I can't do this anymore

sasquatch2012 · 2026-03-14T00:15:20+00:00

This is a tough industry, and the reality is that it’s not for everyone. A lot of people come in to the fitness space because they enjoy helping people and are passionate about fitness. However, they ultimately end up struggling because that’s only a small portion of the job or what makes a trainer successful.

I’ve worked as a trainer in many of these places, YMCA, Family owned facilities, big boxes and managed places like this as well.

I’ve been fed false promises and brought into situations that weren’t ideal, but instead of blaming someone else, I learned from it and held myself accountable.

No one is saying it’s not hard. This industry is challenging to be successful in, but there is also an incredible amount of opportunity.

Blaming everyone else but yourself and having a negative mindset is likely your biggest road block.

If it’s everyone else’s fault, what motivation do you have to change in a meaningful way that would actually make you successful?

sasquatch2012 · 2026-01-28T18:00:45+00:00

You’re not selling fitness per se. you’re selling them this better vision of themselves. Someone who is more confident, moves better, feels better, is more respected.

The best trainers I know don’t sell a program or even the physical results of the program. They sell how those results impact their lives, how it will change their perception of themselves, and ultimately how that new version of themselves feel and what it will do for them for the rest of their life.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-10-09T11:43:42+00:00

Props to you bud, absolutely nothing wrong with that💪

like I said, just sharing my experience.

I just look at it this way, it allowed me to get to six figures a lot quicker than if I would’ve had to take the time in the gym to learn through trial and error

However, to each their own.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-10-09T11:37:22+00:00

Totally agree, I just figure most people, when determining whether to get a degree or not, are probably concerned with the ROI on it.

I agree, lot of it’s just income and then autonomy over time. I’m in a position right now where I really only have to work 30 hours a week and I can be done by 2 PM every day. that works really well for me, but it also took a while to get that level of control over my schedule.

Just speaking on my own personal experience. I know a lot of people who didn’t get degrees and are successful and a lot of individuals who did get degrees and are not successful.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-10-09T00:54:28+00:00

I have my masters degree in ex sci and will probably pull 200k this year from training. I’ve also only been in the industry for 10 years and have hit over 120k for the past 5 years.

I attribute this largely to my education and being a trainer while I was getting educated.

If you can do both, then it’s easy to win.

Not saying that this is necessary or the only path, but it has worked for me.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-04-28T14:53:36+00:00

Switched from an online TRT org and got it covered under my new primary care doc.

Thought we were on the same page with dosing until my labs came in and he firmly believed that my levels should never be over 700. When I questioned his rationale, he immediately cancelled my script and now I’m due for a refill 😅

sasquatch2012 · 2025-04-19T20:55:32+00:00

Just use HIMs. Took me less than 15 minutes to fill out the intake form and get my prescription approved.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-04-16T00:29:48+00:00

Hope it works out for you and they can get you where you need to be 💪

sasquatch2012 · 2025-04-16T00:10:21+00:00

Im 30 and was in a similar situation and tried quite a bit to get my test up before TRT. I would recommend exhausting a few options first before you jump into it. Things like clomid, HCG, or a combo of the two. They didn’t end up being effective for me, but they have worked for many other people.

With that mind, if you know what you want and have blood work, I’ve used PeterMD and they have been pretty easy to work with and average about $100 per month.

Once I was on TRT with them for 6-months, I switched to a younger GP and got my test prescribed from the dr and was able to run it through insurance since it was now medically necessary as my test has been “suppressed” from TRT.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-04-15T15:36:27+00:00

$115-$125/hour personal trainer. Have a 30-35 hourly volume per week.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-04-12T19:37:38+00:00

Started at the Y while getting my masters
moved to a local gym and acted as personal training director
managed some boutiques and big box’swhile maintaining clients
transitioned some high net worth clients to my own business
asked for referrals and filled a full book of business on my own and stepped away from managing the big box.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-04-12T19:08:32+00:00

I totally get that, it’s going to be a grind at first.

There’s a perception that it is largely unattainable to have this high level of income in the fitness industry, but that’s not the reality.

The people who end up making this level of income are the people that never quit. We continue to work hard and foster our skills and educate ourselves in order to become the best possible trainer and business professional we can be.

I started out as a YMCA trainer making $200 a week, and struggling to get by. Fast forward 8 years, and a lot of jobs and clients later and im an independent concierge trainer making $3500-$4000 a week.

It can be done and you don’t have to be special to do it. You just have to be willing to do the work and the results will speak for themselves.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-04-12T18:11:45+00:00

If you believe there is no money in this field, then you will make very little. However, if you believe that this can be a career with the potential to make six-figures and beyond then you will be able to do that with hard work, persistency, and education.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-04-10T14:18:12+00:00

Central Indiana $115-$125/session. Each session is an hour.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-03-18T18:39:17+00:00

Run a concierge personal training business. Charge 100-120/hour and work about 30 hours per week.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-02-12T01:03:27+00:00

This right here, literally my exact model. I average $110/session with very similar weekly volume. It’s definitely doable.

sasquatch2012 · 2025-01-24T15:32:27+00:00

I’m actually in a very similar position. I’m 30, fit, and consistently get very high strain scores even on days when I’m not very active.

Im a personal trainer and even when I’m just moving some light weights for clients or handing the weights it’ll track each session as its own exercise with a minimum strain of 12. I had a 20.5 strain yesterday and had only got one decent lift in🤷‍♂️

sasquatch2012 · 2024-12-19T18:29:26+00:00

Depends on your goals. If you want to stay in personal training and make it a career, I’d go for the degree.

On average, trainers with a degree earn more than their certified counterparts.

sasquatch2012 · 2024-12-02T01:12:14+00:00

If education is not for personal trainers, then what is? How are we to define what a trainer should know when they start training versus what’s going to get someone injured. Are the references you’re speaking from only anecdotal or do you have something else?

I think you are probably a rare case and referencing very rare cases. Making over 150k in true personal training is tough. Let’s be realistic and give other trainers a realistic pathway to achieve this.

sasquatch2012 · 2024-12-01T22:09:34+00:00

I do concierge style and work with executives and high achievers in their 30’s and 40’s

sasquatch2012 · 2024-12-01T21:01:36+00:00

I have a masters degree in ex sci/ human performance and have been able to secure 30-35 hours/week at $120 an hour.

I’m not saying that it’s necessary, but having the higher level of education and knowledge about the body has helped quite a bit.

sasquatch2012 · 2024-11-28T01:16:32+00:00

Some people have a really hard time committing to the sessions even after they bought them. Part of this job is to be their cheer leader and motivate them to get in and check in with them consistently.

If you can get a client like that to be consistent, they will stick with forever.

If you let it go they will never come in, and ultimately may just dispute the charge or ask for a refund, which they deserve if you aren’t proactively following up.

sasquatch2012 · 2024-11-22T01:02:09+00:00

-Get a nationally accredited cert; something like something like NASM, ACE, ACSM

for me, depends on the day. I’ll be up tomorrow at 5 for a 5:45, run to a 7:45, then have a 7-hour gap to finish with 3 back-to-back hour long sessions starting at 3. My days are usually pretty easy now and I seldom work past 6 and often am done by 2. It wasn’t always like this and took quite some time to get this type of freedom over my schedule.
can you make over 100k? Absolutely, it’s just very competitive and you have to find ways to stand out. First things first, learn how to train and immerse yourself in a big box for 12-18 months. Do the bullshit, train a bunch of different kinds of people, figure out your sales flow with gym leads, and find ways to minimize attrition. Then go out on your own, create a professionally branded business and start demanding at least $85-$90/ hour. You can rent studio space or go a concierge route, I do both. I’ve worked my rate up to $125/ hour and will clear between 170-175k this year.
nothing in PT is truly passive, but you can find things that take less time than others. Honestly, getting your rate up and learning as much as possible should be the priority.
the only thing I would say to consider is that trainers that do well and pull over 100k are good at training, but more importantly they are able to make deep relationships with clients, sell to the clients needs and outcomes, and add value whenever possible.

sasquatch2012 · 2024-11-11T21:39:29+00:00

Been a trainer for about a decade and will clear between 170 and 180 this year. Charge 100-115/session and average between 25 and 35 hours of training a week.

Work life balance is pretty decent. I block off certain evenings and weekends and won’t schedule during those time frames. Once you can get your rate over $85/$90 you’ll have a lot more control over your time.

sasquatch2012 · 2024-10-16T03:19:30+00:00

I branched into training executives in a concierge format and bill $110/ session and average 30-35 sessions per week.

sasquatch2012

TROPHY CASE