Is a personal trainer essential?

daniwilford
daniwilford Posts: 1,030 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
When it comes to strength training, I am a novice at best. I joined a gym, (Anytime Fitness) where the membership is paid as a part of my benefit package, and I had a free fitness evaluation with a personal trainer. I then had the sales pitch for personal training sessions. It is a year commitment and I am not sure where I can find the money in my budget for the fees.

Replies

  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Not essential - especially if you can't afford it. I think it is nice to have - but there's so much information out there in books, online, on this website certainly you can find what you need to get a good program going at the gym.
  • missprecocious
    missprecocious Posts: 9 Member
    Definitely not needed. There are so many YouTube videos about training, and great Pinterest workouts.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I don't believe it is essential for everybody.

    Last summer, when I first started lifting weights, I bought a package that gave me 3 sessions with a trainer. I just wanted to learn proper form and get on a lifting program and that's exactly what I got. That was extremely helpful. Any more sessions than that would have been a waste for me.

    Can you buy just a few personal training sessions from the gym? If not, can you get a few sessions elsewhere (or at your gym with an outside trainer--is that bad gym etiquette? I have no idea. Hopefully somebody will chime in...) so that you learn proper form?
  • levitateme
    levitateme Posts: 999 Member
    When I started lifting I asked a trainer at my gym to help with deadlift and squat form. They didn't know the answers. I find commercial gym trainers to really not know very much. I learned from youtube form videos and reading up on routines online.
  • ultrahoon
    ultrahoon Posts: 467 Member
    Not essential, but a brief 30 min session with one was enough to improve my lifting form somewhat.

    If you do go the trainer route, make sure you do a little research and ask them some questions first, there are a lot of duff ones out there.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    I don't think it's essential. I do think it can be helpful in learning form when you are really new--it helped me feel more confident even after I'd spent some time teaching myself from videos, but I don't think I'd agree to a year commitment.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    A year commitment is whack. A session or two to make you more comfortable could be very useful, but not essential.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    daniwilford wrote: »
    When it comes to strength training, I am a novice at best. I joined a gym, (Anytime Fitness) where the membership is paid as a part of my benefit package, and I had a free fitness evaluation with a personal trainer. I then had the sales pitch for personal training sessions. It is a year commitment and I am not sure where I can find the money in my budget for the fees.

    Nope

    Although I love my PT but I book him week to week

    I don't get this year long commitment, sounds a swizz
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Nope. I personally do not like people telling me what to do.
  • dfranch
    dfranch Posts: 207 Member
    A couple of sessions to make sure your form is good is fine, but a year commitment sounds like a waste.
  • soapsandropes
    soapsandropes Posts: 269 Member
    I wouldn't sign up for a year, that is a long time to commit to someone you may or may not like. However, if you want to start strength training, especially with free weights, a session of two isn't an awful idea. A person to help you with form will be beneficial.
  • anneeett
    anneeett Posts: 75 Member
    If you're looking for an alternative: I like to check out http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbmaintrain.htm from time to time when I want to swtich up my workout routine, but am not sure which exercises to implement. They have various workout plans, and short video tutorials to show you how each exercise should be done :)
  • htimpaired
    htimpaired Posts: 1,404 Member
    edited August 2015
    After seeing the bad form and horrible advice given by the fool trainers at my gym, I wouldn't recommend it without some research on their training and background (note: mine is another one of those large chain gyms, I just don't think it's as good quality. can't wait to break up with them when my contract is up!). Ironically, some of the best form tips I've gotten were from a group fitness instructor. And that was free.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    A year commitment is whack. A session or two to make you more comfortable could be very useful, but not essential.

    Cosigned.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I've worked with a trainer for 14 months 2-3x/ week. For me it has been essential to the fitness and weight loss progress I've made. However, I would not have signed on for a year at the beginning or even now. He offers multi session packages at a discount, but it's 10-20 sessions, not a year.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    A year commitment is whack. A session or two to make you more comfortable could be very useful, but not essential.

    /agree

    Immediately walk away from anyone selling a long term commitment without verification. Reach out to a trainer and do a trial session. Some trainers are miracle workers - others simply won't work well with you, but you need to establish a relationship first.
  • arb037
    arb037 Posts: 203 Member
    That trainer could have been well known and highly referrable, could have been why his package was as lengthy as it was.
    Trainers would def like to have clients in longer packages as it keeps them from having to find new clients all the time.
  • eileensofianmushinfine
    eileensofianmushinfine Posts: 303 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    I've worked with a trainer for 14 months 2-3x/ week. For me it has been essential to the fitness and weight loss progress I've made. However, I would not have signed on for a year at the beginning or even now. He offers multi session packages at a discount, but it's 10-20 sessions, not a year.

    this has been my experience. I've been working with a trainer for 2 years. I buy sessions in bulk -- generally 8-16 sessions at a time (2x per week). Both trainers were terrific to help me with my form -- and my current trainer is moving me into lifting heavy -- and is always checking my form.

  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    daniwilford wrote: »
    When it comes to strength training, I am a novice at best. I joined a gym, (Anytime Fitness) where the membership is paid as a part of my benefit package, and I had a free fitness evaluation with a personal trainer. I then had the sales pitch for personal training sessions. It is a year commitment and I am not sure where I can find the money in my budget for the fees.

    Nope

    Although I love my PT but I book him week to week

    I don't get this year long commitment, sounds a swizz

    I love my trainer...but for the last 18 months, I have paid for training 3 weeks at a time (2 hours a week).


  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    bump
  • ohmscheeks
    ohmscheeks Posts: 840 Member
    daniwilford wrote: »
    ...It is a year commitment and I am not sure where I can find the money in my budget for the fees.
    Then, don't do it.

  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    A year commitment is a red flag. You should be able learn what you need in 5 to 10 sessions. If you can't afford that, a good program for your age group is New Rules of Lifting for Life.

    If you decide to hire a trainer, here are tips on choosing a good one and avoiding bad ones:
    http://body-improvements.com/articles/industry-articles/how-to-select-a-personal-trainer/
    http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/personal-trainer-break-up-signs/

  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
    I had a PT for six weeks on a special at the Y - three people, one trainer. She was great. I've watched numerous youtube stuff, but it's just not the same as having a real person assessing your strengths and weaknesses and pushing you where you need to be pushed and holding back on pushing where you aren't ready for it yet. After the six weeks, oh how I wish I could afford it! And I will find a way to make it fit in my budget again because it helped me tremendously. If the only option your gym has is a one-year commitment, I would change gyms. If that's not possible, I guess youtube videos and dvds are your only option.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    It's nice to do a couple of sessions to see where you're at, but the rest. Nope!
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    Agreeing with everyone else... a year is too much. I prefer the flexibility of scheduling week to week... PT's need to be able to work around YOUR schedule.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    Not essential for people who are physically talented. Normal people should get a little bit of good guidance (which isn't on offer everywhere) on form for key movements if they can afford it. People who have coordination issues would do well to prioritize a couple of sessions imo
  • Tahlia68
    Tahlia68 Posts: 204 Member
    daniwilford wrote: »
    When it comes to strength training, I am a novice at best. I joined a gym, (Anytime Fitness) where the membership is paid as a part of my benefit package, and I had a free fitness evaluation with a personal trainer. I then had the sales pitch for personal training sessions. It is a year commitment and I am not sure where I can find the money in my budget for the fees.

    I was a member of Anytime Fitness (Pakenham) for 6 weeks and cancelled my 12mth membership 3 weeks ago. Take my advice, don't waste your money. There all talk and NO action.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    daniwilford wrote: »
    When it comes to strength training, I am a novice at best. I joined a gym, (Anytime Fitness) where the membership is paid as a part of my benefit package, and I had a free fitness evaluation with a personal trainer. I then had the sales pitch for personal training sessions. It is a year commitment and I am not sure where I can find the money in my budget for the fees.

    It might not hurt to work with a trainer for a few sessions to learn exercise form. Should not need to have a year commitment.
  • Jozzmenia
    Jozzmenia Posts: 252 Member
    not essential, definitely not a year's worth, no way, but once a month or so would be good, maybe a few times a month to start. you want to make sure you have proper form and are using the right weight or else you'll pay for it later with back pain, knee pain, etc.

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