Potentially sticky situation, or not? (Warning: slight bitch fest)
Potentially sticky situation, or not? (Warning: slight bitch fest) Question: So, how does one go about ditching one's personal trainer?
I'm pretty sure that I'm on my way to despising my current trainer. Today's session, while quite effective at working my entire body, was, in a word, horrible. She preferred to talk to the other trainers; flirt with guys who were working out around us; patronize me whenever I asked questions or shared my workout schedule/food journal/concerns/etc.; look incredibly bored, while sighing and rolling her eyes; and generally cause me to feel like a hopeless fat ass not worthy of her time (which I PAID for in lieu of gas money this week). I was quite pleasant and cheerful, as well as nervous, which she responded to with sarcasm or silence (in which she gazed everywhere but at me). She even walked away a couple of times to do Lord knows what. Instead of counting, she was silent -- except to tell me when I did something wrong. There was no conversation. There was no praise. There even wasn't a hello or goodbye -- though she did tell me that she thought that I might flake out on her and not show up next time. (WTF?!)
I want someone who talks, banters, and motivates me when I r-e-a-l-l-y don't want to do lunges. I want someone who doesn't look at me as if I were scum under her shoe or a 400 lb lost cause. I might not be able to run a marathon (yet, lol), but I am neither scum nor a 400 lb lost cause. I just want someone who doesn't immediately wrinkle her nose at the thought of eggplant parmigiana. Is that too much to ask for? I just want someone who gets me when I say that I believe in portion control and moderation, not outright denial. I want someone who understands that, if every single thing I put in my mouth is scrutinized with a sneer and I am treated like I'm an unruly 3 year old because "I don't know how to eat right" (her words), I will begin to: 1) hate food again and 2) decide that skipping meals or just not eating food at all is far easier and less stressful.
With that said, I readily admit that I've let taking care of myself fall behind my other priorities and responsibilities the last few years while I've been in school. That's why I'm striving to get healthier and happier now that I have the time to implement "me" back into my routine. However, I enjoy taking dance/yoga/etc. classes, trying new things, and just generally working out. I like feeling pumped up and energized (if exhausted) when I leave the gym. I like being able to find some time in the day to go have some productive "me" time. And I'd rather not start hating the gym again.
This woman's condescending manner really upset me. At first, I thought it was just my imagination due to my reluctance to be driven by someone else. (I am used to being the expert and the teacher, after all.) Then I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she had a bad day or a negative experience with a curvy Italian recently that jaded her to my charms. Next I thought that I was just bucking the idea of pushing myself. But then, I wondered why I felt worse (and I'm not just talking about body aches) rather than better about myself. And why am I dreading seeing her again? Scare tactics and eye rolls don't quite do it for me. Sorry. Logic, however, is pretty darn effective. And some of the things that my trainer told me just don't match up. There was a woman who weighed in 20 lbs more than me, yet is twice my size. She was wheezing after 5 minutes on the treadmill. I was not. Not to compare myself to this particular lady, but I'm not as far bad and near death as my trainer implies that I am.
Question: So, how does one go about ditching one's personal trainer and hiring another one?
Mags told me about another trainer and the positive experience that she had with her. Hell, the two male trainers that I met are always smiling and greeting me (by name!) every time I come in. But, it's a small gym. I don't want to cause friction, but I want someone who is as sassy as I am and doesn't look like I could break her in half merely by sneezing on her. I don't want to be coddled, mind you, but I do prefer encouragement of a more positive variety, with heartfelt connection to boot. What I interpret as blatant bitch-ery and being ignored might motivate others--I can't fully knock it if it works, and according to the testimonials about my trainer's work posted around the gym, I'm sure she is quite capable of working well with others--but I'd take being yelled at by a drill sergeant in boot camp to another session like I had today. I was guilted into scheduling another session next week. But I didn't pay for it in advance like I did last time. So, I have no strings attached, right? I can interview other trainers with a clear conscience, right? lol I feel like I'm cheating -- and it feels so right!
Edit: I just received a rather bitchy email from said trainer reminding that since I "chose" not to schedule time to work with her 3x a week like she'd planned for me to do, she expects me to "put in the effort" and complete the "same routine we did together" and "make it a top priority." Nice to know that she has such faith in me. She makes me feel so young, for I've automatically regressed to my 3 year old self again and stuck my tongue out at my email box.
I'm pretty sure that I'm on my way to despising my current trainer. Today's session, while quite effective at working my entire body, was, in a word, horrible. She preferred to talk to the other trainers; flirt with guys who were working out around us; patronize me whenever I asked questions or shared my workout schedule/food journal/concerns/etc.; look incredibly bored, while sighing and rolling her eyes; and generally cause me to feel like a hopeless fat ass not worthy of her time (which I PAID for in lieu of gas money this week). I was quite pleasant and cheerful, as well as nervous, which she responded to with sarcasm or silence (in which she gazed everywhere but at me). She even walked away a couple of times to do Lord knows what. Instead of counting, she was silent -- except to tell me when I did something wrong. There was no conversation. There was no praise. There even wasn't a hello or goodbye -- though she did tell me that she thought that I might flake out on her and not show up next time. (WTF?!)
I want someone who talks, banters, and motivates me when I r-e-a-l-l-y don't want to do lunges. I want someone who doesn't look at me as if I were scum under her shoe or a 400 lb lost cause. I might not be able to run a marathon (yet, lol), but I am neither scum nor a 400 lb lost cause. I just want someone who doesn't immediately wrinkle her nose at the thought of eggplant parmigiana. Is that too much to ask for? I just want someone who gets me when I say that I believe in portion control and moderation, not outright denial. I want someone who understands that, if every single thing I put in my mouth is scrutinized with a sneer and I am treated like I'm an unruly 3 year old because "I don't know how to eat right" (her words), I will begin to: 1) hate food again and 2) decide that skipping meals or just not eating food at all is far easier and less stressful.
With that said, I readily admit that I've let taking care of myself fall behind my other priorities and responsibilities the last few years while I've been in school. That's why I'm striving to get healthier and happier now that I have the time to implement "me" back into my routine. However, I enjoy taking dance/yoga/etc. classes, trying new things, and just generally working out. I like feeling pumped up and energized (if exhausted) when I leave the gym. I like being able to find some time in the day to go have some productive "me" time. And I'd rather not start hating the gym again.
This woman's condescending manner really upset me. At first, I thought it was just my imagination due to my reluctance to be driven by someone else. (I am used to being the expert and the teacher, after all.) Then I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she had a bad day or a negative experience with a curvy Italian recently that jaded her to my charms. Next I thought that I was just bucking the idea of pushing myself. But then, I wondered why I felt worse (and I'm not just talking about body aches) rather than better about myself. And why am I dreading seeing her again? Scare tactics and eye rolls don't quite do it for me. Sorry. Logic, however, is pretty darn effective. And some of the things that my trainer told me just don't match up. There was a woman who weighed in 20 lbs more than me, yet is twice my size. She was wheezing after 5 minutes on the treadmill. I was not. Not to compare myself to this particular lady, but I'm not as far bad and near death as my trainer implies that I am.
Question: So, how does one go about ditching one's personal trainer and hiring another one?
Mags told me about another trainer and the positive experience that she had with her. Hell, the two male trainers that I met are always smiling and greeting me (by name!) every time I come in. But, it's a small gym. I don't want to cause friction, but I want someone who is as sassy as I am and doesn't look like I could break her in half merely by sneezing on her. I don't want to be coddled, mind you, but I do prefer encouragement of a more positive variety, with heartfelt connection to boot. What I interpret as blatant bitch-ery and being ignored might motivate others--I can't fully knock it if it works, and according to the testimonials about my trainer's work posted around the gym, I'm sure she is quite capable of working well with others--but I'd take being yelled at by a drill sergeant in boot camp to another session like I had today. I was guilted into scheduling another session next week. But I didn't pay for it in advance like I did last time. So, I have no strings attached, right? I can interview other trainers with a clear conscience, right? lol I feel like I'm cheating -- and it feels so right!
Edit: I just received a rather bitchy email from said trainer reminding that since I "chose" not to schedule time to work with her 3x a week like she'd planned for me to do, she expects me to "put in the effort" and complete the "same routine we did together" and "make it a top priority." Nice to know that she has such faith in me. She makes me feel so young, for I've automatically regressed to my 3 year old self again and stuck my tongue out at my email box.