Personal trainer?

my4boys2002
my4boys2002 Posts: 8 Member
edited November 20 in Getting Started
Anyone work with one? I just started working with one. So far we have just talked about my goals this week I'm tracking my calories. My husband thinks I'm wasting a lot of money, I'm really hoping this helps me.

Replies

  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    It was extremely valuable for me.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    It was very helpful to me. Starting with a personal trainer changed my LIFE. She helped me learn the compound lifts. I kind of grew out of her...I did a lot of my own reading, and my goals changed. I stayed with her just long enough to get started.

    Then I got an online coach when my diet and training got too much for me to handle on my own on top of life. I like my programming to be perfect. I like having someone to tell me to knock it off when I get crazy with my diet, or that I'm going to be okay when I have mini freakouts, and watch videos on my form to make sure I don't hurt myself and am lifting properly for competition.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    My trainer has been more than worth what I have paid.
  • betterwhenimdancin
    betterwhenimdancin Posts: 31 Member
    Paying for a personal trainer is the best money I've ever spent. The first few months I went to see her I felt so tired and awful every time I arrived at the gym, I definitely would not have worked out those days if I hadn't had her booked. Eventually the regular workouts improved my stamina dramatically and I was motivated and excited to work out on my own.
  • puzzledstill
    puzzledstill Posts: 67 Member
    I started with a personal trainer. Came to my house and got me started on exercise I could do at my age and weight.
    But it was something I only needed for a number of months. Then I was able to join classes with confidence.
    So, for me, a good way to get started and make initial life style changes.
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    I've been working with my trainer for 6 mths and wouldn't be without him. He pushes me so much harder than I would ever push myself, he listens to what my goals are and makes a plan accordingly. Well worth every cent.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    my4boys2002 wrote: »
    Anyone work with one? I just started working with one. So far we have just talked about my goals this week I'm tracking my calories. My husband thinks I'm wasting a lot of money, I'm really hoping this helps me.

    Bold is very positive!
    What the client puts in as well as the knowledge/skills of the trainer determines the value for money you get.
    I've seen the same PT give a pretty hopeless cookie-cutter routine to someone who went along with no idea of what they were aiming for and also give the best squat technique tutorial I've ever seen to someone with a really defined and clear goal. Help them to help you in other words.

    Do question and challenge, they have different skills and interests. At my main gym we have PTs that specialise in power lifting, physique, cycling, crossfit, working with older people....
  • cbstewart88
    cbstewart88 Posts: 453 Member
    I love mine!!! Go once a week. $20.00 each for one hour for my sister and me. I dread going - manage to get through the hour without keeling over - and walk out feeling like Superman. Best hour of my week. Feel really fortunate to have found him. :)
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    cbstewart88 wrote: »
    I love mine!!! Go once a week. $20.00 each for one hour for my sister and me. I dread going - manage to get through the hour without keeling over - and walk out feeling like Superman. Best hour of my week. Feel really fortunate to have found him. :)

    I wonder how he survives charging that price for two people! phew.
  • cbstewart88
    cbstewart88 Posts: 453 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    cbstewart88 wrote: »
    I love mine!!! Go once a week. $20.00 each for one hour for my sister and me. I dread going - manage to get through the hour without keeling over - and walk out feeling like Superman. Best hour of my week. Feel really fortunate to have found him. :)

    I wonder how he survives charging that price for two people! phew.

    I don't know bbell1985. Thought the same thing myself!! And he's good too!!!
  • MichelleLaree13
    MichelleLaree13 Posts: 865 Member
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    A good personal trainer is worth 10 times the money, they are just hard to find.

    Agree with above. That being said I do think they are mostly a waste.
    I was all excited when I could finally afford personal training sessions and the first session was basically just talking. The second session she pushed way WAY to hard... the kind of hard where I was worried of an injury and had to tell her no to a few things. I switched personal trainers a few times. If I hadnt bought a package (maybe 10 sessions?) I wouldnt have ever went back. I find most of them push hard and fast with little focus on form and preventing injury. I found a personal trainer I finally liked... we clicked a whole lot better. I want fun workouts that I look forward to and he understood that. He was a fighter that lost sponsorship and then became a personal trainer. He ended up doing kickboxing with me and we had a blast.
    Now I just use Pinterest for my workouts, lol.


  • Polo265
    Polo265 Posts: 287 Member
    I agree with the others here. Had a personal trainer about 4-5 years ago. It was money well spent.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    cbstewart88 wrote: »
    I love mine!!! Go once a week. $20.00 each for one hour for my sister and me. I dread going - manage to get through the hour without keeling over - and walk out feeling like Superman. Best hour of my week. Feel really fortunate to have found him. :)

    I wonder how he survives charging that price for two people! phew.
    I know. I charge $20.00 just for an InBody test.

    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
    9285851.png
  • kimmyt_72
    kimmyt_72 Posts: 3 Member
    MichelleLaree13 wrote: »
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    A good personal trainer is worth 10 times the money, they are just hard to find.

    Agree with above. That being said I do think they are mostly a waste.
    I was all excited when I could finally afford personal training sessions and the first session was basically just talking. The second session she pushed way WAY to hard... the kind of hard where I was worried of an injury and had to tell her no to a few things. I switched personal trainers a few times. If I hadnt bought a package (maybe 10 sessions?) I wouldnt have ever went back. I find most of them push hard and fast with little focus on form and preventing injury. I found a personal trainer I finally liked... we clicked a whole lot better. I want fun workouts that I look forward to and he understood that. He was a fighter that lost sponsorship and then became a personal trainer. He ended up doing kickboxing with me and we had a blast.
    Now I just use Pinterest for my workouts, lol.

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    kimmyt_72 wrote: »
    Agree with above. That being said I do think they are mostly a waste.
    I was all excited when I could finally afford personal training sessions and the first session was basically just talking. The second session she pushed way WAY to hard... the kind of hard where I was worried of an injury and had to tell her no to a few things. I switched personal trainers a few times. If I hadnt bought a package (maybe 10 sessions?) I wouldnt have ever went back. I find most of them push hard and fast with little focus on form and preventing injury. I found a personal trainer I finally liked... we clicked a whole lot better. I want fun workouts that I look forward to and he understood that. He was a fighter that lost sponsorship and then became a personal trainer. He ended up doing kickboxing with me and we had a blast.
    Now I just use Pinterest for my workouts, lol.
    Well except for the "fighter" part, I've had lots of clients convert over to me due to wanting someone who was a bit more precise and understood people over 35 years old and their possible limitations. But half my clients kickbox with me.

    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
    9285851.png
  • Rickster1967
    Rickster1967 Posts: 485 Member
    Yes I started with a PT exactly one week ago, he put me on the app and a nutrition plan about 5 days before that - I weigh in with him next Tuesday which will be day 20 on the plan. Hoping to have lost 6+lbs in that time

    I researched my PT carefully and found one qualified and experienced in dealing with very overweight / very unfit people like me. He judged the first training session just right, I felt pushed but not so much that I was ruined for days.

    I've booked in for 12 weeks but think I'll keep him going for the accountability, support, expert knowledge and so on. I have a lot of weight to lose and evidence of the last year is that despite wanting to get in shape I've actually got worse / heavier.
  • cosmonew
    cosmonew Posts: 513 Member
    I sent you a message!
  • Salasel
    Salasel Posts: 69 Member
    I've worked with a number of trainers and One stood out from the rest. She mixed up the workouts so we were not just lifting weights she pushed me beyond what I thought I could do each day but made sure I was still working in a safe manner. She helped me loose weight, build muscle and become more agile. The point is the ones that were not able to do that did not listen to my fitness goals and put me on a one size fits no one plan. The good one tailored her plan so I got crazy results and pushed beyond my original goals.
  • WilmaValley
    WilmaValley Posts: 1,092 Member
    Thanks everyone for all the suggestions!
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    I work with a PT as often as I can afford it and she's brilliant. Firstly she understands my medical condition (EDS type 3/hypermobility/Aspergers) and my goals (lifting/running). Then she pushes me in a way I couldn't do for myself, never beyond my capabilities but beyond what I would have thought possible. When I started with her I was unable to do a lot of the exercises and she scaled them back for me, now after 7 months she's starting to scale them up to make them harder than the standard version. But the point is we clicked, and I like her slightly crazy, high intensity style and I also go to up to 7 of her classes a week.
  • rianneonamission
    rianneonamission Posts: 854 Member
    I work with a PT and can honestly say that yes, a good one is worth it! The reason I went for it was to learn good technique, become more confident with machines and free weights, to learn to push myself, and to tailor exercises to me rather than rely on classes which are very much a 'one size fits all' set up and thus not as beneficial.
  • VeronicaA76
    VeronicaA76 Posts: 1,116 Member
    You do get what you pay for. Mine has been amazing.
    If your looking for the best ones, they are going to have at minimum:
    A bachelor's degree in kinesiology, exercize science and/or physical education.
    National accredited by the American College of Sports Medicine or other equally rigorous body (ACSM) is pretty much the industry gold standard.

    Also look for someone that specializes in what you want. Many personal trainers are also licensed physical therapists, so they know how to work with injuries and limitations. If you have an injury or condition that limits you, find someone that is a physical therapist and a trainer.
  • Bluetail6
    Bluetail6 Posts: 2,985 Member
    Great advice ^^
  • HOTTTAJ
    HOTTTAJ Posts: 12 Member
    cbstewart88 wrote: »
    I love mine!!! Go once a week. $20.00 each for one hour for my sister and me. I dread going - manage to get through the hour without keeling over - and walk out feeling like Superman. Best hour of my week. Feel really fortunate to have found him. :)

    Geeze, I WISH I could find a trainer that reasonable....they are out of my price range where I live....
  • Polo265
    Polo265 Posts: 287 Member
    I had a personal trainer about 4 years ago. Well worth the money. I purchased a package of sessions, but it wasn't necessary to go every week. He gave me exercises I was to work on for a couple of weeks, then I would meet with him again and he sometimes would change my routine, up my weights, etc.
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