Need Help Making a Decision

ad2315

Hi, I'm a 19 year old female I have lost around 34 pounds on my own in about 7 months without joining a gym or working out. I just changed my eating habits. I have 20-25 pounds left to lose to reach my goal weight. However, it's been months and I have not lost anymore weight. A few weeks ago, I decided to join the gym and hire a personal trainer to help reach my goal because I've never really worked out before. I've been really enjoying working out with him and he motivates me to work out much harder than I thought I could. My original plan was to only hire a trainer for a few weeks since that's all I could afford, learn as much as I could in that time and then use what he taught me and do it on my own at the gym. Now that the time I paid for is coming to an end, I need to make a decision about whether to continue with training. My trainer thinks it will take until January for me to lose the last 20-25 pounds and keeping my trainer until then will cost thousands of dollars, which is hard for me to afford. I'm wondering whether I should try to afford that by paying biweekly until it's paid off or if I should just work out on my own? I'm new to working out so I'm not sure if I'll have success on my own. Also, I find it hard to motivate myself to workout without my trainer. Is it worth it to keep my trainer or can I do it on my own?

rainbowbow

I'm assuming you hired your trainer through a corporate gym? Like 24 Hour, LA Fitness, etc.


Here's what you do:
1.) Tell your trainer that you don't think you can afford more training, but you don't want to stop training! Ask him what he thinks you can do.

2.) Discuss these options with your trainer. Maybe you can come to some sort of under-the-table agreement for 1/2 the price or even 1/4 the price you've paid for training. At these corporate gyms the trainers rarely make ANYWHERE close to what you're paying the gym, so taking money directly from you will save you money and be more money for them.

3.) Maybe you can just see him once a week for a workout and motivation. Or maybe once every 2 weeks. You'll still be working out on the plan HE GIVES you and you can follow up with how that's going.

4.) Maybe you can get online training from him (some trainers like myself offer this) which is a fraction of the price for in-person training. The trainer gives you your own workout plan, messages you to keep you on track, reviews your MFP logs, etc.





All in all, if you think you need someone there with you to help you succeed and this is important to you, then it is worth it. I am certain if you speak to your trainer you can work something out, remember, you're paying their salary so keeping you as a client happy, learning, and reaching your goals is their top priority.

neldabg

ad2315 wrote: »

Hi, I'm a 19 year old female I have lost around 34 pounds on my own in about 7 months without joining a gym or working out. I just changed my eating habits. I have 20-25 pounds left to lose to reach my goal weight. However, it's been months and I have not lost anymore weight. A few weeks ago, I decided to join the gym and hire a personal trainer to help reach my goal because I've never really worked out before. I've been really enjoying working out with him and he motivates me to work out much harder than I thought I could. My original plan was to only hire a trainer for a few weeks since that's all I could afford, learn as much as I could in that time and then use what he taught me and do it on my own at the gym. Now that the time I paid for is coming to an end, I need to make a decision about whether to continue with training. My trainer thinks it will take until January for me to lose the last 20-25 pounds and keeping my trainer until then will cost thousands of dollars, which is hard for me to afford. I'm wondering whether I should try to afford that by paying biweekly until it's paid off or if I should just work out on my own? I'm new to working out so I'm not sure if I'll have success on my own. Also, I find it hard to motivate myself to workout without my trainer. Is it worth it to keep my trainer or can I do it on my own?

I like rainbowbow's advice. I lost weight all by myself, and have never seen a personal trainer, so no helpful advice from me in that one area. However, I do know for sure that if months have gone by without any weight loss, your CICO needs work, which you know. From what you wrote, it looks like you want to create a deficit by exercising more, right? Just be careful. Exercising more can make you hungrier, and if you're not accurately recording your intake during this time, and just going by eating whatever amount you think puts you in a deficit, you might end up eating more, meaning that the deficit you want to create for the final 20-25lbs won't be there. Remember, at this point, you'll likely be losing less than a pound a week, so accuracy becomes more important here.

tillerstouch

Good advice above. I would say if you havent lost in months your CICO is probably off. Really lock down your calorie tracking and the weight should come off without needing exercise.

That being said keep up the exercise its great for overall health. If you decide you cant afford the trainer maybe you can find a friend to start working out with? I always prefer going to the gym with my friends, it really helps keep you movited and push yourself. And if you decide not having the trainer isnt working you can always go back to them.

Also being healthy, in good shape, and feeling good about yourself are always worth it, do what you need to do enjoy your life.

SueInAz

neldabg wrote: »

ad2315 wrote: »

Hi, I'm a 19 year old female I have lost around 34 pounds on my own in about 7 months without joining a gym or working out. I just changed my eating habits. I have 20-25 pounds left to lose to reach my goal weight. However, it's been months and I have not lost anymore weight. A few weeks ago, I decided to join the gym and hire a personal trainer to help reach my goal because I've never really worked out before. I've been really enjoying working out with him and he motivates me to work out much harder than I thought I could. My original plan was to only hire a trainer for a few weeks since that's all I could afford, learn as much as I could in that time and then use what he taught me and do it on my own at the gym. Now that the time I paid for is coming to an end, I need to make a decision about whether to continue with training. My trainer thinks it will take until January for me to lose the last 20-25 pounds and keeping my trainer until then will cost thousands of dollars, which is hard for me to afford. I'm wondering whether I should try to afford that by paying biweekly until it's paid off or if I should just work out on my own? I'm new to working out so I'm not sure if I'll have success on my own. Also, I find it hard to motivate myself to workout without my trainer. Is it worth it to keep my trainer or can I do it on my own?

I like rainbowbow's advice. I lost weight all by myself, and have never seen a personal trainer, so no helpful advice from me in that one area. However, I do know for sure that if months have gone by without any weight loss, your CICO needs work, which you know. From what you wrote, it looks like you want to create a deficit by exercising more, right? Just be careful. Exercising more can make you hungrier, and if you're not accurately recording your intake during this time, and just going by eating whatever amount you think puts you in a deficit, you might end up eating more, meaning that the deficit you want to create for the final 20-25lbs won't be there. Remember, at this point, you'll likely be losing less than a pound a week, so accuracy becomes more important here.

Agreed, this is what stood out to me, as well. As you lose weight, you burn less calories every day because you have less mass. You need to make sure you're adjusting your calorie intake lower to compensate. It's why the last 10 pounds are so hard; there's less wiggle room because you have to eat less to create a deficit.

I also did my workouts on my own, I am responsible for getting myself out the door for my runs every other morning. I do have a gym buddy for my weight sessions at the gym, though. It definitely makes it more difficult to wimp out when I don't feel like going.

You can certainly talk to your trainer about cutting back on sessions so you're seeing him less often. Set up a plan that will help keep you accountable for showing up and putting in the work. Maybe you can find a buddy at the gym who goes the same time as you? You can keep each other accountable.

Something else to think about... what's your plan for maintaining your weight loss once you get there? Still planning on working this hard at the gym and just eating more? Working out less but eating the same? You'll need to make that decision so you can make that transition when it's time.

pondee629

If you can't afford it, You can't afford it. During your tenure with your trainer, if you were paying attention, you have a perfectly good training plan to use going forward. You now know what to do, all you have to do is do it. Come down to whether you want to lose the weight through exercise , through some other method (CI<CO) or spend the money.

" I find it hard to motivate myself to workout without my trainer." Looks like you have answered your question. But, YES, you can do this on your own. Your trainer should have given you the tools, for which you have paid.

tiffanybrauneis

I'd start asking him to write the workout down for at the end of each session as well -- he should considering you paid for it lol. Keep a good week or two of those and you can just interchange those workouts to guide you until you're comfortable.

ninerbuff

I write down every workout my clients do when they meet me, whether once a week, twice a week, once a month, etc., so they have every reason to NOT need my help after a few sessions. I have some clients for a couple of weeks, some for months and a handful I've had for a few years. In almost every case, money was a factor however the longer someone trains with me, the more likely they reach their goal.
All in all, the goal of a trainer should be to get rid of the client as soon as the client feels they can do it on their own. Some will stay with you because you keep them accountable, but it's always great to get new people IMO. Keeps you fresh.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition