Being a "Beast Mode" Female Trainer

How does it feel to be a female trainer.....

I'm pretty used to being a 'girl in a man's world'. I grew up in construction, working for my dad since I was 13. Not only was I female, I was a kid. I had to prove myself on a daily basis. I had to overcome all the men that would either rudely dismiss me, to try to inappropriately hit on me or make comments. I had to learn to handle myself. Nothing is different in the gym. Some give you all the respect, and some think females know nothing.

I started at the gym as soon as I was legal, also 13. I remember those days feeling 'brave' to go into the 'mean's area/freeweight area". As I've progressed in my training, I lifted more, and started competing in Figure, and at this point I follow bodybuilding plans that men follow. ie: Jay Cutler's 8-week mass gain plan.

For a while, I felt more comfortable training females. People would ask, "Do you train men?", like it would be odd. Even myself I would wonder, "Could I?" Will they trust me? Would they listen to a girl? Will I be able to spot them?

    

    

So over time, that just became easier for me. By the time I left Bally's, I had men coming up asking me to train them to build, or asking how long I had been lifting. Usually with females, I can easily pick out a 5, 8 or 10lb dumbbell for them to use. With men, the weight range is much larger. It could be a 10, or a 35lb DB. I let them pick the weight that they think is right for them. I noticed that they were lifting less than me, even if they looked to 'have muscles'. So I would not try to demonstrate with my own weight. Once in a while, I would test my clients though.(well, their egos) I would demo with my weight, and then let them pick their own. They would try to grab mine or the next one up. But as they would lift I would make adjustments to their form and they would know they need to go down. I don't want to immasculate my male clients, though. It's odd enough for them that a girl is helping them lift, But eventually they see me workout and what I lift.

It's interesting to me that now when I go somewhere, like my Drive-thru Starbucks, the girl at the window will tell me her co-worker goes there and said I 'lift like a beast", lol. Today, my young membership counselor told me how when he was talking to some guys the night before they said they had never seen a girl trainer lift that much. BEASTMODE. My client tonight told me "he hates me" for my biceps and traps, lol. That fact that MEN think I'm strong...is pretty damn awesome!

It's reassuring because in my 'world', so to speak, I know a LOT of women stronger than me. Some of my girl clients give me a run for my money or are beating me outright! But with my back issues, a lot of times I can't do what I would be able to with a straighter spine. It's an interesting dynamic, now feeling like I am that strong, or to be 'intimidating'.

Of course, I would HAVE to date someone stronger than me, which now worries me haha ;)

The Longest Day EVER

In case anyone is unsure WHY there is a 24-Hour Cancellation Policy, lol.....

I had a 10:30pm client....I end up leaving about Midnight. Knowing one of my clients had earlier asked me to reschedule her session to 7:30am the next morning. Knowing I would need to set my alarm for about 5:30/6am, I knew I wouldn't get much sleep. MAYBE 5 hours by the time I got home and into bed. I tried even that deep sleep meditative stuff....I laid there TRYING to fall asleep. Or go to the bathroom. UGH. Alarm goes off and I manage to wrench myself out of bed. I begrudgingly get ready. Begrudginly because I'm exhausted. I am happy and thankful to have clients and looking forward to hopefully getting another. However, as I'm walking to the door, my phone rings. That 7:30am client has a fever. :[ I tell her I hope she feels better soon, I'll cover the 24hour charge....and crawl back into bed for 45mins. Wrench myself back up to get to work for my 8:30am. 2 blocks from work my staff notifies me that my appointment had received a call and had to leave. So, there I am. Finally a client at 9:30am, I could've slept 2 more hours, in other words a whole night's sleep. Hey, shit happens. Regardless, I have a job to do. As tired as I am, I slap on a smile, load up some caffeine and make sure my clients I know I am happy to see them and give them the best I got.  I gave up on my nap and ran errands. Another 5:30am - 11:30pm day tomorrow. Maybe a midday nap....I'll need it.

DON"T STAND UP YOUR TRAINER. :P

Intro

I have been a trainer for quite a while, and the things I see or deal with on a daily basis are enough to challenge you, make you laugh, or drive you nuts.

I graduated with a BA from UCSB in Sociology. Some people think I 'read into things' too much, but that's what I was taught. I excelled at it and was asked by one of my professors if I would continue on to the Graduate program. (UCSB is known for their Graduate Sociology program.) However, it was my minor I was passionate about.

I had a dual-track minor in both Personal Training and Group Exercise Instruction. Yes, that's right. What people now think they learn in a weekend, I had over 20 units in. Anatomy (rabbits and studying real cadavers) took me 3 tries to pass. Physiology with lab, exercise programming, PE classes. I had internships at a Cardiac Stage III rehab center, an adult living facility where I trained older adults and got to see a state of the art Therapy pool. Taught step to a HUGE PE class of high school girls(like 100+ and some were very pregnant). Co-taught a sculpt class at Gold's Gym downtown Santa Barbara. I had a class (a full quarter) on how to teach each format; step, strength, hi-lo (hehe, yeah back a few years!), etc. We learned how to count beats, 32 count phrases, how to put choreography together (add-on, layers, ...) and music selection (copyrights, BPM[beats per minute] for each format). So when I mentor people for training and group ex, I'm a lot more thorough than most. Now, they turn out 'training's buy the hundreds. I've even had 'instructors' looking to get hired tell me "I don't teach Group Ex, what Is that? I teach....". O-M-G. But I digress.

Needless to say, I have LOTS of stories. If you are a client, maybe you'll get it and understand why we do some of what we do. If you are a trainer, you'll understand. Some will be sarcastic, I'm a smartass. Some will be how I found out how to help a client and maybe it will help. Most will be stories I tell to give examples, not necessarily about a specific client. And maybe it'll be just to vent.

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