Ok Society, I am coming for your broken ass!

Summer can be a slow time for the training business. Especially if you try and start a training business in the spring, and don't give yourself enough time to build before the summer months kick your business in the tenders....which is why, a few weeks ago, I gave up and put some resumes out.

I was scared, you see, and feeling pretty beaten. I wanted some security back. I didn't feel like swimming upstream anymore.

Anyway, one of the people I contacted was the manager of a local training studio who had tried to recruit me in the past. In spite of being on holidays, he immediately arranged for me to come in and meet his assistant. That went great - conversation flowed easily and by the end of the hour we were discussing how I'd bring my clients in and when I'd start. He booked a job shadowing session with one of their senior trainers so that they could check out how I train and test my skills.

That day went well too - the trainer had seen my resume and commented that he thought I had a lot to offer and that he wouldn't mind learning a few things from me. I also met the head honcho of the company that day, but only in passing. I left that day feeling excited about this new opportunity, relieved that I wouldn't have to work alone anymore, and happy that I'd be able to take the financial stress of starting a business off my family.

Except that after that, I didn't get a phone call. Or an email, or a text, or message in a bottle or singing telegram or anything. A week went by.

I began to wonder if it was because the manager was still on holidays...or if I had said the wrong thing. I replayed both meetings in my head over and over again, trying to recall some hint that things had gone sideways. And there was also this niggly little nasty thought: maybe it's because I'm too fat.

Another week went by and I sent the assistant manage that had interviewed me a text - just to ask if they had made a decision either way since time was going by and I needed to get my clients booked.

No reply.

Now, I was beginning to feel pretty sure that my appearance had been the deal breaker. I voiced that idea to my mother (who has been known to be pretty outspoken when she feels that injustice is at work) and she told me in no uncertain terms that I should march in there, demand an audience with the management, and explain that the reason I'm fat is because of a hormone imbalance and ask them to reconsider.

Ugh.

I went back and forth on this idea. One side of me was mad as hell. Why should I have to explain the way I look? I don't owe anyone that. I was more than qualified for the position, did two good interviews, and if they were going to write me off due to the width of my ass rather than what's between my ears then fuck them.

On the other hand though...part of me wanted to explain myself. I am most emphatically not a couch potato who doesn't value or practice what they preach, and I also HATE it - HATE IT - when people, especially gym-ratty fitness types, look at overweight people and assume that they are not worthy of respect, or that carrying extra weight represents some kind of character flaw. Remember, folks - never put the ASS in assume!

Right then - I was gonna do it. Not to beg for a job - no freakin' way - but to explain myself and at least make them squirm a little bit. Maybe make them think for a minute before they judge someone else based on their appearance.

So here's the letter I wrote, and the response. (Names and identifying details have been changed). I'll
keep you guys posted...but here's one certainty that has come out of this: Gray Area Fitness isn't going anyplace! If nothing else this experience has taught me that the world needs a fitness studio where NO ONE gets judged, and I'm gonna make that happen.

Maybe I should go and thank those guys for reminding me what's important!


Hi S,

Hope you had a great holiday!
Since it has been two weeks since I did my shadowing session and I haven't heard back from anyone there (in spite of having left a message on July 28th), I can only assume that you guys have decided that I'm not a good fit for your company. I feel that as we all have invested the time and energy in going as far as an interview and then job shadowing, a follow up phone call or email is warranted to let me know whether or not you want to proceed with an offer of employment. I would also like the opportunity to ask what it was that I missed since evidently we are not taking that step. I felt that the interview went well - J did have me proceed to the shadowing stage so I think he was satisfied with my qualifications - and I also felt that P was happy with my skills at the job shadowing/training session.

I was excited about the chance to work with Jocks Inc. and felt like it was going to be a good fit, so I confess I am disappointed that I haven't heard back either way and the start date that I discussed with J has come and gone. Since I don't believe it was my skill set that was the deal breaker, I want to call out the elephant in the room and offer an explanation.

I know I am currently overweight and as such, do not offer up a physique that is inspiring at first glance. I also know that on the surface, nobody would choose a fat fitness trainer since it doesn't look like they value optimal health and fitness. If that is the reason why I have not been offered employment, I would invite you to please just come out and say it. I know it's awkward and not politically correct but I get that trainers *should* be leaner and look more fit than the average person who is seeking guidance from them.

On the other hand, there is always another side to the story. I have not always looked the way I do now and I don't plan to remain this way for long. To make a (very) long story short, three years ago I developed a health condition that took a really long time to diagnose, and by the time it was identified, it had progressed to the point where my whole endocrine system had crashed and I had developed severe hypothyroidism. I gained 50lbs inside of a year, and when the rapid weight gain started I had not changed my lifestyle in the least - I was training six days a week and eating clean. As the illness and the weight gain continued and I felt worse, I had to make some concessions in my training schedule in order to save energy to keep working and caring for my family. Once I started treatment (last April), however, things have slowly gotten better. Because my endocrine system had slipped so far, treating it has had to happen in several stages and I only started treatment for the hypothyroidism two weeks ago.

So, I assure you that I hold the values that I teach my clients very dear, and I love training hard and being fit. I fully expect that I will finish the Super Spartan race in Red Deer in September and I will test for my black belt in taekwondo in November, and I will look like myself again within the year.

That's my story. Maybe I should have taken time to explain that in my interview. I elected not to because part of me thinks I shouldn't have to explain the way I look, but I know we work in an appearance-centred industry (which is unfortunate) and modelling the lifestyle is part of the job.
I do think that my experience in the last year gives me a unique perspective and it can only benefit my clients further.

I am open to discussing this further if you'd like to talk about it. If not, that's okay too but I needed to put it out there. Thanks for reading!

Yours,

Hannah Gray

Hi Hannah,
Thanks for your email and your your present situation. I would also sincerely like to apologize for the disrespectful way in which this matter had been handled.
Would you still be prepared to meet with me? It will not be to offer you a position with us currently but to just chat.
S