Think trainers are healthier than thou in their lifestyle choices? Think again. Though they would never likely suggest their clients take stimulants or diet pills to get or stay thin, many of them do. "I know quite a few trainers who smoke cigarettes and take fat burners and don't practice what they preach. It's sad, but it's because they are more concerned about how they look to their clients," says Borden.
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Not all clients are created equal
Business is business, right? Not quite. How you're treated in your workouts may be directly related to how much you are paying for the session. "There are trainers who treat their high-end or celebrity clients 100 percent differently than they treat their regular clients," says Borden. "They go from being upbeat and super focused to being their 'normal selves' with a non-celebrity [or low-paying] client," she explains. So if you're ever getting "lazy" service, you might have take your business elsewhere.
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You're not the boss
Usually, when you are paying someone for a service, you're head honcho, but not when it comes to training. Borden says most trainers prefer you to "shut up" and do what they tell you. "Asking questions about what you are doing is totally welcome, but arguing with me about it is not," she says. She says that if you're with an experienced trainer, then they know what they are doing. Basically, Borden says you should offer nothing except your "100 percent effort."
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You can get discounts, if you know to ask
When it comes to pricing, there are a couple of loopholes most fitness trainers will let you slip through. To get a discount, "you can ask for a package of workouts (if you pay up front) or split your sessions with a friend," says Borden. This will get you a cheaper price per session. Also, sometimes trainers will offer a cut rate if you pay cash, as a lot of trainers are self-employed and cash reaps a "no paper trail" benefit.
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They have serious pet peeves
There are some things trainers just can't stand. First, "if you think being whiny is cute, think again," warns Borden. Second, "your trainer will hate you when you flake on your 6 a.m. appointment whether or not you pay -- it's just rude," she says. And Borden cautions, "If you owe them money, trainers talk amongst themselves."
So as it turns out, getting in shape isn't the great mystery we all like to think it is. In reality it's just: Eat right. Work out. Repeat.
But of course, as anyone who's ever tried can attest, that's way easier said than done. Getting the motivation to haul our hasn't-seen-a-bikini-since-high-school butt to the gym and saying "no thanks, I've had enough" to the chocolate Bundt cake crying our name from the kitchen at 11 p.m. is hard. Really hard. Almost as hard as our fantasy abs.
Sometimes, we just can't do it by ourselves. We like our excuses too much -- we made them up after all. Which is why it can often be extremely helpful to buckle down and hire a fitness trainer. Someone to motivate you, help you stick to your goals, and most importantly, help you navigate the gym and all that equipment so that you get the most out of your workout.
But just like anyone trying to make a buck off your self-improvement, there are bound to be some things they don't mention to you in order to get your business. And with price tags ranging anywhere from 50 to 200 bucks a training session, your business is worth fighting for. So if you are spending the dough on a fitness trainer, make sure you're putting your muscle (however weak) behind that money. Learn the secrets your trainer would rather you not know from fitness and lifestyle consultant Ashley Borden, because your brain is a muscle too you know.
