Personal Trainer or By myself?

SouthernBell86

So I finally was able to afford to get a gym membership today! Six months paid in full! They include one free session with a personal trainer, and I went ahead and did that today.

Intense! I mean, he definitely had a lot of knowledge, but I have some concerns. First of all, he admitted that he mostly just works with guys. This gym doesn't have any girls who are personal trainers. He tried to get me to do full on sit ups, but some muscle in my hip started cramping. I have ALWAYS been told that full sit ups are bad for your back, especially if you are a woman with ample loose weights strapped to your chest at all times.

Anyway, it is 300 US dollars for 20 sessions with the trainer. I guess that might not sound like much if you are in the states, but to put it in perspective I have a six months unlimited gym membership for $134. My rent is only $270 a month.

Would getting a trainer really improve my workouts that much? I still have a LOT to lose, and I have lost 40 pounds on my own already. Am I being cocky thinking that I could just keep on doing things by myself? Or should I sacrifice something (my savings...) and invest in a trainer?

What do yall think?

LaniBaby88

If it were me I wouldnt get a trainer since there are only guys there. And since he even said that he has only worked with guys he might be giving u bad tips He must be a great trainer but I dont think its good for u. Just stick to what u were doing before b/c obviously it was working right? So u were doing somthing right Good Luck!!

justleeanne

I don't think it is cocky at all, you have some great resources at hand with this website and the internet in general. There are lots of videos and tutorials on safe and proper ways of doing particular exercises to make the best out of them and so that you don't injure yourself!

I'm sure you could get some help putting a few routines together without having to pay a personal trainer and adjust them as you get stronger/fitter.

I hope you enjoy your gym and that it is a worthwhile membership for you!! Good luck with the rest of your jouney!

Fattack

You don't *need* a personal trainer to lose weight, and it's probably not worth your money at this point. They are fantastic motivational tools and can give you great exercises to help you tone up, but as you're still aiming to lose weight primarily, stick to cardio that keeps your heart rate elevated and try to do some strength training (kettlebells are great as they combine both cardio and strength) to preserve muscle tone so you don't look "deflated"/flabby as you lose weight.

As far as stomach exercises are concerned, good ones for women are regular crunches, plank (and tapping your feet out one by one whilst in plank), and oblique twists. Raising both legs above your head and lowering them together (but not letting them hit the floor, just hovering) and back up is also good for your core.

Good luck!

Elleinnz

Personally I work out with a PT twice a week - and I love it as he pushes my boundaries much harder than I push myself, but the money is not such an issue for me as it might be for you....you can do it by yourself - the biggest challenge is to set up an effective training programme - without that you might not get the optimal results from the time you spend in the gym.

Do yourself a favour and buy the book The New Rules for Lifting for Woman by Lou Schuler - it will cost you less than $20 I think, and will give you a great workout programme to follow in the gym - and some good diet advice as well.... I have been a bit of a "gym junkie" for the past 10 years (on and off) and this is the best book I have seen so far for woman...

mmaggio80

If you are solely concerned about doing exercises right, or using the correct weight simply ask the guys and gals in the gym you go to. I have never had an issue asking questions of people doing odd exercises asking what it worked/muscle it targeted. Just keep up your personal motivation and the trainer is not needed.

velvetkat

I also use a personal trainer but mine was specifically because I have had numerous leg surgeries and wanted to be sure I was doing the right exercises and doing them correctly. Once my sessions are over this time I wont buy anymore as they are very expensive but i think I have learned a lot and will be able to do them on my own. He has helped me alot not just with motivation but on how to do the exercises correctly. We are mainly working the machines and working with cross cables and balance.
I think that you don't NEED a PT to succeed. And like someone else said.. just ask the people on the machines how to do them. Also the machines at my gym show on each machine how to do the exercise.
Dont push yourself too much in the beginning as you could get hurt and then be that much farther behind due to not being able to do the exercise...

Good luck!!

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Fattack

Given the amount of people I see daily in the gym using poor form, I'd be very reluctant to ask somebody how to use a machine. That said, many machines have clear instructions on them, or you can ask a member of the gym staff (who are usually trained anyway) to show you.

Barneystinson

I don't know if it's just my gym but the trainers I've seen with clients seem to never take their clientele over to the free weights, squat racks, or anything of real benefit to building strength. They lead them around the Nautilus machines in a circuit and then walk off as their clientele heads over to a treadmill. That, IMO, is not training. That's just laziness on the trainer's part. There are plenty of FREE resources online that could accomplish so much more than that, but I digress...

So if you can find out if that $300 for a trainer includes getting a basic knowledge of proper weightlifting, then yes, by all means go for it. Who cares if the majority of the clientele are dudes? I can count on one hand the number of women other than myself that regularly perform compound lifts and use the free weights at my gym. And more power to women that choose to lift weights - no need for the weight area of the gym to be all for the bros

I use the "New Rules of Lifting for Women" program. Strength routines 3x per week - total duration of all cycles in the program is about 6 months. It's a good program, with the caveat that you need to be comfortable and familiar with performing compound lifts such as squats and deadlifts.

Other resources to check out for strength routines and information for women:

bodybuilding.com
Muscle & Fitness Hers
stumptuous.com

SouthernBell86

Hey thanks for the advice everyone! I feel like I will just keep doing it free style for a while. I do tend to read up on how to spice up my workouts, and I try to set goals for myself, push myself and enjoy myself. Ultimately I just didn't enjoy my workout with the trainer, which I think is a problem. I guess some people don't ever enjoy working out, so they need someone to push them, but I find that I usually really enjoy my workouts, and that is why it has been sustainable. Maybe some people really enjoy working with a personal trainer, and maybe I would too if it was the right one.

It just made me feel pretty weird letting some guy touch me like that, y'know? I mean I am a pretty conservative person, I usually always give guys the side hug. Thanks for helping me think this through! I feel confident about my decision