Related Posts
Any recommendations for Cord Blood companies?
How do I pick a personal trainer?
Anonymous User
More Posts
Enthusiast
Is coinbase remote or in office?
Anyone have any good book recommendations?
Additional Posts in Staying Healthy
Enthusiast
Conversation Starter
How do I pick a personal trainer?
Conversation Starter
Pro
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
They aren’t great, the good ones make a killing managing their own clients.
Chief
There are exceptions but in general the good ones start at chains and then move to independent once they have a solid customer base. (the exceptions - some trainers will do the chain thing part time for gym access or for benefits)
Also a trainer shouldn’t be giving you a meal
plan unless they are an RDN. They can give general advice (eat more protein, less junk food) but shouldn’t give exact nutrition advice unless they are certified to do so.
When you go to a trainer at that kind of gym, it’s the gym’s franchise rather than the trainer’s own personal brand that brought you in. So the gym takes a large cut of the fee, and pays the trainer much less.
Personal trainers might start out at such a gym, but if they’re good they’ll “graduate out” - they’ll develop a devoted following of clients who follow them if they go private, and then they can set their own fee and keep it all (or most of it - they may still need to pay another gym to let them use their space). Or they’ll get a better offer from a higher end gym like Equinox who pay their trainers better because the quality of training is key to their brand.
Anyway the result is that training at crunch and similar gyms is hit or miss - mostly either very new trainers who haven’t proven themselves yet or mediocre journeymen who didn’t get fired but weren’t strong enough to have a better option.
Chief
the large, reputable independents (like Chelsea Piers) tend to pay better than the chains.
Also recommend taking classes as a way to vet. Most trainers also teach (as a way to build client base) so you can find someone you gel with instead of a random match.
Seconding this. I was matched with my trainer randomly as part of a "kick-off" at the gym (classes, training appointments, nutrition consultation, etc.) but took her classes as I was getting to know her 1:1 as well and it just makes her overall approach to fitness make more sense.
We're almost 3 years strong now - she knows all my work drama, doesn't let me get away with being lazy but respects my limitations, and loves when I send her memes and TikToks about how horribly mean PTs are. Ha!
Rising Star
I’ve had 3 at commercial gyms over the years and they’ve all been great, but that being said these were higher end gyms so that may make a difference
You pay for what you get
Thanks! Super helpful