For years, I’ve watched personal trainers operate in gyms, and I’ve yet to see one who was actually good at their job. Sure, there might be a rare exception—somewhere—but the vast majority are nothing more than overpriced motivational cheerleaders with minimal knowledge, questionable physiques, and cookie-cutter routines that do little to help their clients achieve real results. What I’ve found? Personal trainers suck!
Most trainers exist because people are lazy. They need someone to hold them accountable, to stand over them and say, “Do ten reps of this, now do ten reps of that.” But if you need another human being to force you to exercise, you have bigger problems than just fitness—you lack discipline. And while motivation has its place, it’s not enough to ensure real progress.
Worse yet, most trainers don’t even understand the fundamentals of effective training. They prescribe arbitrary rep schemes, ignore intensity, and rarely push their clients to true failure—the point where real growth happens. They operate under the illusion that simply moving is enough, rather than understanding that progress comes from pushing limits.
Let’s break down exactly why personal trainers suck—and why you’re probably better off training yourself.
Trainers are Often Just Lousy at Motivation
One of the biggest reasons people hire personal trainers is for accountability. They think that if they pay someone to stand over them and tell them what to do, they’ll finally start working out. But here’s the truth: If you need another person to force you to exercise, you don’t actually care about getting in shape.
Real fitness progress doesn’t come from having a cheerleader. It comes from you—your effort, your consistency, and your willingness to push yourself. A trainer might get you to move for an hour, but they can’t give you the discipline to keep going when no one is watching. And discipline is what really matters in the long run.
Think about it. If you can’t make yourself go to the gym without someone holding you accountable, what happens when you stop paying for sessions? Most people quit as soon as their trainer isn’t there anymore. That’s because they never learned to rely on themselves. They never developed the habit of working out for their own goals, not because someone else told them to.
Personal trainers suck at motivation because they just recycle the same tired phrases:
- “You got this!”
- “Two more reps!”
- “Feel the burn!”
But does that really help? Not really. It’s the same generic encouragement you could get from a workout video or a gym buddy. In fact, you could get better motivation for free by watching a YouTube fitness channel or following a training app. At least those don’t cost 50–100 per session.
Personal Trainers Suck at Programming
If you’ve ever worked with a personal trainer—or even just listened to one in the gym—you’ve probably heard something like this:
“Alright, do three sets of ten squats, then ten push-ups, then fifteen lunges.”
At first glance, this might sound like a solid plan. But if you stop and think about it, you have to ask: Why those exact numbers? Why ten squats instead of eight? Why fifteen lunges instead of twelve? And most importantly—why stop at all if you could do more?
The biggest issue with these rigid rep schemes is that they ignore one of the most important rules of fitness: Progressive overload. This means gradually increasing the difficulty of your workouts over time to keep making progress. If you always stop at ten reps just because your trainer said so, you might never push yourself hard enough to actually improve.
Personal trainers suck at programming because they use fixed reps that make no sense. They do this because:
- It’s simple and requires no thought
- They don’t have to pay attention to your actual performance
- They can reuse the same workout for every client
Why Don’t Trainers Practice What They Preach?
We’re often told not to judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to personal trainers, what you see matters. Think about it: would you trust a dentist with rotten teeth? Would you take cooking lessons from a chef who only eats fast food? Probably not. The same logic applies to fitness trainers. I’ve heard trainers before say “I need to get back into working out; I’ve just been too busy.” WHAT??? This is the guy/gal you want telling you what to do???
Walk into any gym and you’ll likely see two types of questionable trainers:
- The overweight trainer teaching weight loss classes
- The scrawny trainer offering muscle-building programs
Now, in theory, knowledge is knowledge. A fat trainer might understand nutrition science. A skinny trainer might know all about progressive overload. But here’s the problem: if they can’t apply that knowledge to themselves, why should you believe they can help you? Personal trainers suck when they don’t lead by example.
Personal Trainers Suck Because Their Education is a Joke
One of the biggest problems with the fitness industry is how easy it is to become a personal trainer. Unlike doctors, physical therapists, or even nutritionists who spend years in school, most trainers get certified after just a few weeks of studying—sometimes even less.
The most common personal trainer certifications—like NASM, ACE, or ISSA—only require:
- A high school diploma (sometimes not even that)
- Passing a multiple-choice test
- A few weeks of self-study
Yet many trainers act like they have the same level of expertise as medical professionals. They give nutrition advice, try to “fix” injuries, and even diagnose movement problems—things they are not qualified to do. Personal trainers suck when they pretend to be experts in fields they know nothing about.
- Personal Trainers Suck at Pushing Clients
Walk into any gym and watch personal trainers working with their clients. What you’ll usually see is a series of half-hearted exercises performed at a leisurely pace—maybe some light squats, a few crunches, and some arm circles with tiny dumbbells. The client isn’t breathing hard. They’re not sweating much. They’re certainly not struggling.
This isn’t training. This is just going through the motions. Personal trainers suck at creating challenging workouts because:
- They’re afraid of scaring clients away
- They prioritize keeping clients over getting results
- They don’t know how to program intense workouts
Their Advice is Usually Terrible
One of the most frustrating things about personal trainers is how often they spread misinformation. Instead of teaching proven, science-backed training methods, many recycle old myths, fad diet nonsense, and even dangerous workout tips.
Some examples of terrible advice from trainers:
- “Never squat below parallel—it’s bad for your knees.” (False)
- “Women shouldn’t lift heavy—they’ll get bulky.” (False)
- “You need to detox with a juice cleanse.” (Scam)
- “Spot reduction works—do ab exercises to lose belly fat.” (False)
Personal trainers suck when they give bad advice because it:
- Wastes your time
- Can lead to injuries
- Causes frustration when you don’t see results
- Personal Trainers Suck Because They’re Overpriced
Most trainers charge 50–150 per hour. That’s as much as a nice dinner out, a massage, or even a doctor’s visit. But what do you really get for that price?
- A trainer counting your reps out loud
- Generic encouragement
- The same basic workout they give every other client
For what they deliver, that’s way overpriced. Personal trainers suck because they charge premium prices for mediocre service.
The Bottom Line: Why Personal Trainers Suck
After breaking down all these points, it’s clear that personal trainers suck at:
- Providing real motivation
- Creating effective programs
- Leading by example
- Having proper education
- Pushing clients hard enough
- Giving good advice
- Delivering value for money
The truth is, you don’t need a trainer to get in great shape. What you really need is:
- Self-education
- Consistent effort
- Progressive overload
- Personal accountability
Save your money. Skip the trainer. Take control of your own fitness journey. Because at the end of the day, nobody will care about your progress more than you do—and that’s why most personal trainers suck.
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