Joe Weinstein. Fit1on1

I’ve been working out with Josef for over a year and I can truly say that he is the best personal trainer I’ve ever worked with. Through the years, i’ve had sessions with a number of trainers and never lasted long with any of them. Josef has been the first to help get me motivated and kept me working regularly toward my fitness goals.
He has a great manner and is involved and concerned with creating and maintaining a sensible training program that I’ve been able to stick with. He takes the time to hear me out and tweak our workouts to best suit my current physical condition.
Josef is the best!

For more than two years, I’ve trained with Josef Weinstein twice a week and cannot say enough kind things about him.
Josef is a great trainer who has kept me motivated and on course, which is saying a lot. At times he can be tough, but it’s because he he believes I can push myself a little more. If I’m not up for the task, I always tell him and he finds an alternative exercise for me.
I honestly believe Josef has my best fitness goals in mind, and during the entire time I’ve trained with him, I’ve never hurt myself. I wish I could say the same about other personal trainers with whom I’ve worked with in the past.
I plan to train with Josef for many years to come.

My husband and I have been working out with personal trainers for several years. It should be an enjoyable experience, but with Joe I came to dread our sessions — for several reasons.
Strike 1 was when I explained to Joe that my husband has hypothyroidism because his weight loss expectations for him were totally unrealistic! I was accused of being overly negative, but clearly Joe had no idea how hard my husband has worked with other personal trainers to lose weight in the past. And what’s more he insisted he knew better despite his lack of personal experience with this illness. Later on, he told me: «I expected you to be really unfit considering your pre-​existing condition» (I also have hypothyroidism). Well, if that isn’t a silly and offensive misconception.
Strike 2 was Joe’s insensitivity. I volunteer as a patient advocate for chronic illness and am extremely proactive about my own health and that of my friends and family. I mentioned to Joe that I was feeling exhausted. He nastily snapped at me to «find another doctor!» Well, if only it were that easy! By that time, I was on my third doctor and had done hours of research to find one to actually listen. Ultimately, I ended up paying out of pocket to see an integrative practitioner because — as anyone with chronic illness knows — it’s rarely that easy to just «find another doctor».
When I finally got some answers from my practitioner that might improve my chances of weight loss, I told Joe this, but told him I’m not holding my breath, expecting to lose weight. I didn’t want to get my hopes up and be disappointed. I thought a personal trainer’s job was to motivate you, but Joe coldly replied: «No, you shouldn’t … hold your breath». At that point, I found myself wondering why I was paying this guy if he didn’t even believe he could help me improve my health. Strike 3.
As our sessions went on, Joe became increasingly patronizing. I felt upset and angry because of his comments such as «I’ve had so much life experience» and «You’re such a young woman». How utterly rude and presumptuous! Joe lectured me, talked over me and interrupted me to ultimately accuse me of wanting to hold a monologue. Well, first off, there was no way I could have as he was talking most of the time and, second off, as his paying client surely it was his job to listen to my concerns?!
Other comments included: «You won’t make others happy if you’re not happy». I wasn’t unhappy, but had just moved continents, was dealing with a chronic illness and was in limbo waiting for my husband to be transferred to a new business unit. When I expressed these concerns, I was unconstructively told to «lighten up». Not helpful!
Joe criticized our choice of apartment and also attempted to dissuade us from moving to another area. I can only believe that he was worried about losing us as clients and so deluded himself into thinking he could somehow persuade us to stay. He told me: «Moving won’t make you happy. You need to work on yourself». Inappropriate and rude coming from someone who never took the time to really ask me about myself.
I left each session feeling so stressed out that it was detrimental to my health. Consequently, I told Joe my husband would be taking my remaining sessions. His pushy text response was that he needed to know NOW for his busy schedule and future clientele whether I would be continuing to work out. He never bothered to ask if I was okay. A good personal trainer GENUINELY cares about their clients’ satisfaction and health.
My husband discussed this with Joe. We both felt Joe owed me an apology, but he was too proud to give me one. He brought up an instance where I had snapped at him because I felt ill and overtired. I know exactly what he’s referring to and this was very unfair because I did apologize to him at that time.
At the start, Joe made us sign an agreement stating individual sessions cost $ 200. As a result, you decide to buy cheaper blocks of sessions and if you don’t finish your block, your money is not refunded, even if this is because your trainer is constantly upsetting you. And so I must wonder: Why would someone incorporate such a restrictive clause unless they have treated others with such disrespect in the past?
In summary, if you are in search of a trainer who comes across as insensitive and unempathic, enjoy arrogant people — a quote from Joe: «I’m the most flexible trainer in the world!» — look no further: Joe Weinstein is your man. Don’t expect him to actually care about you as a person, although he will care about your pocketbook, and don’t be shocked if he slags you off to other clients — I’ll never forget when he laughed at how «most of his clients go to therapists and this is useless».
I cannot recommend this man under any circumstances. His strikes exceeded a full inning!
This review represents my subjective opinion based on my personal experience.