Thank you all for your input and you time and thoughtful comments, it has really helped, and I truly appreciate it, as it really has helped me make my decision, as well as gave me somethings to think about. When I first came to Michigan, I moved from Arizona, where I had been personal training as well as group exercise teacher without much problem. In the summer I usually had more of a younger group and in the winter, I had more of an older group. Mostly because that's how the town worked, 6 months of cool weather the older folks from the snow states would come and live and when it got hot, the young mothers, etc would come in on vacation and want to hire me for a bit. Most would give me an odd look for the first few minutes, but after talking with me. Most were pretty happy to have me as a trainer. I only had a few people ever refuse to work with me, and in general it was the older men or women, who were in their late 70s. And I just usually blew it off, and figured they probably thought I was too hyper.
But when I moved to Michigan with my family, I nearly went broke. Since it was a quick move that cost an arm and a leg, I decided just hit one of the big fitness chain gyms where they give you the clients. I got hired on the spot and was started that afternoon due to my certifications. The manager was posting things all over for the clients to come and meet me. I ran to the bathroom and walk back and he introduces me to this women, and she went nuts. Before I could say hello. She snaps at the manager, I didn’t pay all that money to be trained by a walking Barbie miniature. And immediately demands for her money back. I try to assure her, that I know about fitness, but she was done listening. And 90% of the people were just like this women, I was lucky to say hello before they didn’t want to even try. I only had 5 people actually try to workout with me, two of them are still clients today. Of the other three one moved, the other two wanted a male trainer, would take me if a male wasn’t available, and I still see them on occasion. But I couldn’t support my family on 5 people, so when the football trainer came up for the university, I took it. And I love it, but now I miss the normal people the parents and grandparents, the men who didn’t want to have a male trainer as they don’t want another man to touch them while they are sweating, I want all of them back. And taking over some normal clients for another trainer who was on vacation has really made me realize just how much I miss them.
Back then I was a lot less muscle, toned but I didn't show much, now I'm closer to Brenda then anyone else of the Cathe backgrounders. But have taken things up to get more what Cathe has, as I like the look but I had loved my free-style weights as it burns so many calories per day, but I just can't buff up with it much. So now I’m more interested in building more muscle for myself.
I have really wanted to try again, but I don’t want the reaction I got last time. That one lady made me wonder if I looked like Chucky the doll or something, when I walked out, into that waiting area. I don’t mind if you talk to me, and say, hey I don’t think were compatible, that’s fine. Everyone in this business has that happen, as I'm a very supportive type trainer, who would softly encourage my clients. And some people want you in their face yelling and screaming at them, the whole time. And I just wasn’t good at doing that. I am now, as I’ve gotten in a few matches with some of the football players, but even they, like my more energetic style, of fun, always moving and working to the max, instead of acting like their coach.
So thank you all a bunch it gives me something to think about, and for those that are interested, here is a picture of my face, I scanned it from the picture that is on my ID where all the staff had their picture taken at, and back behind me is our wall of gold, which looks really funny in the picture, but there are names etched into it, of various sport players, coaches, and trainers.
http://www.dragonstalisman.com/images/kit_020505.jpg
Also note my hands under my chin, is actually a coaching sign, for hit them hard.
I’d post something that has more of my body, but all the new stuff, I’m in jacket outifts and the jacket is sort of big, since it's from the university, and they gave me an adult size instead of a child's. The older stuff is when I was in the wheel chair with a broken back, and the real old stuff is high school. I don’t get too many pictures taken of myself. But it will give you an idea, how young I really do look, this was taken eariler this year, so it's not that old.
Kit