Personal Trainers: Should You At Least Look Like You Train or Does It Matter

[bigmikecox]

I see a TON of trainers at LA Fitness that are small and thin and have their clients doing shit that is just wrong (their form). Its not my place to say bc that's none of my business, but if you were going to hire someone to train you, dont you think they need to at least look that part? Anyone can memorize a bunch of anatomy and phys and nutrition shit and anyone can say it back to a client, but does that make for a good trainer?

[DanzigBrah]

Oscar Arden and Chris aceto arnt exactly tipped but most people would kill to har them as personal trainers.

[drkaje]

Results are the most important thing but trainers who are fit have more legitimacy.

I'd have a hard time accepting health advice from a fat doctor.

[Yamcha]

Would you take financial advice from a hobo?

[OB1]

Looks don't matter that much as long as you got the experience yourself of what you are trying to communicate.
Otherwise it will be dead knowledge and your endaviour comedy-like.
Of course looking trained helps.
There might be some people who judge by looks only in this case it will be harder.
"Living" knowledge as in own experience which you can communicate to your client is more important imho.

[Nails]

Mfp training

[kreator]

only a person with great knowledge in human biomechanics can assess other people's training ability

people don't understand that building muscle doesn't require an expert, you put your muscles under some stress, eat right, inject, rest and leave everything else to genetics. Your muscles don't care about your form, f.e. your biceps will still grow after doing barbell curls even if you swing like a tree in a windstorm while performing the exercise.

On the other hand bad form can eventually take it's toll. Especially when performing deadlifts or squats. Knowing how to properly engage other muscle groups, keeping your spine neutral, how deep your joint mobility allows you to go, how to improve your range of motion etc can drastically improve your performance and of course keep you injury free. This is what 90% of people neglect cause in most cases they are clueless. Look up Eric Cressey for example, the guy looks like he plays golf in getbig standards but knows his shit. Now that's somebody i'd gladly pay to train me if i had the money.

[residue]

what's the point of a trainer(to a non competitive athlete) i understand if you're trying to do highly technical lifts like the squat and c&j and maybe form correction if you're a elite power leveler but you've gotta be a next level idiot if you cant do some bullshit bb movements.

[WannaBePro]

There are bounds of reason. My dad's old gym had this trainer there who was about 5'5" and looked like a doughnut lol. About as wide as he is tall (not in a good way), and always wore compression shirts. So that guy is probably not a good example of "practice what you preach."
But if someone is in decent shape, maybe doesn't have a 6 pack or anything, but has some muscle on them, fairly lean, lives a healthy lifestyle, then I don't see the problem with that. Not everyone can look like a bodybuilder, or even want to look like one. I find with my physique I attract more office workers and people who just want to get in decent shape for the summer. I'm not a big guy, I'm not ripped year round, but I look like I lift and keep a decent diet year round.

I have a good friend who is a powerlifter, and when I first met him I honestly wouldn't have been able to tell he works out at all lol. Would've thought he was just a fat guy. But then I saw him bench 500lbs and shut my mouth hahahah. So maybe he doesn't LOOK like what the majority want to look like, but that doesn't make him a bad trainer. He's gotten plenty of people in shape for bodybuilding, mens physique, bikini, figure, etc... even though he doesn't resemble that demographic.

[bigmikecox]

Oscar Arden and Chris aceto arnt exactly tipped but most people would kill to har them as personal trainers.

Yes but they both competed at one time. Chris even did the USA

[Bgpapi23]

I see a TON of trainers at LA Fitness that are SMALL AND THIN and have their clients doing shit that is just wrong (their form). Its not my place to say bc that's none of my business, but if you were going to hire someone to train you, dont you think they need to at least look that part? Anyone can memorize a bunch of anatomy and phys and nutrition shit and anyone can say it back to a client, but does that make for a good trainer?

Most people who seek out and use a trainer don't know much about weights, machines, dieting, supplements etc... Most are usually overweight and novice  so their goals are to become "thin and small" as many trainers fit the mold of what that strive to achieve...MOST people don't wanna walk around with 20" arms and a 40" waistline but prefer to be lean and skinny year round  especially as they age

[_aj_]

My wife scares the shit out her classes when she subs. They just see her build and start worrying. And they SHOULD worry. LOL.

[SuperTed]

My current gym has 5 male PT's. Out of the 5, only 3 have good physiques and look like they actually train.
However, as others have said, appearance isn't everything. The are plenty of guys who look great due to their genetic advantages but are clueless when it comes to training and dieting properly.

[WannaBePro]

Yes but they both competed at one time. Chris even did the USA

I thought he only did the North Americans?
Either way he looked great when he was younger! Very "aesthetic" physique.

[Henda]

If I was dumb/lazy enough to need a trainer I'd probably pick a one who mostly represented what id like to look like, so in my case it test they should look the part.
I know there are exceptions to the rule

[WannaBePro]

If I was dumb/lazy enough to need a trainer I'd probably pick a one who mostly represented what id like to look like, so in my case it test they should look the part.
I know there are exceptions to the rule

I wanna look like Jason Huh, but I wouldn't hire him for that reason. He's got the genetics to look like that (and the drugs, yes) and I don't. No matter how much he trains me or tells me what "super supps" to take I'll never look like him.
Chris Aceto at his best would never have been able to beat Cutler at his worst, but he helped Cutler achieve his 2001 condition and placed 2nd at his third Mr. O. Jay didn't hire Aceto cause he wanted to look like him lol. He hired him for his knowledge.

Having said that, if I were to hire a trainer, I'd hire someone who grew up fat, has a hard time putting on muscle and losing fat, and just is not genetically gifted for bodybuilding, but looks very good and could be competitive on the provincial/state level. Because that describes my genetics. That person has been able to "polish a turd," as they say, and maybe he'd be able to do the same for me.

[ritch]

It's weird. Before, it was a must, but today, does not matter all that much. It's how good your vocal skills are to sell yourself.

I would not be motivated to have someone out of shape train me but I think most are intimidated by big guys now. And what is considered "big" today was average not so long ago.

[Nails]

i wouldn't take cooking lessons from a skinny person

[38-26-40]

Her thickness is so hot

[Parker]

I wanna look like Jason Huh, but I wouldn't hire him for that reason. He's got the genetics to look like that (and the drugs, yes) and I don't. No matter how much he trains me or tells me what "super supps" to take I'll never look like him.
Chris Aceto at his best would never have been able to beat Cutler at his worst, but he helped Cutler achieve his 2001 condition and placed 2nd at his third Mr. O. Jay didn't hire Aceto cause he wanted to look like him lol. He hired him for his knowledge.

Having said that, if I were to hire a trainer, I'd hire someone who grew up fat, has a hard time putting on muscle and losing fat, and just is not genetically gifted for bodybuilding, but looks very good and could be competitive on the provincial/state level. Because that describes my genetics. That person has been able to "polish a turd," as they say, and maybe he'd be able to do the same for me.

So, you'd hire Centapani?

[ritch]

Forgot to comment on Jodi's tired ass ugly homley looking face.

[WannaBePro]

So, you'd hire Centapani?

Haha, probably not. I'd hire someone like Dusty Hanshaw. He seems to know how to get fatties in shape 

I'd work with Evan if he wasn't the way he is... Something about him rubs me the wrong way.

[Skeletor]

A CSN, MFT certification carries a lot of weight (and safety fat) in the personal training and fitness industry. However, it is not the most important factor, this is:

You simply either have the natural born skills or you don't.

[bigmikecox]

Why would anyone put on posing trunks that looked like that? Is Vince mental?  Not being a dick, but is he really nuts?

[OB1]

Why would anyone put on posing trunks that looked like that? Is Vince mental?  Not being a dick, but is he really nuts?

I don't know but you need balls to pull that off.
Or complete insanity.