Coming from a personal trainer, that title should raise some eyebrows.? My eyebrows were raised a couple times in the past few weeks by the actions of a couple personal trainers.?

The first story is based on a conversation I overheard while in a buffet line at a networking event.? I happened to be in front of a personal trainer (who I didn’t know) and heard him say to a woman, “I’m watching you.”? Immediately, I felt for this woman.? In general, women put enough pressure on themselves about eating right and looking good.? Everywhere we look, TV, magazines, even the gym, we are constantly reminded of our weight.? Judgment, even if it’s well intended, only makes us feel bad.

The woman responded by saying, “I’m going to have dessert.”? Then, the personal trainer said, “That’s why we’re going to workout for two hours tomorrow.”? Here’s my biggest issue:? exercise should not be punishment for eating.? If you go into your workout with the mindset of “I was bad” or “I ate too much this weekend” you will never enjoy exercise.? You will always be concerned with what the calorie counter says as opposed to the myriad of other benefits that exercise provides.

The second story comes from a conversation I had with a female acquaintance.? She explained to me that there is a personal trainer at her gym that has been nagging her about hiring him as her trainer.? (Again with the “now I feel bad about myself” reaction!)? While she thinks he would be a great trainer, she can’t afford it.? So, instead of going back to the gym and telling him, “I’m not ready right now, but maybe in the future,” she has not returned to the gym at all.

Not only has he scared her from approaching him, but he has scared her away from the gym altogether.? She’s not exercising at all.? This absolutely breaks my heart.? And these actions will be the death of personal trainers.? If your personal trainer makes you feel guilty about what you’re eating or how much you’re exercising, fire him/her.? Personal trainers should be in the business of promoting health and well-being.

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