Ouch!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2005
Ouch!
9
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 8:57am
Last week while at the gym, I noticed a sign-up sheet for a free 30-minute session with a trainer, so I signed up, figuring if nothing else I'd get some exercise pointers. I got the same trainer that I saw for my "initiation session" when I first joined the gym in January and the first thing she did on saturday is yell at me for not losing more weight since I joined the gym. So that didn't help my self-esteem at all. She then proceeds to put me through a killer upper body and abs workout. I was doing OK until during the 3rd set of bicep curls when my left arms started to hurt! I mean really hurt, not just the typical out-of-shape fatigue and ache I was expecting. She told me that I was being silly and that I just needed to push through the pain, which really made me mad. After we got done, I couldn't even use my left hand, my arm was shaking so badly and yesterday I ended up in a convenient care office with a pulled muscle and a pinched nerve. Now I can barely drive and I'm scared to go back to the gym at all until my arm is better and I'm really upset about this. Don't the trainers realize that it's counter-productive to push an out-of-shape person that hard???
Alllison Mommy to Eleanor, born 05/11/10 Blighted ovum 08/25/11 Due with #2 09/05/12
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
In reply to: gracefulallie
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 10:15am
Wow...I would guess that she is used to training people who have lots of muscle and look forward to the pain lol
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
In reply to: gracefulallie
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 10:20am

OMG, is there a manager or supervisor or someone you can tell about this incident. That is so wrong. When I talked to my trainer and he was showing me their machines and what he wanted me to do, he almost made me STOP working out cuz he felt I was favoring my right shoulder. I told him it didn't hurt and the only one I had trouble with was the left not the right, but he was still concerned and didn't want me to push anything. In fact due to my left shoulder/chest pain I ended up stopping upper body workout peroid. YOu are NEVER supposed to push through the pain, and obviously they had you doing to much weight or reps one for it to pull a muscle and pinch a nerve. Being the WITCH that I am I would find whoever works over them and let them know exactly what that trainer did, and tell them YOU NEVER want to work with that one again. That would make anyone mad. And for her to yell at you due to lack of what she deems appropiate weight loss, HELLO, let's get for real here, you are doing your best and while your best might not be what she thinks it should be what the heck does she know about you other than the couple of training sessions? Not enough in my opinion to reem you like that. I would do some serious complaining to the upper level folks at that gym if I were you. YOu don't need that BS at all!! No one does, not even a skinny person that can't do what they think they should. I mean geez, my niece don't even weigh a hundred pound and I am in SO MUCH better physical shape than she is. She can't lift my son much without whining about it. (she is 22). So your shape isn't all because of your weight, and they need to learn that. Anyone can be out of shape not just the overweight. I am so sick of that attitude from folks. I mean seriously haven't you ever heard of a FAT FIT PERSON before....I can outlift a lot of smaller folks if I set my mind to it. Girl don't worry about idiots like that, just do what you can when you can and the heck with the fools out there that think they know everything there is to know about everything. Sorry I know I am rambling but your post really struck me. And frankly made me mad for you. She better be glad she didn't have me there talking to like that, cuz i would have laid into her right then and there. Good luck with your arm healing. Can you still walk at least for exercise or will that strain you as well right now? .

Angela

 

Angela

image

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2005
In reply to: gracefulallie
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 10:44am
I'm kind of scared to go to the gym until I'm totally healed, or at least able to use my hand. I don't want to be working on the treadmill and not be able to grab the hand supports if I need to, you know? And I'm not comfortable at all with confrontation, otherwise I would complain to managment. I do know one thing, though, if I ever can afford to have a personal trainer, it won't be her! And I think once I'm healed, I'm going to start doing some yoga, maybe if I can limber up some, I can keep this from happening in the future..... plus, I would know enough to not push myself that hard.
Alllison Mommy to Eleanor, born 05/11/10 Blighted ovum 08/25/11 Due with #2 09/05/12
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2005
In reply to: gracefulallie
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 11:18am
I'm sorry you had to experience that. I would as a personal trainer she would know better. But it sounds to me she's not too smart. You never push if you feel pain, at least that what I thought I have read. I hope you heal soon.

 
 
 
 

 
 
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
In reply to: gracefulallie
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 12:07pm

I gurantee you one thing, dh and the kids wish I were more like you...LMAO
Someone hurts me or pushes me that far to anger and I confront and I will tell them what I think. I have embarrassed dd12 more times than she cares at her school cuz they are a bunch of idiots too. I hate for folks to talk down to me just cuz I am fatter or poorer than they are so I let em have it. LOL Never have been one to keep my mouth shut since I was a kid. I learned young that if I didn't I got run over and I didn't like it so I learned to speak up. Not to mention my dad's personality finally come out in me instead of my mom's...LOL!!!
If you aren't confrontational and you can live with letting it go then that is the best thing for you. Just make sure if you ever get another session with a trainer and it ends up being her you just tell them you would rather cancel than meet with her. Good luck on your healing and you are right to wait til you heal if you are more comfortable doing so. I didnt' think about having to grab the holds on the treadmill.

Angela

 

Angela

image

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2005
In reply to: gracefulallie
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 6:11pm
No one, not even "skinny" people, should be treated the way this trainer treated you. First off, YOU are HER customer. She isn't in the military, yelling at a new cadet or something. I'd be complaining to the management, if for no other reason than to alert them to the witch so she doesn't continue to treat more of their clients in the same manner. You will be doing the gym management a real service by complaining about her. What she was doing WASN'T training, it was just her on some sort of dimented power trip. If telling her superiors doesn't help, find a different gym. Her behavior and treatment of you was absolutely unacceptable, and should not be dismissed. I know you said you don't like confrontation. I don't either, really, but there is a line and she not only crossed it, she obliterated it. I hope your arm is feeling better soon. Under no circumstances should you or anyone else have to endure such mistreatment by a health facility worker. (or from anyone for that matter.) Good luck to you.
Katherine
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2006
In reply to: gracefulallie
Mon, 05-08-2006 - 6:55pm

People like that tick me off!
when I started back to the gym I got 2 free trainer sessions and I told them that I didn't want them because of horror stories like this. They assured me that my trainer would work with me, not make me feel bad and not push me too hard.. and for the most part they were right. EXCEPT he had me do 4 sets of of 25 calf raises. honestly it didn't hurt THEN and I felt like I could do more. But I could barely walk for DAYS.. sitting, standing, lying down hurt as well. 3 days later I practically crawled back into the gym only to use hottub jets to help massage the pain out of my legs. I spent an hour (30 mins on each leg) with the jets on my legs, almost crying because it hurt so badly. The day after that, I was essentially back to normal. But I was immobile for 3 days, lost time from work, from the gym, from my family and friends all because some guy (nice as he may have been)tried to push me too hard on my 2nd real day of activity in a long time. While I didn't want to complain, I did want to bring it to the attention of the manager so someone didn't get seriously hurt. I still use that gym, but will not be using a trainer anytime soon.

your situation is WORSE because not only did that B cause you physical pain, but she did psychological damage as well. I thought the idea of a trainer was they were supposed to build you up.. provide motivation, encouragement and some skills to get you to your personal best. I seriously hope if you haven't yet, that you speak to her boss. If she's treating you that way, she's doing it to others as well and that is not acceptable.

I hope you're feeling better soon
Jess

My First 10% of Body Weight

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2006
In reply to: gracefulallie
Tue, 05-09-2006 - 7:46am

I hope your arm feels better now.


Is this girl for real? The ABC's for weight training is not to push yourself beyond pain so that you don't get injured. You really have to report her. If you don't want to do it in person maybe you can write the gym a note. If she's not qualified to do the job then she shouldn't do it. Other members can get injured and what if someone got a serious injury beyond repair?


I wish you quick recovery


and Angela... If I ever go to war I want you on my side

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: gracefulallie
Tue, 05-09-2006 - 7:52am

I have to agree witht he otheres that said to eport her. Heck I'd even bring the receipt from the convenient care office to show them. Obviously that trainer thinks that EVERYONE can do the same thing.


I hope that your arm is feeling better. I would expect them to give you another session(if not more) with someone who is more qualified!!!


Lets us know how this plays out.



 Karen