Who doesn't like rap? It's a form of poetic art
Those two seem as unimportant as liking rap. Someone can be 19 and know a great deal. Someone can be snarky and know a great deal. None of the factors you mentioned (profile picture of a rapper, age, attitude) have anything to do with the validity of advice offered.
Again, why are you turning this into a discussion of another poster?
My picture is of a plastic dinosaur and some blackberries. Would you disregard any advice I had to offer?
I would if your advice sounds funny.
I would think you would disregard my advice if it sounded funny no matter what my profile picture was. After all, it would be incredibly easy for me to find a photo of a super impressive body online and use that as my profile picture. Paying more attention to someone's advice because their profile picture looks awesome isn't a great strategy (not that you're proposing to do that, but the person I was discussing this with suggested that a progress picture would be a better avatar than a rapper).
Basically this thread is a lets judge a book by its cover. I don't do that but it seems a lot do.
Yes you do. All people do.0 -
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I have overheard really fit trainers at the gym I go to, give questionable weight loss advice. I don't look to my gym's staff to give me weight loss advice but they sure as shooten' better give good weight lifting advice. I want them to know every machine in the place, things are clean, and towels are stocked. Perhaps a less than perfect gym bodied trainer makes other less than perfect bodies feel less intimidated.0
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You don't have to be super in shape or super lean to be a good trainer (as someone mentioned, it could be an obese power lifter) but I want someone who practices what they preach. In the beginning, as you choose a trainer, you don't have a lot to go on as far as their skills (other than word of mouth)
I would rather choose someone I can see it's working for.0 -
barbecuesauce wrote: »BasicGreatGuy wrote: »In the absence of other information, choosing a fitness expert based on their fitness level is completely logical.
As a consumer, it's not my job to dig under the surface and educate myself about a company's offerings - it's a company's obligation to make that information clear to me.
If you are the consumer looking to hire a trainer, you should do your own research, in my opinion. You should have a proactive interest in your money and your health with the company involved.
If one is not willing to educate him or herself before making an important decision, then the consumer is opening him or herself up to disappointment at best, or worse, personal injury.
It is no different buying a house. If a consumer is wise, he or she does not go by the word of the agent who says there are no problems with the house before purchase. The consumer gets an inspection done. The consumer gets a title deed search done. The consumer checks the license of the agent involved.
What? Do you really approach hiring a trainer the same way you would a house? Fantastic. How do they react when the inspector shines his flashlight around their buttresses?
Personally, I would just as soon watch them work with other clients or base my decision off appearance. If I choose incorrectly, well, good thing I'm constantly open to the possibility of disappointment.
Personally (and this is just me) I would choose based on the personal recommendation of someone I trusted, who succeeded with them as their trainer.
Anything else is just various forms of advertising, really.
Well, that's the best way. But assuming those resources aren't available and the FBI background check Basic pulls comes back clean, all I have is what I see.0 -
yopeeps025 wrote: »barbecuesauce wrote: »BasicGreatGuy wrote: »In the absence of other information, choosing a fitness expert based on their fitness level is completely logical.
As a consumer, it's not my job to dig under the surface and educate myself about a company's offerings - it's a company's obligation to make that information clear to me.
If you are the consumer looking to hire a trainer, you should do your own research, in my opinion. You should have a proactive interest in your money and your health with the company involved.
If one is not willing to educate him or herself before making an important decision, then the consumer is opening him or herself up to disappointment at best, or worse, personal injury.
It is no different buying a house. If a consumer is wise, he or she does not go by the word of the agent who says there are no problems with the house before purchase. The consumer gets an inspection done. The consumer gets a title deed search done. The consumer checks the license of the agent involved.
What? Do you really approach hiring a trainer the same way you would a house? Fantastic. How do they react when the inspector shines his flashlight around their buttresses?
Personally, I would just as soon watch them work with other clients or base my decision off appearance. If I choose incorrectly, well, good thing I'm constantly open to the possibility of disappointment.
That is what she will never say.
Who is this "she" to whom you are referring?0 -
I am not sure this is totally relevant but often the best teachers for us slow learners are those who have or do struggle with what we are trying to learn. If it came easy for the teacher will they how can they advise me with the needed patience when it doesn't come so easy for me.0
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daniwilford wrote: »I am not sure this is totally relevant but often the best teachers for us slow learners are those who have or do struggle with what we a trying to learn. If it came easy for the teacher will they how can they advise me with the needed patience when it doesn't come so easy for me.
But then you're making the judgment that a person who is fit hasn't ever struggled or lacks empathy for those who struggle. And we're back to judging based on appearance.0 -
barbecuesauce wrote: »daniwilford wrote: »I am not sure this is totally relevant but often the best teachers for us slow learners are those who have or do struggle with what we a trying to learn. If it came easy for the teacher will they how can they advise me with the needed patience when it doesn't come so easy for me.
But then you're making the judgment that a person who is fit hasn't ever struggled or lacks empathy for those who struggle. And we're back to judging based on appearance.
Yes, very well said
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daniwilford wrote: »I am not sure this is totally relevant but often the best teachers for us slow learners are those who have or do struggle with what we are trying to learn. If it came easy for the teacher will they how can they advise me with the needed patience when it doesn't come so easy for me.
Sure. But...doesn't that require making a judgement that the teacher actually had it "easy"....?
So we're right back to making judgements.
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patriciahutchinson89 wrote: »Better get rid of all the male OB/GYNs since they are obviously "unqualified" for pregnancy and birthing advice.
That's different the birthing process is the same for every woman (unless getting a c section which again is the same for any woman that gets one) contractions, pushing, crowning, the vagina having to be wide enough to a certain length. More to it but it is something that is constant. Just because a man can't feel contractions doesn't mean he doesn't knyow what goes on biologically when one occurs.
The other glaring difference: an obese trainer has the option of becoming a thinner, fitter one. A male OB/GYN doesn't have the option of becoming a female OB/GYN (well, not without surgery...and even so, I don't believe will be able to experience birth). Apples and oranges, bad analogy.
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It's just a bulk, bro.0
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Could not read all the replies...cause well...8 pages. I have started this exact thread before on these forums as my gym has a few large trainers and a few obese trainers.
To me, if you are a trainer, your body is your billboard. Your advertisement. If you can't put into effect the things you are going to have me do, then you aren't a trainer I want. Are there outlying circumstances? Sure, but that is a general thought I have.0 -
yopeeps025 wrote: »BasicGreatGuy wrote: »In the absence of other information, choosing a fitness expert based on their fitness level is completely logical.
As a consumer, it's not my job to dig under the surface and educate myself about a company's offerings - it's a company's obligation to make that information clear to me.
If you are the consumer looking to hire a trainer, you should do your own research, in my opinion. You should have a proactive interest in your money and your health with the company involved.
Therein lies a logical problem. If you are needing a trainer, you most likely do not have the tools to "logically" evaluate trainers.
So you resort to what you can actually verify - which is their own fitness level.
100% logical, under the circumstances.
I can't go to a obese powerlifter who can squat 1000 pounds? My goals are to be shredded. Where is bruce lee students at? or is it students' students?
Geez, how many obese powerlifter who can squat 1000 pounds do you know?0 -
yopeeps025 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »BasicGreatGuy wrote: »In the absence of other information, choosing a fitness expert based on their fitness level is completely logical.
As a consumer, it's not my job to dig under the surface and educate myself about a company's offerings - it's a company's obligation to make that information clear to me.
If you are the consumer looking to hire a trainer, you should do your own research, in my opinion. You should have a proactive interest in your money and your health with the company involved.
Therein lies a logical problem. If you are needing a trainer, you most likely do not have the tools to "logically" evaluate trainers.
So you resort to what you can actually verify - which is their own fitness level.
100% logical, under the circumstances.
I can't go to a obese powerlifter who can squat 1000 pounds? My goals are to be shredded.
You can go wherever you like - it's your choice, and it's not my place to say your choice is wrong for you.
:drinker:
Your logic. I don't get it. You would feel that choice is wrong base on the fact that he is the opposite if my goals. Big and stocky means strong and slow. Lean and mean means . . . . lets spar powerlifter.
Huh?0 -
Don't let looks deceive you. Here is a woman that is 300 pounds plus, that does ultra marathons and is also a high school running coach.
http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/news-ultramarathons-obesity-072415/
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hearthwood wrote: »Don't let looks deceive you. Here is a woman that is 300 pounds plus, that does ultra marathons and is also a high school running coach.
http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/news-ultramarathons-obesity-072415/
She looks like all muscle to me. Also, the article says she is 250 pounds.0 -
I definitely think you should practice what you preach. If you don't have a healthy physique I wouldn't even consider hiring you to train me0
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I said nothing about judging by appearance in the post you replied to. I was only thinking of a brilliant High School Math teacher who had trouble with Math as a kid. He gave credit for his math teaching skills to the difficulty he encountered on the way to a BS in Math Education.barbecuesauce wrote: »
But then you're making the judgment that a person who is fit hasn't ever struggled or lacks empathy for those who struggle. And we're back to judging based on appearance.
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karintalley wrote: »Sooooo, if one of you skinny MFP members who lost tons of weight suddenly one day stop working out, eating healthy,and you gain back most of your weight; are you now unqualified to give diet advice?
I'm confused to be honest. I know many people who are/used to be all into fitness but something on their life derailed them. But that doesn't mean they don't know what they are doing.
Yep pretty much unqualified. Baring some medical issues losing a bunch of weight and regaining it does not indicate the ability to give diet advice. If they knew what they were doing they would not have gained the weight back.0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »karintalley wrote: »Sooooo, if one of you skinny MFP members who lost tons of weight suddenly one day stop working out, eating healthy,and you gain back most of your weight; are you now unqualified to give diet advice?
I'm confused to be honest. I know many people who are/used to be all into fitness but something on their life derailed them. But that doesn't mean they don't know what they are doing.
Yep pretty much unqualified. Baring some medical issues losing a bunch of weight and regaining it does not indicate the ability to give diet advice. If they knew what they were doing they would not have gained the weight back.
EXACTLY!0
This discussion has been closed.
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