Personal Trainer.......or not?

dollaqie

I have been exercising for 3 months now concentrating on cardio mostly and do a bit of machines here and there. I love walking and could go on with this for hour to hour and a half, just walking. But now it seems that I need other exercise as well as my weight is mostly at a standstill. What are your opinions on personal trainers and is this a good idea?

TheMissingSock

i use a trainer and i love/hate him When we started I told him what I wanted, and what I thought I could do. I was also honest with him and told him that I need something to push me, but not so tough that I'll feel like a big stupid fatty and get pissed.

I cannot afford to go all the time, so I meet with him two days a month to "check in" and he does my measurements and gives me a circuit that focuses on areas that didn't lose as many inches as other areas. He also gives me "machine work" that can tone up areas that are getting flabby now that i'm losing weight. He actually listens to me and seems like he wants to help me get fit.

He is also around the gym alot so I can stop and ask him (or any of the other trainers) a question about my workouts. All the trainers at my gym are great!

redcat17

If you are wanting to add strength training to your work out, I think a session with a good personal trainer might help. He or she can make certain you are using correct form, which is important because if you don't you could end up getting injured or not getting the most out of your workout.

Note that I said a good personal trainer, who will listen to your personal goals and not have a one-size-fits-all routine for every client.

aairey7

With all that is available on the internet these days I don't see a need for a personal trainer in my opinion.

ninerbuff

All a trainer does it write you a workout plan and you follow it. And they spot you if that.

Well that's part of it. A good trainer educates too as well as challenges the client to improve. Motivation helps and being up front and brutally honest is something else a trainer will do if they have the clients best interest at hand.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

nz_deevaa

With all that is available on the internet these days I don't see a need for a personal trainer in my opinion.

Sometimes you need someone who will push you.

That's what my trainer does. When I work out with him he always pushes me harder than what I'd do myself. I never skip a PT session.

He also gets me to do stuff I might not otherwise do by myself.

I'm new to lifting heavy and he checks my form and spots me.

Awkward30

So, my take:

There are a lot of rubbish trainers out there willing to tell you what they think you want to hear instead of what you need to hear ie giving women high rep schemes because we've been told low reps will make us huge. I would read new rules of lifting for women or stronglifts 5x5 and follow their plan, but get a single training session for form checks with a trainer you have checked out and are reasonably sure isn't a tool. YouTube also has a ton of videos that show proper form.

I think it's great that you want to get into lifting. You'll love it and what it does for your body.

ninerbuff

With all that is available on the internet these days I don't see a need for a personal trainer in my opinion.

If a person is new and doesn't understand form, how to breathe correctly, etc. watching a video usually doesn't clear that up. It's one thing to watch it and another to do it.
Not to kid you either, but most people I've trained with or trained don't train as hard as they think they do. A good trainer sets the bar higher than what a person expects most of the time.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

bradphil87

All a trainer does it write you a workout plan and you follow it. And they spot you if that.

Well that's part of it. A good trainer educates too as well as challenges the client to improve. Motivation helps and being up front and brutally honest is something else a trainer will do if they have the clients best interest at hand.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I agree with you, mine always pushes me, to lift more this time, or get that last rep when I feel like I can't. He is the perfect fit for me. And when I accomplish something he gives me positive encouragement. At the same time if he feels I am not giving everything I have, he will let me know(and by let me know I mean chew me out) in his words "I will never cheat you, don't you dare cheat yourself!"

lombrica

I absolutely LOVE my personal trainer!! Initially... I was just gonna use a couple of sessions, but I have continued to meet with her one time a week! If I could afford to do it more, I would! I love working with her... so, I recommend a trainer to anyone that can afford one!

misskerouac

With all that is available on the internet these days I don't see a need for a personal trainer in my opinion.

If a person is new and doesn't understand form, how to breathe correctly, etc. watching a video usually doesn't clear that up. It's one thing to watch it and another to do it.
Not to kid you either, but most people I've trained with or trained don't train as hard as they think they do. A good trainer sets the bar higher than what a person expects most of the time.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Agreed.
I thought squats were squats, I mean how hard is it? To do it properly, with good form, it's hard. Especially if you've been doing them wrong for years. I have a trainer I see every 3 weeks, she gives me a routine and helps me work on my form. I have terrible posture (as do a lot of people) so for me I want to correct it and be able to do my strength training with the best form I can. Plus she has given me exercise I would have NEVER thought of for me.

stayxtrue

I use one and he pushes me beyond my limits and is teaching me to do that for myself... My aims are to grow and my nutrition and everything was wrong and I was not eating right... Through having a trainer we are working through the small things to get me back up to where I should be with both training and diet

Nataliaho

I am majorly pro-trainer... I never train without a trainer..

That being said I no longer train at a regular globo-gym and that is the best thing I have ever done. I do my lifting sessions at a powerlifting/strongman gym and I do my oly and crossfit sessions at my trainers home-gym. I can't tell you what a difference it makes if you seek out specific coaches and facilities to help you achieve a specific performance goal... it is a completely different thing to what I intially sought out and suffered through at a regular gym. That being said here are my general pros and cons:

Pros
- time management, no session is wasted, I don't need to spend time researching, reading or planning my sessions
- motivation, I am naturally lazy and probs would do nothing if left to my own devices
- accountability - see above
- results

Cons
- all of the above only apply if you get a good trainer
- cost, at different times over the past few years I've spent quite a bit of money on my fitness... however getting away from the globogym has made it much more affordable

Erica_theRedhead

I decided to get a trainer in the beginning to get me started on my journey. A year and a half out, I still meet 2 times/week with him. Initially, a trainer helped me become accountable for my progress (or lack of) and got me in the mindset of working out daily, and pushing myself. Lately, he has been pushing me past my physical limits. 8 months ago, I could not run. I am now ready to run my first half marathon in 2 weeks. 3 months ago, I could not do a push up, now I do regular sets (with good form!). Can I do a pull up?? No, but we're working on it and I'm so damn close to getting up there. I know that I would not have reached this level on my own, since I had never even come close in my 25 years on this planet. Is it a large expense? Absolutely. But the way I think of it, I would spend the money anyway, most likely on food, drinks, clothes, vacations, etc. This is an investment in myself, and I am a convert to support PT. But if you choose to get a trainer, be up front with your expectations and concerns that you have. Whomever you work with should tailor your training to your goals, and should listen to you. Do not work with someone with a cookie-cutter approach. Best of luck!

dollaqie

Thanx you guys, I spotted one trainer at my gym and he is go getter, he mostly works with woman by the looks of it, and they sure do suffer. I booked my first week with him and this afternoon is my 1st session

Phoenix_Angel

A personal trainer can be a huge advantage if u go about it the right way. I would recommend 1 session per week and never miss your sessions. (some places will charge for no-shows). Ask your trainer a ton of questions. Make sure it's someone you are comfortable training with. Some places supposedly have "set fees" but watch out. I've seen clients pay as much as $70 for a 30-minute session. You can talk them down to $20-25 per session. The most important thing tho is to make the most of your time with them. That way u can use the knowledge for the long haul.

Natx83

No need one of my best mates is a champ and long time mfp'er. Best mate and form coash all in one. Winning

delonda1

I have a personal trainer and LOVE IT! He helps give me new ideas and challenges my body like well I wouldnt have. And half the reason I push as hard is because he believes in me. He helps with my diet plan.

I think it depends on the person. It works out wonderfully for me. I recommend a trainer even if only for a few months just so you can get a different idea and some good input and if you feel you can take it from there then go for it.

MoreBean13

I think one overlooked benefit of trainers is giving women confidence in the weights section of the gym, obviously if it's a good trainer. I see so many women post about how scared they are of lifting weights, and a couple sessions with a good trainer could get them over that hump. I've also seen horror stories about trainers having women "lifting weights" lighter than my water bottle, so ....

Also they can be extremely effective for breaking a slump/plateau, and that doesn't need to be long term either.

nz_deevaa

I think one overlooked benefit of trainers is giving women confidence in the weights section of the gym, obviously if it's a good trainer. I see so many women post about how scared they are of lifting weights, and a couple sessions with a good trainer could get them over that hump. I've also seen horror stories about trainers having women "lifting weights" lighter than my water bottle, so ....

Also they can be extremely effective for breaking a slump/plateau, and that doesn't need to be long term either.

I agree. My trainer started off giving me light weights and getting me to do 50 or something. I grumbled about it, and said "Give me something heavier" and he actually said "Oh usually women don't want to lift heavy weights"... I had to push him though.

Mamoonie

If you can afford it, do it!
You will have so much better results, both physically and mentally!
I work out with a personal trainer since January 2011 and I have improved my fitness, my strength and my confidence. I have a session with him every 2 weeks, and in between these sessions he sends me programs to do on my own. He always expects me to return these programs with my input on how I did, how I felt so there is no cheating on myself.
Make sure you connect well, and they are a good one, checking on your posture etc.

dad106

All a trainer does it write you a workout plan and you follow it. And they spot you if that.

Bull ****.

If you have a good trainer, they do way more then that. My trainer not only writes me a program and spots me, but makes sure that what we are doing is about me. There is no one sized fits all program with my trainer. He also pushes me farther then I prob. would ever go on my own, and makes sure that my form on things like squats, lunges, etc is spot on.

He's even said that yes, I could stand here and just count your reps and spot you, but I'm about more then that..I actually want to get to know my clients and help the time past faster by getting to know you. At first, I thought he was nuts.. but the more I work with him, the more I realize he's right!

suemar74

I'd be afraid a trainer would make me do burpees...and I refuse to pay someone who makes me do burpees

seekingstrengthX2

All a trainer does it write you a workout plan and you follow it. And they spot you if that.

This is totally incorrect. Maybe a trainer at a crappy gym does this. Hiring a trainer is the best thing I ever did. They pushed me to limits I didn't know I had. They showed me my potential. It has made all the difference in the world.

Bethie_B

All a trainer does it write you a workout plan and you follow it. And they spot you if that.

Clearly, you've never had a good trainer.

I find mine to be completely amazing. He listens to what my goals are, and tailored a plan to help me reach it. He pushes me, educates me, and makes me do things that I never thought I could do.

And just the education about proper form when lifting is priceless. Sure, you can watch youtube videos all day, but until you have someone standing there, watching and correcting you, it's so easy to do things wrong.

atsteele

I had a trainer for years. He was/is AWESOME!! He did way more than just count my reps and keep me motivated! He gave me tidbits of information that helped me tweek my routine and he kept me focused on my weaknesses (which I tend to ignore). I loved going to him. He was not only fun but quite knowledgeable. If I wasn't doing so much of everything else (running and TKD), I'd STILL be going to him!!

Jo2926

All a trainer does it write you a workout plan and you follow it.

Sort of. Except they are constantly writing it - so if halfway through a session I'm dying she can tone it down a bit, only to ramp up again towards the end. If I'm doing better than I expected she can throw in some more challenging moves. The constant fine tuning of a session makes sure I get the very best out of every single session.

A good trainer will push you beyond any limits and keep you accountable for the goals you set.

Choosing the right trainer is essential though - don't be afraid to try out a few before committing. My experience is that those employed by gyms have not been as good as independent trainings. The very best one I had did all my workouts at home and outside ,so the money saved on the gym I could put towards extra sessions. And the session were about 15% cheaper than gym equivalents.

cramernh

We have a very proactive trainer at the PF I go to where I live. She took into consideration the limitation I have with regard to my heel spurs and was able to give me the necessary education on proper form and safety to make sure I exercise the calves/ankles/feet carefully while helping to strengthen them.

Where I was the only person who signed up for the 'Build your workout session", I was able to have her all to myself. I learned perfect form, was able to determine appropriate seat positioning, weights, and has made herself available for any and all questions I have. She has also helped me on equipment that Ive wanted to attempt to use but didnt know how.

The trainer works also in conjunction with my Endocrinologist. They collaborate together and I am getting one hell of an effective workout and it coordinates well with my healthcare that I am receiving. The trainer actually agreed with the dietary intake that the Endo has me on and so far, things are going well.

Ive been so pumped at doing the weights/strength training so much that I workout at 4:30 am five straight days per week and Im hoping to amp it up even more by doing it every day. Im enjoying the push, the burn and the feeling afterwards that I know I have put myself through one hell of a workout!

mmreed

its easy for some to say a personal trainer is not needed, or they simply write down your workout ect... but that is not true if the trainer is a professional.

A trainer is there to take someone to thier best levels. To push, to motivate, to educate.

Having a trainer is an expensive option - one I chose to go with. In addtion to having a one on one person to do the above, it adds a level of accountability you do not have when trying to do this solo. We all know it is important to have a network of support - otherwise none of us would be posting here.

A trainer works with you, makes you feel you can accomplish more, keeps you moving when lacking motivation, educates, pushes, monitors and adjusts.

The key is having a PROFESSIONAL trainer - one that is certified and has an educational background in fitness or kineseology

Ask yourself this question - am I where I expected and wanted to be in my fitness plan doing it solo? If not, get a trainer. yes it costs a bit of money, but so does being unhealthy. For me, the $300 a month for multiday per week attention is worth every penny. Right now is when I need someone to drive me... not everyone has the solo focus to go it alone.

staceyseeger

I have been meeting with my PT 3-4 times a week for the past 6 months, He trains me at a small, gym that I refer to as a "man's gym". No ruffles, no frills...Just get in there & get it done. He sets up everything & spots me the entire 1-1/2 hours that I'm there...his entire attention is focused on me and only me. No texting, no talking on phone, no BS. He has taken my work outs to a place that I would never have gone on my own.

Good luck to you!

sandimack

I love boot camp, my personal trainer pushes all of us, real hard! It changes everyday. We have measurements done, we have nutrition consulting and she is cutting edge in workouts, interval, weight lifting. It is hard as hell and we all push each other. It is expensive but worth every penny. I know so many people that have suffered injuries because they don't workout properly.