If you’re a personal trainer - it’s most likely this article is going to offend you. So, be warned.
If you’ve sticked around long enough on dailymuscle.com, you would have realised by now that I’m not really a big fan of personal trainers. Now, don’t get me wrong - this is not because I don’t believe they are good, but mainly because I believe there are so many personal trainers out there, who despite the certification they possess, still lack the experience, the knowledge, and most importantly - the personal passion for the pursuit of physical fitness.
I’ve always believed that a personal trainer needs to walk the walk, and talk the talk! No point trying to motivate someone to lose weight if you’re a fat ass yourself, don’t you think? Take a look at the available personal trainers at your gym - how fit are they? Or just how full of bullshit are they? If they’re supposedly good at helping you ‘bulk up’ and help you gain muscle - do their physiques themselves show off their capability? Or if their expertise is ‘weight loss’, are they so lean and fit that they deserve to be admired? Cos if they’re overweight and flabby themselves, trust me - that simply shows the amount of motivation that they themselves lack to improve their very own physique. Don’t agree with me? Too bad then.
Personally, I myself have never paid for the services of a personal trainer mainly because I’ve always believed that I don’t see the necessity for me to have one. I think I know how to eat right, I know what to do at the gym to achieve my goals, and I know how to motivate myself for my workouts. I almost ALWAYS have productive workouts due to my strict focus, discipline, and mental preparation before every workout, plus - the music on my MP3 player helps me to stay in ‘my own world’ when I’m working out and in giving 101%. On top of all that, I see results.
However, for those of you who are in need of a little extra help - perhaps you’re a little clueless as to what to do at the gym? Or in need of some guidance, tailored nutritional advice, workout routines 100% tailored especially for you, and if you have the money to spare - then by all means, do get yourself a personal trainer! Not only would they would be able to guide you, but they would help keep your progress in check and take you to new levels of awareness - hopefully helping you succeed in reaching your fitness goals.
The problem, however, in my opinion (especially here in Malaysia) is the lack of properly qualified personal trainers. Though they exist somewhere out there, they’re not easy to find - especially if you’re new to the gym and are totally clueless. Plus, it’s easy to be ’seduced’ by the sweet talk of the personal trainer you get through your ‘complimentary sessions’ at the gym. If you ask me, most of them are just out there to meet their sales targets and make a living. Are they really, honestly concerned if you meet your goals? Would they call you to talk to you, be your friend, or allow you to call them anytime at all you have a doubt, or if you’re worried or confused on what to eat?
Disgustingly, some personal trainers I’ve known are only interested to get into the skirts of their clients (believe me). I know one personal trainer from a particular Fitness First branch who used to offer my female friend ENDLESS FREE SESSIONS… in exchange for a date! And at the end of every session - he would ask her out. Of course, she never really agreed - but he would even try to talk and hint naughty thoughts at her.. and I’m sure she’s not the only one. Why is it that all the females seem to get the ‘FREE SESSIONS’ even if they don’t qualify for it? Why don’t they approach the men to give free sessions instead? When they train their female clients, they touch them more, they help them more, they get closer to them physically. I don’t see them doing the same to their male clients. How come? I’ve got nothing to say.
I’ve always personally believed that a personal trainer needs more than a ‘certification’. They need the passion, the experience (this is so important), and the gifted ability to simply be able to motivate even the laziest person on earth. Does someone like this exist? Of course they do!
Everybody, I’m about to do something so unlike of me now.. to those of you looking for a personal trainer - I’m going to recommend you guys someone who I personally believe has all that it takes to help you achieve your goals.
Meet Julian Underwood (I hope I got his name right).
Why does dailymuscle.com recommend Julian?
He’s never trained me, but I’ve watched him train others, and believe me - I’m impressed. He once saw me working out and experimenting on something new, and he came up to me and commented on it. I was surprised that he even knew what I was trying to do. This was 1 year ago.
Julian seems like a serious, down-to-earth, no-nonsense guy. But most importantly, I’ve watched him talk, and motivate his clients. Just hearing him count your reps and stand by you as you workout is enough to convince me that he’s good. He is able to motivate you to push past your limits… and I like that. Put it this way - If I were to get a personal trainer for myself, he would be my choice. He also looks way fitter than most of the younger personal trainer newbies you see at the gym. Also, if you’re interested to know - I’ve seen him sit at the panel of judges for an International Fitness event held locally in Malaysia a few years ago - so I believe he is someone experienced, well known, and respected in the Fitness industry here in Malaysia. Its just that he never told most people. ;)
How much is Julian paying me for this publicity?
Ha ha. I wish! Julian probably doesn’t even know that dailymuscle.com exists. He doesn’t even know me.. Hmm. if he did know that this site exists.. it would be nice if he said hi though. Julian are you there?
How can you contact Julian?
Julian works for Fitness First at their corporate office besides being a personal trainer. I see him often at the Fitness First at Menara Manulife Damansara Heights and also sometimes at the Fitness First at Menara Axis. So if you’re interested to contact him, do give Fitness First a call and you should be able to locate him from there. For contact details, head over to www.fitnessfirst.com.my.
UPDATED 21/01/2008: Julian is currently Senior Advisor for Fitness Innovations (M) Sdn Bhd, and also an American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer. Fitness Innovations Malaysia is the sister company of Fitness Innovations Thailand and is involved in preparing and facilitating individuals for the American Council on Exercise Certification examination and offers various other fitness related programmes and services. For more information, visit www.fitthai.com.
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I’ve only worked out with a personal trainer once, and that was because 4 free sessions came as part of my signup package at my gym. He looked big, but there was no doubt the “bigness” was all muscle once you saw him working out with weights. He was BUFF. And I can’t think of one single trainer at my gym who isn’t fit.
I can’t afford any more sessions, but oh well.
Hello, got here from YI’s blog.
Hey, I’ve seen Julian before at Menara Axis. Admittedly, he’s one of the better personal trainers in Fitness First. Saw him training a client of his and one could see that this guy knew what he was talking about.
Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be able to say the same for a number of other trainers. Dayum, I’ve seen super scrawny so-called personal trainers working at places like Fitness First (The Curve, Subang & Summit), True Fitness (Hartamas) and Celebrity Fitness (1U). That always reminds me that these large corps main goal is actually to get more $$ and real fitness is secondary to them.
P/S - And how would I know of the scrawny instructors from so many different gyms? I enter all of them on the 1st time free trial ma. Super kiasu -_-
I have been training under a personal trainer for a few months, main reason was I didn’t have a clue on what to do to achieve my goals, and most importantly, I needed the motivation, as I’m the kind of person who gives up quite easily.
I admit that MANY so-called “PTs” are a bunch of crap, but mine was really great. He had the physique which kept me going to reach my goals, all the advise, both workout and nutrition wise were all great, although if you do alot of reading, you get the same thing. LOL! The way he trained me and trained others was very good, compared to some others at FF Summit. Now, I’ve already stopped my sessions with him, due the extreme $$ the charge, he does calls me once in a while to check on how I’m doing if doen’t see me at the gym, and of course the small keep-it-up chats at the gym are always there. Some PTs are like “once not a client, then who cares” attitude, but lucky this guy is not. ;)
I think I know who is the PT who manipulates women. Better not mention names right? Coz one of my friend experienced the same thing. Free PT for a date. Also heard the same stories many times from another friend who worked at FF in fact. Very sad coz it’s ppl like this who give the PTs a bad names. And also not forgeting the non-fit and scrawnee PT’s. Went to tryout the FF at IOI mall, one scrawnee PT was doing d/b bench press with just 20lbs. Wonder how he’s gonna train others when he was struggling at that weights. And another was like santa, with the big belly and all. WOAH!! Like this also can be PT ah?? The young chinese “PT” with specs at FF Axis looks very annoying, and I think this one falls in the catagory of “want-sales-only” PT. And another worst case is when they are training a client, they SMS! Hellloooo!!!
Guess the list goes on and on and on… right??
p/s I agree about Julian, seen him at FF Axis many times. He definately falls in the “real” PT catagory!!
annaiam: Though my writeup may seem a bit biased, the thing is.. we can’t really assume that a personal trainer is no good based SOLELY on his physique. Who knows, their knowledge and skills may be different from their own personal goals. So the trick is, to do a little fact-finding, talk to other members, etc and get a recommendation rather then choosing anyone who wears the Personal Trainer jacket.
Hector: I think it was a wise step you took in getting a personal trainer to help get you started and motivated. And I do agree with you that you can get the same out of reading, but then again - its a whole different experience to have someone next to you pushing you to go further. You seem to be equally annoyed with the personal trainers at FF, just like me. And yeah, i’ve seen it all, SMS-ing while training, santa-lookalike trainers, etc.
Anyway, I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who thinks Julian is a great trainer. Thanks for dropping by and posting a comment… Cheers!
Hello DM. The crazy fella who go to the gym 4 to 5 times a week at 6:30am is back at ur place for some comment. Hope you don’t mind… :D
Yes. I thoroughly agree with you that a knowledgeable and passionate Personal Trainer in what is fitness is about is of great help to those who wanted to achieve there fitness goal. I don’t know Julian because I always go to Fitness First Menara Summit.
Many times, the PT instructor’s intention is not to assist his/her client to achieve their fitness goals. They are after the commission offered to them. The case you mentioned, I find it utter discusting.
Everybody has different fitness needs. Some wants to bulk up, some wants to slim down, some wants to play better badminton, some wants to hit further with their golf stick and so on. Personal Trainer must be sensitive enough to identify their clients’ needs. There’s no such thing as one fitness programme for all.
I believe that keeping fit is a life time commitment. At times, it is good to ask “will I push myself hard if no one is pushing me?”. This question is important to those who can’t afford PT everytime. I’m one of them who can’t afford PT. If you tell yourself, “you can!”. You don’t need a PT. You will workout at 80% of your best physical effort everytime you go to the gym (it is not recommended to reach 100% of your best physical effort). And, you will visit gym regularly of 4 to 5 times a week. I constantly ask this question to myself. That’s why after a long 4 years, I still visit the gym early in the morning.
Hello DM.
I just found this to be useful. Hope you can provide some comments. Here’s the link:
Top 10: Core Exercises
http://www.askmen.com/sports/fitness_top_ten/53_fitness_list.html
DM : I agree to what you’ve mentioned about PT’s. Some are really dodgy IMO. I’ve been at the FF at Summit for the past 2 weeks and I think i’ve only seen 1 or 2 trainers that actually look their part.
Jon: You want dodgy? I once saw a PT quietly place a very tiny pill underneath his tongue while at the changing room. Let me assure you - that’s no VITAMIN!!
DM : Ooo…..
I think fitness centers should have a more strict employment criteria to
fill.
I am a member of True Fitness and actually signed up for 36 PT sessions for about RM 4K. I have gone through about 28 sessions so far and my progress?
Well, I managed to lose about 5kg in a space of 2 months, something I’ve not been able to do easily before.
Gyms are new to me and my personal trainer has helped me work out a programme to suit me and my medical conditions(I have high blood pressure and I also have slipped discs) and my trainer is one of the senior trainers who has a degree in sports science and has worked in other gyms before, gives me sound advice on the exercises that I can and cannot do, and tells me how I have been progressing.
My advice is to check out the credentials of your trainer first. I didn’t but i guess I was lucky. In the end however, no matter how good the trainer is, you have to be disciplined and motivated enough to go through the programme. I’ve had friends pay thousands of ringgit to a trainer and dropped out just because they lost interest, despite getting reminder calls and sms-es from the trainer.
amirfuadh : I understand what you’re saying. DM have done a write up about demotivation. Well, the hardest part of gettin to the gym is gettin there haha, once your there, its all green light from then on. I guess everyone has just got to try and make gym a habit or an addiction LOL. At least thats what it is for me, sort of like a fix that I need 4-5 times a week haha.
Thanks Jon, you answered the question for me.
amirfuadh: You’re lucky you got a good trainer, and well done on your progress. 5kg in 2 months is impressive. To give you a gauge, any weightloss which exceeds 1kg/week, is actually diminishing your gains, meaning you’re most likely losing precious muscle weight, rather than fat. So, I think you’re doing fine. Good luck.
Wassup man. Everyone is calling you “DM” now. Ahahahahahahaha!
I normally do my workouts at FF in Subang and personally wish that they sack all their PTs there. Most of them don’t look the part but I can accept that as some people prefer to be fit without the shape. What I can’t tolerate is the PTs’ lack of gym etiquette.
I have on many occassions seen PTs who don’t put back the weights on the rack. Last week I nearly dropped the barbell while doing my chest routine because one of the PT walked too close to my bench completely ignoring my safety.
These PTs also tend to do their workouts during peak hours. They end up hogging some equipment so much that us paying clients don’t get to use them.
A few years back I was a member at Clark Hatch in Mont Kiara. The PTs there are the best I’ve ever come across. They were courteous, good at giving advise and will give priority to clients when using equipments even when they were working out on their off days. Best thing is you don’t have to pay them.
yea.. concerning PTs at my gym, one of them does this HIT program all the time, when done he just leave the weights behind, how courteous! AND he end of using 4 - 5 equipment in the free-weights area, that suck.
Sory i forgot to mention the said PR is not doing the exercise but its for his trainee, STILL u could have put back the weights or coordinate with other personnel op do that la. And goodness he and the trainee takes forever thru that circuit. BITE ME!~
in fact have overheard some of the PTs commenting on the bods of some chicks in the gym… . comment such good ass for f$%k, etc (too crude n degrading to comment…)
whenever i see the few PTs in the gym, aiyoh..better cover up man… takut leh..
Hmm…. it seems some bad apples giving Personal Training a bad name. Not good, not good.
Well people… this has always been a topic I’ve tried to avoid.. mainly because, there are lotsa bad apples out there (as Chong puts it) who give this amazing profession such a diluted impression. But at the same time, there are also many Personal Trainers out there who are really fantastic.
FYI, I’ve always wanted to be a Personal Trainer too.. but just need to get certified. Hopefully I’ll be able to get that sorted out some time in the near future. Thanks everyone, for your comments.
I’m sure you will be a dedicated, committed, passionate and knowledgeable PT instructor.
Chong: … and GOOD-LOOKING too. :P
This scenes a riot!!!!
Tsk tsk tsk….
I still take the military stance when you talk about Personal Training. Except for it aint personal and it was more like Public Torture…. but i liked it. Thats what you call motivation! Physical Training Instructors are like gods in the military…with “Yes PTI!”, “No PTI!” to be heard every 30seconds. When i was a super little fry aka recruit, there was one whose name tag showed S.A. TAN… He lived up to his name. Check it out, my 2.4km run improved from 14min40sec to a chill 9min10sec in a duration of 3mths.
I miss their motivational speeches especially, “You Fu%^ing cib@#! my grandmother could run faster than that!”
Hahaha… if any of you were my clients..
in my own words,”You die ah!”
Jay: I bet the ‘military style’ training would yield excellent results too. But then.. how does one get a trainer like that? How does one yell those ‘motivational phrases’ and get away with it without being sued for harrassment? He he. On another note.. Jay, I bet you’re into BDSM too.. eh?
dm: Yeah actually i do… but thats on a totally different note ;)
Aiyoyo…. 2.4km completed in 9min10sec, damn fast man.
Jay : No shit dude…thats the best fitness regime
People give up way too easily during their work outs… hell it happens to me too. Being all gentle wont help them push that extra mile. Yeah those PTIs were a bit extreme but thats how the military works; results in a stipulated time FOC.
I dont diss all PTs/FIs cause some of them really do know their shit and kudos to them…i salut you. Me and the boys were just discussin on the topic of postural kyphosis and trying to figure out what works for it when Tim told me some of the boys he used to work with actually knew the appropriate advanced techniques to somewhat rectify the situation. I wouldnt have much of a clue. These are professionals with a sense of professianalism unlike the lot you guys/girls were putting down. We all came down to the conclusion that it all boils down to the management, hire primates and you get monkeys (its never a step forward).
Chong: I had a friend who did it in under 8mins… thats what you call fast
Jon: Yeah man, we all ended up literally steaming..serious shit, you could actually see the steam evaporating from our bodies disappearing into the air.
Jay: Haiya…. old body can’t really take that kind of beatings anymore. I need rest more often between workouts comparing to 3 years ago. 36 years old liao. Anyway, I still want to complete my 1st ever marathon next year.
I support Personal Training profession. It is these people who teach us the right way of workout, the correct form and push us to challenge our limits.
The question is, will we challenge ourselves during the absent of a “pusher”? Will we continue to discipline ourselves to strictly follow the gym programme we have created? A lot of us had given up once the PT session is over. They went back to the “normal” routine, normal workout intensity before the PT session.
Chong : IMHO, when ur stuck onto a routine, or shall i say if you just basically place weight lifting as a neccessity of life (like I do), without a PT or with a PT to push you, you will still go all the way every single workout.
This is where i stress on having a workout partner is actually advantageous, someone with similar goals as you and also actually lift similar weights as you are. Tho nowadays i do train alone most of the time, but whenever I’m hitting some really heavy or trying to push for the next level up, i’ll just ask anyone around to help me out.
So guys, put ur mind to it, filter out those distractions and just lift as if you are Hercules.
The problem with personal training services in fitness centres like these are that personal training becomes too sales oriented that it take the quality out of personal training itself
These companies put too much emphasis on sales that they are more keen to hire “salesmen” than trainers. That’s why u see a lot of sloppy looking guys working as a trainers. These people are merely smooth talking salesmen who have a very sweet mouth and are very convincing. To someone who is new to fitness, ur the favourite fish that they’d love to approach.
Julian is undoubtedly the best trainer i’ve known. He was also the National Fitness Manager in Fitness First when i was working there as a trainer myself. Has tonnes of knowledge and experience to supplement it.
If ur looking for a personal trainer, he’s the person u should call ;)
Devan: Exactly my point! They’re more salesman than a trainer. Didnt realise Julian was National Fitness Manager in FF. All I knew was that he possesed something that the others didnt.. and it was very obvious just by watching him train someone.
Problem with working in such commercialized gyms like this it is inevitable that the push will somehow be more on sales as this will generate huge revenue for the company. FF Malaysia generates anywhere between 400k-800k a month from PT sales
Personal training is big business for these clubs, thats why they look for more salesmen than trainers. I got fedup with the job for this reason somehow (not to mention the kick-ass politics). I know many guys who are great trainers but they just don’t sell as much as they’re not “trained” to sell. Moral of the story? Don’t hire a trainer just becos he can “goreng” u and tell u stuff u wanna hear. Judge them more on track record and observe them when they’re working and their clients too (their progress of course!)
As for Julian, the guy has at least 16 years of experience in the fitness industry and he has given people amazing results, from fat to chronic diabetic patients. It’s not really uncommon to see him in fitness/body building competitions, sitting with the panel of judges
If ur looking for a really good trainer, he is the one ur looking for.
P/S: dont worry, im not getting any commission from this :P. Keep the iron moving!
I highly recommend PT but only with the right trainer as most are just out there with the main objective of getting you to sign up so that they earn their commission, which is what the gym pressures them to do anyway. After all, the gym needs to make money and the trainers need to earn a living, right? We’re all in the same boat, only in different business, so don’t hold it against them.
Julian, who is no longer the National Fitness Manager by the way, is indeed an exceptional trainer who I think will train you with your objectives in mind. As far as his job goes, he is very dedicated and does it very well, as it is quite obvious that he absolutely loves his job. There are not many trainers in FF who have demonstrated the kind of passion that some of you have seen in him. Definitely the trainer you should be looking for, but only up to this point, I reckon.
Now, IMHO, if it is so obvious that most trainers are “super salespeople” or “smooth talkers”, then they really are not that super and smooth, are they? It is EASY to spot these trainers. I will tell you that one of the “super-est” and smoothest in FF is Julian himself. Pay attention to how he tries to “sell” you something. Suffice to say, he doesn’t do it directly like most of the other young ciku’s who lack his experience and most certainly not right away because obviously, that would come off as hard-sell.
I am one of the few people who know that Julian is not the most trustworthy or credible people around, as a trainer and as a person. I have met quite a number of others who are also not ignorant about him. Also very “accomplished” with flattering the ladies so for your female readers, be careful and try not to let your association with him go beyond the club.
Having said all that, Julian is still one of the best trainers in Fitness First. He just does his job with such elegant finesse that he has many people fooled in other areas. So just keep your eyes and ears open and your mind alert always.
hmmm thats hard bitting. i guess this Julian guy better not read this :))
Ahhh yes, criticism via anonimity, I tend to forget that this is the http://WWW.
From a professional point of view, Julian knows what he’s doing, and he loves what he does. Plus he is an intelligent guy. He is therefore very, very good at what he does. You just cannot fake that sort of enthusiasm. Go see for yourself, speak to his clients.
I don’t know of Justin and cannot vouch for his credibility. But I do know Julian, and I can tell you he loves his wife, and he loves his life.
Justin: Whoa. I’m not supporting nor criticizing your opinion but dats a hard hit on a person who’s accomplished so much. I’m sure there’s always bound to be pros and cons to every person. Plus don’t you think it’s unfair to bring up personal issues, though ethically related, onto a public site? It would be more suitable to inform them personally doncha think?
:-O
Hi DM, i train with my best friend, Zaidi Ahmad ( the one and only certified personal trainer in our kampung history and get no.3 in Mr. Sarawak in our kampung gym.) He is a great man. He guide me, motivate me especilally in respect of training program, nutrition and supplementation guide( Free of charge but i always buy him TEH O KOSONG PENG). I was a very weak and a fat guy ( previously 5′9 , 70kg with 37″ of waist). He keep motivating me and care about me. After one year of training i feel better , more confident, healthier and stronger . My present body weight is 91 kg and my waist is 34″ ( I know i am still FAT / _ \ ). I feel more confident, healthier and stronger. My salute to Zaidi Ahmad.
p/s i dunno how to calculate % of body fat . Sorry about that.
James: Awesome! Thats exactly the kind of trainer mentality I talk about in this writeup. Great men who walk the walk, and talk the talk. Good luck, and never give up. I never did, and have no regrets whatsoever.
DM, i love your words”…. have no regrets whatsover”
I jes started off my PT session 2 weeks back…the main reason i got a PT was I didn’t have a clue on what to do to for weight training…i have trouble using the machines and having hard time for correct postures…
I ‘ve read through a lot of comments that the -called “PTs” are a bunch of crap, and this shaken my legs…sounds like i have wasted my money if my PT is one of those ‘craps’ (i hope not…*pray hard”…=( ) …anyway, i’ll take this as “to buy an experience” since it’s a bit too late for me to regret…
I am totally clueless whether my PT is a good one or not….huh…i think i can only know “the truth” after i’ve completed all my sessions…PT sessions are expensive…and i think i’ll discountinue after i’ve done wif this…but what if the PT keep on bugging me to sign up more?? i’m really having hard time with ’sales ppl’…very weak in dealing wif them and i’ll end up avoiding them…tat’s y alwaz got ‘conned’ by the so-called sales person…
DM and ALL -> anyone here can teach me how so tat i can REJECT without hurting them? (am i being too ‘nice’?)
Hector & Chong -> U do ur workout at FF Summit?? Who is ur PT? Any good one to recommend? or any name(s) for the BAD one? well i guess it’s equally important to know which PT to avoid…lol..
Jon -> u’ve been at the FF at Summit for the past 2 weeks? which the 1 or 2 trainers that u think is good??
well…u can send me an email at shadowjass@yahoo.com if u guys do not want to disclose the PT names here…
The Dumb: How’s the progress with your PT coming along? Do share..
DM,
I’ll share my experience once I completed all my sessions…still early for me to make any final judgement… =)
DM,
I’ll share my experience once I’ve completed all my sessions…still early for me to make any fair judgement… =)
The Dumb: If you dont mind, cant u tell whats ur PT’s name?
Hey DM, I finally got a PT, I didnt call Julien cause he’s based in P.J., and I’m going to the FF in IOI Mall.LOL , I did what u said and when round asking a few of the members there and they told me which trainers were ok and which was not. I choose one that was highly recomemded by all the Aunties there hahaha. He’s very young thou, but he has a very good built body and he doesnt smell like a six pack, hahaha, u told me to smell if they smoke or not , remember? So far had a session with him and pleasently enough am comfortable talkin to him and he does behave like a genteleman, so far. Will keep u updated on how am doing with the PT sessions. Thanks for ur advice too.
Hey guys, so here’s my experience….
I’ve completed all 11 PT sessions. and my progress? Well, I managed to lose 5.7kg in less than 2 months which I believe I can do better coz the earlier part I did not put in 100% effort.
I do learn something and benefit from the PT sessions. Now, I know right way of workout and retain the correct form/posture. With alot of reading and research, you will get the same thing even if you’re without a PT. I think I’ve made the right decision getting a PT. Looking back, I think I will not be able to get this far (or might even give up halfway) by doing that on my own.
My advice is do not rely 100% on ur PT. Do not expect them to do everything for you. Make some extra effort. Research & read more, you’ll learn more. In the end, no matter how good the PT is, it’s all about discipline and determination.
The real & biggest challenge for me now is, can I push myself harder to challenge my limits & stay motivated? =) Hopefully, yes.
Good luck everyone.
The Dumb: thanks for e input. i was jz at planet today to hv my fitness assessment done, n was enquirg abt their PT sessions. am still contemplatg on whether to tk up PT sessions as they can b quite costly.
36 sessions $70/session
24 sessions $75/session
12 sessions $80/session
8 sessions $85/session
1 session $100/session
thanks again! ur input is rather timely.
The Dumb: you said it all well enough ;)
fitchick: on a separate note, i suppose ur PT prices are pretty ok (on a dollar-dollar sense, not dollar-RM). I just recently found out that Fitness First is charging RM130 per PT session. Thats one helluva amount i think!
The Sandman: yeah, planet is offerg e most competitive prices, so i heard. :) thanks for ur input too.. now it’s e time for re-management of money n budgetg hehehe..
ive got a fren, Rose, who has jz joined e gym tt i go to… n she is happy w e way e gym is in terms of layout, style, music, machines, classes etc.
recently, she underwent her complementary PT sessions.. which she was appointed one of e PTs there.. a 50 y/o (labeled as ‘aggressive’ and ‘hard-sell’) female PT whom we shall call Tiffany.
now Rose has been on a yo-yo diet i wud say.. from Cambridge Diet (CD) to Hydroxycut and back again.. last i heard, a couple of weeks back, she was again on CD after some time lapse.. n during e lapse, she had food binges and ‘unhealthy’ food as she called them..
during her first complementary PT session.. Rose had her fitness consultation which consisted of Biceps strength, Heart Rate test, Flexi test.. e usual. her fat % test was quite traumatizing (as was mine! sigh) so she became quite worried.
by 2 2nd, Tiffany introduced e PT packages to her, and guess wut, Rose signed up for a 12 session package for approx 1020 dollars. Rose will be having PT session 4x/wk, 1hr/session.
now prior to signing up, i DID tell her. look, u think u’re kinda weighty now, which is kinda true, but not a goner yet.. so y dont u utilize e time now n do some serious cardio, get ur diet back on track, get ur discipline up etc.. n try doing all this on ur own FIRST.. n concurrently, consider seriously, also observe Tiffany while u do ur own workouts in e gym, how she works n tk note of her clients etc. wudnt tt b a smarter idea smhow?
then only consider having PT sessions. smtimes it jz takes a little discipline, self-help, self-moderation, research (talkg to frens, online websites ie dailymuscle, exrx, bodybuilding.com, mun’s etc..), strict diet.. tt seems little but can do wonders.
to quote Rose: Tiffany does more resistance and she has promised me a new body in 3 weeks!
DM, mun, others: wut think u.
Fitchick:
RM1020 for 12 sessions?
Hmmm, that sounds so similiar to the prices of the training packages the gym I work at offers! (Actually, its similiar! LOL…)
I believe Rose was most likely convinced to sign up because of the training package “promotion” which lasts till Sunday…
Personally, I think that you have a point about doing some research on her own before making a decision to sign up for PT sessions because it AIN’T CHEAP regardless of whatever promotion! (That is if the gym Rose goes to is the gym I’m talking about xD)
I know it may sound ironic for me to make such a statement as I’m a PT myself, but I STRONGLY believe that people should only take up PT sessions IF THEY REALLY NEED IT.
I won’t want to waste my time on people who could actually achieve their fitness goal by themselves even if they willing to pay through their noses for it!
Frankly, the only people that needs PTs are people who are:
1. Completely clueless about how to achieve their fitness goals.
2. Lack of motivation.
3. Have years of gyming experiences BUT NO RESULTS!
Anyhow, Rose, I hope that you’ll somehow gain some results after these 12 sessions you purchased because I would hate to see PTs giving false hopes to their clients in order to achieve their sales target… 3 times a week for 3 weeks to obtain prominent results is POSSIBLE but what comes after that 3 weeks is another question…
Anyway, do take note that I love my job as a PT and the stuffs that I learnt from it, but I entirely dislike the fact that PTs have to actually market and push people to sign up for training packages.
I guess that’s part and parcel of this job, but I’ll stick to my principle’s that if a PT’s training is exceptionally good and he/she is trustable, people will sign up for sessions with him/her naturally. =)
chrisdaanimal: sg dollars. so not any gym in KL. :D hehehee… ;)
fitchick:
AIKS! Pardon me for my ignorance and my mistake then…
BUT SG$1020 for 12 sessions!?!?!?
OMG, that’s soooooooo ridiculously EXPENSIVE…
That pricing is at least double the amount of the training packages offered here…
I guess that’s just truly Singapore huh? =/
chrisdaanimal: approximate prices/ package, applicable to dis gym only:
2700/ 36 sessions
1900/ 24 sessions
1020/ 12 sessions
750/ 8 sessions
105/ session
how is it like in KL? :) wut’s e approx value, or has DM already commentd abt dis issue in some earlier threads? :)
chrisdaanimal:
“I won’t want to waste my time on people who could actually achieve their fitness goal by themselves even if they willing to pay through their noses for it!”
wow! admirable. honest.
and i agree:
“Frankly, the only people that needs PTs are people who are:
1. Completely clueless about how to achieve their fitness goals.
2. Lack of motivation.
3. Have years of gyming experiences BUT NO RESULTS!”
Fitchick:
The prices are very much different here in KL.
The usual prices are around RM49.99 - RM 149.99 per session depending on the package purchased.
For example, 12 sessions would cost you around RM1020 - RM1400 and 120 sessions would be about RM7800 - RM9600 depending on the management to adjust the price.
I think that the PT sessions offered here are relatively cheaper compared to Singapore in terms of currency conversion.
On the other hand, Singaporeans enjoy the luxury of cheaper PT sessions since they are earning SGD anyway.
Anyway, I’m not sure if DM commented about the PT prices in his earlier threads but I’m pretty sure readers of dailymuscle will appreciate to know that eventhough PT session prices in our country are rather steep, it is still comforting to learn that it is not that much different in our neighbouring country. =)
unfortunately, julian is no longer associated with FF. he’s opened his owned PT center (if i heard it correctly).
what a lost…
fitchick: Sorry .. late reply. I think if Rose had the cash to spare, then by all means, its okay for what she did.. cos she saved herself some time. Plus, Tiffany does ’sound’ like she knows her stuff. Does she? Not everyone has the patience to read, learn, follow others - we live in a world where faster is better - we dont have the patience anymore.. so we want quick results. It seems like Rose is desperate… having tried the Cambridge Diet, thermogenics… and in her mind .. she’s already tried everything and waited long enough. I’m pretty sure she’ll see results with Tiffany.. oh well… not everyone is like us. *wink*
Also… everyone, I’ve not written on PT prices before… So your comments above would be pretty much all I have on prices at dailymuscle.com. You know.. I’ve just realised that sometimes, there’s so much of valuable content in the comments section, and these are often overlooked by readers. Perhaps I should post it as a writeup on its own… hmmm..
does anybody know where julian underwood has gone +- contact number? i also need comments on the other guy from menara manulife/john hancock shazly. TQ.
Hi Guys,
I have finally come to know about this site and i really owe a big thank you to DM for the nice complimets. I have actually opened a pt center, however I have just established Malaysia’s first training academy to train trainers and individuals requiring and education in fitness as well as preparing trainers for international certification recognized by IHRSA (International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association )as well as NCCA (National Commision on Certifying Agency)of the United States. There are only 6 recognised Personal Training certification out of around 300 that are of world class level and Fitness Innovations (M) Sdn Bhd currently is conducting the American Council on Exercise preparation course.
I am contactable at 016-3195102 or 03-77260030.
Dear DM, it is absolutely fantastic with what you have created and that there is a site for the fitness and non- fitness individuals to voice their opinions and get educated.
Julian
mookie: Now how did you do that… you got a reply from Julian himself! I dare not give a comment on how good/effective Shazly is as a Personal Trainer as I have not personally undergone a session under him, neither do I personally know anyone who can give me feedback on him. To gauge a trainer, I PERSONALLY would take a look at the following:-
1. Is he/she brand new or comes with high recommendations by satisfied clients?
2. Do they have OTHER recognized certifications besides the basic level tests given by the gym? (This shows personal interest and how seriously they take their profession).
3. Do they seem to practice what they preach?
4. Would you be comfortable being his/her client? Observe/watch their training techniques/styles.
There are more… but these are just what is on the top of my mind. I do know that Shazly has a strong background of being involved in sports. I could be wrong, but besides being a PT, I’ve heard that he coaches athletes, and sports teams (I think it’s a Rugby team). Things like these are always a PLUS. Have a chat with him if you’re uncertain. :)
Julian: It’s about TIME you stumbled on to this writeup, and dailymuscle.com. Thanks for the info - i’ll remember to pass the word around.
Dm,
if i may add, the Pt from Manulife i.e Shazly is an able replacement to Julian. I was very fortunate to train with Julian before and he recomended Shazly to me just before he left FF. However, do take note, he’s a no play play character.. do know what you have sign up for. He is the kind of trainer who will run with you if he has to. The only drawback for me is his availability. He only does appointments in the morning till late noon.
I really like this website! Thank you for putting in the effort and publishing some very interesting articles/posts. I use a personal trainer on a weekly basis. I do this to keep myself accountable to someone. I work out at Gold’s Gym in Washington state and my trainer is awesome. She holds me accountable for my exercising and my eating. I spend 1 hr/week with her on strength training and she constantly changes up the routine so that my body is always challenged. Prior to signing up for personal training, I did NO strength training and so I was really flabby even though I did a lot of cardio. And speaking of cardio, all I ever used to do (prior to hiring a personal trainer) was the elliptical machine. I have since learned from my trainer that I need to do have cardio workouts that challenge my body (a “cardio routine” is a bad thing because your body gets in a rut). I now take classes which include Body Attack, RPM Cycling and Body Combat - the Les Mills series.
One of these days, I will be able to confidently work out without the need for a personal trainer or without the need to be accountable to someone other than me. But until then, I will continue with my trainer since she has really helped and inspired me.
I’ve had 3 kids (2 of which were born in the last 24 months - I had back-to-back pregnancies) and Kate (my trainer) has helped me to lose all of my pregnancy weight + an additional 15 lbs - and I am getting stronger!!!
Condor: Yes, I agree. In fact, Shazly contributed a writeup on ‘Exercising During Ramadan‘.
Gayle: Hi Gayle! You said:
“3 kids (2 of which were born in the last 24 months - I had back-to-back pregnancies) and Kate (my trainer) has helped me to lose all of my pregnancy weight + an additional 15 lbs - and I am getting stronger”
Wow! Well done! I’m glad you got yourself an awesome trainer, and also glad that you are fully aware of the incredible role they can play to enhance, motivate, and support you to achieve your fitness goals. All the best, and thank you for the comments! I’m looking forward to hear more from you.
i’m looking for a trainer to train me… but kinda hard cuz i don wanna join any commercial gym.. anyone good trainer out there who can come to my condo’s gym at mont Kiara?
mistake: Did you get my email?
Gym Personal Trainers - Those Who Disgrace Their Profession!!
i did aware there’s one of a trainer at fitness first, IOI mall who is totally disrespectful !! not only she is unprofessional, she has been telling everyone, include me, one of the members in the gym , that she is the best and others is worst,..i mean like…come on!! you are working under the same company, u are burning ppl off , so that she can get all the clients? by observing her training skills and compared to my 4 years experiences in the gym, I personally dun think she is the best and she had done a lot of mistakes while training ppl..and ppl pay up rm 100 per session, only to let them jumpin around?I dun see the point that her training is worth it and the worst thing is that she gone intimate with one of the consultant at IOI too, and what i heard from others members , is that the consultant is married!!
u can say i old traditional thinking or whatever, but i just dun think it’s good that she downsized other trainers and praising herself she’s the best!!
btw, she is the worst bodyshape i had ever seen- skinny, red short hair,dry,non fleshy type, and she can say she’s the best, my god ~~~
married and having an affair? hmmm looks like office politics has become a public knowledge. it happens a lot, i guess
anonymous: ur not old fashioned for thinking that way. ur just being sensible
anonymous: Well, I don’t know if what you said is true or not, but anyway… its always the case of a few bad ones spoiling the image and the reputation of the Personal Trainer profession - there are many good trainers available out there, its just a pity that we always hear of the ugly side of things more often than the success stories/achievements of the good ones.
i remembered reading one of the articles mentioning about a female trainer at IOI mall & some ppl making fuss of it..hmm…I was a member there & i personally do heard from other members, think that her name was ciass or something..what did i saw compared with other trainers, she did called her clients to jump n run around; while other trainers dun do that..and what make me confuse is that..when I was working out, I notice she can train two clients at the same time! she was halfway training the 1st client about 30 mins , and suddenly, she trained another 2nd client. after an hour, she went back continue training the 1st client for 30 mins. is this how a trainer train ppl? i tot when members purchase PT, the trainer shld focus a session for only a client..I dun c others trainers do that..is she famous bcoz of this?
i am confused…
pinky1314: you mean the same comment you posted yourself? You’re both the same person. Shame on you.
err….dear daily muscle..i think u got the wrong person..same comment.?/???
Hey guys and gals, just to let you all know that Julian Underwood (picture as above) no longer with fitness first. Currently his company is Fitness Innovations Malaysia which is prepared the students for American Council on Exercise (ACE) course. If you would like to know more about it you can log on to http://www.fitthai.com
Hi Jessy - yes you are right. I have updated the page. Thanks!
pinky1314 & anouymous,
She is gone no longer at IOI she was ask to move to Sumit FF, hope the boys at sumuit have funnnnn seeing her clients hop around like a FOOL
Whats up with this person? There seems to be so many against her out there
Well she is a pain in the ass. She has been going around bad mouthing all the other Personal Trainers in IOI Mall. Apparently i was told the reason why everyone doesn’t like her. It is because she has been stealing many clients from her team mates. She apparently diregarded instructions from the Manager repeatedly.
Many think its unfair to treat her this way but HEY! its a more relaxed environment without her around anymore. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
hey guys…can i ask u a favour! stop talking bad about trainers…yes there’s some bad trainers all around…but there are also good ones…if u really care about this person…do approach her and talk to her…as i think all the personal trainer are very approachable…just tell what u think…she might change…every person in the world deserve a second chance…don’t u think!…every good trainers are able to deliver what their client want to achieve…they must be the other side of this person’s story…why don’t u guys find out about that…and i will try to do mine…
hi.. i need some advise here. i just signed up at FF (IOI MALL) .. Im a bit clueless .. well not a bit really clueless what to do in the gym… i have signed in CF years ago .. went for few mths and got lazy and stopped goin.. now i really wanna loose weight and stay fit … My question is do I need to take a PT and if anyone can recommend me some names of PT in IOI mall FF that are reliable.. and any other advise.. i really do want to stay fit and loose weight at the same time.. thanks
jk: I sent you an email.. did you get it?
No i din get it DM..DM can u send the email again..
I went for my first session (2 free sessions with PT) yst.. frankly im so clueless as what im suppose to do in the gym to loose weight.. the trainer was someone called Ian.. he was okay… got me to do few stufss.. still feeling sore till now … have not been exercising at all for 2 yrs (very unhealthy I know) :(
Going again today and I am very sure that the PT is goin to start his rants on getting the packages.. I do “think” i need it as i need some push to start and im a bit clueluess as what to do now.. but in the same time im a bit confuse..
the PT just gave me this offer 32 sessions RM2300.. what you all think abt it?
Jk PT is good but u have to know what u want first - weight loss / body shaping / bodybuilding or ect, a good pt would help u achive your goals and whats RM2300 for 32 hours - u pay more at a sliming center right.
I just join Fitness First IOI Mall not long ago. And I was offered by one of the malay personal trainer name Ian about how good is his training to help me lose weight and get toned 100%. He actually offered me 35session with only RM2360 cause he say it was the lastday of the deal that his manager offered me. I do also realize that his personal training is not what I wanted and he is not professional enough cause he cancel my appointment at that time i saw him still at the club. Finally I requested to change Personal Trainer, the Fitness Manager Brandon told me that he will arrange it for me, but after I found out that the extra 5 session which is included in the total session that I bought is not valid anymore. Please advice what should I do to get back to session which is being promised.
Well ya.. im also thinking of getting my PT changed.. I have been sick for a week plus.. he has never bothered calling and checking why did I not come for any sessions.. and he has also cancelled my sessions 3 times and I saw him also in the gym assisting others.. and guess who is the PT.. Ian…
I am going to speak to the Fitness Manager after I get well and get my PT changed too..
Guys, I’ve got someone to look into this. Will feedback once I hear from them.
I take it ur a PT or work with Fitness First too DM?
The Sandman: I knew someone was gonna ask me that. I’m not a PT (not yet), and I don’t work for Fitness First, or any other health club. I simply happen to know a few people of authority in Fitness First.
Haha ok…I was just wondering that’s all. Anyway, I smell trouble coming “Ian’s” way.
Im very sorry to hear his clients and prospects experiencing such a thing. Don’t be detered by all this and I’m sure you’ll find a passionate trainer who can work seriously with you. Just keep looking :)
PT… that guy really sucks.. but not only him most of them in that IOI mall Fitness First… the whole sucks big time I always see them wondering around in the Mall courting girls… and smoking, they should set a good example being a Personal Trainer and not smoking together with the members. There is one look a like monkey or gorilla name sam and even worst the Fitness Manager going out with the members daughter which is not even 18 name catherine i guess coz i heard it from another member in the club name tammy i also heard that Personal Trainer in IOI offering free PT exchange with sex on the bed.. whoa!!! there are a few as i know of so that i can be aware of those wolfs. Please I think the owner should do something on that.
Hey newbie@IOI, all you do is write about what you “heard” from “other people”. Did you bother to check things out?Anyway why are you going on a personal attack here against Sam?I have been training under Sam since i joined, and mind you, he is one of the most professional and well mannered trainer I have ever trained with, considering that I have trained with trainers in True fitness and also California Fitness. Sam has also been a very good friend to me as well. The other stories you have written here may be true or it may not be, honestly, I don’t care. But please don’t critisise a person when you hardly know him or her.
well i do agree with you Ijan about sam but i do see his client change to another PT what’s the big guy name..? hmmm can’t really remember.. I heard he is the best PT and pioneer in the club that you trained. I think there is something wrong with his PT and also attitude that’s why the client change his PT to another PT in the same club. Ijan hope you are not the next person that change PT, good luck to you.
when i was reading about the -> Gym Personal Trainers - Those Who Disgrace Their Profession!!
i did aware there’s some of a trainer at fitness first, IOI mall who is totally disrespectful !! not only one is unprofessional but most of them are unprofessional, some of them has been telling everyone, include me, one of the members in the gym, that she is the bad witch bad mouthing about other personal trainer saying that she is the best others is the worst. But what i noticed is the other way round… after she has gone to summit… she is still as good as she is. She trained me and I am gaining good results from her which is unbelievable although is jumping around but i bet you guys out there are clueless why you guys can’t give good results to your client???
you are working under the same company, u are burning ppl off , so that she can get all the clients? by observing her training skills and compared to my 4 years experiences in the gym, I personally dun think she is the best and she had done a lot of mistakes while training ppl..and ppl pay up rm 100 per session, only to let them jumpin around?I dun see the point that her training is worth it and the worst thing is that she gone intimate with one of the consultant at IOI too, and what i heard from others members , is that the consultant is married!!
u can say i old traditional thinking or whatever, but i just dun think it’s good that she downsized other trainers and praising herself she’s the best!!
btw, she is the worst bodyshape i had ever seen- skinny, red short hair,dry,non fleshy type, and she can say she’s the best, my god
i remembered reading one of the articles mentioning about a female trainer at IOI mall & some ppl making fuss of it..hmm…I was a member there & i personally do heard from other members, think that her name was ciass or something..what did i saw compared with other trainers, she did called her clients to jump n run around; while other trainers dun do that..and what make me confuse is that..when I was working out, I notice she can train two clients at the same time! she was halfway training the 1st client about 30 mins , and suddenly, she trained another 2nd client. after an hour, she went back continue training the 1st client for 30 mins. is this how a trainer train ppl? i tot when members purchase PT, the trainer shld focus a session for only a client..I dun c others trainers do that..is she famous bcoz of this?
i am confused…
when i was reading about the -> Gym Personal Trainers - Those Who Disgrace Their Profession!!
i did aware there’s some of a trainer at fitness first, IOI mall who is totally disrespectful !! not only one is unprofessional but most of them are unprofessional, some of them has been telling everyone, include me, one of the members in the gym, that she is the bad witch bad mouthing about other personal trainer saying that she is the best others is the worst. But what i noticed is the other way round… after she has gone to summit… she is still as good as she is. She trained me and I am gaining good results from her which is unbelievable although is jumping around but i bet you guys out there are clueless why you guys can’t give good results to your client??? Come on guys, you guys are working under the same company, u guys are burning ppl off , so that she can’t get any clients at all? by bad mouthing her and back stabbing. You are saying that you have 4 years experiences in the gym, I personally dun think you have coz if you would to have you wouldn’t be busying other people profession here. People has their own life on what they want to do, is it just that if a person is close to another that consider having affairs..? You guys are just small kids with small thinking. I seen alot of PT in IOI are very close to the client meaning that the PT are having affairs with the member..? like what newbie has commented is true.!!!! She is good probably she don’t ask for sales like you all did. I have a bad experience with some of the trainer in IOI keep on coming to ask me to buy PT in their mind just only SALES $$$ not client results but “SHE” is different cause she really cares about my results even I didn’t any PT from her. I meet few of her client telling me that her training was not bad at all, those not even bought any PT with her just only did the 2 free session only. The next PT program that I gonna buy is with her. Never judge a book by it cover!!!
Sorry on the previous posting. Click wrong button :)
Jessy : awww..come’ on, pls…u are the trainer or mc ,ok?
You mentioned: but i bet you guys out there are clueless why you guys can’t give good results to your client???
U were jus sending msg to IOI PT, what a shame!!!
You mentioned: I personally dun think you have coz if you would to have you wouldn’t be busying other people profession here. But ur partner, newbie@IOI Says: PT at IOI courting girls… and smoking, going out with the members daughter, offering free PT exchange with sex on the bed… so both of u stop fussing around others business too, since everyone is having personal life. Anything that newbie mentioned was happen outside the club, none related at FF,IOI pls…mind ur own business!!!
I think if she and sean transferred to other places frm IOI, or changed to another fitness ctr to work, I dun think such thing will happen again??!!!
Pls, u shld behave urself, dun praising urself, and degrace others!!!!
Dear ptt a.k.a Jessy a.k.a pinky1314: I am disgusted with your behavior. As someone else has once quoted on this page - if you’ve got a personal problem with someone - DEAL IT DIRECTLY with that person. Going around and telling tales is NOT the way to do it. Your style of writing, your lousy punctuation, and your sickening habit of repeating your comments in multiple pages on my website is a tell-tale sign that you are the same person. I’ve warned you before to stop this back biting but you denied it altogether. I, and the rest of the readers here at dailymuscle.com are not STUPID that we are unable to see through your personal attacks, and whatever personal agenda you may have.
Also, your lame attempt on choosing a similar name like Jessy which is similar to another Jessy who commented on Jan 19th 2008 doesn’t work either, cos I personally know the ‘Jessy’ who commented on the 19th - she is a friend of mine.
Enough is enough.
I already have a rough idea who you are - if any of you guys from FF IOI are reading this, and know for sure who this backstabber is - please write to me at author@dailymuscle.com. I’m not going to let this go this easily.
Also, with a heavy heart, I am going to CLOSE the reader comments on this particular page. This is the first time I’ve ever had to do this on my website - but I think it’s become necessary.
Comments on this entry are closed.