"MY WHY"

A long rant and then I'm letting it go…I've found “My Why”…

The fitness field is time and time again breaking my heart lately. Today, it was topped. I first went to try a boot camp and while it wasn't terrible, it wasn't amazing. Mostly some jumping around in intervals, it felt like a really long dynamic warm up. I left feeling like a fitness snob but then realized, hey, at least these 15 people woke up this morning and went to sweat....at least a little bit and they appeared happy to be there, so that's a plus.

Then, I went to do my own work out at my gym. Which I love. However, many gyms around here are operating with independent contractors, meaning the trainers aren't employees of the gym so they can typically do whatever and however they want. I have seen some things that weren't terrible, but again not amazing. But today all semblance of professionalism went out the door. A trainer, and apparently "owner" of his own business, was eating his full on breakfast, pancakes, eggs, and hashbrowns, on the floor, WHILE he was training a couple.

??????????

Um...excuse me, you just got to the gym...wake your ass up 15 minutes earlier and make sure you eat your breakfast before you get to work. Why are we accepting of this? Why are clients spending their hard-earned money and allowing this to happen? It's not just unsanitary, but it takes away the trainer’s attention to doing his/her JOB. How are you supposed to spot your client with a fork in your mouth? How are you supposed to be able to coach good form while you have crumbs falling down into your beard? YOU CAN'T. PERSONAL training is PERSONAL. You the trainer, do not matter during that session, it’s not about you and your food, it’s about YOUR clients. You need calories? Drink a shake, that has a lid, so you can close it and it doesn’t end up all over the equipment and floor. Not to mention, many who come to a gym are having internal battles with FOOD. How does seeing your delicious pancakes while they are dripping sweat make them feel any better? It doesn't.

This upset me enough that I left, and on my way out asked why it was accepted for full meals to be had WHILE working. I got "So what, you obviously haven't been in many gyms." Granted, this guy does not know my background so that was an incorrect assumption. His justification was because “Gold’s” (*side note, his reference, we weren't at Gold's) has done it since years ago it was okay and it wasn’t like those “corporate” gyms. Sorry, I don’t like corporate either, and I’ve been in corporate and not corporate, and never once have I seen what I saw today. I’ve seen trainers on their phones, not warming up their clients or enforcing it before they start a session, encouraging or not correcting bad form, wearing clothing that is unprofessional, blah blah blah. But I’ve never seen someone EATING their meal while working. I was given the push back, “they’ve got to get their food in, when you have back to back clients, you’ve got to get your food in.” I’m sorry, I HAVE had back to back clients, for several hours, then ran a gym all day, then again had back to back clients at night, while training for a race and working out sometimes 2x a day myself. I never once brought my food on the floor and always “got my food in”. If you can’t figure out how to do so, then you have poor time management and need to do better.

Point being for this long rant, have standards. For yourself and for those you hire. Don’t just assume someone is credible. You as a client are held just as liable because you must do your part. Do your research. If you see something that seems off, it likely is, so speak up. Demand more from those who you are paying to do their job.

This is “my why”…these types of circumstances in my field are what seem to continually dull my shine, break my heart, and make me wonder WHY am I in this? Why am I here? Does it seem like a waste? At times, yes. But then I calm down, analyze, and see…YES. This is MY WHY. I need to be the great example. I need to be the standard of what should be expected. I need to show my clients what they are worth and that I value them and their time. I want to show that fitness isn’t what you find on social media with photos of ME in 17 different angles with good lighting so you can see my muscle definition.

Fitness is one component of a REAL life. It’s finding balance between working a full-time job, having 3 kids that need to get to school, the sitter, oh, and after school practice, an annoying dog you never really wanted but got because your husband begged you for that YOU need to make sure is fed and walked, while still having dinner on the table for your family, and hoping to have just enough time to get your 30 minute (which yes, is better than zero minutes) workout in for the day. Your time is valuable, you are worth it. Make yourself a priority. If you go so far to be committed to hiring a trainer, make sure they understand that and do their part. They must value YOU. Personal training is PERSONAL. 1-on-1 undivided attention to YOU, the client. Not their food.