Why personal trainers can't be trusted

RECowgill

I had a conversation at my gym today with a CPT who works there. I told him I recently started deadlifts. He immediately told me that (and I quote) "people shouldn't do deadlifts, unless they're doing a bodybuilding competition".

He didn't know anything about my background, how well my form was, how much weight I was doing, or anything. He just blurted out his opinion that "people shouldn't do deadlifts" as if it were a fact. :noway:

Deadlifts have been amazing for me. I watch my form and protect my back, I'm not rolling up a huge amount of weight I shouldn't be lifting. I don't egolift deadlifts of all things. But since starting them the benefits of deadlifts, imo, are undeniable.

This is why I think personal trainers suck. Before you get your butt all hurt about that statement know that my butt is hurt already from the idiocy I heard from a CPT. You get 'professionals' like him who confuse opinions with facts and state them as if its from some source of authority.

What makes his opinion even more laughable to me is the caveat "unless they're doing a bodybuilding competition".

Lets map this out for a second:

People = should not do deadlifts.
Unless = competing bodybuilder.

How would a person develop the physique to be a competing bodybuilder if they aren't doing deadlifts? :mad:

Capt_Apollo

well, saying "personal trainers can't be trusted" is the same kind of blanket statement the trainer said about dead lifts.

only a sith deals in absolutes.

lol, but seriously. when i told my PT that i wanted to learn how to dead lift and squat, and do power cleans and all that leg stuff, his eyes lit up. he loved showing me that stuff. and he did a lot of research to help me out with a lot of my other goals.

so, all trainers, like gyms, are different.

RECowgill

I'll be a Sith Lord then along with that no-nothing CPT. :laugh:

AZKristi

Its really bad that some of the certifications are so easy to come by. There are definitely programs that produce Personal Trainers who are qualified to evaluate research in the field of exercise physiology and these people can be extremely beneficial to their clients. Sadly, in any profession, there are people who don't live up to the standards the public expects. This isn't just the case with personal trainers. There are bad lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, hairstylists, and secretaries. Pretty much anything that can be done can be done badly. Try not to fault the entire profession based on the ignorance of the few. After all, I don't blame all physicians for the idiocy that is Dr. Oz.

HeidiMightyRawr

Idiot.

Now I'm sure there are a lot of good PT's, but guys like him just give them a bad name!

I have 2 reasons for you now, why deadlifts are GOOD!
1) To improve overall strength / picking things up and putting them down.
2) When form is correct it can provide a stronger back (how many people complain of back pain?!) and improve posture.

rosebarnalice

Sorry you had a bad experience, and you reinforce the thought that you should always have the guts to think for yourself and weigh and evaluate what someone tells you about anything having to do with your health or fitness (and I include MDs and other medical professionals in this category.

While I don't think this individual was deliberately trying to insult you personally, he was probably expressing his professional judgement for the population at large. There are probably a lot of folks out there who have no business deadlifting. Don't get your knickers in such a twist.

Clement1ne

I'm FAR from doing any sort of body building competition and I do dead-lifts with my PT.
He's had me do up to 110 lbs, actually, but I don't do many reps... I'm just starting more 'serious' strength training.

Dead-lifts are awesome for your butt, abs, and even some upper body parts like the shoulders.

RECowgill

Its really bad that some of the certifications are so easy to come by. There are definitely programs that produce Personal Trainers who are qualified to evaluate research in the field of exercise physiology and these people can be extremely beneficial to their clients. Sadly, in any profession, there are people who don't live up to the standards the public expects. This isn't just the case with personal trainers. There are bad lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, hairstylists, and secretaries. Pretty much anything that can be done can be done badly. Try not to fault the entire profession based on the ignorance of the few. After all, I don't blame all physicians for the idiocy that is Dr. Oz.

I think I met the Dr. Oz of CPT's.

RECowgill

Idiot.

Now I'm sure there are a lot of good PT's, but guys like him just give them a bad name!

I have 2 reasons for you now, why deadlifts are GOOD!
1) To improve overall strength / picking things up and putting them down.
2) When form is correct it can provide a stronger back (how many people complain of back pain?!) and improve posture.

My lower back feels better from doing deadlifts, not worse.

In day to day routines, I feel its much easier to do basic things like kneeling down to pick things up, or interacting with my 5 year old on her level. Basic but important stuff.

Squats help with this too obviously. If I was trapped on a desert island and all I had for exercising was a tree branch with some coconuts tied to the ends I'd make sure I was doing deadlifts and squats if nothing else.

Hadabetter

You obviously know more that the people you are seeking guidance from. Or is it that you are just looking for guidance from someone who will reinforce your preconceptions?

I know for a fact that one of the most well respected strength and condition coaches in the country advises against squats, or any other lift that involves vertical loading of the spinal column. This person, I might add, is a strength and conditioning coach who has been employed by several D1 colleges and NFL teams...not a fly-by-night personal trainer. But you would probably blow him off as another "Dr Oz".

Enjoy your journey.

amann1976

You obviously know more that the people you are seeking guidance from. Or is it that you are just looking for guidance from someone who will reinforce your preconceptions?

I know for a fact that one of the most well respected strength and condition coaches in the country advises against squats, or any other lift that involves vertical loading of the spinal column. This person, I might add, is a strength and conditioning coach who has been employed by several D1 colleges and NFL teams...not a fly-by-night personal trainer. But you would probably blow him off as another "Dr Oz".

Enjoy your journey.

as CT fletcher says those people who warn you against doing something because you could get hurt wouldnt know a real workout if it smacked them in the face.

i deadlift and i squat

dicoveringwhoIam

Love my PT. I do trap dead lifts. I hit my PR Thursday with 6 reps of 180lbs and 2reps of 200lbs.. before that I had done a circuit 5x around 140lbs 10reps each round. plus other stuff. He's very knowledgeable. Unfair statement with 1 experience. THere's a lot of ding dongs out there no matter the profession

MrGonzo05

It's a good idea to interview a trainer beforehand. And to fire them if you don't find the relationship constructive. There are trainers who can help with your goals. Don't waste time with those who can't.

Mads1997

well it's not that hard to become a personal trainer, you don't even have to study. All you do is pay your money do a course (which by the way has 100% success rate) get your certificate and that's it.

CoderGal

HEY! You have no right to put down personal trainers like that. You can't put them down until at least 5 of them have asked to sleep with you while they were working without you hitting on them first. So only I can put them down.

I think Personal trainers are becoming more like an escort service every day. My ex decided to be one after we broke up. He seems to be doing well with it with that regard. God I hope nobody listens to his advice because I've heard some of it

Madaly320

I used to spend half my training sessions doing dead lifts. I take some Group classes that incorporate dead lifts.

servilia

Dead lifts = great *kitten*.

upgetupgetup

Its really bad that some of the certifications are so easy to come by. There are definitely programs that produce Personal Trainers who are qualified to evaluate research in the field of exercise physiology and these people can be extremely beneficial to their clients. Sadly, in any profession, there are people who don't live up to the standards the public expects. This isn't just the case with personal trainers. There are bad lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, hairstylists, and secretaries. Pretty much anything that can be done can be done badly. Try not to fault the entire profession based on the ignorance of the few. After all, I don't blame all physicians for the idiocy that is Dr. Oz.

That's the problem, lack of standardized qualifications. And it's all commercial training, there's no control other than reputation (though I know NASM requires that trainers in training have a degree).

edit: but, maybe not all clients know that. Same problem.

phjorg

as a former personal trainer I can say with confidence that 80% are utterly mindless dumbasses. 19% are competent, and 1% actually have a clue on getting good results.

The book starting strength is better than most personal trainers you can find at a gym.

RECowgill

HEY! You have no right to put down personal trainers like that. You can't put them down until at least 5 of them have asked to sleep with you while they were working without you hitting on them first. So only I can put them down.

You are a brilliant young gal (no hit).

CoachDreesTraining

You obviously know more that the people you are seeking guidance from. Or is it that you are just looking for guidance from someone who will reinforce your preconceptions?

I know for a fact that one of the most well respected strength and condition coaches in the country advises against squats, or any other lift that involves vertical loading of the spinal column. This person, I might add, is a strength and conditioning coach who has been employed by several D1 colleges and NFL teams...not a fly-by-night personal trainer. But you would probably blow him off as another "Dr Oz".

Enjoy your journey.

Don't take Mike Boyle's statement out of context. He was talking about highly trained athletes that use very heavy loads. Plus he never said anything about deadlifts.

To the OP.

Being a personal trainer myself, it is extremely frustrating how unregulated the field is. But, like any profession, there are good and bad trainers.