Relatable or Accomplished

I think whoever told you that is evil. Personally, I want someone who inspires me and has the ability to push me to the limit without humiliating me. It is more about possessing a kindness, a sensitivity to help your client BELIEVE. in themselves. "The body does what the mind believes, do you believe?" Is the most inspiring thing a coach told me as a fat obese person. Repeating that to myself helps me push myself through my walls and get through the pain.

IT is not whether you have been obese, injured or out of shape yourself. I like to have a trainer who is 'perfect' . It is inspiring to have someone to model myself after and aspire to be like. I need to feel accepted and being around a trainer who has a healthy body image helps me. Being around someone who is "perfect" helps those of us who are not in perfect shape. Don't let the idiot put you down. Besides, no matter how perfect you are, we all have hardships come our way. Enjoy perfection and feel good about yourself as you are now.

People will relate to trainers for different reasons. Some of my clients have told me they wanted to work with me at first because I am more their age and I can relate to what they are going through to lose weight, know what it's like to suffer injuries, etc. They said that, as much as they liked our younger trainers, and as sensitive and caring as they are, sometimes they could not relate the way that I can.

But plenty of others in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s, are happy working with our 23 year old female trainer who does fitness competitions, or the 25 year old who is 6'4", 250 lbs and is a competitive bodybuilder.

Ultimately, who you are, what you know, and how you relate to people will determine your success. And for every one person who might be intimidated by your looks, there will be another who will feel just the opposite, and there will be three others that don't care.

That being said, ANY trainer who is young and who is physically fit and accomplished faces the challenge of developing empathy, sensitivity, and insight when working with clients. The trainer is not the center of attention--the client is. And while the trainer is fit and can do a lot of exercises easily, many of the clients cannot, esp at first.

Many star athletes make lousy coaches because they cannot relate to the average person, and they don't know how to teach the skills that come so naturally to them.

So that is your challenge, but it is the same challenge faced by almost all new, young, fit trainers.

For me, it helps that my PT is in awesome shape. However, even if he was in the 'middle of his journey' or was at one point a 'fat kid' I wouldn't care.

The point is, I believe in him. I believe in what he tells and shows me because with him I've seen results in myself (both physical and lifestyle). Not only that, but he mentally pushes me and no physique is needed for that.

He could be beer belly Santa, but because his personality matches what I need, it works for me.

And it really will matter client to client. Some clients will not want you because they want someone who has been through their journey. But at the same time, PTs who have been through that journey or are going through it lose clients who want someone who is in tip top condition.

Becoming a personal trainer Is something i to have considered but am still unsure about because that would mean changing all my college plans around
Personally I would want both Someone who is in good shape but had to fight to get to where they are like Julian did you know she was over weight before? To me thats the biggest inspiration That means when they tell me to push harder i have no excuses they have been there they pushed harder and made it they got fit That means i can to