I’m sitting at my desk at work today, which is right at the front of the gym, and I happen to have a cupcake sitting on it from Oakmont Bakery. Now, if I had been a regular member of the gym instead of the Lead Personal Trainer for it, nobody would bat an eyelash BUT over the course of about fifteen minutes since the time I sat down with said cupcake, I must have gotten about ten comments about how I shouldn’t be eating something sweet like that and trying to promote good health and fitness habits. With the more comments I received, the more I had to laugh about it because the type of people that were making comments were…can you guess? Exactly. The type of members that were making comments were people who were basically of the older age grouping with absolutely not a positive bone in their body. It does pose the question though, “Are personal trainers subject to the same double standards as regular people are concerning fitness or are our standards raised more because we’re professionals?“ Let’s dive in and take a look at this.

As a fitness professional, I agree with the notion that above all else we need to be setting a good example for our clients by adopting healthy lifestyles for a few reasons: 1.) Our Health, 2.) Setting a positive example for others, and 3.) Marketing. I hate that last one but it’s true, we are our own billboards so to speak and part of this business, as sad as it is, is looking the part as well. What people also tend to forget though is that we’re human too, and subject to the same vices and hangups that others experience from day to day. Trainers are not all cut from the same mold, and each has their own way of dictating how they make certain rules for themselves concerning dieting, exercise, etc. A lot of people that I know who are trainers themselves compete as amateur bodybuilders. Part of that lifestyle is holding yourself insanely accountable for what you eat, how you train, and having a fitness/work/life balance on top of your goals. Being an amateur or professional bodybuilder is basically a second career because you live and breathe bodybuilding, proper dieting, etc. 24/7.

I like to think of myself as a more realistic trainer in that I’m not calorie-counting everything that I eat. Also, my training methods cater to average people that just want to improve stamina, health and lose weight. This is what the majority really is searching for when they sign up at a gym, not look like Thor. Back to my initial question though, “Should trainers be held to the same standards as seasoned fitness professionals and bodybuilders??” The quick answer coming from me is NO. Not all bodies are created equally and that means that trainers aren’t either. This is a lighter version of the body-shaming debate in a way. I remember applying for trainer positions that I didn’t get because I didn’t fit the physical expectations of what a trainer should look like (Yes, this is exactly what the email I received as a rejection said.) I’ve had body image issues with myself for as long as I can remember, just like everybody else but these days now that I’m in my 40’s, I don’t dwell on it too much. Holding people by an often times unreachable standard isn’t the way to gain great trainers to your staff because most trainers who have shoulders the size of bowling balls, usually have dust or creatine powder for brains. 

John J. Schessler, Jr. is a Pittsburgh-based Personal Trainer and host of the podcast, “Flip Your Script”, available on Apple, Spotify and Google Podcasts. John has worked within the fitness/health worlds for the past 20 years, educating and helping people gain self-respect and motivation to reach their personal goals. John has backgrounds in Social Work, Education, Physical Therapy and Fitness and travels as a Motivational Speaker throughout various parts of the year. For all questions concerning speaking engagements or training inquiries, please email pghwellnesspt@gmail.com.

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