Have you worked with a coach? Tell me your experience!
nay0m3
Posts: 178 Member
Curious what experiences people have had working with a coach? What has your financial investment been, what kind of support did you receive, what results did you get and also were you able to maintain the results on your own? Thank you for sharing!
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What kind of coach? I have a whole health coach, but I am under extreme stress right now, so what we are doing is more like therapy. (She’s also a social worker.) My financial investment is zero as I am a veteran and this is through the VA.
If I were to hire a weight loss coach, it would be Heather from the Half Size Me podcast.1 -
I worked with a coach once per week for about 5 years. It cost me $50/session, so about $2,600 per year, along with $50 per month for use of his private gym...so another $600 per year...$3,200 total annually.
I was very into road cycling at the time so he geared my programming to that. I worked with him directly once per week in the weight room and then he would give me "homework" to follow both in the weight room and on the bike. Every Sunday, he or his wife (also a coach/trainer), or both would lead a group road ride at no extra cost where we would work on things like attacking, climbing, drafting in a peloton, etc
Results? I became a much more competent cyclist and was much more confident participating in USAC sanctioned events as well as other charitable touring events and aesthetically had the best physique I've ever had. I have not maintained those results...could I have? Possibly, at least to some degree. It's just much different being coached up and trained vs going it on your own and the way he was training me was for "athlete" so I had a pretty rigorous program. Typically 3 hours in the weight room per week and 8-10 hours per week on the bike.
Ultimately, it was a massive time suck and as my kids got older I just didn't have that kind of time. I was also starting to burn out with that degree of training and was no longer really having fun. When I went on my own I've continued to ride, but it's more recreational than "training" and I continue to lift, but I don't have the benefit of his very personalized programming. Basically I was "athlete fit" when I was working with him...now I'm just fit relative to gen pop which I'm totally fine with as I've since retired myself from most of those cycling events other than some fun charity rides here and there.
The hardest part is finding a good coach and I kind of happened upon him by accident after having worked with a few different trainers that just weren't a match. He is a retired professional Supercross BMX racer with a world championship and multiple national championships. He has just about every weight training certification there is and is also a USA Cycling Level I coach and still coaches Team USA BMX as well as professional road cyclists. He has a bachelors in exercise science and a masters in kinesiology. Like yeah...he's a super great and well qualified coach.
I think whether it's worth it or not really comes down to goals. I think people with very specific goals tend to think it's all worth it while people with sort of generic "lose weight and get fit" goals often don't.
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@kshama2001 I am relatively fit already and have been a dedicated gym go-er lifting weights and writing my own programs and plugging away with nutrition. I am interested in a coach for helping me optimize the work I am already doing and for helping me through the mental struggles I face from time to time along the journey. Someone who cares about my journey and success as much as I do and genuinely cares. Hope that helps!2
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@cwolfman13 That is a fantastic journey with your coach! Even though you aren't doing it anymore, I can still feel your excitement and the value he brought to your life for that time period. I love what you shared and I also think it makes sense to hire someone for that specific purpose you have. I agree that it is really hard to find a good coach. I would love a coach who I can have in person but I live in Vermont and there just aren't many options here in my small state. I feel like I would greatly benefit from the in-person connection. I am not sure if my personality type is the right mix for an online only coach. It's a big investment and one I am willing to spend, however, I want to be sure it is worth it. Thank you for sharing your experience!3
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I have a coach I see weekly who is a Strength and Conditioning and Oly Weightlifting coach. I’ve been seeing him for 6 years (helped me lose weight and recover from a torn shoulder at first), and then moved me onto lifting. I’ve just won bronze in a comp and qualified for the national masters. It’s a significant investment in money and time, but it’s my hobby and I work bloody hard, so I need quality downtime. I don’t spend much money on other stuff so it’s my treat to myself.
They key for me is being really clear what I want and need. I follow his plans and instructions to the letter - I don’t understand people who pay an expert then ignore their instructions. But I still whinge about the stuff he makes me do 🤷♂️🤣6 -
@kshama2001 I am relatively fit already and have been a dedicated gym go-er lifting weights and writing my own programs and plugging away with nutrition. I am interested in a coach for helping me optimize the work I am already doing and for helping me through the mental struggles I face from time to time along the journey. Someone who cares about my journey and success as much as I do and genuinely cares. Hope that helps!
That sounds more like a life coach sort of a thing, then, but maybe one with athletic expertise or experience? Sports psychologist, maybe?
I've only had rowing coaches. One was a sport-psych educated person, so was stronger on mental/motivational issues; and a couple have offered training plans (but not really "helping me optimize the work I'm already doing" kind of thing). The one with the sports psych training was free (long story). Others have been more just technical coaches - like a trainer, kind of, but sport specific. (They're pretty affordable here outside the mainstream if one can find them at all, maybe $50/hour range?) But that's obviously not relevant to your situation.1 -
Thank you to everyone for your input!0
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@cwolfman13 That is a fantastic journey with your coach! Even though you aren't doing it anymore, I can still feel your excitement and the value he brought to your life for that time period. I love what you shared and I also think it makes sense to hire someone for that specific purpose you have. I agree that it is really hard to find a good coach. I would love a coach who I can have in person but I live in Vermont and there just aren't many options here in my small state. I feel like I would greatly benefit from the in-person connection. I am not sure if my personality type is the right mix for an online only coach. It's a big investment and one I am willing to spend, however, I want to be sure it is worth it. Thank you for sharing your experience!
My coach did remote coaching, but he had pretty rigorous requisites for those clients as he didn't just want to "take their money". He only did online training with clients that he knew would be putting in the work and also, they had to be already pretty competent in their training in general as he wouldn't be there in person to check form, make corrections, etc. Most of his online peeps were actual true athletes at either the collegiate level of professional or semi-professional/amateur.
He wants me to start training with him again in more of a general fitness kind of way rather than the more rigorous training we were doing before and I may take him up on it in the new year as I could probably use a little push at this point. He offered to train me online but I'm pretty sure I don't have that personality. We're good friends and see each other on a personal level quite a bit and he thinks I'd be fine, but I can be a slacker at times. I might see what he has available time slot wise in the new year though.1 -
Bumping this to see if anyone else has a coach they work with and can offer recommendations. I am paying a lot for the coach I am working with and I am just not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze! Thanks in advance!!1
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Hey
I’m currently working with a coach now! I’ve lost 5lbs in a month, and I find it really motivating having someone hold you accountable and answer all of my questions. When I stop training with him I do tend to keep it up, as you develop good habits, but for me I need to have someone hold me accountable or else I slip up lots and think I’ll get away with it! 1 -
I've not used a trainer/coach, but my wife did for about two months. She cost us about $30/hr, twice a week for 8 weeks or so. She never imparted any real knowledge I didn't already possess, just maybe a few twists on exercises. Her value proved to be in the way she motivated my wife to go from couch potato to working out, though how much was a result of her personality and how much feeling guilty about the price paid, I do not know. After finances forced us to stop paying for her services, my wife kept up with working out for about two weeks before relapsing back into inactivity.2
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Bumping this to see if anyone else has a coach they work with and can offer recommendations. I am paying a lot for the coach I am working with and I am just not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze! Thanks in advance!!
You mentioned having to do remote/online coaching due to your location...In my experience, that is not for a lot of people. I would be one of those people. Having an in person coach who gets you and gets your goals and with whom you build a personal relationship with is entirely different.
Even then, I went through about 4 different trainers at various points before I found the right fit.1 -
I’m spending $450 a month for weekly programming and access for as many questions as I have. I do weekly checkins also.
I just feel like that is a ton of money but I love the programming and do see an improvement in my legs, which is my trouble spot. They are changing a ton and I haven’t experienced this on my own. So in some ways it’s worth it but in other ways it’s not….1 -
I used to have a coach many years ago, and it really paid off. You get the full understanding, you wont get burned out, you will get the proper liftingform and you will see results. You can ofc learn all this on your own, but maybe you learn the wrong way and it takes alot more time. Its best to be humble, ask for help so other people can look how you do things, and they can help you. Its like everything else in life, asking for help is key.2
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Thank you @stianjl I have definitely seen a value from working with the coach I have been these past few months. It is just a TON of money so I think I have learned some new ideas about lifts that work for me and how to program and what my body responds best to nutrition wise. Thanks again!2
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I'm very reasonable as a trainer. For any online things, I don't charge much because I only have to write programs for people and check their progress along with just some exchanges of email or texts. If you're interested you could IM me here for info on it.
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
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I'm very reasonable as a trainer. For any online things, I don't charge much because I only have to write programs for people and check their progress along with just some exchanges of email or texts. If you're interested you could IM me here for info on it.
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
@nay0m3 I've been reading niner's posts for 10 years now support you hiring him.2 -
@nay0m3 It's not bragging if it's true. I've read all of Niner's posts. A great trainer is much more than a fitness coach. Not only do they care about your fitness, but they care about your overall well-being. He sets realistic goals for all age groups. He knows how to make adjustments for injuries. An awesome trainer can help the flawesome find their balance.2
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Agree with others on @ninerbuff If I were in your situation, I’d consider giving him a whirl.
I haven’t done internet based training (other than months of online yoga classes during the pandemic. I was fortunate that my studio stepped up with same instructors and schedules they had before, so that was one less disruption during those times).
I would imagine it’s like “real world” training. I’ve had five trainers. The three I had at Workout Anytime and LA Fitness straight up sucked. They were dudes with little to no fitness education, and while it wasn’t their job to motivate me, sessions were a time of dread and humiliation. Looking at you, former drill sergeant who had an obese couple in the back parking lot with too heavy barbells doing lunges and squats on asphalt in 90 degree heat, screaming about what failures we were. I would cry on the way home.
My fourth trainer owned her own powerlifting gym, and monitored and helped train her husband, who was a multi-time national powerlifting champ. I’d never lifted before, approached her just because I wanted to build strength for yoga, and she instilled a love of lifting in me. Knowledgeable, encouraging, feisty, pushy, firm when necessary. Cue more training tears, but this time because she retired. I was devastated.
I tried to train on my own, but would walk into the gym with a complete mental block. No idea where to go or what to do, running around like a hamster on a wheel. I lost a lot of ground.
I have started training again at my new gym. As a hospital based gym, all their trainers are degreed. I tried one trainer and he wouldn’t push me. I spent an hour doing lunges and push-ups on a squat machine bar. I was super frustrated and didn’t book again. I felt like he was so used to the elderly clientele that he didn’t know how to push either himself or me. 60 in his book seemed to equal washed up.
Several months later, one of my group class instructors asked to train me. She’s also a degreed fitness professional. I’ve been absolutely delighted with her. She clearly has a pre written plan, she listened when I asked to be challenged, and (although I fought it at first) she does a more well rounded workout rather than “just” powerlifting.
I like it that she will sneak weight on when I'm not looking (I guess I talk a lot!) and then tell me I can do it. I’m a pleaser. I’ll knock myself out to finish a set and heat “good job!”
I can tell I’m building strength and muscle again, and if I want to bench or squat I do that by myself on other days. I do miss not having a spotter, so am careful to deal with weights I can handle by myself without risk, and I have been well trained to use safety bars, etc.
The current trainer is about $40/hour, twice a week, and I feel like she’s worth every penny.
My beloved old trainer was $25/45 minutes, but she did it for that because for some reason she thought I was a fun unicorn, and considered me her pet Frankenstein (Frankengranny?) project. I was well aware that for her level I should be paying 2-3x that.
So short version, if you don’t feel like you’re getting the results you’re paying for, quality of instruction varies wildly. Try another option. And try again til you find something that suits you and gets results.4 -
And btw @nay0m3 ive seen your photos and progress. You are amazing.
You deserve a challenging, motivational trainer. I sincerely hope you’ll make sure you’re getting what you want and need, even if it means changing things up.
My sort of mental attitude is “Young me had a car note”. “Old me has a ME note”. I deserve and want future-me to be healthy, because that’s the key to happiness. If it costs some money, so be it, because it’s probably a damn sight cheaper than ill health in the long run.3 -
@springlering62 Is it going to block me on here if I say I love you?!?! It IS Valentine's Day so I feel like that is an OK thing to say!
First, is this the trainer(4th) who had you doing bamboo stick bench presses? I feel like it was you I watched a video of!
First 2.0, is YOU INSPIRE ME! I can't wait to grow older and still be crushing it in the gym like you! I think it is absolutely fabulous!
Second, Even more inspiring is that you persevered despite being humiliated by your early coaches! It is no wonder people give up when people think humiliation is a tactic that will work. I am so glad you have found other coaches along the way.
I am grateful I finally found weights, though I wish it had been sooner but I did have a great stretch with taekwondo that served me well. Despite never being the most successful team sport player, I am definitely a star when it comes to individual sports and I finally have learned this about myself.
For the future, when you end your training with your current coach, I encourage you to use a log book, paper and pencil! It is my very favorite thing to help me push harder and consistently strive for better and it keeps me from being lost at the gym, like you say, or worse, only doing movements I love, not the movements I need. I started keeping one in 4/2021 and record every single workout.
I do think of this as a “me note” like you say! I am worth it and I am happy to invest the money in myself but I also don’t like feeling as though there has to be an option that is even better than what I am currently doing. I would love to find an in-person trainer because I value connection, but I live in Vermont and trainers are limited to the bigger cities and I did try one who helped with form but didn’t really “get me” or push me which is important to me.
Thank you for sharing your experience and for your thoughtful responses, always!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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That’s so sweet, @nay0m3 !
And yes, #4 was the one who had me doing bamboo bench presses. They were SO much fun, like controlling sacks of wriggling kittens. I miss doing those. 😢4 -
springlering62 wrote: »And btw @nay0m3 ive seen your photos and progress. You are amazing.
You deserve a challenging, motivational trainer. I sincerely hope you’ll make sure you’re getting what you want and need, even if it means changing things up.
My sort of mental attitude is “Young me had a car note”. “Old me has a ME note”. I deserve and want future-me to be healthy, because that’s the key to happiness. If it costs some money, so be it, because it’s probably a damn sight cheaper than ill health in the long run.
Agree with all of this! So admire you, @nay0m33 -
Thank you so much, @ahoy_m8 I love you, too! I am just going to spread the love these days! We all need more of it!
I think we all need to pause and give ourselves more love for the fact we show up for ourselves and put effort in!
Thank you everyone for all of the suggestions and...I did outreach to ninerbuff
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Thank you for asking this question! I’ve been looking online to find a coach who will have weekly weigh-ins, daily phone check ups, and just keep my motivated. Everything I find is either through an app or email/text. I need an actual call for the human connection and accountability. Would love to know if anyone found a site where they offer this approach.0
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I have used trainers quite a bit through my gym history. The best use of them was showing me knew exercises that I could pull from. I already had the motivation, I just needed new stuff to do. They did push me though and that was good, however I am the type of person if you push me too much I will just quit. Pushing myself has always had to be on my terms.
The very best use of coaches/trainers is that they will teach you correct form which IMO is the single best thing you can do for yourself. It is so easy to get injured doing something incorrectly.1 -
I'm quite unfit. I started with a trainer in September so 6 months ago. I am a huge fan. He gives nutrition advice, generally chats about progress and tailors the program to me. I started off unable to do a lot so he modified to my needs and now as I get a bit better we're doing more. He keeps the workouts interesting and I always have fun. All that said, if you don't think what you're getting is worth the $$ then maybe its time for a new person. I feel so lucky that I loved the first person I met with cause I'm not sure I'd have persevered if I disliked the first.2
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