Yakking it up with yor personal trainer

plateaued

I don't see personal trainers doing half the training in 45 minutes that a client could do alone. I think clients, by and large, like to talk and talk and talk with their trainers, even during exercise sets. I don't get it.

I imagine they go home and say they had a great workout.

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meshashesha2012

i think some people just have money to burn. but honestly i don think everyone goes to a trainer to get a good workout.

i belong to a pretty expensive gym for the area so the majority of people are well-to-do and elderly. add to that paying for the training session. i think a lot of them just want someone to talk to for an hour a day 3 days a week. once i saw there was some woman who spent my entire strong lifts routine on the lat pulldown machine talking politics with the trainer. she wasnt even using the machine, just sitting on it :laugh:

whatevs, it's her moneyand it's not like she my mom or aunty and she's wasting my future inheritance

cndslee

I have a PT and we don't chit chat... I am too busy trying to breathe and lift and breathe! But I do see some that talk alot...

MyChocolateDiet

So what, it's their money.

For my moneys I got a trainer who TRAINED my *kitten*. he got me over lots of fears I had starting out and I interviewed like 3 of them. You get what you ask for and so those ppl might like chit chat and be the kind to talk the hairdressers ear off.

I'm not. I train with my trainer if I"m paying for that. With the hairdresser I get all her pro tips and advices. etc. and so on. I prefer to treat professionals like professionals and get the expertise they are in the know of but if someone else just needs a friend, it's not my place to say anything or even care.

PikaKnight

Maybe instead of paying so much attention what others are doing, you could focus on your own workouts and business? Just a thought.

kgeyser

I used to work as a trainer. I had clients who wanted to work the entire session, and I had clients who wanted to spend part of the session working and part discussing their fitness plan. I had clients who were struggling with weight loss and really needed an ally who they could talk to who wouldn't judge them. Everyone is different and no two clients have the same goals or want to get the same things out of a session. If it's not your money and your session, and the trainer is not having the client doing something dangerous, why worry about it?

plateaued

Maybe instead of paying so much attention what others are doing, you could focus on your own workouts and business? Just a thought.

I do that . . . January through December The problem is in January the gym will fill up with New Year's resolutions, clogging equipment and creating wait times. Higher density is compounded by the above.

PikaKnight

Maybe instead of paying so much attention what others are doing, you could focus on your own workouts and business? Just a thought.

I do that . . . January through December The problem is in January the gym will fill up with New Year's resolutions, clogging equipment and creating wait times. Higher density is compounded by the above.

That has nothing to do with people talking to their trainers. You have no clue what is going on. If it is such a problem, invest in a home gym or spend the next couple months running outside or doing body weight exercises.

3dogsrunning

Maybe instead of paying so much attention what others are doing, you could focus on your own workouts and business? Just a thought.

I do that . . . January through December The problem is in January the gym will fill up with New Year's resolutions, clogging equipment and creating wait times. Higher density is compounded by the above.

These people who "clog equipment and create wait times" also produce profits for the gym which can help keep gym fees lower.

I agree. MYOB.

DavPul

I don't see personal trainers doing half the training in 45 minutes that a client could do alone. I think clients, by and large, like to talk and talk and talk with their trainers, even during exercise sets. I don't get it.

I imagine they go home and say they had a great workout.

omma_to_3

I chit chat with my trainer all the time. Frequently it consists of me telling her how evil she is. It's generally done in between sets or while we are setting up equipment. I get a great workout and work HARD. I can still be social. MYOB and if you hate people so much get a home gym

sydneybeachgirl

I have been working with a PT for almost 6months and it was the best investment I ever made.

Having said that I worked with a PT I did work with a coach...me and my PT were not besties or friends...we did not chat about movies or weekend parties...we might have exchanged a few words between the various exercises (checking that weights are fine etc) and may be chatted for a few minutes once we finished but we were both in agreement that a PT session is a workout. My sporty background meant that I am usually very focused during my workouts as I had been coached "no talking during exercising - if you can talk you are not working hard enough" so I am not "social" at the gym anyway
However, I did see and still see some PTs who are very casual..some chat a lot with their clients...some even sing along to the background music (which is a big no no in my eyes) but I guess it is all part of the fact that a client-PT service is tailored. There are clients who like interaction, who need their PT to talk to them to motivate them to say if they have done something right (whilst that was driving me nuts)..and I have seen some walking away from their clients for a minute to say hi to a mate...big big mistakes..a good PT never leaves their client alone during a session and ALWAYS watches them (which can be intimidating at first but a good PT knows how to watch in a non intrusive way)
I think saying that having a PT is a show off is a very negative attitude. I needed my PT to help me overcome a series of issues I had with my exercise routine due to several health issues, without his expertise, patience (I was not what you call an easy-client even thought I was the one never to say that I will not do an exercise) I wouldnt have made it to my goal: which was to be able to run 2kms on the treadmill and guess what I can run 3.5KM now!
A good PT is an excellent investment but it only works if you the client also put the hard work in - just putting the money in will get you not much..

ndj1979

You should probably mind your own business. IMO.
They might be talking with them to learn proper technique so they don't have to spend money on a PT for the rest of their life.

eh IDK ..I have overheard some covos at my gym between trainer and trainee and they are NOT talking about form..most of it is weekend plans, relationship crap, and a whole host of things that have nothing to do with fitness….but that is just the small sample I overhear...

tigersword

I don't see personal trainers doing half the training in 45 minutes that a client could do alone. I think clients, by and large, like to talk and talk and talk with their trainers, even during exercise sets. I don't get it.

I imagine they go home and say they had a great workout.

Funny, I don't see what other people are doing with their trainers, I'm too busy focusing on my workout. I guess all those people who spend all their time watching everyone else at the gym instead of working must go home and say they had a great workout.

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CorlissaEats

I did two sessions with a personal trainer, and I probably wont ever try it again without doing more research. The gym set me up with her because she had training in sports injury (I have a bad knee). Unfortunately, she spent half the time I was doing my sets looking at her cell phone and texting, then had to think about the next exercise. I watched her, and others at my gym while I was using the machines and most of them were the same way. There were only a few who were actually invested in their clients health and fitness. I want to try lifting at some point in the future but I will be very picky in chosing a trainer who is solely focused on helping me reach my goals. Chit chat before and after is ok, but all business during the session.

ChristineinMA

I don't see personal trainers doing half the training in 45 minutes that a client could do alone. I think clients, by and large, like to talk and talk and talk with their trainers, even during exercise sets. I don't get it.

I imagine they go home and say they had a great workout.

Funny, I don't see what other people are doing with their trainers, I'm too busy focusing on my workout. I guess all those people who spend all their time watching everyone else at the gym instead of working must go home and say they had a great workout.

Touche'

MinMin97

Okay, Grumpy! Guilty! But my muscles are pretty sore, so I must have had a good workout.

ldrosophila

I did two sessions with a personal trainer, and I probably wont ever try it again without doing more research. The gym set me up with her because she had training in sports injury (I have a bad knee). Unfortunately, she spent half the time I was doing my sets looking at her cell phone and texting, then had to think about the next exercise. I watched her, and others at my gym while I was using the machines and most of them were the same way. There were only a few who were actually invested in their clients health and fitness. I want to try lifting at some point in the future but I will be very picky in chosing a trainer who is solely focused on helping me reach my goals. Chit chat before and after is ok, but all business during the session.

completely unprofessional I hope you spoke with the manager...speaking of that I need to let my doctor know his receptionist is a b-tch

keithnphx

I have a 25 minute personal training session 3 x week. The only time we chat is the one minute he gives me between sets. At the end of 25 minutes I know have had a good workout because I am exhausted and weak. An hour of rest then I"m full of energy. He pushes me far beyond what I would on my own and reminds me of the progress I've made. Motivation and encouragement coupled with expertise on how to best burn fat and gain muscle is money well spent.

Fullsterkur_woman

My trainer and I have stuff in common, so naturally we're going to talk about that stuff. We both like to eat and deadlift. So we talk a lot about food and lifting weights. Sometimes we talk about pets or movies too while I'm resting. I lift heavy, so the rests are also part of my training (just like eating and sleeping are too). I have a tendency to want to go, go, go, so talking to me for a little while makes sure I get my rest in.

I worked with another trainer before I started working with my current one, and she and I chit-chatted a lot too. She would draw me out with questions-- with a purpose. She was checking my breathing to make sure I was working at an appropriate intensity.

If either of those reasons bother you, that's your problem, not mine.

Eyes on your own workout.

keithnphx

Very well said. Without a PT, I would not be making the progress that keeps me going. Couple with a Registered Dietician and a very supportive MD, I believe that I will stay on track and reach my goal of 20% body fat. Who knows, maybe I'll push beyond 20% once I get there. How much I weigh is not nearly as important to me as reducing my body fat % to a healthy one.

DavPul

I don't see personal trainers doing half the training in 45 minutes that a client could do alone. I think clients, by and large, like to talk and talk and talk with their trainers, even during exercise sets. I don't get it.

I imagine they go home and say they had a great workout.

Funny, I don't see what other people are doing with their trainers, I'm too busy focusing on my workout. I guess all those people who spend all their time watching everyone else at the gym instead of working must go home and say they had a great workout.

You. I like you.

wheird

In my opinion, a good personal trainer will take the time to educate their clients, which includes explaining why an exercise is beneficial, the muscles involved, and how to maintain proper form. Idle chit-chat makes the client feel more at ease and have a sense of community within the gym.

So perhaps you should stay focused on your own workout.

sarahrbraun

I chit chat with my trainer all the time. Frequently it consists of me telling her how evil she is. It's generally done in between sets or while we are setting up equipment. I get a great workout and work HARD. I can still be social. MYOB and if you hate people so much get a home gym

Pretty much this!! With my first trainer, I worked HARD, but he and I would chat between sets, etc. I used to call him slavedriver, evil, sadistic, etc. To this day, even though he is no longer my trainer, he is my biggest cheerleader.

JoRocka

Some people don't want to work out- they want to come in and have a therapist in a trainers shirt.

what's it to you?

It's their money- I had sessions where I tried to have them work- and they just stopped mid way through and got distracted talking. There is only so much prodding you can do- if they want to talk- and not work- that's on them.

And it's certainly NONE of your business. Do your own work out. And stop fussing about other people.

You spend 3-4 hrs a week with someone- you are bound to talk about stuff- it's just reality.

arcticfox04

Long as it doesn't affect me directly getting my workout done then who cares tbh.

Some people like to talk to a trainer while working out. Whatever works for them then go for it. Atleast the person is trying. I see people all the time saying oh that person should do this or that instead of being overweight. Then they do something and they find something new to complain about.

Mr_Excitement

I can't be aggravated unless I know what they were talking about. If it was Duck Dynasty, tell them I hate them.

lipglossjunky73

All snark aside, I train hard on my own at the gym because I can't afford a trainer. I see LOTS of chatting going down. BS chit chat. And honestly, PTs checking their phones, texting, etc.

Also, I truly feel sometimes personal trainers are paid to count.

I have high standards regarding who I give my money to. Doesn't bother me what other people are doing, but it makes me realize I'm happy doing my workouts without paying for someone else to tell me how many more reps are left.

sydneybeachgirl

I honestly cannot get my head around why people who dont work and might not have ever worked with a GOOD PT say that having a PT is waste of money...

we are all different...everyone has its own thing that works for them...

some people achieve great resultst with a gastric band - some people would go nowhere near that procedure
some people can train for a marathon on their own - some would rather train in team or with a coach
some people like the extra support (technical, motivational etc) of a PT - some dont

There is no right or wrong is there?
I invested in a good PT (the head trainer of the gym I am member of) and it was my best investment ever. would i have paid a money to a PT who is a young kid texting and chatting during my workout time - hell no! I did my research, paid the money and had an amazing PT experience..

I dont think there is anything wrong with asking for the extra amount of help, and paying for it...I remember my days when I was getting ready to sit my uni admission exams - guess what I hired a tutor.. ..it is the same thing just for fitness