-->The 3 Worst Kinds of Fitness Pros
I am fed up with barely qualified people dishing out fitness advice to the general public. I get so angry when someone, who doesn’t know a quadricep from a bicep , earnestly tells their audience that if they just do what they say they’ll find salvation and a whole new body. Frequently this involves buying their fabulous product.
Below are the three worst kinds of “fitness pros.” I use the term loosely.
Hot Bod: This “trainer” is gorgeous, a former jock or wanna-be model. They are hired for their looks, not their talent or certifications. They only work in “bleeding-edge” health clubs and spend more time looking at themselves in the mirror than their clients.
- Uniform: Anything skimpy, the less the better, must show off boooty.
- Poster Child: Rebecca Cardon from Bravo’s Work Out. Her bio talks extensively about her fitness career but doesn’t actually mention a certification.
BootCamp Bully: A former army or marine guy who “looks” the part. Bootcamps are one of the most popular forms of fitness these days and these guys may or may not be qualified to teach effective bootcamps. There are definitely great programs out there, but there are a lot of bad ones too. Just because you survived bootcamp as a jarhead doesn’t mean you have an inkling how to keep a client safe while their doing squat thrusts, lunges and pushups.
- Uniform: Anything Camo.
- Poster child: Barry Jay from Barry’s Bootcamp. His bio mentions that he started as front desk staff at a health club, but doesn’t mention any certifications to speak of …
Wanna-Be Reality Star: These blokes think that screaming at clients and standing on them while they are in precarious positions is the best way to train. If the client isn’t crying or puking they are not working them hard enough. Workouts are frequently punctuated by evil laughter. Why bother studying anatomy texts when you can just copy those cool moves on TV. In private, they practice their poses for the front of their best-selling fitness DVDs. 
- Required Uniform: Close fitting Tshirts with inspirational words on them:
- Poster Child: I have to say it’s a toss-up between Bob Harper and Jillian Michael’s from the Biggest Loser, but I’m going to give it to Jillian for her endorsement of diet pills. She is now facing lawsuits because of it.
I would love your comments here … what type of fitness pro would you like to train with?
Here are my thoughts about becoming a fitness pro.
Thanks,
Lisa
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RudolfB that’s awful to hear about it. Hope he’s ok now …
Lisa, Gotta love a woman who can kick ass in the gym (with certification) and kick it on a blog as well! I know nothing about fitness, but I certainly have bought my share of video tapes (Jane Fonda, Billy somebody Tybo guy, Daisy Fuentes Pilates…) and DVDs over the years. Trust me, if I had the money, I would hire my friend Susan Finely who is a certified trainer at our gym to whip my butt into shape. Especially after hearing your scathing review of those who are not qualified! You go get ‘em!
Well thanks Jorja, I try to keep my industry honest … there’s a lot of “fluffing” of resumes out there … :-)
Of course, Lisa, your thoughts are right on target.
I like having certified personal trainers at the gym to help with proper machine usage, as well as being able to ask a few quick questions.
Keep up the good work–we love getting the right advice from a pro.
I love my trainer. She always explains why we’re doing a certain exercise, which muscles it works out, and is encouraging but expects me to push myself. I’ve been slowly but surely getting in much better shape by following the workout plans she’s designed for me. I loathe Jillian!!! I actually blogged about her a few months ago:
http://muffintopmommy.com/2010/04/who-knew-you-really-are-the-biggest-loser-jillian/
Anyway, keep up the great work. Your blog is really helpful!
Wow I had no idea about Jillian and the lawsuit. Geez. I really like her workout style though, and feel it makes a lot of sense. I mean, many people struggling with working out need that push, even if it means getting yelled at.
But maybe I just need to explore other workouts, ‘famous’ trainers too. Maybe there are better ones than her? Any recommendations?
I would say Bob is good trainer he has a site that helps others and answers questions he seems to truely care about others help and his persona off screen is better than his BL one.
I used to love doing pilates because I would watch Denise Austin on TV and do her workouts she had this tone of encouragement and she was understanding and she made the movement easy to understand and fun. I’m just sad that lifetime took the show off the air
Lisa,
I completely disagree with all above comments and your horrible blog post. I have been trained by Rebecca personally. She was nothing but professional, exceptional, and knowledgeable. As a former NAVY SEAL, I’ve been through a plethora of workouts of all styles. I was completely spent and totally satisfied with my purchase.
I’m sure the other two you insecurely trashed on your precious blog are sufficiently capable. Sounds like someone is completely jealous of success. Sad…
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your comment. As you might guess I completely disagree. There are many forms of success and I’m quite happy where I am, thank you. I’m glad you found the training helpful for you.
Be well,
Lisa
Hey Lisa,
I would agree with you and would probably add in a few more categories. One thing that frustrates me are trainers who think that because something worked for them, it will work for anybody. Workouts and long range training plans need to be individualized. In my personal experience, this has been my worst experience.
Another thing that I really don’t care for is when a trainer doesn’t actually care about my success. When they are just doing their job and aren’t pushing me, it is a big turn off for me.
As a former Green Beret, I realize that I am no Navy SEAL, but I worked with enough of them to know that most of them are more professional and can actually argue with facts and not personal attacks.
And I would not define success as either “riches” or “fame”, but that’s just this one little Special Forces soldier.
Marty
Marty, you’re lovely … thank you :-)
I must say it is interesting out there these days. All the sudden everyone’s some type of professional trainer.
I live sort of the same deal in the dog training world and have specialized in canine fitness as well as have certification as an HHP, National Academy of Sport Fitness (for people), trained and learned along side many of the best triathlon coaches in the world, and the dog training academies and certifications are numerous… and yet, I deal with so many stories of training gone bad by those who have either lost a corporate job or “like dogs” and hang a professional trainer sign up and go for it… the client didn’t know the difference and not only did they waste their hard earned money, but in many cases made their dog problems worse.
So believe me, I live your frustration with training and “trainers” only in the dog world :)
Authenticity makes a difference. Love your stuff. Keep putting it out there :)
Wag more!
Thanks K9, I very much appreciate the comments and support. I imagine lots of people in customer service areas have similar complaints. From bartenders to nutritionists to yoga instructors. In most places you can just “declare” yourself capable and start accumulating clients. For better or worse for them …
Thanks for stopping by,
Lisa
I was really sad to see Jillian Michaels promoting diet pills. (Or “supplements” as they are called? Whatever.)
I have never been into The Biggest Loser but have caught a show here and there, and it always seemed great that they were promoting the classic method of diet and exercise. It’s disappointing that JM is seemingly letting money influence her.
Jamie I agree. I also think she has a higher bar than most trainers because she is such a public figure. I think she owes her audience and fans more. L–
I’ve commented here before but it is certainly a subject that I strong opinion about.
It is sad to me that the world is selling out to greed. As a self employed person for about 25 years now, one of the things that I have found that works is to get really good at what you do and stay true to it.
Jillian and the diet pills. Very sad. Very much selling out to make the big dollars. The message that those who want to or need to lose weight can be done with support, with the right kind of diet and the right kind of exercise is such a great message. Your site and your message portray that loud and clear.
The selling out to make big dollars has a huge price and the side of this that is coming out is Jillian is finding this out with lawsuits etc.
Thank you for staying true to what you do, doing it well and genuinely helping people. The rewards come monetarily as well as in self aspiration, passion, and the joy of knowing the world is better place because of you.
K9, gosh thanks for the compliment I really appreciate it. I do think Jillian found a vocation that she loves the problem is she confused “time in a gym” with having a high level of knowledge on training. Unfortunately it’s not that simple, you can’t learn anatomy in a gym by lifting weights, you need to sit your bum down and study. You can’t learn good form in a gym either, have you ever watched people training in a gym? It’s rare that someone has good form! Thanks and I appreciate your comments.
Lisa
I agree that not so qualified trainers should not be misleading the general public and just advertising. Nice article getting straight to the point.