Bravo’s Work Out

03Aug08

I can’t tell you how excited when I was when the whole idea of this show was announced. A show about personal trainers… great! People could see the dedication, the education, the expertise that really goes into this profession. They would have an understanding of what it is to be so passionate about fitness, about helping people achieve their goals. They would see the role of a trainer is part coach, part therapist, part friend. They would appreciate the limited sleep, the continued education,the boundless energy and overall enthusiasm to be truly doing what you love.

Three seasons later…I know entirely too much about these trainers personal lives and so little about what actually goes on in the gym. To place blame on one particular party for this would be pointless. We are all well aware that any “reality” tv show is heavily guided by the producers and creators. If you didn’t know that, maybe it’s time to put that up on the shelf with Santa and the easter bunny. Regardless of who is steering the reality tv ship, producers can and will argue that they work with what they are given. So the old “chicken or the egg” adage is definitely applicable here.  In fairness though, how interesting would people find a show that was maybe 30%  drama and personal lives and 70% fitness?

One of my clients and I were discussing this yesterday during our session. She had mentioned how she was so excited about this show at first because one of Jackie’s clients was this heavier girl and she not only was happy to see this celeb trainer with a relatable client, but also was excited to see her progress throughout the show. To her dismay, she not only barely saw this client again, but she felt that she didn’t really accomplish much either.

On the complete opposite side of the pendulum, we have The Biggest Loser. Talk about inspiring, I give these people all the credit in the world. Not only is it hard enough to face weight, body, and health issues like that, but to do it on national television takes guts. I also give them credit because the diet and training they go through is NO JOKE! But this show is primarily focused on the contestants and not so much the trainers. In fact, most people I asked weren’t even aware that the winning trainer receives $100,000.

What I would love to see is a show that can take that client-trainer relationship and highlight that. Let us see the work both sides put into  achieving success in health and fitness for this client.Show them working as a team and the integral parts they play in each others lives. I know I for one learn just as much from my relationships with my clients as hopefully they learn from me.  I want to also see how the trainers are continuously working to improve themselves, to continue to be role models and stay abreast of the latest industry trends. Show them as the experts they are. I understand there will be some need for a “back story” for a way to make each of these people more human and not seem like scripted characters and to do so means showing the “real” them. That’s fine, but have it done in a way that doesn’t have these people each coming off like charactictures.  I want to be able to walk away from viewing a show like that and feel like the bar has been raised a little higher. I also want to be able to watch it and not feel a slight tinge of embarrassment that this is the image being portrayed about my profession.

I have to wonder though, would people watch? Would they find it interesting? Would it help to promote fitness health and fitness? What do you think?

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Tags: bravo, fitness, gym, health club, image, jackie warner, lifestyle, personal trainer, personal training, the biggest loser, training, weight loss, work out