The Fury Continues( Long)

L Sass

Cathlete
Some of you have read about my awful experieince with the personal trainer / RD I hired last October, and how after working out with her and following her diet to the tee I had gained 10 pounds - fat - not muscle. Without getting into the whole thing again, here's the link:

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?...ic_id=54305&mesg_id=54305&listing_type=search

I haven't seen her since January. So get this. Yesterday I got my bank statement and there is a debit charge on there to her for $200.00!! }( }( I immediately called her new "business center" and was told that it was for the balance of the year working out on her equipment - albeit still not with her doing what I hired her to do - be my personal trainer.

I angrily explained that I only signed up for 4 months so that I could see how much time I could get away from my kids and get out to this center (20 miles away). Keep in mind, the second "center", 25 miles away, where she had another routine established for me had never been accessible due to IRS liens from the former owner. The young man I spoke with explained that the $25.00 monthly was only good if I signed up for a whole year. I told him Niki (the PT) NEVER explained that - but only said you couldn't beat the price of $25.00. When she ASKED if I wanted to go for a year I told her No - because I really need the in-home option and I need to assess my time availability. She then took my check for $100.00. Not only was there no kind of contract, I never provided any authorization for anyone to ever debit my bank account. All of my sessions with her were paid by check. (Apparently they have a new business practice of debiting peoples' bank accounts, though they have never gotten anyone's approval to do this.)

I told the young man that I expect to have the money credited back within 72 hours and that if it is not I will call first thing Monday morning and they will provide me with the name and phone number of their attorney. I thanked him and wished him good day. He called back 20 minuted later, indicated he had spoken with Niki, said the money would be credited back to me, and said she is now available to work out with me on Sundays. (This after she told me I had "outgrown" all of my equipment - including my up to 40-lb dumbells and 100-lb barlell. That was, ostensibly, the reason she switched my to machines. Can you say money?) Thank God for Cathe and P90X.

AARRRGGGHHHH!? WTH? Thanks for letting me vent!

Lorrie
 
She really sounds like a terrible businessperson. I love how you handled it, though. It's great when women get what they want just from the tone of voice! :)

Hopefully you won't have to deal with her again.

BTW, did you take the 10 pounds off? I am still struggling with my winter-of-sugar 10. Sigh.

Marie
 
Lorrie...I missed the last post explaining what happened (thanks for the link). What a complete pain!! I am really sorry you have had to go thru this. I know you will get reimbursed because you won't stop til you do. Here these personal trainers are supposed to be helping us and it turns out to be all about MONEY!!!

BTW, how are you liking P90X?...:)
 
Carole I LOVE P90X - just finishing up my 3rd week - and I've been adding the running in - taking your cues. I've also been keeping in some Cathe's for cardio and some TLT's just to mix it up. I don't like the Kenpo X at all - so I pull out my Cathe's for that. And 90 minutes of yoga is an adjustment. Really hard to get that in with my kids in the background.

Marie - those 10 pounds are almost all gone again - no thanks to my experience with Niki. I'd like to go a step beyond the BBB idea and report her to someone with authority over trainers and dieticians - but then again - it's just a lesson that I've learned and need to move away from.

Lorrie
 
Geez Louise, Lorrie. I would be spittin nails if someone helped themselves to my bank account...WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT.

I would also be making a phone call to your bank and asking for the account manager, not a teller. There is no way that person/business should have been able to get at YOUR account if you did not sign anything to that effect.
 
Hi Lorrie-
What an experience! I remember you mentioning your personal trainer at our ohio get-together. Did you share with them that you are an attorney just to scare the pants off them? Way to let 'em have it! Anyway, sounds like you've worked off the extra pounds you gained. You already looked good when I saw you, you must look awesome!

Darlene ;-)
 
I agree with 40something. And to add to that: report this woman and her studio to the local Better Business Bureau and/or your state attorney general's office. They might be interested in fraudulent, deceptive and possibly criminal "business practices". Debiting an account without the account holder's written consent could be chargeable as theft.

A-Jock
 
Hi Lorrie,

I saw in your link that you mentioned about type O blood and grains, could you fill me in or let me know where I could find this thread.

Thanks so much,
Debbie
 
Hi Debbie - here is the link to the book I read : http://www.dadamo.com/

I first heard about it though the Tracie Long website. Tracie is a type O and says she didn't drop extra pounds until she cut out grains - all grains - even the beloved oatmeal and steel cut oats. I read the book and found it interesting, though I cannot stomach red meat, and that's what it says O's need.

I've spoken to a few nutritionists (not just the RD/PT of whom I've been speaking in this thread) and they all say there's just not enough scientific evidence to support these claims - yet. But this trainer / RD had me up to 55% carbs, many of which were whole grains and I puffed up like a marshmallow!

Hope that helps!

Lorrie
 
Personally, I think the whole blood type thing is based on science fiction rather than fact. For instance, I am blood type AB so I am supposed to eat a combination of the foods recommended for blood groups A and B. Now wouldn't that be somewhat confusing because type B allows you to eat most foods, while type A suggests I eat a vegetarian diet. Go figure. Dr D’Adamo gets around this by suggesting I would follow a vegetarian diet most of the time with some meat, fish and dairy products occasionally. Sounds like bunk to me.

IMO, the only valuable part of the diet would be that it makes people more conscious of what they are eating.

You will also find that most qualified mainstream dietitians, nutritionist and medical experts universally agree that his theories are nonsense.

JMO,
Robin

ETA: Lorrie, I am very still very glad you found something that works for you:) I am only expressing my thoughts on his theories.
 
Lorrie...I have to agree with Robin on the blood type thing....although funny I am an A type who should eat vegetarian and I am a Vegan!! I just wonder if you ate high carbs as in fruits an veggies (similar to Eat to Live) for 6 weeks minus potatoes, corn , pasta, bread and grains if the weight would come off like it did with me. I have always thought I was carbo sensitive...but my choice seems to be chips...:)...Carole
 
Yah - I have to agree too - guess I didn't make that too clear when only referring to the lack of scientific evidence. I read to a fault and I read this after hearing what Tracie said about grains. But when he started talking about the red meat for type O's I knew there was something not quite right. Carole - Eat to Live is one of the few that I haven't read. Sounds as if I need to make that my next bookstore investment.

Funny - when I had mentioned cutting out the grains to the PT/RD who spurred this venting thread, she was going to create some vegan based menus that cut out the grains - but of course she never got around to it. I guess I just heard "personal trainer / registered dietician" and thought her every word was Bible. Again - my lesson - learned the hard way!

Lorrie
 
Well what d'ya know? Money's back in my account. And I even got an e-mail from the PT /RD suggesting that I re-examine things and place the blame where it really needs to be. Ok.

Lorrie
 

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