Trainers are People, Too
There she is, your favorite cycle instructor, pumped and ready for class. In one hour, with the music blaring, she’s motivating you to push up that last hill, speed down to the finish line and just like that you are leaving class ready to take on the world. But, have you ever thought about what happens after class, when your favorite instructor packs up her bags and lives the rest of her life.
No?
That’s okay, most people don’t. Fitness instructors, personal trainers, fitness influencers, are all in the business of helping others on their journey to a healthier lifestyle. And for most, including us here at Fit with Finesse, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences. But what a lot of people don’t know that in addition to the rush and endorphin-filled profession, there are a lot of stigmas and pressures put on fitness professionals. Have you ever talked to a fitness competitor after the show? If you did they would tell you that the mental gymnastics that go on between shows is unreal and the challenges of maintaining is one of the hardest parts, not to mention the process to getting on stage in the first place.
Personal trainers are not exempt from day-to-day life. Some of our favorite trainers talk about how life changes has led to time away from the gym and dealing with the ups and downs of emotions. But, the reality is, many still hold a specific image in their mind for how a personal trainer, fitness instructor or wellness professional should look. An image that is dictated by what we see in ads, on social media, or in magazines.
Here is the truth: goals change, life happens, injuries occur, genetics take over, or illness occurs with even the most dedicated fitness and wellness professionals. Some weeks we just give in to that sweet tooth or that desire to eat a freaking hamburger.
New flash! Your trainer is a real person too.
Andrea flexing with her fit mom at Burn Bootcamp Collierville
“As a personal trainer, I definitely feel pressure to look and perform a certain way. And in several instances, that has really negatively affected my personal training,” says Andrea Larkins, head trainer at Burn Bootcamp in Collierville, Tennessee. “I would try to do everything. Work out twice a day, dieting, all of the things I really try to encourage my clients NOT to; all in the name of looking the part.”
We love how Andrea uses social media to open up about fitness topics ranging from mental health, to our relationship with food, and regularly sharing recent before-and-after photos of herself. She has shared the changes that took place as she worked to open a brand new Burn Bootcamp location while traveling regularly as a Tumbling Director for Champion Cheer Athletics, and now as she prepares for her next competition and plans a wedding.
“Being a real person actually serves my clients better because they see that even a "professional" is dealing with the struggles they deal with. Sometimes I give in to my sweet tooth, or I want to skip my workout. Sometimes I hate how I look in clothes, but those struggles help me relate to my clients better, and serve them much better,” she says.
Jodi Avalos, owner & trainer at DTLA Fitness in Los Angeles talked with us about how her body has changed over time and the reality of genetics. “I have seen “overweight” trainers before and I do get frustrated with this in a sense that trainers should be held to higher expectations in regards to health. That said I have seen plenty of trainers, who “look the part,” and are also unhealthy in that they have unhealthy relationships with diet and exercise.”
Jodi says as she nears 40, she finds her body changing. “I don’t tend to stay as lean as I once was, but I am stronger now than I have ever been. When Jodi goes for regular check-ups she can boast about her vital stats being at tip-top shape. “I think it is always important to remember being healthy often looks different for different people,” she says.
The current tide is changing in the fitness industry and brands are beginning to include models that look more like real women in their ads. We are excited about this change and hope that it leads to more diversity and realistic depictions, as well as great motivation and inspiration for people to get moving as they see more people who look like living their best, fit lives. We also hope it allows for more relief in the pressure put on fitness professionals. Because at the end of the day, we want our cake and to eat it too.