Can I tell my trainer to F$#% OFF?
Everything turns white. Your lungs feel like they are laced with glass. Your heart has taken up residence in your ear drums and your arms and legs have decided that a noodle response is a thing. Through this near death experience you hear an annoying voice asking if you are ready for the next round. Without pause or thought, the words “F*@% OFF” manage to leave your mouth a lot louder than you would have ever anticipated. All of a sudden you are not sure if you have over-reacted and a small ounce of guilt creeps over you because in your heart you know that your mother didn’t raise you this way. The trainer has a perplexed look on his face as he reaches for the soap to wash your mouth out. Surely there must be some leniency and understanding when it comes to this! Besides, apple-flavoured hand soap is not your favourite.
I see dying people
The good news is that you are not the first one to go through this experience and surely not the last. As a trainer, I often see people pushing their own limits on what they can do and fully understand that lashing out is kin to a fight or flight response. Personally I would rather you swore at me than not give it your best when it comes to training and have never felt insulted when someone’s final breath was used to tell me where I can go manually entertain myself.
Your mother is a coun...try girl
The only caveat would be that there may be other people around who might feel offended with your colourful descriptions and there are some trainers out there who may not respond well to this sort of locker room talk. I guess that’s why personal training works well for some: it gives them the freedom to shout obscenities, to grunt or drool or else make unusually loud animal sounds.
Conclusion
So, if you are pushing yourself to the limits and the need for a verbal punching bag comes up, rest assured it’s not offensive but rather a badge of honour for your trainer - and it leaves the imagination of the neighbours ticking. Just remember, if you do end up poking the bear there is a chance you will end up on the wrong side of 100 burpees.
