Posted on March 25, 2016 by Kate Halsall

As personal trainers, not only do we train people, provide nutritional advice, help them to reach their goals and so on…but we also often step up to be life coaches, pain gurus, sounding boards, training buddies and above all else, a vast font of incredible knowledge! What has become apparent to me at least over the last few years is that I’m never surprised any more by the strange questions personal trainers are asked. What’s even more amazing is that these days you’ll find that we actually know the answers too! Here’s just a sample:

• What do YOU eat?

Because of course it’s going to be so much more different to what you guys eat! The best questions are when this is combined with – do you have Easter eggs or do you have cake on your birthday!?! Why would we suggest that you eat eggs or porridge for breakfast, feast on quinoa, green leafy veg and steak and avoid processed goods if we then go home and tuck into a massive take away! Sorry to disappoint you guys, but as the super-humans we are, believe it or not we do practice what we preach!

• Fizzy Orange drinks set off my asthma?

Avoid that first reaction of “don’t drink them then”. Then look at the bigger picture! As an asthmatic myself, I found (in my pre-personal trainer years), that certain E numbers triggered my asthma. Now it’s not the same for all asthmatics – but here are a couple of key E numbers that I was told to avoid:

E102 – Tartrazine – can be found in fizzy drinks, and yoghurt among other things

E104 – Quinoline Yellow – can be found in desserts

• How is it that I only eat 1200 calories a day but I don’t even lose a pound?

At first you kind of take a step back and say – actually that’s a valid question…….that’s until of course you look at what those 1200 calories a day look like. If your 1200 calories are made up of alcohol and chocolate bars, then I’m afraid that diet isn’t working for you. Whilst your body processes the booze, your body will not burn fat; and if you’re eating a load of chocolate then all that sugar and fat is messing with your blood sugar levels, not to even mention the lack of essential nutrients that your metabolism needs!

• How long would it take you to run a marathon in fancy dress costume?

Ahhh – this brings a smile to my face! Firstly – have you ever run a marathon before? Then follows: what training are you doing, how long before the marathon and then finally – what type of costume are you going to wear (if it’s superman or another tight superhero costume, I’d have to say probably not a lot longer than running in “normal” attire). I’m afraid that for this question, there is no magic answer.

•  Why does this hurt when I do this?

You would not believe how much personal trainers know about anatomy. To qualify we learn about muscles (where they start, where they finish, what they are made of, their functions etc etc), bones, nervous systems, respiratory systems and so on. We know about corrective exercises, core strengthening, how to avoid shin splints etc. You can also get extra qualified to know about exercise when the client has different blood pressures, are pregnant, struggle with depression & anxiety, have old age, diabetes, low back pain etc. And THEN you can get even extra qualified as sports therapists, biomechanic coaches – the possibilities are endless! But in a nutshell if something hurts STOP DOING IT, speak to us and if we don’t know what it is (as we’re absolutely NOT doctors) then you need to go to someone that does.

• Why are my gums bleeding?

You may instantly think of oral hygiene issues and question why this was asked of a personal trainer. However, if you are pregnant, the increase in blood and blood flow means that you could be more susceptible to nose and gum bleeds. Being pre and postnatal qualified means we know A LOT about what happens to a woman’s body during each trimester…you’d be surprised at what we know!

They key here is that personal trainers actually know a lot about a lot of things! There is no such thing as an entirely stupid question. But don’t be surprised if sometimes we have to look something up, question why you’re asking or avoid the topic entirely!