Anyone in Here a Personal Trainer?

Off Topic
1

Hey, everyone. I want to get a NASM certification and be a personal trainer, but I have a few questions before I finally pull the trigger:

Is the NASM information good information, or do I need to forget everything from the NASM textbook and stick to my T-Nation guns after I take the test?

How do I keep clients without lying to them? Is it okay to give them the basics of nutrition without lying to them? I’ve seen trainers make things purposely difficult in order to make it seem as though the client needs them, which helps them sell more sessions of personal training. I don’t want to do this, tbh, so I’d like some input from those that have experience in the field.

How hard is it to get a job as a personal trainer with a NASM certification? I’m assuming it’s easier than with an ACE certification, but should I get something different? I get a considerable discount on anything NASM through the gym that offered me a job. I want to work in Manhattan, though, as the gym that offered me a job is on Long Island and considerably more difficult to get to.

How long does it take to study for the NASM? Some people say 2 weeks, others say 6 months. What’s the deal? I’m doing it regardless, and I suspect I can study for it rather efficiently and quickly because I don’t have a job and I’m not taking summer classes, meaning that I’m planning on studying anywhere between 3 and 5 hours per day, if not more. I read that you should stick to learning anatomy and the names of different exercises/the muscles they work, and you’re set. I just know that the textbook is 500+ pages, which is honestly fine.

Lastly, any general tips?

Also, I apologize if this is the wrong section to post this in. I see things about working out in here all the time, so I figured it would be fine. If it’s not, I ask that the mods kindly move it to it’s proper place. Thank you.

2

Damn this made it to the second page without anyone posting?

bump

3

You don’t need to lie to clients to keep them. You need to direct them so that they get results. A woman who loses fat and inches in the first 6 weeks will stick with you. A guy who puts anything on his arms will stick with you. The NASM seems to be required by more high end facilities.

Take the test, get the cert and then train the way you think is correct, i.e., full body movements and no bosu ball BS! My trainer was the only one in this gym who hits T-Nation and gets it. He’s more into strength than BB but he has a damn nice body.

The other trainers? Thin, weak looking guys who dumped a client onto a treadmill for a 10 minute “warm up” while they went off to text their friends. Don’t be those guys!!!

4

I studied for the NSCA CSCS cert for about 6 months. I gave it about 1.5-2 hours a night, 5 days a week. I probably over-studied, but I didn’t want to have to take the fucking thing twice.

If you give it 3-5 hours a day, every day, you’ll probably be good to go in 2 months, maybe less. Just get through the book and take notes, then take the practice exams. This should give you a fair idea of where you are and what you need to focus on.

Keeping clients isn’t hard if you’re good. I don’t see why you’d have to lie to them. They obviously don’t need to hire you, they wanted to. Just get results for them and they’ll love you. Getting clients (in my experience) is tough. But if you’re working for a gym you shouldn’t have much of a problem. I’m independent, so landing clients is harder.

I have no idea how hard it is to get hired by a gym, but it’s my understanding that NASM is on par with NSCA as one of the best certs to have. You should be ok.

5

[quote]FlameofOsiris wrote:
do I need to forget everything from the NASM textbook and stick to my T-Nation guns after I take the test?[/quote]
I’m not familiar with the NASM text, but still, to forget “everything” from the textbook would be an incredibly closed-minded thing to do. I’m sure there’s something you’ll be able to learn and put into effect from the book.

It comes down to the trainer’s professionalism, style, and self-confidence/skill level, but if I had to lie to or trick a client into doing what I believed was best, I’d seriously reconsider both why I think it’s best and my method of teaching/coaching.

I once worked with a guy, he was actually the head trainer of the gym, and he told me flat-out, “I have all my clients do functional training whether they want to or not.” I just can’t jive with that line of thinking. Yes, we want to give clients what we think they need, but on the most basic level, you also have to provide what they want (within reason, of course).

What gym on the Island?

You might want to contact Matt McGorry. He’s based in the city and might have a better handle on the situation there.

Suggested reading:
Recent Tim Henriques article for trainers:

Cosgrove’s two-part interview for trainers:

Lastly, the great little thread that could; three years worth of T-Nation member-trainer info:
http://tnation.tmuscle.com/free_online_forum/music_movies_girls_life/trainers_talking_shop

EDIT: Thibs also had a thread in his forum dishing out some solid advice to newbie trainers:
http://tnation.tmuscle.com/free_online_forum/sports_body_training_performance_bodybuilding_thibaudeau/advice_for_a_wannabe_personal_trainer

6

[quote]FlameofOsiris wrote:
Is the NASM information good information, or do I need to forget everything from the NASM textbook and stick to my T-Nation guns after I take the test?[/quote]

NASM is held in reletively high regard in the business because they focus on “functional training.” Fitness Directors (your boss) love this shit. To this day I am told I need to make my clients do more “functional work” and focus less on the big lifts. T-Nation has been the best resource for teaching myself about all aspects of training. Just don’t surprised if most trainers you run into aren’t familiar with what people on here are familiar with.

[quote]
How do I keep clients without lying to them? Is it okay to give them the basics of nutrition without lying to them? I’ve seen trainers make things purposely difficult in order to make it seem as though the client needs them, which helps them sell more sessions of personal training. I don’t want to do this, tbh, so I’d like some input from those that have experience in the field.[/quote]

You keep clients by being HONEST with them. I don’t know any successful trainers that consistently lie to their clients in order to keep them. 99% of your clients will simply want weight loss, so it usually isn’t rocket science.

Getting a certification does not mean you’ll suddenly be a good personal trainer. I suggest trying it out on your friends, family and whoever. The key is experience. You can get a certification pretty much any time, but without practical application it’s a bit useless. Tim Henriques just published an article all about personal training that will probably answer most of your questions. I took his six month certification course and highly recommend it. I am sure they offer it in your area as well.

7

[quote]FlameofOsiris wrote:
Hey, everyone. I want to get a NASM certification and be a personal trainer, but I have a few questions before I finally pull the trigger:

Is the NASM information good information, or do I need to forget everything from the NASM textbook and stick to my T-Nation guns after I take the test?

How do I keep clients without lying to them? Is it okay to give them the basics of nutrition without lying to them? I’ve seen trainers make things purposely difficult in order to make it seem as though the client needs them, which helps them sell more sessions of personal training. I don’t want to do this, tbh, so I’d like some input from those that have experience in the field.

How hard is it to get a job as a personal trainer with a NASM certification? I’m assuming it’s easier than with an ACE certification, but should I get something different? I get a considerable discount on anything NASM through the gym that offered me a job. I want to work in Manhattan, though, as the gym that offered me a job is on Long Island and considerably more difficult to get to.

How long does it take to study for the NASM? Some people say 2 weeks, others say 6 months. What’s the deal? I’m doing it regardless, and I suspect I can study for it rather efficiently and quickly because I don’t have a job and I’m not taking summer classes, meaning that I’m planning on studying anywhere between 3 and 5 hours per day, if not more. I read that you should stick to learning anatomy and the names of different exercises/the muscles they work, and you’re set. I just know that the textbook is 500+ pages, which is honestly fine.

Lastly, any general tips?

Also, I apologize if this is the wrong section to post this in. I see things about working out in here all the time, so I figured it would be fine. If it’s not, I ask that the mods kindly move it to it’s proper place. Thank you. [/quote]

I haven’t read the articles posted in a while, so if I’m ripping off what’s in there without noting it, my apologies. None of any of my thoughts here are unique anyways; just a combination of what I’ve been taught, read and learned the hard way.

If anyone needs to lie to a client for retention, in any industry, it’s because they are shit or their product is shit. And sooner or later the stink of the shit gets too much and the client leaves. Now, clients will leave for a variety of reasons, but when they leave you want them to leave singing your praises, acting as walking billboards for your business.

Be honest and upfront about what you offer and don’t offer, what you can and cannot do. If nutrition is not your forte, partner with a good nutritionist who will work with you. If you can build relationships with a good physical therapist, massage therapist and a nutritionist who you can refer your clients to and who refer some back, you’re going to do well.

When you hit the limits of what you can do with a client, and you should know what your limits are, refer them to the expert. Hopefully, they’ll do the same.

You want to sell more sessions? Start people off with goal setting and good assessment. The goal setting part may take some time and some frank discussions. “I want to get in shape” is not a goal. Dig down into that, what does “in shape” mean, and figure out why that goal is important to them.

Track their results and when they achieve a goal, celebrate it and set the next one. Now they keep coming back to you for the right reason, success and a desire for more success.

Keep your mind open as others have mentioned. There is something to be learned from all sorts of programming out there, from CrossFit to P90X to Westide and so on. Figure out what works/doesn’t work for your clients and be open to pull in elements from a variety of sources.

Finally, commit to a lifetime of learning. Balance that between learning the technical skills necessary, and also to more general skills like communication, goal setting, relationship management, etc.

8

Thank you all so much for the responses. I truly appreciate all of your input, AttyDeb, Steel Nation, Chris Colucci, CKallander and Blackhand. Also, thanks for bumping the thread, Andrew. I didn’t want to do it myself. I wasn’t actually referring to blatant chronic lying. I was more referring to how some trainers tell their clients that they absolutely need quite a few supplements in order for them to succeed, when that’s simply not true. The only supplement that I think is truly beneficial for most of the people that I’m going to be working with is Fish Oil, and maybe some kind of protein or weight gainer for the people who are looking to gain weight and put on muscle. I believe that simplicity is key when training someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. Complicating things is only going to get in the way of their end results.

I completely agree with concrete goal setting. I want them to tell me exactly how much fat they want to lose, not weight, how much muscle they want to put on–again, not weight–what percentage body fat they want to have, etc… and the time frames in which they want to accomplish those goals in. I’ve been working with my stepmother, who is more than willing to lose 50 pounds, and she’s already lost about 5 in a little under 2 weeks. Perhaps I should have her take some “before” pictures. My cousin-in-law was also very interested in “my” philosophies when my stepmother told her that she still has snacks here and there and was still losing weight.

Just to be clear, I would never have lied to my clients in the first place, even if it meant making less money. I could never sell out for something so trivial. A lot of the trainers in that gym also seem to push products like heart-rate monitors. I agree that they’re a great motivational tool, but I don’t believe that they’re the God-sends that everyone flaunts them to be. The gym, btw, is called XSport fitness. The trainers, surprisingly, and from what I’ve seen, are all relatively fit (according to my standards), and some of them even compete, including the women. It’s actually very nice gym, but I’d like to work in Manhattan in a place like The Reebok Center, Club H, Manhattan Plaza Health Club, Clay, David Barton Gym, NY Health and Raquet Club or even Equinox. I think that I have a very good chance at The Reebok Center and NTHRC, as they’re not as trendy as the others, from what I’ve seen. I’m actually in a rush, but I’ll continue when I get back home. Thanks again!

9

In general, its very easy to get a job at a gym as a personal trainer… unfortunately this is because working at most commercial gyms is really not a good gig at all. It’s better than low-skill manual labor, but there are a few things to know.

  • If the gym is dishing you clients, odds are they are 5 AM - 8 AM, or 5 PM - 9PM clients; this is when most people are either heading to or coming from work and that is when most people want to come in. Sure, there are some midday or midmorning clients but they are rare and most commercial gyms will give these out based on seniority.

If you want to be full-time you’ll work a split shift and work a Saturday. Odds are you won’t get any paid vacation or holidays, as if you aren’t in the building, your clients aren’t paying for sessions. Many gyms don’t give insurance either.

Basically, you won’t be able to live a normal life at all. It’s a fun job, but trust me, this will get old fast. There’s also very little upward mobility in personal training positions… and the upward mobility (manager) is no longer the fun job that you once had.

Now, you might be able to recruit your own clients to get midday hours. However, if you are finding your own clients, why not just train them yourself? If you are training in Manhattan, you could train people in their own apartment gyms or in Central Park. You can easily make 2x as much money on individuals and 3x as much money on small groups if you are going to find your own clients.

I met a guy who was training in Central Park @ 90$ a session. An average day for him would be something like 6 am, 7 am, 8 am, 11 am (lunchtime), and 12 am (lunchtime), 5 clients total. He’d meet them just outside the park, they’d do a 10 minute jog into some green space, he’d carry some kettlebells and bands and they would do a “workout” in the grass. They’d then jog back out of the park and he’d meet his next client. He was making 6 figures as a trainer and didn’t even have a gym. He barely had any equipment!

You gotta remember at the end of the day you are in Manhattan. If you are working at a commercial gym, most of your referrals from the gym itself will be 40 yrs old, fat, and would content just to “stem the tide” and not get any fatter/weaker, and if you get someone to lose a few lbs they will be happy, if you get them to lose 20 lbs they’ll be telling all their friends. Really, the guy getting his clients to jog 20 minutes in central park and doing a half hour bodyweight exercises was a miracle worker to them, since the avg client is doing absolutely zero activity.

Most of them will not want to change their diet and will drink and eat out 3x+ per week. Working out will not be their priority and no amount of soul-searching or rapport will change that. For a lot of the people who can afford training, eating and drinking are part of their jobs and business lunches/dinners/brunches/midafternoon snacks are a daily event.

In short, don’t sweat it getting a job as a personal trainer. It’s really easy and you can get a job at nearly any commercial gym, even in upscale cities. Most of these places will hire ANYONE, which is one reason why personal trainers have a bad rap.

What you need to worry about is how you are going to stay motivated, and how once you get a job as a trainer you are going to do your very best to make each session not only valuable for your client but valuable for you. At first, every hour of every day better be about how you are going to be a better trainer. Once you got that down, your next step is figuring out how you are going to go into business for yourself.

10

Challer, I guess that’s sort of how I expected it to be. Working afternoons/nights is completely fine for me. I don’t know if I’d be able to work during the morning because of school. The kettlebell training actually sounds like a good idea, but I think it would be a while before I could get enough clients to do that. How are you supposed to market yourself if you’re not meeting these people in the gym, though?

I’m guessing Craigslist is a no-go, as most people who could afford the luxury of personal training don’t go onto sites like that. Should I make my own website? Would I take ads out in the paper? I don’t really know how to go about that. The most worrisome issue I was wondering about was whether or not I would have to be a personal trainer as a full-time employee. At the gym that offered me the job, you have to have “30 hours free in your schedule per week,” but if you can get your clients to change their appointments to whatever time you want, you’re golden.

I’m still unsure of whether or not I want to do this full-time, as money isn’t really an issue, tbh. Is it really that easy to get hired in a nice gym if you have a certification? Btw, I’ve heard of kettlebell training courses for personal training. Is that something I should look into? How can you become a kettlebell-certified trainer?

11

I can hear this thread title being spoken by a cowboy as he slowly walks into a bar looking for a fight.

12

I am Nasm certified. I read the book, used the study guide, took the test and passed it the first time. I have my own handful of clients and honestly it’s pretty fucking simple. Like someone else said, help them lose fat, get stronger and make progress and you should not need to lie to them. I am tired so I dont’ have much else to say.

BTW, the russian kettlebell club or RKC I believe is probably one of the more recognized certs for kb training. I use some kb shit with the people I train and I am not certified. If I was to drop the grand plus it costs it would be bc a gym that did not pay shit money wanted me to have the cert so I would get it to get the job, otherwise fuck that imo.

13

Yeah, I definitely don’t want to drop a grand on Kettlebell training. I’ll definitely check out some of Mike Mahler’s videos for myself, though, and in doing so, I’ll be able to help my clients utilize kettlebells as well. Out of curiosity, can you estimate how many hours it took you to read the textbook once? Also, how many times did you read it?

I only ask because it takes me about an hour to get through about 5 pages of the Campbell and Reese biology textbook, but at that point, I usually know the material like the back of my hand. I’m assuming the NASM textbook is going to be significantly easier to read, and I’m hoping it doesn’t take me nearly as long, considering that the book is 500 pages in length. I guess it’s irrelevant considering that I’m getting the certification regardless, but I’m still curious.

14

I read it in about a month maybe a little more. I will say that is with a 50 hr work week doing pretty hard physical labor (commercial plumber mainly water, sewer, and gas ruff’s almost always in crawl spaces…fucking hate it) and an hr commute to work ect ect. I only read it once then went back did the whole highlighting thing used the study guide took the practice exam an assload of times till my score was good enough to where I figured I’m ready.

15

This was pretty helpful, as I’m looking to certify thru a couple of different orgs while I’m deployed out here. I am looking at the NSCA CPT cert, and currently looking at ISSA, as the military will pay for all of it. I had forgotten about NASM, though. What are your thoughts about multiple certs? Do they help, in the event I have to resort to working out of a commercial gym? I’ll be reviewing the links you all posted as well. Good times!