Is a personal trainer essential?

daniwilford

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.

Ready2Rock206

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

Definitely not needed. There are so many YouTube videos about training, and great Pinterest workouts.

jemhh

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

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

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

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

A year commitment is whack. A session or two to make you more comfortable could be very useful, but not essential.

Sued0nim

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

Nope. I personally do not like people telling me what to do.

dfranch

A couple of sessions to make sure your form is good is fine, but a year commitment sounds like a waste.

soapsandropes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

bump

ohmscheeks

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

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

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

It's nice to do a couple of sessions to see where you're at, but the rest. Nope!

Asher_Ethan

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

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

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

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

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.