Trainer or NOT

Chines03

First off let me say, I hate exercising. Don't know why, but I do. I plan to change that. I met with a personal training and thinking about letting him train me. Was told I train 2 times a week and follow a meal plan by him. I have to text him my meals every 2.5 hrs. No eating after 8 pm. Workouts with him will be a hr on training days. Days I'm not training with him, I need to be in the gym. Weigh in once per week. His training consist of running, planks, lots of outside exercise, etc. I know it is going to be very hard but worth it if I can hang in there. My question is, is a trainer necessary for someone like me or should I just clean eat and force myself to the gym at least 4-5 times per week for an hr? I just don't want to waste money. The gym I am joining is Planet Fitness and I know they have some trainers there as well.

52cardpickup

Are you going to go to the gym without having a trainer there to push you to do so? Be honest with yourself, and that'll give you your answer.

dbmata

Do you see value in investing in yourself?

I personally invest in the services of a coach in order to maximize my benefits while minimizing my time spent. I've finally had massive breakthroughs thanks to my time with my coach.

I feel if it's something where health and performance is important, and you can comfortably afford it, it's a good investment. So I buy less silver every month, I'm buying a few more years of life, hopefully.

jrline

I lost 100lbs on my own just logging everything on here. It really depends on you. Some people need the trainer to help hold them accountable. Good Luck on your Journey

Chines03

52cardpickup wrote: »

Are you going to go to the gym without having a trainer there to push you to do so? Be honest with yourself, and that'll give you your answer.

To be honest, yes I really believe I can. I really need to lose weight and get healthy for my 2 young kids. My down fall is going to be on my nutrition and I believe the trainer can help me greatly in that area and I will be held accountable at weigh in.

Chines03

dbmata wrote: »

Do you see value in investing in yourself?

I personally invest in the services of a coach in order to maximize my benefits while minimizing my time spent. I've finally had massive breakthroughs thanks to my time with my coach.

I feel if it's something where health and performance is important, and you can comfortably afford it, it's a good investment. So I buy less silver every month, I'm buying a few more years of life, hopefully.

So true. I totally agree that it's time to invest in my health and do something for me.

Chines03

jrline wrote: »

I lost 100lbs on my own just logging everything on here. It really depends on you. Some people need the trainer to help hold them accountable. Good Luck on your Journey

Thank you so much!

dbmata

Also, I would not hire a trainer from Planet Fitness.

Chines03

dbmata wrote: »

Also, I would not hire a trainer from Planet Fitness.

No this trainer has his own training studio. Not one from the gym. I just need the gym membership to use the equipment and have no excuses when I don't agree with the weather to workout outside.

Lalalindaloo

I spent the first 6 months of getting back into the swing of things doing it myself. Almost all cardio. I lost 50 lbs and a whoooole lotta inches. So probably getting started you can do on your own.

BUT

I wish I had invested earlier in advice from someone knowledgeable about the best ways to reach my goals. And really, help me figure out what my goals were. At first I thought I just wanted to lose weight. Now, I know I want to get stronger and make my body more efficient and healthy. I start working with a trainer on serious strength training tomorrow night, but wish I had started it 6 months ago.

uconnwinsnc1

If you really are completely unsure of what you are doing, there is nothing wrong with having a trainer teach you technique/form/workouts. He also seems very dedicated to helping his clients from what you're saying so give it a shot! If you need someone to hold you accountable that should help.

Let us know how it goes.

Chines03

Lalalindaloo wrote: »

I spent the first 6 months of getting back into the swing of things doing it myself. Almost all cardio. I lost 50 lbs and a whoooole lotta inches. So probably getting started you can do on your own.

BUT

I wish I had invested earlier in advice from someone knowledgeable about the best ways to reach my goals. And really, help me figure out what my goals were. At first I thought I just wanted to lose weight. Now, I know I want to get stronger and make my body more efficient and healthy. I start working with a trainer on serious strength training tomorrow night, but wish I had started it 6 months ago.

Good luck tomorrow night. You can do it. I have no strength at all and that is one of the main reasons I would like to have a trainer. I believe I can handle the cardio part by using the elliptical and treadmill but would like to learn a little more.

Chines03

uconnwinsnc1 wrote: »

If you really are completely unsure of what you are doing, there is nothing wrong with having a trainer teach you technique/form/workouts. He also seems very dedicated to helping his clients from what you're saying so give it a shot! If you need someone to hold you accountable that should help.

Let us know how it goes.

Thank you and I will keep everyone updated. I have until Friday to decide if I want to use the trainer or not before all the slots are filled for the New Year.

Silentfool

I say defo go for a trainer. I was like you and now find myself doing things i never thought my body was possible of doing. Your trainer sounds a bit harsh in his regime.

Trainers are like cars, every body wants a different type. I would throughly investigate what type of triner would suit you and you are paying so dont feel guilty swapping for a different one if the orginal trainer does not work out.

your trainer will teach you so much you need to know at the start but once you are on fitness road you dont need them all the time to hold your hand. start to see them once or twice a month just to check in and make sure you are on track. it also gives you accountability

Good Luck

fannyfrost

Trainers are really good at teaching you the exercises. It can be very helpful for form and to get started.

As for the food aspect, I would watch that part, not all trainers are nutritionists and don't always give the best food advice. So just be aware of the calories and what he is expecting. Also if they tweak the food and calories with you based on how much you do.

As for forcing yourself to go to the gym, why? Lots of exercise can be fun. Do you like to dance? Try zumba. Also think about what you did as a kid, did you jump rope? well do that now? did you play hopscotch or skate, well you can do that now. I am not saying the gym doesn't have its place, but workouts can be fun if you find the right one. even if you don't like exercise.

The other thing a trainer will often do is introduce you to non traditional exercise. Give that a try.

ukaryote

babyphat2013 wrote: »

My down fall is going to be on my nutrition and I believe the trainer can help me greatly in that area and I will be held accountable at weigh in.

Does the trainer have a degree in nutrition? If not, I would listen but not take it as gospel. If the person is very insistent you eat exactly what they say, it would raise a red flag for me.

Another person is definitely helpful with accountability.

jgnatca

I had a personal trainer for ten weeks and she was a good match. I'm rather particular about personal health and she was a registered nurse. She pushed me harder than I thought I could go, and I learned a lot from her. She reassured me that I could do much more than I thought.

Since then on my own, I've switched to exercises that I enjoy.

I agree that a fitness trainer is only marginally helpful with nutrition, other than helping you be accountable.

I say, if you find that this trainer is not a good match, be bold enough to terminate and find another one.

cwolfman13

This really just depends on you. I lost all of my weight without a trainer and just working out on my own and eating for wellness. I did perfectly fine on my own, but recently hired a trainer because I just want to take my fitness to the next level and I was getting a little stagnate.

SHBoss1673

ukaryote wrote: »

babyphat2013 wrote: »

My down fall is going to be on my nutrition and I believe the trainer can help me greatly in that area and I will be held accountable at weigh in.

Does the trainer have a degree in nutrition? If not, I would listen but not take it as gospel. If the person is very insistent you eat exactly what they say, it would raise a red flag for me.

Another person is definitely helpful with accountability.

+1
As a Personal Trainer myself, I can tell you that there is minimal (if any) nutrition training needed for most programs to become a trainer (it depends on who you are certified through). Get their nutrition related credentials before you follow any meal plans. Any good trainer will tell you straight up that they are NOT a certified nutrition specialist (unless they are). Best bet is to go through a registered dietitian for your nutrition advice, or at the very least, bring any meal plans you are given to one (a registered dietitian) to go over with you.

dbmata

I like the idea that this trainer has his own gym/studio. The best trainers I've worked with in the past have their own private places.

radiosilents

The best $1680 I spent in 2014 was weekly sessions with a trainer. I found a great one that I really felt comfortable with and who really knows his stuff – and pushed me beyond my comfort zone. I have gained so much confidence in my abilities, feel strong and powerful. Could I have done that on my own? I mean, technically, I suppose, as there are a lot of resources out there on the internet. BUT having appointments to keep and having someone design workouts for me with exercises I probably wouldn't have tried was REALLY helpful. Not to mention knowing that I invested that much in myself financially... that was very motivating. Now I have a whole new set of knowledge and skills I can continue to develop on my own, and build on. I do plan to sign up for some more sessions in the coming year, but not commit to another whole year contract again, just because I think I am good for now.

TOTALLY worth it. It was hard to spend that much, trust me ($140/month), but I bit the bullet and have not regretted it, not one bit.

MKEgal

babyphat2013 wrote:

I met with a personal training (sic) and thinking about letting him train me. Was told I train 2 times a week and follow a meal plan by him. I have to text him my meals every 2.5 hrs. No eating after 8 pm.

What agency is he accredited by, and does their accredidation (or his degree) include nutrition?
(For example, the American College of Sports Medicine certifies personal trainers.)

If it doesn't, then I wouldn't pay attention to what he says about what or how much to eat unless you can verify it's good information. (Like finding the same info yourself on a respectible research / accredidation site.)
http://www.eatright.org/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

Sounds very controlling, and probably not healthy.
YOU need to do this. Don't give control to someone else.

His training consist of running, planks, lots of outside exercise, etc.

A progressive cardio program, and a progressive weightlifting program, is a good idea.
Don't jump into doing so much at once, because you'll overload & burn out.
Seriously, the first time I got on a treadmill I think I went for 5 minutes. Felt pretty pathetic, but I went back & did it the next day, and the next, and started adding a minute, then adding speed.

is a trainer necessary for someone like me or should I just clean eat and force myself to the gym at least 4-5 times per week for an hr?

No, it's not necessary.
But if you want to hire a trainer to design a program & teach you how to do exercises correctly (so you don't hurt yourself) that would be a good investment. Just make sure that s/he knows that's what you expect, not an ongoing rah-rah person that you're going to be paying forever.
Get the basics, then do it yourself.

The gym I am joining is Planet Fitness and I know they have some trainers there as well.

Their quality varies depending on their certification, so ask the one at your gym what her/his training is, what is her/his licensing body, experience, etc.
They could at least show you how to use the machines safely.

I've been at PF for a couple years, only seriously using it this year. I learned most of what I do on my own, but when I wanted a change I asked the trainer at the gym to show me how to use free weights (I'd just been using the machines until then).

970Mikaela1

I really liked having a trainer. Seemed progress was faster as there was no fear when lifting. I.e. having a good spotter.

Theo166

There are many different ways to use a trainer
- x3 per week to be your nanny and workout buddy. Hold you accountable and push you.
- x1 per week to check-in, and also learn new techniques
- several hrs to help you get started - create a plan and teach you the basics. Follow up hrs as needed.

I recommend the third option as a minimum, and then more frequently as budget allows.

Chines03

Wow. Really good information. Thank you everyone.

To answer a few questions, no I do not believe the trainer is a certified nutrition. He did state that he needs our blood type to know what foods will be allowed and not while on his plan. This will be a question that I will ask him.

cebreisch

I think checking in with a personal trainer can be a good thing. However, I think that once you've gotten yourself set up and in a routine, that you'd only need to check with him once in a while to make sure your form is right - making sure you've not forgotten the best way to do the exercises he's suggested.

As for nutrition, I'm not the biggest fan of having the trainers do the diet plans. I think a bariatric dietician would be better.

About 20 years ago, I got set up with a trainer at a gym, he showed me what to do based on the goals I had at the time. I had an index card that I'd mark things down on, and he'd look at it periodically and ask me how things were going once in a while. I made a lot of progress getting into shape that way.

At that time, I really didn't know what to do about diet and didn't understand nutrition well enough.

It was only a few years ago when I started working with a bariatric dietician that I began to understand the best way to do things for ME relative to my food intake. Logging foods on here was a monster help. That way, I understood where my calories were being spent and could better make adjustments to help me feel fuller longer, and get more "mileage" out of what I was eating. (The healthier the food you eat, the more of it you can have!)

Make sure you're doing what's best for you on this journey you're on, and that he fully understands your goals and where you want to be. Otherwise, you're on his path and not your own.

dbmata

most bariatrics trained professionals I have met are top notch.

JoRocka

babyphat2013 wrote: »

Wow. Really good information. Thank you everyone.

To answer a few questions, no I do not believe the trainer is a certified nutrition. He did state that he needs our blood type to know what foods will be allowed and not while on his plan. This will be a question that I will ask him.

do not go to that trainer.

he's an idiot.

janicept77

Planet Fitness offers free classes as part of the membership. You may want to go to those first then see if you need to pay a trainer. I lost over 50 pounds a few years ago and started at Curves. There was only one workout so there was really no wrong way to go. The receptionist would help me be accountable and they would call people that hadn't showed up in awhile. After Curves near me closed I joined Planet Fitness because it was cheap and I was in the habit of going.

For me the biggest obstacle was making going to the gym a habit. I had to go almost everyday because I knew if I started to skip I would start skipping more and more. Which eventually happened and I gained back about 12 pounds from my smallest. I've since joined a family owned gym near my house that has classes and I've already lost 1.5 pounds in less then a week. It took me years to find something that worked. You can also pay for a trainer once or twice a month just to keep yourself on track and update your program.

dbmata

Blood type? lol.

Oh that reminds me, gotta call my doctor.

spoiledpuppies

I lost my weight on my own, and then I got a trainer to rebuild/recomp. I told him in our first discussion that I'd be his best student ever because I knew I would adhere--which I have and I've seen great results. He pushes me so much farther than I ever would push myself. I've realized I have a confidence problem in that I never think I can lift what he suggests--and then I do!

With that said, if I had a different personality (if I weren't someone who gives 150% to everything), I could be throwing my money out the window with a trainer. It still comes down to you and what you're willing to do/give.