Cake ???
I am a believer in eating cake. Trust me that’s not the question. I work in a gym. I’ve worked in various different gyms for the last 10 years. I’ll never forget my disappointment when at my first ever staff meeting…gasp….they served pizza and cake. When I first entered this industry, I was enthusiastic about sharing my love of fitness, but I was also excited to work with like minded individuals. This may have been the first time I was served unhealthy food at the gym, but it certainly wasn’t the last.
Do personal trainers eat cake? Well this one does… just not at work. I have a strict “no eating cake at work rule”. I strongly feel that when I’m at the gym or around my clients that I am to be an example. They look to me for encouragement to make healthier choices. Yes, I teach balance. I let them know that despite being a vegetarian, I eat everything else in moderation. However, what is this message being sent? What if you walked into a gym and saw a bunch of trainers standing around eating cake?
Should personal trainers and other gym staff be eating cake on a monthly basis in the gym? Is this an encouraging way to show balanced eating and moderation or is it a “no no”?
I believe you have the right idea here! I totally look to trainers to set an example, especially while at work. I recall one trainer at my gym that would eat TWO chik fil a (fried) sandwiches at a time in front of everyone. I never wanted him for my trainer. Plus he seemed rather stuck on himself. That was another reason.
I think you’re exactly right. Trainers should serve as examples…and if they stood around eating cupcakes all day long, I’d think that was okay, too.
I have to say that I agree. I don’t want to see my doctor smoking cigarettes (although that example might be a little extreme) and unless I saw a trainer every single day, I think it’s professional and like you said, a good example, to eat healthy in front of clients. For your line profession, I agree that cake eating should be saved for after work!
I have a very similar story for you. During my orientation at OSU (the Human Nutrition Department) our first meal served to us was pizza and coke. I was so confused. Here I was, sitting in the Human Nutrition Department with a bunch of my new professors and fellow students, and we were being served pizza and coke!! There wasn’t even a vegetable or fruit in sight. I figured it was an occasional event, and maybe they just did this for orientation…well, that wasn’t the case. For my two years in that department each time we were fed lunch it was PIZZA and POP! I kid you not. The ironic thing is that at OSU, in the HN department, people are doing research on cancer and it’s association with fat/processed foods, etc…yet they are feeind us what has been determined to cause, or at least not prevent, cancer! UGh.
To answer your question, I do think it’s strange that your gym provides you and the staff cake on amonthly basis. Why not switch it up and do an angel food cake with strawberries? or even a lighter cake with other fruit/nuts/berries, etc.? People don’t understand the phrase “practice what you preach!”
That’s tough! I definitely look to trainers for guidance and to be able to set an example–But if they’re able to eat certain foods that they enjoy while maintaining the body they see fit, then I guess that’s cool. But I would probably not like seeing my trainer chow down on cake and pizza.
I agree with Dawn, seeing trainers eat an occasional treat could be motivating, at least for some. At this point in my life, I allow myself to eat what I want, including a small piece of cake once in a while. So seeing trainers eat cake, would serve as affirmation that the occasional piece of cake can fit into a healthy lifestyle.
However, I know many people are not at the point where they have a healthy relationship with food and especially sweets, like cake. (And I didn’t have a very healthy relationship with food a few years back…). So I would say keeping the cake out of the gym is probably better overall.
Great question!
“Practice what you preach”…You can say that again!
Years ago I worked with a trainer who, no kidding at a bag of peanut m&m’s every time he trained this one client. Unbelievable.
I think I agree with you. I don’t know how great I would feel if I walked into my gym and saw everyone who worked there standing around eating cake.
Great question!
As a Registered Dietitian who works in a wellness center setting, I have to say that I see both sides of the story. I think it is important to represent balance.
We offer regular “food demos”, (tasting demonstrations) for our members- always something with a very healthy base- for example – we’ve done spinach blueberry salads, gazpacho, smoothies…we’ve also done fruit dipped in dark chocolate for special occasions and gingerbread cookies at the holidays….So, to me, it is okay if wellness center members occasionally see me or the trainers having a cookie or some cake. However, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to serve cake at every meeting….I think in my mind, the goal is to demonstrate true balance.
I think everything, well most things, are ok in moderation. Cake included, but NOT at the gym! Some people/clients are trying so hard just to be there, to show up, to get their workout in, and if they saw trainers eating cake it would be such a mindblow for them and would be a big, discouraging thing. I would never eat cake in a yoga studio that I was teaching in unless we were having a party and everyone was on the same page that it was a celebration, it was a potluck kinda thing, it was after hours, after a great class, etc. But just to mow down on cake randomly in front of students…no way! Bad example IMO. Interesting question, I like reading everyone’s reply.
Cake and pizza at the gym is unacceptable. I’m all for balanced eating, but when you’re setting an example you need to keep that responsibility in mind and leave the junk food at home.
I think of it like being a teacher. There are certain things you do at home you’d never do in a classroom. 1) people are watching you, 2) it’s not appropriate for your professional environment.
If my trainer was fit and healthy I would not mind at all if she ate cake. In fact, I think I would like it. I think it does show balance and that a healthy lifestyle is achievable without deprivation.
I think if you’re eating cake as a celebration, oh it’s so-and-so’s birthday so I’m having a treat style it’s ok. But cake all the time, not so much… I think when it is there it could be a good chance to talk about moderation with a client though…
I hate when there’s no good option for snacks at meetings… The school I student taught at was all over the place with what you’d get at staff meetings. One week there were veggies and humus and fruit, the next it was cake and soda. Never knew if I needed to bring my own snack ahead of time…
I think the cake should stay out of the gym. I too think a personal trainer is there to set an example and while in the place of work they should do just that. Now, I’m ok with a trainer eating a piece of cake if the say the gym was having an anniversary celebration and the whole gym (members and trainers/employees) were involved.
I wouldn’t have a problem seeing a trainer eat cake or whatever else outside the gym; while on their personal time. We are only human and everyone should be able to enjoy what they like, of course in moderation! I have a sweet tooth so I would be very understanding, lol!
i love reading everyones responses! this is an interesting question and i never really see the trainers at my gym eat. I guess I just am not there at the right time. If I saw a trainer eating cake it would make me smile bc sometimes I’m too critical of myself and think I have to go to the gym to burn things off like cake. It would open my eyes more to balanced eating watched a fit and healthy person eating cake every once in a while.