Body Of Change A RIP-OFF REPORT FROM A FORMER TRAINER AT BODY OF CHANGE Atlanta Georgia
The following information comes to you from a former personal trainer at Body of Change, and yes, I firmly feel they are a rip-off to everyone, consumer and personal trainer alike. To be concise I am just making a list of things you should know.
1) The standard fee structure is between $35 and $50 per 30 minute session. BoC is the only national company that charges by the 1/2 hour versus a full hour. Training for full hour sessions at private training studios ranges, on average, between $40 and $70 per full hour.
2) Body of Change has no formal or informal training program or training philosophy, nor does it have any stated requirements for trainers. Managers have hired individuals based purely on the fact the trainer looked physically fit him/herself. An "acceptable" training certification is simply completion of any course that is health oriented regardless of content material or testing difficulty.
3) The personal trainer only makes between $6.00 and $7.50 per session. Trainers are not encouraged to pursue advanced certifications, nor are they offered even minimal tuition reimbursement for any courses or classes taken. Trainers are offered no benefits at all, no medical or dental package is even offered. There is no paid vacation. The only existing bonus program in place to my knowledge was a quarterly $100 one time reward given to the "top" trainer in the district which incorporates about 30 different clubs. Furthermore, the reward is typically given to the trainer who sells or helps sell the most contracts, not to the one who helps the most clients achieve their goals.
4) Body Of Change is a sales organization, not a fitness organization. There is no career track for a personal trainer. By this I mean that there is no "Senior Trainer" or "Lead Trainer" designation. An Athletic or Fitness Director position does not exist either. As mentioned earlier, no training program exists for newly hired personal trainers. But, there is a hierarchy and a formal training program for the sales side of the organization. New hires are given packets of information and required to complete role playing scenarios to make sure they can change any "No" to a "Yes" in order to close the sale. Also, sales individuals can progress from Assistant Manager to General Manager to District Manager to Regional Manager to Corporate Sales Manager.
5) Body of Change and LA Fitness are seperate business entities, therefore working as a trainer at BoC gave me no benefits through LA Fitness. I was only allowed to workout at the LA Fitness where I trained, and I could not workout during the "peak hours" of business, although LA Fitness employees were granted certain luxuries.
6) A monthly report was generated by the corporate offices detailing which personal trainers made the most money in sales commissions, yet there was no report generated that informs the trainers of new ideologies, advances, or accomplishments in fitness relating to either the client or the trainer.
7) I was asked on multiple occasions to keep a new client (typically who was at risk of cancelling) in the program for at least seven days so the client couldn't cancel the contract without the penalty and the "manager" could earn their commission.
8) On multiple occasions I helped a manager close the sale by offering the client a free training session with me so they could see how we worked together. Never once was I compensated for assisting in the sale.
9) I graduated from college last year, promptly left Body of Change and found employment at a premier training-only facility (I charge $35-$55 per 60 minute session), but due to the non-compete contract I was forced to sign upon employment, I could not ask any of my clients (40+ of them at the time) to follow me to the new fitness facility where I could help them achieve even more results in a healthier and more personalized environment. A year later, I am still threatened with severe legal action if I offer services to any of my former BoC clients at any fitness facility that is within a 10 mile radius of any Body of Change location anywhere. I am bound to this for 1 more year, as the non-compete specifies a 2 year period. Yes, I know, I should have read the fine print but I was about to be a senior in college and needed the job to pay for school, while I was trying to apply my knowledge.
In closing, I would like to say that not all trainers at BoC are bad trainers, some of them are, but some are like me. We are new to the industry and trying to become better. Our love is fitness, and we want to share it with others to help them lead healthier lives, but unfortunately we were sold by those "managers" on opportunities that never materialized. Tardiness, absenteeism, and lack of attention is unexcusable, but please realize that the trainer is getting ripped off just as bad as you in the end. Recently I ran into a former manager of mine. I lambasted the manager about the falsehoods told to me during the interview process and he apologized for misleading me about the organization. He stated that he sold me on the company because he wanted a good trainer and he knew I would be one, but in the end he knew he was motivated only to sell more contracts and a trainer like me could help him do that.
Do not waste your time with Body of Change, if not for your own consumer reasons for the fact that they are horrible employers and should not be in business. Body of Change is the perfect example of worker undercompensation and it only results in unhappy consumers.
Anonymous For My Own Protection
Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Body of Change
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Anonymous
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
More thing you should know from the former trainer...
#5Author of original report
Fri, June 27, 2003
After completing the above information, I realized that there are a few more points that potential consumers should be aware of before dealing with any "manager" from BoC.
1) The majority of "managers" are not certified in personal training. They wear shirts that have TRAINER written across the back, just like the real trainers, but don't be fooled, only about 1 in 4 is or was actually certified. The work out you are taken through is typically choreograpghed in advanced to achieve specific sales goals. They are not trained in muscle anatomy, physiology, strength training, or conditioning. They are only trained in sales. Virtually every "manager" I worked with had no background in fitness. Backgrounds ranged from tech-company failures to car salesman.
2) Not all of the sales people are manipulative. Some are honest, but BoC has tainted them. I knew of a few "managers" that would inform the potential clients that they themselves were not certified, and would pull aside an actual trainer to answer any in-depth questions. The problem is that the trainer receives no commission if you sign-up, even though you clearly signed-up because the trainer exhibted knowledge that you appreciated. Remember that regardless of what you pay per session, the trainer is only making $6 to $7.50 for the session.
3) The sales presentation is canned, and is not catered to the unique individual. The presentation involves a workout that will be nothing like the training you would receive from a real trainer. It uses basic exercises at challenging weight levels to guarantee that you are fatigued in 15 minutes and sore the next day. That's not the mentallity of a real trainer. The "manager" then sits you down to discuss resting metabolic rate, lean muscle mass, cardiovascular conditioning, and calorie burn. It is completely scripted. Ask them a question about how fat is metabloized in the body as an energy source versus how proteins are metabolized as an energy source and you will stump them or get a poor answer like "Protein is good for you. Fat is bad."
4) The body fat test that is typically used has a margin of error of 3-8 percentage points. I once paid for a hydro-static fat analysis (the only truly reliable method) at a local university. It measured me at 9.2% body fat, in the excellent range. I then went into work and had one of the "managers" use their method. I was told that my body fat was 14%, fair to average for a male my age. That's a big difference. If the sales person uses calipers to check body fat, then they can manipulate the numbers to make you appear more obese. If a an electronic machine is used, just remember that the numbers can be scewed based on your current level of hydration. If you are even slightly dehydrated, your fat percentage will be higher. Likewise, though, just because you are thin doesn't mean you should have a low body fat percentage. If you don't have muscle supporting that thin frame, you have a higher fat percentage. And that type of thin is not healthy.
5) Sales people are trained to not let you go until you turn down training 3 times. If you say that you don't have the money, they will make assumptions about your other expenses based on the questionaire you fill out. They will then make you feel guilty about spending money elsewhere instead of on training. If you say you don't have time, they will tell you that there are enough openings in trainers schedules that you can easily find the time, regardless of whether or not you actually like the trainer you get assigned to.
6) You can change trainers during the course of your contract should you be crazy enough to sign-up. Just be aware that the trainer you leave will most likely bad-mouth you to the new trainer in order to make themselves look faultless. I took over several disgruntled clients from other trainers. Every one of them bad-mouthed the client.
Anonymous
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
More thing you should know from the former trainer...
#5Author of original report
Fri, June 27, 2003
After completing the above information, I realized that there are a few more points that potential consumers should be aware of before dealing with any "manager" from BoC.
1) The majority of "managers" are not certified in personal training. They wear shirts that have TRAINER written across the back, just like the real trainers, but don't be fooled, only about 1 in 4 is or was actually certified. The work out you are taken through is typically choreograpghed in advanced to achieve specific sales goals. They are not trained in muscle anatomy, physiology, strength training, or conditioning. They are only trained in sales. Virtually every "manager" I worked with had no background in fitness. Backgrounds ranged from tech-company failures to car salesman.
2) Not all of the sales people are manipulative. Some are honest, but BoC has tainted them. I knew of a few "managers" that would inform the potential clients that they themselves were not certified, and would pull aside an actual trainer to answer any in-depth questions. The problem is that the trainer receives no commission if you sign-up, even though you clearly signed-up because the trainer exhibted knowledge that you appreciated. Remember that regardless of what you pay per session, the trainer is only making $6 to $7.50 for the session.
3) The sales presentation is canned, and is not catered to the unique individual. The presentation involves a workout that will be nothing like the training you would receive from a real trainer. It uses basic exercises at challenging weight levels to guarantee that you are fatigued in 15 minutes and sore the next day. That's not the mentallity of a real trainer. The "manager" then sits you down to discuss resting metabolic rate, lean muscle mass, cardiovascular conditioning, and calorie burn. It is completely scripted. Ask them a question about how fat is metabloized in the body as an energy source versus how proteins are metabolized as an energy source and you will stump them or get a poor answer like "Protein is good for you. Fat is bad."
4) The body fat test that is typically used has a margin of error of 3-8 percentage points. I once paid for a hydro-static fat analysis (the only truly reliable method) at a local university. It measured me at 9.2% body fat, in the excellent range. I then went into work and had one of the "managers" use their method. I was told that my body fat was 14%, fair to average for a male my age. That's a big difference. If the sales person uses calipers to check body fat, then they can manipulate the numbers to make you appear more obese. If a an electronic machine is used, just remember that the numbers can be scewed based on your current level of hydration. If you are even slightly dehydrated, your fat percentage will be higher. Likewise, though, just because you are thin doesn't mean you should have a low body fat percentage. If you don't have muscle supporting that thin frame, you have a higher fat percentage. And that type of thin is not healthy.
5) Sales people are trained to not let you go until you turn down training 3 times. If you say that you don't have the money, they will make assumptions about your other expenses based on the questionaire you fill out. They will then make you feel guilty about spending money elsewhere instead of on training. If you say you don't have time, they will tell you that there are enough openings in trainers schedules that you can easily find the time, regardless of whether or not you actually like the trainer you get assigned to.
6) You can change trainers during the course of your contract should you be crazy enough to sign-up. Just be aware that the trainer you leave will most likely bad-mouth you to the new trainer in order to make themselves look faultless. I took over several disgruntled clients from other trainers. Every one of them bad-mouthed the client.
Anonymous
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
More thing you should know from the former trainer...
#5Author of original report
Fri, June 27, 2003
After completing the above information, I realized that there are a few more points that potential consumers should be aware of before dealing with any "manager" from BoC.
1) The majority of "managers" are not certified in personal training. They wear shirts that have TRAINER written across the back, just like the real trainers, but don't be fooled, only about 1 in 4 is or was actually certified. The work out you are taken through is typically choreograpghed in advanced to achieve specific sales goals. They are not trained in muscle anatomy, physiology, strength training, or conditioning. They are only trained in sales. Virtually every "manager" I worked with had no background in fitness. Backgrounds ranged from tech-company failures to car salesman.
2) Not all of the sales people are manipulative. Some are honest, but BoC has tainted them. I knew of a few "managers" that would inform the potential clients that they themselves were not certified, and would pull aside an actual trainer to answer any in-depth questions. The problem is that the trainer receives no commission if you sign-up, even though you clearly signed-up because the trainer exhibted knowledge that you appreciated. Remember that regardless of what you pay per session, the trainer is only making $6 to $7.50 for the session.
3) The sales presentation is canned, and is not catered to the unique individual. The presentation involves a workout that will be nothing like the training you would receive from a real trainer. It uses basic exercises at challenging weight levels to guarantee that you are fatigued in 15 minutes and sore the next day. That's not the mentallity of a real trainer. The "manager" then sits you down to discuss resting metabolic rate, lean muscle mass, cardiovascular conditioning, and calorie burn. It is completely scripted. Ask them a question about how fat is metabloized in the body as an energy source versus how proteins are metabolized as an energy source and you will stump them or get a poor answer like "Protein is good for you. Fat is bad."
4) The body fat test that is typically used has a margin of error of 3-8 percentage points. I once paid for a hydro-static fat analysis (the only truly reliable method) at a local university. It measured me at 9.2% body fat, in the excellent range. I then went into work and had one of the "managers" use their method. I was told that my body fat was 14%, fair to average for a male my age. That's a big difference. If the sales person uses calipers to check body fat, then they can manipulate the numbers to make you appear more obese. If a an electronic machine is used, just remember that the numbers can be scewed based on your current level of hydration. If you are even slightly dehydrated, your fat percentage will be higher. Likewise, though, just because you are thin doesn't mean you should have a low body fat percentage. If you don't have muscle supporting that thin frame, you have a higher fat percentage. And that type of thin is not healthy.
5) Sales people are trained to not let you go until you turn down training 3 times. If you say that you don't have the money, they will make assumptions about your other expenses based on the questionaire you fill out. They will then make you feel guilty about spending money elsewhere instead of on training. If you say you don't have time, they will tell you that there are enough openings in trainers schedules that you can easily find the time, regardless of whether or not you actually like the trainer you get assigned to.
6) You can change trainers during the course of your contract should you be crazy enough to sign-up. Just be aware that the trainer you leave will most likely bad-mouth you to the new trainer in order to make themselves look faultless. I took over several disgruntled clients from other trainers. Every one of them bad-mouthed the client.
Anonymous
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
More thing you should know from the former trainer...
#5Author of original report
Fri, June 27, 2003
After completing the above information, I realized that there are a few more points that potential consumers should be aware of before dealing with any "manager" from BoC.
1) The majority of "managers" are not certified in personal training. They wear shirts that have TRAINER written across the back, just like the real trainers, but don't be fooled, only about 1 in 4 is or was actually certified. The work out you are taken through is typically choreograpghed in advanced to achieve specific sales goals. They are not trained in muscle anatomy, physiology, strength training, or conditioning. They are only trained in sales. Virtually every "manager" I worked with had no background in fitness. Backgrounds ranged from tech-company failures to car salesman.
2) Not all of the sales people are manipulative. Some are honest, but BoC has tainted them. I knew of a few "managers" that would inform the potential clients that they themselves were not certified, and would pull aside an actual trainer to answer any in-depth questions. The problem is that the trainer receives no commission if you sign-up, even though you clearly signed-up because the trainer exhibted knowledge that you appreciated. Remember that regardless of what you pay per session, the trainer is only making $6 to $7.50 for the session.
3) The sales presentation is canned, and is not catered to the unique individual. The presentation involves a workout that will be nothing like the training you would receive from a real trainer. It uses basic exercises at challenging weight levels to guarantee that you are fatigued in 15 minutes and sore the next day. That's not the mentallity of a real trainer. The "manager" then sits you down to discuss resting metabolic rate, lean muscle mass, cardiovascular conditioning, and calorie burn. It is completely scripted. Ask them a question about how fat is metabloized in the body as an energy source versus how proteins are metabolized as an energy source and you will stump them or get a poor answer like "Protein is good for you. Fat is bad."
4) The body fat test that is typically used has a margin of error of 3-8 percentage points. I once paid for a hydro-static fat analysis (the only truly reliable method) at a local university. It measured me at 9.2% body fat, in the excellent range. I then went into work and had one of the "managers" use their method. I was told that my body fat was 14%, fair to average for a male my age. That's a big difference. If the sales person uses calipers to check body fat, then they can manipulate the numbers to make you appear more obese. If a an electronic machine is used, just remember that the numbers can be scewed based on your current level of hydration. If you are even slightly dehydrated, your fat percentage will be higher. Likewise, though, just because you are thin doesn't mean you should have a low body fat percentage. If you don't have muscle supporting that thin frame, you have a higher fat percentage. And that type of thin is not healthy.
5) Sales people are trained to not let you go until you turn down training 3 times. If you say that you don't have the money, they will make assumptions about your other expenses based on the questionaire you fill out. They will then make you feel guilty about spending money elsewhere instead of on training. If you say you don't have time, they will tell you that there are enough openings in trainers schedules that you can easily find the time, regardless of whether or not you actually like the trainer you get assigned to.
6) You can change trainers during the course of your contract should you be crazy enough to sign-up. Just be aware that the trainer you leave will most likely bad-mouth you to the new trainer in order to make themselves look faultless. I took over several disgruntled clients from other trainers. Every one of them bad-mouthed the client.