In my career, I've had the opportunity to work with some really talented and skilled fitness trainers. These trainers are a credit to my industry. They embody the ideals that all fitness professionals should strive for.

I've also had the displeasure of working with some ignorant knuckleheads who don't appear to care about presenting what we do in a positive light or changing peoples' lives every day.

I want you to know who these knuckleheads are, so you can steer waaaay clear of them, and get the best experience for your hard-earned dollar.

I apologize in advance to any trainers who resemble these characters, but hey, I call 'em like I see 'em.

Knucklehead Trainer No. 1: The "Do What I Do" trainer

This trainer thinks everyone needs to train the way he trains. He has all of his trainees - male and female - on the same high school football weight program he has followed for years. He has no idea that training systems have evolved beyond "bigger, stronger, faster" or that plyometrics isn't for everyone.

Even worse, sometimes this trainer puts all of his clients on the latest "get big now" program he saw in Flex Magazine. This guy's clients usually end up injured and never hire a trainer again.

Knucklehead Trainer No. 2: The "Player"

The initial meeting is made up of questions like "so is your husband home much?" During the session the "player" usually has his hands on his client for the entire session making her feel like she's in a wrestling match with an octopus.

This guy is trouble, and usually doesn't last long in gyms, but does a lot of damage to the facility's reputation that can take a long time to shake.

Knucklehead Trainer No. 3: The "Out of Shape" trainer

This one really burns me. This trainer walks into the gym or studio every day with a McDonald's bag in one hand, and a Pepsi in the other. He may work out once a week, and asks his clients to work harder than he ever has.

This trainer sometimes has a gut that protrudes further than his chest, but will promise you amazing weight loss in 30 days. This guy is a walking contradiction and should be ashamed he ever took the title "trainer."

Knucklehead Trainer No. 4: The "Cocky New Guy"

This recently certified trainer is the world's foremost expert on every aspect of fitness you could ever want to know about ... in his world. He's an athletic trainer, corrective exercise specialist, conditioning coach and post-natal fitness trainer. It's amazing what you can learn in a six-week course! You can usually find him in the corner of the gym with no clients.

Knuckhead Trainer No. 5 The "Me Idol"

The "Me Idol" is happiest when he is talking about himself. All of his training sessions have to be near a mirror so he can check himself out while his client is doing squats in the poorest form ever. He usually wears his shirts a size too small and rolls up his sleeves like a 1950s greaser.

He's programmed to automatically tune out any conversation that doesn't revolve around him. If you stop training with him obviously there's something wrong with you.

I'm sure I've left a few off the list, and I'm sure if you've spent any time in a gym, you've seen at least one or two of these characters. They don't help build our industry, they give hard-working, honest, effective fitness trainers a bad name.

Avoid them like the plague, and you'll get the results you want and actually enjoy the process.

Chad Smith is co-owner of Home Team Fitness. Visit his Web site, www.hometeamfitness.net .