“‘When you go to the gym, do whatever you want’—impersonal trainer”
Many people who go to the gym to work out have a personal trainer. Are there impersonal trainers?
“I have an impersonal trainer. We meet at the gym, we don’t talk, he works out alone and I go home” was printed in the book When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? (2004) by American stand-up comedian George Carlin (1937-2008).
“Impersonal Trainer T-Shirt” was posted on X/Twitter by mike cardus on January 25, 2011. “I a new mug. It says: IMPERSONAL TRAINER” was posted on X/Twitter by Kerstin Mohnberg on June 21, 2011. “IMPERSONAL TRAINER” (shown on a T-shirt) was posted on X/Twitter by Fitness Shirts USA & Hoodies on November 4, 2017.
“‘Idunno, like, stop being so fat or whatever.’ (Impersonal Trainer)” was posted on X/Twitter by @RobKutner on January 23, 2011. “‘Yeah, engage your core or whatever.’ - impersonal trainer” was posted on X/Twitter by Myron on June 5, 2011. “@Jake_Vig: ‘Do as many squats as you feel like, I don’t want to get involved.’ - impersonal trainer” was posted on X/Twitter by Reading Rainbow on November 20, 2013. “‘when you go to the gym, do whatever you want’—impersonal trainer” was posted on X/Twitter by Myq (Parenthetical) Kaplan on February 11, 2016.
“I’ve noticed a lot of fitness instructors are offering online sessions. Does that make them impersonal trainers?” was posted on X/Twitter by Darrell Does Comedy on April 2, 2020. “Thought for the day: Shouldn’t a Personal Trainer who trains people via online video be called an Impersonal Trainer?” was posted on Facebook by Max Dennis on March 6, 2024.
“If there are personal trainers, are there impersonal trainers? ‘You’re pretty damn fat’” was posted on X/Twitter by Imwai on October 15, 2014. “Personal trainer implies the existence of an impersonal trainer” was posted on X/Twitter and Bluesky by Sacha Coward on July 30, 2025.
Wikipedia: Personal trainer
A personal trainer is an individual who creates and delivers safe and effective exercise programs for healthy individuals and groups, or those with medical clearance to exercise. They motivate clients by collaborating to set goals, providing meaningful feedback, and by being a reliable source for accountability. Trainers also conduct a variety of assessments beginning with a preparticipation health-screening and may also include assessments of posture and movement, flexibility, balance, core function, cardio-respiratory fitness, muscular fitness, body composition, and skill-related parameters (e.g. power, agility, coordination, speed, and reactivity) to observe and gather relevant information needed to develop an effective exercise program and support client goal attainment.
Google Books
When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?
By George Carlin
New York, NY: Hyperion Books
2004
Pg. ?:
I have an impersonal trainer. We meet at the gym, we don’t talk, he works out alone and I go home.
X/Twitter
tuupplop
@tuupplop
As part of rehab, have signed up for an impersonal trainer. Much cheaper. But does shout ‘You there! Yeah. You!’ quite a bit.
5:45 AM · Apr 8, 2009
X/Twitter
Nadia
@Nadiaphillips
Say yes for impersonal trainers! http://myloc.me/FAAD
11:00 AM · Sep 17, 2009
X/Twitter
@RobKutner
@ApocalypseHow
“Idunno, like, stop being so fat or whatever.” (Impersonal Trainer)
3:45 PM · Jan 23, 2011
X/Twitter
mike cardus
@teambuildingny
Impersonal Trainer T-Shirt http://despair.com/impersonaltrainer.html?utm_source=Wailing+List+Opt+In&utm_campaign=c23b961fb1-New_Shirts_1_25_2011&utm_medium=email
10:00 AM · Jan 25, 2011
X/Twitter
Myron
@myrontan
“Yeah, engage your core or whatever.” - impersonal trainer.
2:35 PM · Jun 5, 2011
X/Twitter
Kerstin Mohnberg
@strohfeuer
I have a new mug. It says: IMPERSONAL TRAINER
5:03 AM · Jun 21, 2011
X/Twitter
Las Vegas Carl’s Jr
@LasVegascarlsjr
“Yeah, engage your core or whatever.” - impersonal trainer.
12:52 AM · Dec 19, 2011
X/Twitter
Giovanni Tiso
@gtiso
I got myself one of those impersonal trainers. He says things like “One should push harder! Work one’s abs!”
4:02 PM · Dec 20, 2011
X/Twitter
Mr. Rodriguez
@itzFLAVS
Personal trainer indirectly implies that they’re are impersonal trainers as well. ....
I wonder if they charge less.
11:12 PM · Jun 11, 2012
X/Twitter
Dane Cook
@DaneCook
I hired an impersonal trainer.
5:10 PM · Jul 13, 2012
X/Twitter
Marty Fields
@Martyfields
I work out with a guy at the gym but he refuses to talk to me. He’s an impersonal trainer.
10:50 PM · Jul 18, 2012
X/Twitter
Jonathan Read
@Jread123
“Yeah, engage your core or whatever.” - impersonal trainer
12:29 PM · Aug 5, 2012 from Cornwall, England
X/Twitter
Reading Rainbow
@Mkjkfitzgerald
“@Jake_Vig: “Do as many squats as you feel like, I don’t want to get involved.”
- impersonal trainer” @joeyfitz4
4:51 PM · Nov 20, 2013
X/Twitter
The Onion
@TheOnion
In Focus: Impersonal Trainer Couldn’t Give A Fuck What You Do With Those Free Weights http://onion.com/1mPnJv5
9:30 AM · Jun 13, 2014
X/Twitter
Rick_Presley
@Rick_Presley
The spa I went to has dramatically reduced their incidence of sexual harassment allegations since they switched to impersonal trainers.
3:35 PM · Sep 24, 2014
X/Twitter
Imwai
@imwaite
If there are personal trainers, are there impersonal trainers?
“You’re pretty damn fat.”
5:19 PM · Oct 15, 2014
X/Twitter
Myq (Parenthetical) Kaplan
@myqkaplan
“when you go to the gym, do whatever you want”—impersonal trainer
1:58 PM · Feb 11, 2016
X/Twitter
PerpusPsikologi ICBC
@psikologi_icbc
(Exercise trainer says ‘Come on… you! Just two more, uh, you!’ Caption reads ‘Impersonal Trainer.’)
6:01 AM · Mar 18, 2016
Reddit—Jokes
rainglaze—July 5, 2016
I met up with my impersonal trainer today
We went to the gym,i stood there eating snacks and he worked out,then we said our farewells and parted ways. -George C.
X/Twitter
molinos
@molinos1282
Impersonal trainer @NewYorker
(“IMPERSONAL TRAINER ‘Go fir it, whatshisname! You can, or possibly cannot, do this!’” is shown on a cartoon.—ed.)
5:11 AM · May 29, 2017
X/Twitter
Johnjay Van Es
@JohnjayVanEs
I belong to a bad gym. They only have impersonal trainers.
12:11 PM · May 30, 2017
X/Twitter
Fitness Shirts USA & Hoodies
@FitnessShirtUSA
#IMPERSONAL #TRAINER
#fitness #shirts #tshirts #sf #fashion #hoodie
https://goo.gl/kRTsEo
(“IMPERSONAL TRAINER” is shown on a T-shirt.—ed.)
8:09 AM · Nov 4, 2017
X/Twitter
David Hicks
@ALL_CAPS
A gym for introverts with impersonal trainers that avoid you.
2:17 PM · Nov 8, 2017
X/Twitter
Peter Ubel
@peterubel
Why don’t more fitness clubs offer the services of impersonal trainers?
12:12 PM · Feb 28, 2019
Reddit—Jokes
kickypie—November 15, 2019
I met up with my impersonal trainer today
We went to the gym,i stood there eating snacks and he worked out,then we said our farewells and parted ways.
X/Twitter
Darrell Does Comedy
@darrellmilton
I’ve noticed a lot of fitness instructors are offering online sessions. Does that make them impersonal trainers?
2:44 PM · Apr 2, 2020
Facebook
Ward Case
September 5, 2022 at 11:30 AM ·
“I have an impersonal trainer. We meet at the gym, we don’t talk, he works out alone and I go home.”
- George Carlin
Bluesky
Jake_Vig
@jakevig.bsky.social
Do as many squats as you feel like, I don’t want to get involved.
- Impersonal trainer
May 5, 2023 at 8:44 PM
Bluesky
Jake_Vig
@jakevig.bsky.social
“Do as many squats as you feel like, I don’t want to get involved.”
- impersonal trainer
January 8, 2024 at 11:19 AM
Facebook
Michael Adam Kaplan
February 11, 2024 at 2:19 PM ·
“when you go to the gym, do whatever”—impersonal trainer
Bluesky
Myq Kaplan
@myqkaplan.bsky.social
“when you go to the gym, do whatever”—impersonal trainer
February 11, 2024 at 2:19 PM
Facebook
Max Dennis
March 6, 2024 at 1:51 AM ·
Thought for the day: Shouldn’t a Personal Trainer who trains people via online video be called an Impersonal Trainer?
Bluesky
Lewis Weil
@lewisweil.bsky.social
my impersonal trainer said i should just you know do whatever
July 24, 2024 at 3:53 PM
Bluesky
Myq Kaplan
@myqkaplan.bsky.social
“when you go to the gym, do whatever”
— impersonal trainer
February 12, 2025 at 4:55 PM
X/Twitter
Sacha Coward
@sacha_coward
Personal trainer implies the existence of an impersonal trainer.
5:10 AM · Jul 30, 2025
Bluesky
Sacha Coward
@sachacoward.bsky.social
Personal trainer implies the existence of an impersonal trainer.
July 30, 2025 at 5:10 AM