09/08/2026
Something nobody tells you before you become a personal trainer.
The Personal Trainers you idolise can be fully qualified, genuinely experienced, and actually care about you — and still be making promises that the science simply does not back up.
I've been in fitness long enough to know that 'certified' and 'honest about the evidence' are very different things.
Here are three phrases that should make you pause:
❌ "This will fix your back pain."
❌ "I guarantee you'll see results."
❌ "The science is clear — you need to do this."
And here's what a genuinely good trainer actually sounds like:
✅ "The evidence suggests this might help — let's see how you respond."
✅ "The research here is still limited — but in my experience, this is worth trying."
✅ "This is outside my scope — I'd recommend you also speak to your GP."
A good trainer tells you the truth. Even when the truth is 'I'm not entirely sure exercise is the solution.'
I've put together a simple guide — the questions worth asking before or during your next session. Saved the infographic below.
💾 Save this for your next gym conversation. Share it with someone who's about to hire a PT — or who already has one making promises that sound a bit too confident.
👇 Drop a comment: what's the most confident-sounding fitness claim you've ever been told that turned out to be... not quite right?
