I want to build muscle and burn a lot of fat. Do I need a trainer?

ScottyT67203

I have been working out for quite a while, and in the past could always stay in pretty good shape. But as I've gotten older the pounds have packed on and I'm not in the shape I used to be.
I'm wanting to find someone who can give me a kickstart and tell me what I need to do to get to my goals. Basically, I need to find someone Who can guide me on my eating, help me figure out what areas to work on, help me build a regular workout plan that would include mainly weights, but I am not opposed to cardio as well. And also help me lose up to 30 pounds.
I feel like a lot of my problem is that I've not got a good workout routine, so I need someone who can help me build that. I don't necessarily need someone checking in on me all the time to make sure my form is correct. Just mainly someone who can get me started in the right direction with good information.
So am I looking for a personal trainer? How do I find someone that can do all of this and is not going to require me to have sessions with them all the time?

TwinkieDong

Scotty this is a good plan https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kris-gethin-12-week-daily-trainer.html

has daily videos, eating plan, workout plan. It is hard to follow and time consuming though it works.

TwinkieDong

oh BTW it is free.

cs2thecox

Lots of people on here will probably say no, you can do it all yourself.
And you can, but the research takes a long time, and is a lot of hassle.

Like you, I opted to find a trainer to help set my plan, help with my macros, and just keep me accountable. I see him maybe once every 4-6 weeks, which sounds like the kind of thing you're after too.

I found mine through my gym, which is a specific weights gym, not a big chain.
I think this was key to me finding the kind of trainer I wanted, as I was never impressed by any of the ones I came across when I was a member of chain gyms, and over the years I've been a member of 5 different chains in the last 16 years!

My gym is also independent, and allows people to see the trainers based there without a membership to the gym, if they have a membership elsewhere. You just pay for the training session. I think that level of flexibility is more likely in an independent gym who can make their own rules!

Because I wanted to focus on weights, I picked a trainer with really good strength and conditioning qualifications, and not just a basic level personal training certification. I also picked one with nutrition qualifications. Many people on her will say that trainers shouldn't be advising on nutrition, and you should only take advice from a registered dietician. Personally, I wanted a one stop shop and felt that a good trainer who I clicked with and had done some study around nutrition was enough for me. Make sure you think hard about what knowledge and qualifications you would like your trainer to have - I definitely recommend more than basic levels!

So maybe seek out an independent weights gym near you, and see who they have linked to them.
Good luck!

gearhead426hemi

TwinkieDong wrote: »

Scotty this is a good plan https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kris-gethin-12-week-daily-trainer.html

has daily videos, eating plan, workout plan. It is hard to follow and time consuming though it works.

I have done this routine and it worked incredible! I continue to use Kris workouts, diets and supplements. If you are someone who isn't self motivated then a trainer might be the best. If you have the drive and focus a trainer is a waste of money. Best of luck! Feel free to add me I have recipes and crazy workouts.

SonyaCele

I love my trainer. Sure we can all go to the gym and throw together our own workout and pick out what to eat , but its soooo much better and easier, at least for me, when you have someone with experience guiding you. Someone qualified, not your local gym PT. although local gym pt's have their place.
My trainer creates my program and i do as much as i can at my local gym, and then go to her gym when i can or when its a workout i need help. What area are you in ? find out what kinda competition strength or bodybuilding coaches are out there. BB coaches are good even if you aren't into bodybuilding, because they have knowledge and experience , and will put together a diet and work out that is specific to what you want.

sgt1372

All the info you need is on the Net but, if you feel the need for guidance, there are a lot of trainers out there who will be glad to help by taking your $.

The hard part will be finding a "qualified" and experienced trainer that you like (and can get along with) who can actually help you achieve your specific objectives in the most efficient way possible w/o burning a hole in your pocketbook.

Probably just as hard (if not harder) to find such a personal as it is to find a spouse or SO for life.

Good luck!

SezxyStef

ScottyT67203 wrote: »

I have been working out for quite a while, and in the past could always stay in pretty good shape. But as I've gotten older the pounds have packed on and I'm not in the shape I used to be.
I'm wanting to find someone who can give me a kickstart and tell me what I need to do to get to my goals. Basically, I need to find someone Who can guide me on my eating, help me figure out what areas to work on, help me build a regular workout plan that would include mainly weights, but I am not opposed to cardio as well. And also help me lose up to 30 pounds.
I feel like a lot of my problem is that I've not got a good workout routine, so I need someone who can help me build that. I don't necessarily need someone checking in on me all the time to make sure my form is correct. Just mainly someone who can get me started in the right direction with good information.
So am I looking for a personal trainer? How do I find someone that can do all of this and is not going to require me to have sessions with them all the time?

and OP for your goals of

Guide you on your eating is personal. Eat what you want to stay in goal and have energy...you know what that is anyway...follow the 80/20 rule of 80% nutrient dense foods with treats as the 20%

areas to work on...well you know that too...and remember you can't spot reduce with diet or exercise....you can make areas stronger but you want to be well rounded too.

No need to build a new plan when there are lots out there like Stronglifts (great app for it), Starting STrength or New rules of lifting.

the weigh loss comes from your defict and how much you eat which MFP helps with.


See it's all free so far.

And if you really want to hire someone for form checks etc I would check @SideSteel and his group here on MFP and Facebook Eat Train Progress. as he does online coaching etc and seems to have great success

alondrakayy

You can do it on your own and for free.. but honestly looking back, I wish I would've hired a proper trainer to have helped me. I missed out on newbie gains and it's taken me years of trial and error to get to where I am now. I say if you can afford it then it's worth the investment. BUT, do try out plenty of trainers and then pick the best one. Not all trainers are the same. Good luck!

cwolfman13

There are a lot of solid programs out there to choose from that are free and well established. That said, I saw my best results in the gym when I hired a trainer. I worked with him weekly for a few months and then a couple of times per week and then once per month...I don't work one on one with him much anymore, but he still looks over my programming and will tweak things from time to time.

In regards to diet, that's really all on you and most trainers aren't really qualified to give nutritional advice and a lot of states prohibit it. My trainer is pretty good in that regard as he has a masters in nutrition and he's certified as a nutritionist as well as being a trainer...but still, my diet was all on me...he obviously couldn't hover over me and watch what I was eating all of the time.

Duck_Puddle

Do you need a trainer? No. You can spend forever doing the research, trying to tailor a well established plan to your specific needs, wading through mountains of nutritional and training advice and coming up with a program that may eventually get you to your goals. I did that for a few years.

Then I hired a coach. In less than a year, I doubled (or nearly doubled) all my primary lifts, PR'd every race I ran, and overall saw huge improvements in health and wellbeing. I also continued to make huge improvements while recovering from a parade of injuries.

Aside from already possessing the knowledge that I really don't have the time to try and gain, my coach can tailor my program on a dime based on how I'm feeling, injury, unforeseen circumstances, etc so everyday is a day that benefits me and works towards my goals - which is especially important on days when you need to veer off plan for one of those unforeseen circumstances.

Do I need a coach? No. Do I make 10,000 times more progress with him than without? No question.

rhtexasgal

I invested in myself and made my training sessions an integral part of my monthly budget. I work with a trainer at least once a week, sometimes twice. The great thing is that he ensures I don't hurt myself (have not even had a major muscle strain or pull in the entire 3+ years I have been with him). Also, I don't do the same weight training over and over. He knows how to mix things up and do compound moves so I work several muscle groups at the same time. It is never boring with him. Plus, I KNOW I have an appointment with him so I go and not stand him up. I make sure and get my money's worth!

While you CAN do it yourself, will you? Do you have the discipline to do it? Will you make sure you do things right and not hurt yourself?