WHAT

UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS THE STANDARD IN THE iNDUSTRY I HAVE BEEN A TRAINER AND CLUB MANAGER FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND OVERWHELMINGLY i SEE THIS EVERY DAY IN EVERY GYM I'VE WORKED AT CLIENTS COME TO ME AND MEMEBERS WITH THESE ISSUES DAILY IN ALL CHAINS...TOO MANY BAD APPLES THIS NEEDS TO BE TAUGTH AND HIT HOME IN CLASSES WITH INSTRUCTORS MANY GET INTO THE BUISINESS JUST FOR THESE REASONS...1 OUT OF EVERY 10 TRAINERS I INTERVIEW AND WATCH PERFORM ARE PROFESSIONAL VERY SMALL NUMBERS IT'S TIME FOR THE STATE TO START REGULATING OUR INDUSTRY AND SETTING SOME STATE BARR STANDARDS JUST LIKE DOCTORS HAVE IF WE WANT THIS INDUSTRY TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND OVERCOME THE MEDICINE WORLD THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME HIGHER STANDARDS SET...

Let's forget about what the tv shows portray and deal with the real problem-lack of professionalism in the field!

I agree with the statement above...the industry should be taken seriously!!!

I agree. I am happy to be a part of a fitness organization (metamorphixx) that strives to place professionalism back in the field. Keep in mind a great majority of fitness professionals still dominate the industry and are dedicated to helping people and helping them live longer.

I believe it is all about the way you pesent yourself to your clients and the people you meet in the gym.

I never worked in a fitness center or major gym chain, however I have hired a few trainers from one of the major fitness chains. I won't say the name of the fitness chain but it starts with a "B" ...they all told me things that were not good about the trainers, the facility and the management. I beleive that we as trainers, studio owners and managers should keep it professional at all times. The TV show "WORK OUT" is off the chain and out of control! That kind of stuff should not be seen on TV. My wife and I own and run a personal training facility and we do not allow any foolishness in our facility. We do have fun so that our clients enjoy their workouts and we get the job done. I beleive that you can enjoy your job or career as a trainer and or owner as long as you keep it clean and professional and of course get the job done!

Unprofessional, demeaning, and harmful to our industry. These shows perpetuate a negative stereotype that is all too common to the general public. But, there is hope!!! There are lots of very good, positive role models in our industry. I would suggest all trainers get a copy of the IDEA Personal Trainers Code of Ethics. Read, re-read, and follow these simple principles.

Like any other industry male and females when working together can unfortunatley go past the boundaries of professionalism. i have been training people for 31yr now and things have definately change for the better. As a whole I think most of the trainers are in it to make money and will do what ever it takes to do that dating,flirting and sometimes manipulating. Sad but true but that still in my opinion would only makeup maybe 10%. So to all the professional trainers out there as we all know most of the time we are counselling more than anything else. So thanks to the ones that responded to this we care and love what we do. Most of my clients don't watch TV anyway so that's a plus. Let's do all we can in our profession to enjoy our jobs and serve our clients and that will see what we are really about.

I do agree that Workout shows some things that shouldn't be shown, but it does happen in large gyms. I have worked for a large chain gym for 4 years before, and there is worse that happens than what they even show. That is part of the culture and how they treat their staff. I admit that the way that they go about it is not quite right, but it is TV and their objective is ratings. With so many Americans being overweight,at least they are showing people doing something about it.

I have had many clients and people inspired by the contestants and trainers on Biggest Loser. It got them to get off the couch, get in the gym and get some help. TV may not always show the best things, but we are the army battling obesity on a daily basis.

I recently quit my job as a trainer due largely to the fact that it is just not a reputable job. Even at a private place where we were suppose to be "professional" I saw TONS of strange behavior. There is a complete lack of respect on so many levels, even clients not paying their bills.... with as bad as it is now, these shows REALLY don't help. Plus they give an extremely false POV of weight loss. I really would like to make a difference in the field and come back to it one day, but the day for trainers is definitely not now, nor will it come anytime soon with the media hyping up all the negative aspects that are unfortunately the bulk of the industry.

The last comment was me Ninette Winston Austin Tx where the real people train.

Just Kidding, This is good I like this..smile

I'm not sure that these shows are as harmful to our image as the question implies. Dont get me wrong in that I'm not endorsing them as they are (like ALL (un)reality shows) edited, directed and in some cases even "scripted' for maximum IMPACT. And that usually translates into sex and scandal. They are "car crash" tv. Even if our morality or conviction or whatever guides us says "dont look" we still look.

My experience regarding trainers is two-fold. First, those of us who are serious and career oriented about our chosen path watch (Com' on. You know you are glued to this stuff too) chuckle and shrug it off. Then there are the newbies, the young, invincible "gonna change the fitness world with my innovative approach (as well as just by my presence- we've ALL been there) SOME of who actually aspire to that kind of infamy/celebrity at whatever the cost (even their own dignity) Didn't Mtv's "The Real World" start the whole "get famous by showing your ass" figuratively and litterally? And isn't it amussing that life imitated art with actual (real?) celebrities followed suit? But I digress.

Anyway/either way, we all seem to get some laughs, cringe a little and have a story or can relate to someone on these shows. Then it's back to assessments and program design.

As for the general public I've found that unless they have trainers themselves or know one, they often dont make the linear connection between these shows and what WE do. I've also found that they tend to understand that most of these people are using being a trainer (and being on these shows) as a stepping stone to becoming famous for being famous. It's been my experience that people who are serious about getting healthy and fit and/or hiring a trainer do not use these shows as a template for what to expect.

Where these shows CAN be harmful to our image is when we put something of quality on television or other mass media platform. The first assumption based on the garbage that's out there could be to assume the worse/more of the same, making it more of a "challenge" to get our POSITIVE message across. On the up side, it is exposure and in some cases may actually be inspiration for some in the public to seek us out, despite their sensationalized introduction to the field.

Okay, shamless plug time. I am an NSCA CPT and welcome anyone who is interested in corresponding on any/all things wellness, health and fitness to contact me, as this type of networking is one way to balance the aforementioned issue. My email address is included below. My website rkofitness.com will be back up June 1. Also my book, "Emotional Fitness" is curently in edit and will be available August of this year.

Whew! I started out not really having much of an opinion on this issue when I first read it :D

Rob(peace)
rob@rkofitness.com

What kills me more than anything is the way the trainers go about getting their clients to lose weight. On Workout and Biggest Loser the clients are inappropriately trained, haven't any of these trainers heard of exercise progression? When the client vomits due to an insane amount of intensity the trainer just keeps them working! Can you imagine how the sedentary person watching the show thinks of this? If it were me I would be thinking, "that's not for me, I don't want to be tortured like that, if that's what it takes to lose weight then forget it". Still worse is the way the clients are treated by the trainers, if I were the client and my trainer spoke to me like that I'd be out the door faster than a blink. All in all it shows trainers in the wrong light, it shows clients being treated badly and exercising inappropriately. I met Ryan, the first winner of the Biggest Loser when he was fresh of winning, I worked with him a few months later and he had gained a significant amount of weight back. With the extreme methods being used to torture these poor unfortunately people they never learn how to do it the right way and consequently viewers get the wrong idea.

Biggest loser puts us all to a little shame. there's a difference between coaching and "pushing"...how many times does someone have to fall off a treadmil to get a safe and effective workout?

Wow...Where do I begin?!

I have been a trainer for the past 4 years since getting out of the Army and find that this is THE BEST industry to be in. There are so many opportunities and all of which are attracting knuckle heads that just do it for money.

I became a trainer because I saw a traumatic brain injury client walk for the first time and I immediately was hooked. "What’s a personal trainer do?" I asked. I was told that "we" basically count reps monitor range of motion and listen to problems. When I saw this girl walk for the first time after being in a coma for 6 weeks, my heart was pulled to the field...To the gym I guess I should say and I was willing to just be the rep counter or the range of motion monitor if I could only experience what its like to improve the quality of life for someone that was worse off before meeting me.

The certification process teaches a lot about biomechanics of the body, exercise progressions, cardio variations, etc. but for some reason the PROFESSIONAL section of the certification process is touched on in the very back of the books in a REFERENCE or FURTHER STUDIES section.

GETTING RESULTS and PROFESSIONALISM is what makes people want to stay with us as trainers. This is what sets us apart for the knuckle heads that view this field as a cash cow and that’s all. It’s horrible to watch these trainers on WORKOUT represent us to a growing mass of people who are dying because of bad health choices or of circumstance.

I do feel that there are more trainers in the field who really want to be the best Personal Trainers out there who change the most lives, but what are they being taught by their peers or by the media? Being empathetic, professional, personable, selfless, integrity driven, motivational, etc. is something that is mostly personality traits and cannot be taught by certification bodies. These traits need to be what classifies excellent trainers over who can sell the most.

Thanks for listening to my rant! Being that I am a facilitator for other trainers where I work, I get fired up when it comes to professional conduct, or lack thereof. :)

Best wishes to everyone!

The media may in fact portray a negative image, however, the lack of universal proper collegiate education and proper credentialing is more than sufficient for a negative image. The profession needs to get serious about appropriate credentialing and education and then others outside the profession may begin to recognize our true worth.

I completely agree that our certifying agencies should spend more time teaching people how to be professional.

Wow...Where do I begin?!

I have been a trainer for the past 4 years since getting out of the Army and find that this is THE BEST industry to be in. There are so many opportunities and all of which are attracting knuckle heads that just do it for money.

I became a trainer because I saw a traumatic brain injury client walk for the first time and I immediately was hooked. "What’s a personal trainer do?" I asked. I was told that "we" basically count reps monitor range of motion and listen to problems. When I saw this girl walk for the first time after being in a coma for 6 weeks, my heart was pulled to the field...To the gym I guess I should say and I was willing to just be the rep counter or the range of motion monitor if I could only experience what its like to improve the quality of life for someone that was worse off before meeting me.

The certification process teaches a lot about biomechanics of the body, exercise progressions, cardio variations, etc. but for some reason the PROFESSIONAL section of the certification process is touched on in the very back of the books in a REFERENCE or FURTHER STUDIES section.

GETTING RESULTS and PROFESSIONALISM is what makes people want to stay with us as trainers. This is what sets us apart for the knuckle heads that view this field as a cash cow and that’s all. It’s horrible to watch these trainers on WORKOUT represent us to a growing mass of people who are dying because of bad health choices or of circumstance.

I do feel that there are more trainers in the field who really want to be the best Personal Trainers out there who change the most lives, but what are they being taught by their peers or by the media? Being empathetic, professional, personable, selfless, integrity driven, motivational, etc. is something that is mostly personality traits and cannot be taught by certification bodies. These traits need to be what classifies excellent trainers over who can sell the most.

Thanks for listening to my rant! Being that I am a facilitator for other trainers where I work, I get fired up when it comes to professional conduct, or lack thereof. :)

Best wishes to everyone!

No different than real estate agents and attorneys the bad actors will stain the profession. No one who's been in the industry can look me in the eye and say that the negative perceptions about trainers are unjustified we have to many hustlers and BSers and waaaay too much hype in our industry.

What if we all started behaving like licensed physical therapists. Precise, professional, disciplined and accurate with our record keeping.

Be professional in everything you do and your clients will respect you. Deliver results for them and they will appreciate and value you.

Change begins with each one of us.

I am Dishearted by the lack of Professionalism, I had the opportunity to see one of the shows and my opinion is they lack the true qualities of a true Personal Trainer.

Of course TV is working against we training professionals. I caught an episode of Bravo's depiction of trainers and was horrified. Aside from their blatent sex-capades, I take pride in setting myself apart from the self-obsessed trainers and the beautiful people. I am soon to be 50 and have been in the industry for the past 28 years. I am by others accounts attractive and fit. This does help to sell my cause, however because of my down to Earth attitude and knowledge that the outward appearance is fleeting and temporary I find that some of these programs can give such a superficial and self centered connotation to our industry. Probably most of us are the contrary, but we are not in the public eye, on display.
I would rather that these shows fizzle out and go away!

Those shows do not add any value to our profession. Neither do they educate clients. Why is it that the media thinks that the viewers are stupid? It is not entertaining to see individuals performing exercises that they never should do first hand - and worst, shame on the trainers who make them do it!!!!

Where is your professionalism?

TV viewers want drama... not to see people actually training and seeing results. With everything from the dramas and Mitchell report trainers are getting a very bad rap sheet due to lack of properly trained individuals. the industry has had a lack of total professionalism and education. there are to many "weekend Certification" and not enough people wha actuallly have degrees in the kinesiology. there needs to a standard that resembes or is federally license for individuals that want to train others. this would gives some extra and much deserved respect in other professions. It seems "personal trainers" are a joke among other professional industries, ie Dr's, therapists, strength coaches and etc.

I want to believe that these show although they portray some annoying reality drama, allow the trainers with experience in the field to be exposed. I know as easy as it is to get certified only the strong will suvive, and the consumer is not stupid and after wasting money and time getting no where the consumer will hire the trainer with successful clients, or no one at all. With the right marketing and business sense personal trainers can take advantage of these shows exposer to the Fitness industry.

Approaching my 20th year in the health/fitness industry, I'm constantly bombarded during my seminars about my thoughts and/or opinions of the various shows, programs, infomercials, books, gizmos, gadgets, pills, products and the like...

My standard answer is simple: While SOME of the information may be of value to someone at some point, the MAJORITY of the information is developed and designed to do one thing get people to BUY something!

And while there's nothing wrong with making money (as long as you're delivering REAL value!), unfortunately the majority of the time it's accomplished through unrealistic, and downright deceptive means...

As a fitness professional it's EVERYONE'S responsibility to STEP UP, STOP WHINING, and BE A BEACON of TRUTH & VALUE to everyone who enlists your services!

I get so sick of people complaining/whining about how they've been wronged, or things are out of their control, or the reason they're not successful is because of (fill in your favorite external excuse) rather than looking in the mirror where the REAL issue resides!

I say "Bring on the shows, the magazines, the infomercials, and whatever else the media wants to churn out!" It simply provides ME (and you) an ongoing opportunity to "shine" brightly as THE source of Truth!

Bottom line is this: Do the shows, etc. tarnish the trainer as a whole? Answer: Only if everyone with whom you've ever come in contact and/or trained has had that exact same experience with YOU!

If you aren't that type of person and don't conduct yourself in such a manner, then no worries, right?

I have never run into this type of behavior, but I work at a family oriented community center. Our fitness director would never tolorate this lack of professionalism. Our clientel sees us as the professionals we all are and results we produce. Those shows are for uneducated sheep!

I am happy to see other fitness trainers voice their opinions about the way we are depicted on TV, especially these shows that prompted all of us to stop and take notice. I can safely say that most of us have been in this industry long enough to know the good and the bad, but my concern is the impact they have on the people are indecisive about trusting us from day one. I base this on the comments several of our clients make and “Work Out” (or Bravo) takes it too far. The network, as like a few others takes it shot to minimize the talents of many in several industries

While “The Biggest Looser” may cause ample harm to those afraid to take the first step to overall health, it does motivate people to visually see that hard work does pay off vs. online dieting and the fitness gimmicks that run on 24/7 on the infomercial networks that promote lazy habits even in fitness. We all know that fitness has amore physical impact to others unlike fashion, cooking or being stranded on an island with the camera running. Once the muscles give and the lactic acid builds, the dependency on our professionalism outweighs all the others 10 to 1.

Many, like me, got into this field because they struggled with weight or was verbally tortured as the “fat kid” or the “misfit”. Can you imagine where we all would be if shows like “Workout” were around and more unprofessional trainers dominated the industry decades ago?

I own and manage a fitness company in a market where people are already skeptical about trainers based on what they witness from the “less inspired” demographic of fitness trainers. In addition, it’s dominated by fried food and cocktail establishments on every block that will grab the attention of our clients even at their strongest faster than we can count sets and reps. While tenured clients know the difference, it’s the risk “Work Out” places on our first timers. Sure it’s great for Bravo’s ratings, but the behavior the organization depicts in front of the camera and the script has caused our clients to loose faith in us. We spend several months asking them to trust the numbers and the fit of their clothes and ONE episode has the potential to undo their trust in us and their belief in themselves.

Luckily, we have those tenured clients who can contest to a great experience, acknowledge our devotion to our new ones (even when they are ready to give up), and continue to show that real life in fitness and “Reality Fitness” are truly not the same, even when we are not at our best on a professional stance.

Last Post written by Zario Manning

As a trainer, I am VERY against all of these types of "fitness reality" shows on television. I believe they intimidate potential clients and give them a skewed perception of the fitness industry. Instead of being relied on as health professionals, we become shallow, fat phobic, botox junkies who intimidate clients by flaunting our perfect bodies. Not only that, but shows like "the biggest loser" are entirely unrealistic. What kind of a trainer would take an overweight and entirely deconditioned client and immediately put them through a routine of jump roping, running, push ups, and squat jumps? It is more interesting to watch, but it is not safe and it scares away the viewers who watch the show and think that they will have to go through such extreme and impractical measures to lose weight. And on the topic of weight loss, why is it that on all of these shows, our job is only about helping people lose weight? What about fixing postural imbalances, improving self esteem, increasing longevity, and preventing injuries? As trainers, we need to not only speak out against these types of shows but we also need to change our own attitudes. Our job is to train our clients to adopt healthier lifestyles....not to try to make them all look like supermodels. Unfortunately, the reality of our work is probably not dramatic enough to be on TV, so we have to deal with the added challenge that our clients are coming to us with preconcieved notions about what working with a trainer is all about.
We just have to keep pounding in the message: "Love your body for what it can do, not for what it looks like!"

J. in Santa Barbara

The shows are embarrassing and the trainers should be ashamed for promoting themselves as cruel, oversexed pin-ups. That's kind of attitude frightens away potential customers and ruins our credibility. I'm not interested in shaming people into trying to look as good as I do. I'm not interested in flaunting myself in skimpy outfits because it's not all about me. I'm there for my clients.
A. in Baltimore

No, I don't think they are doing harm at all. Come on people...it's REALITY TV (or UN-reality TV)! Meaning...every aspect of every part of life is being blown out of proportion! Personally, I think the Biggest Looser is wonderful, and very inspiring for people. The trainer are very supportive, caring, and professional. Work Out? Well, the sex stuff is over the top, but the training is fine for the most part. Once again, the trainers show they care for their clients. (Although there isn't MUCH shown of this...it's more sex!) Anyway, I have been in the field for 12 years, and I take my career vary seriously and professionally. I work in a VERY large club, and I have alot of respect for most of my coworkers who are constantly striving to be better trainers! So, I don't feel threatened by this wave of reality TV and what people may perceive at all.

Every profession is distorted on reality TV to fit the show. Trainers are no exception.
As a professional trainer keep up a professional standart with your clients to show them how real WE really are.

As a professional fitness trainer I am embarrassed by those I see entering our field without the proper credentials and the morals to lead others to live a healthy lifestyle. More and more trainers are tatooed and pumping steroids to fit this new image of being sexy. I long for the day when we have to meet a national standard to call ourselves fitness trainers and we eliminate some of the ones who dilute our industry.

I could turn this into an expose but its suffice to say these shows are doing our industry absolutely no justice.
Everyone in our industry wants credibility and better pay. If anyone thinks it will come with the images portrayed in these shows they are naive at best.
Professionals should look and act the part.
What does the public expect from a doctor when they walk in his/her office????
Lastly, if those who wrote the above comments feel so strongly they should attach their name.

The unprofessionalism and "hu$tle and pimp the customer for every dime before they quit in six months" mentality in our industry (especially at big corporate gyms like Bally's and 24 Hour Fitness) is why both the medical professions and the public don't see the true value of what we do and seem to have a poor opinion of personal trainers in general.

These "reality" shows and info-mercials for fitness crap that usually doesn't work only add to this perception.

I practice wellness rather than health and fitness. These shows are simply engaging the physical aspects of wellness. With wellness there are four aspects to consider. 1) The Physical Body, 2) The Mental Mind, 3) The Emotional Heart and 4) The Spiritual Soul.

There can be no balance or wellness without an integration of all four aspects of our total being. For these shows to evolve they would have to touch many more lives by appealing to a much larger demographic.

For now, I feel that these shows will have to run their course. In time, they will wear out there welcome. It will be the ratings that determines their fate. Until that time, choose wisely and perhaps one of us will develop a program worthy of our profession as well as the public's minds eye.

Hey! hollywood has never been focused on doing the right thing. They are focused on money and thats the bottom line. They help sell who ever pays them because thats their job. Thats how they feed their familys. Whats a national standard gonna help? Doctors still cut off the wrong limbs, and cops still kill and abuse the wrong people and some school teachers sleep with students, Do i have the answers? No i dont. At the end of each week i look back and see if i am still making a difference. Do i make mistakes of course i do. do i need to leave my name... why so you can judge me to. we are not the only industry with these problems. Now shut off the computer and go motivate some one. NEVER QUIT

"Workout", in my observation, is not and never has been about fitness. It is about the emotional lives of the owner (Jackie) and the interaction between owner, trainers, and clients on a personal level and not about the professional fitness level. In my opinion, no one is going to watch that show and get motivated to change their bodies, and more importantly, get a clue as to how to do it. I have no problem with this being a reality show into lesbian love and relationship or interpersonal relationships, but don't call it about working out. Having said this, that is equally true in most gyms that I have been into in any part of the country. I see people training with "trainers" day after day, and at the end of the year, they looked just like they did when they started. It is too easy to get a certification without the personal experience or body to back it up. What ever happened to the messenger looking like he might know something about the message. Why hire a medicore looking "trainer" to take your own body to new levels? How many of these trainers invest the time and energy to work with and counsel their clients on nutrition and aerobic exercise which are two very important aspects of the three components that are required to change bodies. What happens in the gym, even if it is right on target, is only part of what it takes to change bodies. Most trainers I see have never changed their own bodies, so how could they be expected to know how to change someone elses. However, they appear to be busy. I don't get it. I also have a problem wondering what the long term effect will be on the people who win the Biggest Loser contest. It appears to me that they are likely running their metabolism into the ground and we all know that over the years, that has led to the rebound effect when people begin to eat anything even close to normal again. I hope this is not the case, but it concerns me.

These opinions are expressed by a 66 year old competitive bodybuilder and personal trainer, and perhaps age has jaded me a bit, but it has also allowed me the freedom to state my thoughts and opinions without regard to whether or not others agree. These comments are offered from a completely sincere perspective.

I have been in the industry since 1976. I love the fact that Fitness is being depicted on the small screen. Yes, some of the trainers are pretty bizarre, but so was the crew of the "Love Boat" and look what that show did for the cruise industry. These shows put fitness in front of the public and show it as something desirable to do. Crazy behavior is everywhere in every aspect of life, why would it be any different at a gym? What is important in these shows is that the public see that fitness is accessible. I watch them all: Prevention Fitness Challenge, Celebrity Fit Club, Fitness 911, anything on the Fitness Challenge, Workout, The Biggest Loser, Guru 2 Go, The Gym and I hope to see more. With Americans in such poor physical condition, I applaud the trainers who get out their and show that fitness is attainable while still living your life even if you are crazy.

I fear that the personal lives is just a small part. Whether it's Buff Brides, Workout, Biggest Loser or even celebrity Fit Club , there is an over simplification of the effects the wrong mode of exercise has on the body. In preety much all the shows with the exception of buff brides there has been a mention of injury. In Work out it was an extremely over weight woman given a plyometric exercise one episode only to have to come back and lose the weight again due to a knee injury,which for some reason was never atributed to Workouts incorect exercise prescription. In Celibrity Fit club a young comedian was given too many crunchs which resulted in a hernia operation. people come to us because they believe we know what we're doing if they're going to ge tinjured they might as well ask their freinds or the body builders at the gym. We need to start setting examples as professionals and treat our clients and profession in the highest regard. while we're at it lets retire the titlle Personal trainer and call our selves what our clients expect us to be Fitness Professionals.

I would say that the TV "Trainers" are not truly portraying Fitness Professionals. They are over sensationalized and it has turned into more of a Reality TV than a help to the industyr

Just like any "reality" show, there is nothing real about them, but we need to stress the importance of professionalism. I still think that personal trainers are viewed as the people these shows are protraying. Fitness Professionals need to step it up in the gyms and start being the professionals that most of us are.

I've been in the industry for well over 10 years as a personal trainer and there is an obvious growth in our industry. I do believe that this is in part to these types of shows. However, while it has helped my business, it does also hinder my business because my clients have a misconception about what I am trying to do for them. My style of training is very unorthodox compared to most trainer's style of training including what we've seen on these t.v. shows. I don't get into this "bootcamp" routine, and I make boundaries very clear from the beginning about what they should expect from me and what I expect from them.

I will have to agree with the last comment. Someone such as the state needs to step in and set some standards. At first, I was against this because I don't want someone telling me how to do my job. Since these shows are more popular, Standards needs to be set in place to protect and educate the consumer as well as the trainer.

I'm fortunate to work as a trainer in a part of the country, North Dakota, that maintains a high level of professionalism, integrity, work ethic and high moral standards. Yes, there may be a few who are in the profession for the wrong reason, but that is the exception, not the rule. I do feel the current TV programs are demeaning and not an accurate picture of my work environment.

WHAT A GREAT TOPIC! Moral and ethical standards are not portrayed in these programs. Female trainers crying and fighting over clients, and dressed in "costumes" we would never find appropriate in a professional workplace (bare bellies and go-go boots, to name a few)...These issues alone give misinterpritations to our client/trainer relationships and therefore skew the general publics perception. Recently recieved an application which requested a photo...this is unethical too. If someone likes a trainers qualifications on paper, must we all look like hollywood trainers now to even potential employers?? Unfortunately, the media will continue to portray things that will increase TV ratings. We as professional trainers help our own image by dressing and speaking professionally and appropriately, showing our knowlege and empathy. That's all we can do.

These shows are demeaning to the professional image of the personal trainer, and are are seeking to sensasionalize and exploit the fitness industry solely for the sake of ratings. It does a disservice to the fitness industry, and this will lead to distrust of wrong expectations from clients in the future. Real professionals conduct themselves in a responsible manner, and choose not to exploit themselves nor their profession.

It is as it is. that's it. What works in the real world arena of Personal Training doesnt work to attract viewers of tv programs. I am very fortunate to work for one of the most prominent figures in the industry and to be quite honest your typical viewer would be bored to tears watching our team work. Why? People like drama and negativity, hence the explosion of reality tv. Accepting that this is what it is then opens the door for newer possibilities to emerge in the way of Professionalism and public perception in this industry instead of resisting and getting upset at the situation. The reality is this, as we continue to grow as an industry and professionally and make a difference in people's lives we are still failiing to curb this country's health epidemic and will continue to do so if.... Look a lot deeper and the answer might reveal itself.

Please everyone, get off your moral high horse. With the exception of only a few television shows (reality or otherwise) is anyone or anything ever portrayed with any real integrity. I highly doubt that most reasonable people believe that the majority of trainers behave like the trainers in these reality shows. Think about it, how many Archie Bunkers do you know? Do your friends act like the cast of "Friends"?

As a personal trainer I have to admit that "Biggest Loser" and "Workout" are my guilty pleasures. I don't enjoy all of the drama that comes with the shows. But I really enjoy seeing the exercises that the trainers have the clients do and debating on whether they would work for my clients. For me it's nice just to see things done a bit differently. And we also must remember that all "reality" shows are not in essence true reality. We need to take it all with a grain of salt. Do I think Jackie on the workout is in any way professional? Absolutely not. But on the other hand, she's a self-made millionnaire with her own tv show, so obviously something is working for her. And I am correct that Jillian Michaels and Jackie Warner are part-owners of Sky Sport and Spa? Obviously a successful duo. I don't think these shows have harmed my clientelle. In fact, for those who have no idea what personal training is, it might open their eyes to it, and bring in clients to me.

I think shows like workout does not show personal trainers in a good light. That show is all about drama. If clients want to join a gym like that let them. It's not happening with me. The bigest Loser makes it seem easy to lose over 100lbs in 12 weeks. Clients need to take into consideration that they are stuck on this ranch for that long and they do not have to deal with the stress of everyday life.

While I believe that the weight loss stories can be inspirational and I truly hope these people can keep the weight off, I feel that one's health should not be made into a game. If clients want slow and steady results and are willing to work hard for them fine. If quick and easy is what they think it's all about then I'm not their girl.

I think the show make it tougher for trainers to educate folks and help them understand that we are not trying to kill them and exercise doesn't have to hurt to get results. If someone walks away from one of your training sessions and they are extremely sore the next day the trainer did not do their job! Some folks have the expectation that you have to be screaming at them and killing them in order to be good and get results.

I have seen a few of these shows and as a trainer myself, working for myself in my home studio and other clients homes, I don't have this "personal stuff" happening. I consider myself to be professional and try to conduct my business like any other professional business. Granted, we get more personal with our clients because we spot them, have to hand guide their movements ask somewhat personal questions regarding lifestyle, eating habits, etc. We DO get personal and therfore personal attachment both physically and emotionally CAN happen...if you let it. Does it have to happen? NO, not if you know how to control yourself and THINK professionally. On another topic as it relates to the Biggest Loser show. I think that show distorts the clients perception of what can and is supposed to happen in a training session. We work with our clinets an hour or so at a time, not hours a day, everyday for several months at a time. That is not reality. That show can make the majority of us look like we don't know how to create big results in a short period of time. Those contestants work their butts off for hours and hours! Not real appealing workouts either. At least I make mine fun and effective.

These, like all reality TV shows, are far from reality and thus give false sense of how a "professional" trainer lives and works. I agree with most that they are demeaning to our industry. However, what that tells me loud and clear is that there is a major opportunity to change the poor perceptions of our industry without the use of glamourous Hollywood. Those of us that consider ourselves the cream of the crop pay no attention to this garbage. The rest who are too easily influenced and wowed, well, step aside and leave the real work to the professionals.

Let's see...it's TV, Sex sells, Hot Sexy Lesbian Personal Trainers really sell! Duh!

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