Decisions, decisions. (a dilema)

[Monster]

Ok, Ive come to a cross road in my life. I have an opprotunity to parlay some recent events into a money making opprotunity, namely personal training (certified). Heres the dilema...

A big, big person has less appeal to the mainstream as far as trainers go. 275-300lbs is not taken seriously by the general public, since everyone just figures you took gear, sat back, and let the muscles grow (gosh, do you still work out when you use steroids?). Where as a smaller person in equally good condition is seen as much more dedicated and probobly more helpful to the average person.

So heres my "cross roads". Do I allow myself to settle for becoming more of a Frank Sepe type (body I mean, theres nothing I can do about my face! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] ) and make this move toward the money? Or do I continue to gain and... well... I dont know? I dont really have any aspirations toward the Mr. O title.
Im really leaning toward the personal trainer side of this, since I like to help people, and I like to be in the gym.

Well, I guess it sounds like Ive alreaady made my decision, but I thought Id throw it out there for public consumption.

My main problem is a fear of being small. I just cant picture myself being 180, 190, even 200lbs. I dont know... I guess I need to go for the money...
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

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"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy"

"My existance is a ripple through time"

[Temple]

Maybe you are looking at being a personal trainer in the wrong place. If I was looking for a trainer I would start with the biggest MOFO in the gym or a woman that looks like the ones on here look. I think there is a demand for that kind of a trainer. You know that the folks you are going to work with will see results if they do what you tell them to, it may take a bit to develope a following. I don't think you will be happy unless you are "MONSTER"!!!!!!!!

[Monster]

Yeah. Mabye I need to find a happy medium somehow? I think I may stay at my current size and just see how it goes. Im not intimidating other than by size (unless Im working out, then I look like Im angry Im told)... Im always smiling and always helping anyone that asks, so I guess I have that going for me.
Yeah, I just need to talk it out (err... type it out I guess) to see what I want to do. I love the whole process of getting and then being in shape, and I love helping other people get to that point, so I dont have any doubt that thats what I want to do. Im just so scared of being small!

I guess that qualifies as a mental illness? Well, at least its one of the less severe of my mental illnesses! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy"

"My existance is a ripple through time"

[new@gettinbig1]

Keep your size monster...you do not have to get smaller to appeal to the public..I agree I would look for a big strong guy to help me out, one who looks like he has spent some good time in the gym moving some lbs. I wouldn't change a thing, it is part of who you are....people will see that and everything will fall into place goodluck to you!!!

[WarLobo]

Nothing wrong about a solid 260 with a bit of abs showing.... Most times folks have not a clue as to how much you weigh... just tell them 20, 30, shit... 40 pounds less and they will beleive you. At the "fitness" gym I go to now and then, nobody ever guesses me at 240, even when I'm a bit bloated on A50's. They always come in around 210, 215... So what I'm saying is, just look sharp, and let them hear what they need to hear. You have to much good stuff up there not share.

LAte

Lobo

[JuicyGirl]

No need to change who you are to become a successful trainer. Some of the very best trainers I know are between 240-320. As a matter of fact, you may actually lose a bit of size if you start overworking anyway. It's hard to keep all that muscle and work your butt off in the gym.

I love being spotted by someone I know can keep me very safe and lift any weights off me with their little pinkies.

Don't be too concerned with how you look unless you are getting on the chunky side. I find it difficult to take nutrition advice from lard-asses who have never been lean and can't diet for more than 3 hours at a time.

Just show your personality, knowledge, and enthusiasm and you will be successful. If you need references just tell em to talk to me. Nothing would make me want to push out a few more reps more than a big "MONSTER" telling me I have to do it!

[archive_Ulter]

I can't speak for the general public. I try to avoid them at all costs. Speaking for myself as one who has seen you (and your face) I can't imagine anyone giving it a second thougnt. You look like a trainer to me, if there in fact is a look. Go ahead and pursue it. If anyone is apprehensive they will get over it as soon as you start talking. Your knowledge is so vast that you won't have any problem impressing perspective clients, and let's face it, that's what they are paying for.

[Dax]

first off i was actually a little confused by your problem.. if you have a legit personal training certificate from a good institution, and not the 8 hour ballys training course "certificate", than you already have the right knowledge to train and help every type of person.. plus you seem like you actually want to help people achieve their goals.. and you are a big dude who knows what hes doing in the weight room.. sounds to me like there is no problem.. personally i would listen much more to advice given by someone at your size, than i would with someone who had the exact same credentials, but was smaller than me.. i think your size and strength will attract more clients than it will deter them.. and if you are personable, than its all good.. thats going to help when the chick clients come in.. just dont get the blonde hair streaks that have seem to become the standard apperance by the flakey little trainers at my gym [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

*EyEHAtEGoD*

demonomania - my father was a wolf
-real players dont roll will 20" rims.. they roll with 20" guns-

[Cocktails]

Monster, there's a big dude, very knowledgeable, in my gym and he finally had to start to charge because he was always swamped with questions. It was hard for him to do his own training.
My motto has always been: If you see someone with really nice bi-ceps (or any other body part), watch what they are doing.
As a small women, who doesn't want to waste time, I always watch the big guys. (Don't have any decent women in my gym).
You will not have ANY problem!!! As a matter of fact, are you going to be available for some on=line training sessions? For a price...of course [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[Monster]

Oh no... not the Bally's BS! Not my cup 'o tea... ISSA all the way. Im thinking of getting certified through Parrillo Performance too though. I like John Parrillo, and I really believe in his concepts and techniques. But I went ISSA for the fact of it being more well known... but I can certify with Parrillo as part of my ISSA continuing education program.


Dax: you dont need to worry about me going blond. I usually either dye my hair black, or shave it off completly... depends on the mood [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Cocktails: Exactly! Ive got such great results from my wife in a short time (and shown her how to train with absolute intensity) that she said the woman who won the heavy womens title last week tried to talk her into being her workout partner and letting me train with one of the guys! So results definatly speak louder than any other crap!

Thanks to everyone. I was honestly worried about being too big and shying a lot of more "regular" people away. Im just a little frazzled. This is a big move Ive been dying to make, and it is finally feasable! If you ever saw the Simpsons episode where Homer quits the power plant, youll know just how Im feeling [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy"

"My existance is a ripple through time"

[monstertruck]

Gotta add my .02, too. I sought out the biggest trainer in my gym - he's "only" 220 (and he's great, knows his stuff). So if you were at my gym, I'd be bowing down at your feet!! Good luck!

[blueyedkowgrl]

i agree with monstertruck. I have and still do use the biggest nicest guy in the gym. If you have a good personlity you won't scare the regular folks away.now if you were a nasty guy in life too then nobody would want to train with you!

[skydancer]

...what they all said....

I'm almost done with my ISSA program too...I'm enjoying it.

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Those who dare to fail miserably, can achieve greatly. - R.F. Kennedy

[W6]

I weigh 272. No problem with clients.

Doesn't matter if you're a big dumbass or a little one. Clients can figure it out. Where we are from, little skinny pencil neck male trainers, pretty boys or the barbie doll types don't do well. I work with another neanderthal trainer that is a powerlifter and we both do well with all types of clientele. If you know your shit, produce results and don't get clients hurt, you'll do well.

W6

[FitFossil]

Be the size YOU want to be. If that's BIG, then so much the better in the personal trainer profession, I say! You'll make your own niche in the field, and people will seek you out rather than the other way around. Sure, maybe everyone doesn't (or can't) aspire to that size, but at least it demonstrates you know HOW to build muscle. You'd probably get more enjoyment training people on that same wavelength anyway. I think anyone who calls himself a personal trainer should be a walking talking specimen who makes the best use of their knowledge and genetics.

I'd never use some skinny undeveloped trainer. I guess they'd be ok if they're training really out of shape people to lose weight (or if I'd seen they'd successfully trained other clients). Even as a rank beginner, I always picked the ones that LOOKED like they knew what they were talking about. Even though I had no ambition of looking like they did (one was a top female powerlifter, another an x-NFL player), I trusted they knew their way around the weight room, and I learned a lot.

I don't think there are ENOUGH big/well-developed trainers around. At least not in my gym. I'm perfectly happy training on my own, but if we had a trainer like that, I'd definitely sign up for some sessions. I really do wish we had someone like that!

[archive_Mr. Nobody]

I will give you my 2 cents as well:
be big (that is me, take it or leave it attitude)
don't stink (b.o. nor breath)
sound intelligent but not boring
be patient
be funny
find out what clintele wants (their goals not yours: some woman just want to talk and work out a little) and don't push clintele too hard
be original and stand out from other trainers (that one is easy for you)

Disclaimer:
Mr. Nobody is presenting fictitious opinions and does in no way, shape or form encourage nor condone the use of any illegal substances or the use of legal substances in an illegal manner.
The information discussed is strictly for entertainment purposes only.

[archive_FitnessChick]

Ditto on everyone elses responses....why sacrifice who you are, aka how big you are, and ultimately your happiness, cause, come on now, we all know you put a ton of time & effort into what you are now, just to train people. Actually, you would be surprised-you saw my pics, and I am not quite mainstream looking, yet I was very successful as a trainer, and I still get women coming up to me asking me to train them.(I don't do it anymore, though).

[Kaizen]

Monster~

I'd say I have to agree with evryone here...The gym I work out at has 5 trainers 4 of them look like an olympic bar would crush them... I have women and men come up to me to ask me to train them or give them some tips...I'll put a program together for them and watch them just take off in achieving their goals... I've asked them why they come to me I'm not certified and why they don't ask teh trainers and to a person the answer has been because they see me living my lifestyle...I'm real...that's you to a T monster... Never compromise yourself...If we live by our goals and ethics we set a silent example that is more powerful than any kowtow to "appearances" or fad

[skydancer]

My gym has all female trainers (dunno why)...all but ONE look like twigs!! One doesn't know how to do a deadlift, the other can't squat for shit (worst form you ever saw with a 25lb bar) and she uses the 20lb bar for bench pressing and still another looks like she's 17! Geeeezzzz! Gimme the big 250 plus pound trainers any day!!

(that was my bitch and moan for the day)

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Those who dare to fail miserably, can achieve greatly. - R.F. Kennedy

Monster, I was faced with a similar delima - My BIG BEAUTIFUL (well, big for me anyhow) MUSCLES....or commercial work?!

UUuuuuummmmmm, I AIN'T NO FC - so guess what? I sucked it up, cried a little and GAVE UP A LOT OF MASS.......still ain't no skinny chick, but at least now I can sell Pampers.

Get what I am sayin' here?

TAKE THE MONEY!!!!!

Just my 2cents [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]