I’m a personal trainer – the secret way we rinse your wallet, clandestine feuds in weight room & why we HATE newcomers
GYMS see an influx of new members in January, with hordes of us signing up, desperate to shift those festive pounds.
Spending increases by 42 per cent in January and February, fuelled by superfit celebrities who don’t shy away from sharing their gym– spirational workout photos on social media.
From Davina McCall and Ashley Roberts to Megan Thee Stallion, at this time of year there’s no shortage of stars trying to motivate their followers with their eye-popping fitness snaps.
With that in mind, our gym mole — The Secret PT — says signing people up in January is “like taking candy from a baby”.
Here, she spills the secrets of what goes on in every gym across Britain — from the buff lothario who’s looking to seduce you, to battles for the showers and the PTs who make bets on how quickly you’ll fail.
YOU’RE A SITTING TARGET
IT’S no surprise to hear that gyms are packed come January, leaving us personal trainers rubbing our hands with glee.
People are desperate to lose their festive weight and start their New Year’s resolution of being healthier, so it really is like taking candy from a baby.
And as we’re often paid commission by the gym, the more people we sign up the better it is for our wallets.
We target people according to who we are.
When I first started, aged 22, I was always given the over-40s men for their induction.
I was a young, attractive woman and they were more likely to sign up with me. It worked!
I also did my best to dodge doing inductions with people in their late teens or 20s as I was worried they wouldn’t have the funds to continue working with me.
IT’S ODDS ON YOU’LL BE OFF SOON
I FEEL guilty sometimes as a lot of people only need a couple of sessions to show them the ropes before they’re completely capable of working out on their own — but obviously I’m not going to admit that.
Having said that, some people do need the motivation so they continue to come, while others like the company of someone to work out with and reassurance they’re doing it right.
Either way, we notice a tail-off in members coming — even after a week.
After two weeks, there’s a big drop off.
Generally speaking, if someone makes it to eight weeks, they’ll stay on as there will be a notable difference in their appearance if they are doing everything they’ve been told.
We have been known to take bets on how long certain clients will last once they’ve signed up.
BEWARE THE HUNK ON THE HUNT
THE gym Romeos love the new January intake — or the “fresh meat”, as they call it.
These lotharios have usually worked their way through the female gym regulars and are only too pleased to see new faces to flirt with over the crosstrainer.
You can spot them a mile off — they’ll be buff, know everyone and call the receptionist “sweetheart” or “darling”.
And believe me, whatever sweet nothings they’re whispering to you, they’ll be doing it to all the others, too.
Run a mile if you want a relationship and don’t bother inventing a fake boyfriend to get rid of them — that’ll only spur them on.
Instead, perfect the art of a stony look.
Although male PTs are the worst offenders, it’s not unknown for female trainers to do the same — so you might want to keep an eye on your bloke.
THE GYM OGs HATE YOU
HARDCORE gym regulars are often cliquey and feel furious at the influx of newbies.
The added members mean the car park is often chock-a-block, while the queues for the showers and workout equipment will be far longer.
Their anger is compounded by the fact that newbies often get a cheap deal, whereas they’ll be on the old higher rate.
But what makes them really lose it is when their regular classes are fully booked — or they have to move more slowly so newbies can keep the pace.
I love seeing the rants on my gym’s Facebook page from older members.
Kicking off about the state of the changing rooms — particularly dirty towels left on the floor — is a common one.
YOU MIGHT KNOW MORE THAN YOUR PT
THERE are some excellent personal trainers out there — I’m one of them.
I have seven years’ experience and create individual workouts for my clients, depending on their abilities and goals.
But not all of us are as conscientious.
Some gyms only expect PTs to complete a month-long online course, meaning they’re just not experienced enough.
Others churn out the same exercise plan for all their clients as they can’t be bothered to tailor them.
And if your PT is offering nutritional advice, then check their qualifications.
Some PT courses include little dietary training.
My advice is to choose someone who has been in the job for a few years, even if they are more expensive.
Equally, pick someone who will manage your expectations.
So many people turn up wanting to look like Beyonce or Kate Moss when their frame means they never will.
If your trainer promises you a body like Abbey Clancy, run — no one else is that genetically blessed!
YOUR TRAINER MIGHT DUMP YOU
IT’S in our interest to have as many clients as possible.
So if a trainer is saying they are too busy to train you, then they’ve probably taken a dislike to you.
I’ve turned down people because I find them unpleasant to work with.
One complained about a free workshop I gave them, criticising it in an email, but still wanted to sign up with me.
I knew they’d be difficult, so I lied that I was fully booked.
And if a trainer says they can’t think of any other PTs who could train you, then you’ve clearly been really awful.
It means they don’t want to inflict you on anyone else either.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS LYING TO YOU
MY personal bugbear is influencers who claim they got their incredible abs from doing 100 sit-ups a day (an exercise I never advise, because so much can go wrong) or climbing 100 sets of stairs.
The reality is that they are lying.
There will be so much more involved.
You need to do whole body workouts and include resistance and weight training to make a difference to your physique, and also look after your diet.
We often have to deprogramme people from what they’ve learnt on social media and teach them the harsh realities.
Going backwards on the crosstrainer — which seems to be a fad at the moment — is pointless.
DON’T BE DUPED BY DESIGNER GEAR
THERE is a trend these days to wear ever more revealing kit and we even see unitards in the gym.
It can be slightly eye-watering to see so much naked flesh on show.
The absolute key is to wear what you feel comfortable and confident in, which for the large majority is a very good sports bra, a top that soaks up sweat and shorts.
Don’t feel pressured into wearing anything else so you “fit in”.
Equally, watch your footwear.
Those brand-new designer trainers costing hundreds are often not as good as a good pair of Converse, especially if you’re doing weights or squats, when you need your feet as close to the floor as possible.