Should My Trainer Be Ripped?

Finding a coach with a great body may seem important, and to a small degree, it is. How can one take advice from someone who isn't doing the same things that they advise you to do? Well, unless you have big aesthetic goals, like a bodybuilding competition, it doesn't matter. It's still nice to know that the person who can help you beat goals understands what it takes to make positive changes. Training and building a great body involves a lot of trial and error. Doing so requires patience and adaptability. Therefore, it's not entirely wrong to expect your trainer to look the part because the look is a product of results! 

Having a barrel chest and six-pack doesn't mean that person can train you to achieve the same results. Yes, they complete specific work to reach their goals, but the path is likely different. Each body has its strengths and weaknesses, so it would be impossible to project those from one person to another. Doing 100 crunches in a set might not work the same way for you as for someone else-- if at all. Big muscles don't necessarily mean mobility, stability, or endurance, which are WAY more important to an active lifestyle than muscle mass. Big muscles do little where quality of life is concerned.

You can find an Adonis or Venus to train you, but there is no guarantee that training techniques resonate or that your styles will match enough for the partnership to flourish. A good training session requires patience, but patience may not extend to you as a client. It sounds wild, and I've seen countless frustrated trainers who fall out of sync with their clients and get in tune with their cell phones.

Now consider this: Personal trainers are human, too! Trainers are subject to the same ebb and flow as clients regarding dedication to fitness and health. Some trainers face the same obstacles as their clients, which explains how they have great insight to share. It's hard to be on point 100% of the time. Hell, it's hard to be on point half of the time. Anything can happen to a coach that might momentarily set them off balance. Many trainers have seasons or rounds that they do in preparation for competitions and other interests. You know when your favorite athletes and fitness personalities are in a reaping season because they look amazing and get lots of media time! But there is an off-season, too, where they may not be so strict about diets and workouts. Some get a little soft, and others take a break from fitness altogether.

I became a personal trainer to show others how easy fitness can be when empowered. I should embody the ideas I share with my clients about fitness, especially if I wax poetic about the 30 minutes of training needed daily. Shouldn't I look like I follow my advice? As cliche as it sounds, I am my best advertisement. If my first and only impression is visual, the presentation has to be on point! Still, my personal standard shouldn't be another trainer's burden. I choose to operate and present myself this way, and my appearance doesn't mean I'm a better trainer. So, to answer the question, NO, a personal trainer does not have to be ripped. On the other hand, keeping a physique that's a testament to grind and focus might be the thing that sets me apart from another otherwise able trainer. That way, I don't miss the opportunity to show the quality of my training.

 While you seek the right trainer, separating their duty and appearance may be tricky. In my opinion, having a neat appearance makes sense for any profession. If you want my business, look and act like you do! But muscles are not (and should not be) the definitive trait. A good trainer dedicates their attention to you and listens to understand. They will use that information to create an effective training plan for you. The most important thing a personal trainer will do is explain and demonstrate how to perform exercises in a way that gets you results. A great trainer will do these things, plus find a way to make training relevant and exciting. Great trainers empower clients with knowledge. They also build client confidence to execute plans and take ownership of the process. So instead of, "Should my trainer be ripped?" try, "Can my trainer give me the tools to be active and own my fitness?" 

 Is it that important that your trainer is swole? How does a first impression affect your opinion of a trainer? What do you look for in the right fitness coach? Does it affect you either way? Leave a comment below, and let me know what you think!