After 10 years and 100lbs lost, I’m finally hanging up the whistle. The "Dream Career" is a burnout factory.
I’m officially done. After a decade in the trenches of the fitness industry, I’ve transitioned into a "normal" 9-to-5, and the relief is honestly overwhelming.
I got into this with the best intentions. I lost 100lbs myself and felt like I had found the "secret." I wanted to pay it forward and help others change their lives the way I changed mine. But the reality of the industry is a far cry from the success stories you see on Instagram.
The Reality Check
The truth is, most people who need to lose 100lbs... simply won't. I spent years in an endless cycle with clients who refused to track food, couldn't stay consistent for more than a week, and let shame-spirals from binge eating derail months of progress. It is soul-crushing to watch people constantly choose junk food and self-sabotage while you're pouring your heart into their programming.
The "Trainer/Therapist" Hybrid
I’m tired of the awkward hours. I’m tired of being an unpaid therapist for energy-draining clients. I would show up to in-person sessions ready to work, only to spend 60 minutes listening to someone complain about their personal life or explain why they "couldn't" eat a vegetable this week and trained with no intensity. My empathy and patience have hit absolute zero.
The Business Headache
• Chasing Payments: Acting as my own debt collector because people "forgot" their invoice for the third time.
• The Ghosting: Putting in hours of work on a program just for a client to vanish into thin air.
• The Industry: Dealing with other trainers can be just as big of a headache as the clients.
• Social Media: I built a following of over 20k across platforms, and while there was support, the trolls and the hate are always louder. The mental toll of the "content grind" is real.
Working for other gyms and studios pay is low and hours are awkward and you still have to find and sell the clients yourself more than half the time
The Financial Irony
There were highs—months where I cleared $10k–$15k—but the inconsistency is a killer. I remember being a "professional coach" and having to drive DoorDash on the side just to make ends meet during the lean months. It’s a sad realization that society often has more demand for a lukewarm burrito delivery than for high-level health coaching.
The New Chapter
I’ve moved into a role where I don’t have to talk to a soul if I don’t want to. I’m already making more money, I have actual benefits, and my weekends belong to me again. No more 5 AM sessions, no more "emergency" texts about people’s personal issues.
I’m keeping a small roster of 10–25 online clients—the ones who actually put in the work and make it enjoyable—but I am officially out of the coaching rat race. If you’re a trainer feeling the burnout: you aren't alone, and the grass really is greener on the other side.
And Yes I used ai to help me type all this out because I basically vented the whole thing with speech to text lol