Are Personal Trainers Necessary?

If you are comfortable using the equipment and understand what you are doing with nutrition and exercise, you in no way need a PT to lose weight. I would guess very few people on this site use a PT (myself included, they are way too expensive).

I know there are many places that it seems like you are there to buy a car, but just tell them "no thanks" turn up your headphones, and get back to work. They will leave you alone.

Good luck.

No trainer here and I could probably even have one for free if I really wanted. My BIL is about to graduate with a BS in exercise science. But I do it on my own.

I go to a locally owned gym and the trainers don't hassel anyone that I've seen. I've been approached once in the 11 months I've been going there and that was only because they were giving sessions away, which I've only seen them do the one time.

Why do they not leave me the hell alone?!

It is how they make their living.

In my own personal experience I have lost weight with and without a personal trainer... I lost 65lbs on my own and then after my second child I gained it all back and decided to try a personal trainer... with the help of the trainer I only lost 40lbs altogether during my sessions but I found out during my training sessions that I was diabetic and when I got my levels under control then the weight started to come off... I did enjoy having someone to talk to and to encourage me during the training lessons but I can't afford the price of it... I actually go to Curves now and they help me whenever I need it and it doesn't cost anything extra, its just part of their job... I was actually going to Curves when I lost the 65lbs and then I switched gyms for a year and then went back to Curves... I honestly don't think they are necessary to lose weight... I have done it both ways... all the trainer did was give me someone to chat with during my workout...

Honestly, I have never learned that much from a trainer or a coach. You know who HAS helped me a lot? Other people in the gym. Usually the MASSIVE body builder type guy or gal by him/herself in a corner. He more than likely knows more about how to sculpt the human body into any shape imaginable than 75% of trainers out there.

To this day I learned more from a single afternoon I spent with one of those guys than in 5 years of coached lifting sessions. From supplements to how to order your workouts, to which things really can be worked out daily without injury (hint: you can work your core til you're blue in the face, just make sure you work your back muscles too).

This is odd...I've only ever been "recruited" by one PT (who also taught my kickboxing class) and I politely declined. No hard feelings there and no continued "recruiting." I took classes in college with a registered PT for a few gym credits. It was beneficial for my lifting form, no doubt. I also got a couple free counseling sessions at our company-sponsored gym with a [waste of time] PT. I suppose the only PT I'd honestly pay for advice is one who's Crossfit certified, but that's way out of my budget and not close to where I live. Pipe dream, I suppose!

I was squatting about 100 pounds a couple months ago at the local Y. One of the trainers nearby raised his eyebrow after my set and I thought - "well...either means he was impressed or thought WOW! You have awful form!"

I wonder if the trainers pick on people that do in fact have bad lifting form? Like, how's that work for them - "hey I see you can't deadlift to save your life! Let me help!"

It is down to the individual as to whether a PT is necessary. In many cases they are definatley very knowledgable and can really help with weightloss knowing a few in the profession myself. I've found that they are particularly useful in changing my outlook on fitness and exercise which I can then continue on my own in my own time.

I've managed without either a personal trainer or a gym. (I admit I'd like to join a gym but just can't fit it into my budget right now--hoping to be able to do so this year some time!)

I definitely think a PT is a personal luxury. You don't really need one. A ton of people have lost weight without them and without the gym.

If you are uncomfortable using the different machines in the gym then it might be a good idea to use that one time free season so they can show you around the gym.

I'm torn about training. I would love to have someone yell at me to work harder but then I think that it's a waste of my $$ since my degree is in Kinesiology and I already know what to do. :bigsmile:

Personally, I've never had a PT that I paid for. I have had instructors in college but that was because I played football. But I do understand PT's as I know a bunch. Yes, it's their job to look for new clients, and yes, some of them are annoying. But if you find the right one, and can afford him/her, they can be VERY valuable. A good trainer can spot what your problems are in one or two sessions, a bad one can have you doing the wrong thing for months.

things to keep in mind about trainers:

-The certificate they carry, and the experience they have is very important. Research both, not all PT certs are created equal.
-Ask for references, and not just current clients, ask for references from other gyms as well.
-Trainers are not certified in nutrition, maybe your trainer has nutrition training, but if so, ask for the credentials. Just because someone knows proper muscle groups and form, doesn't make them an expert on nutrition, trust me, I've spoken with many a trainer that knew far less than I do about nutrition, and I ALWAYS preface my advice with the fact that I'm not a registered dietitian (an RD is the only person I'd ever ask for nutritional advice, and yes, that includes my doctor).
-Trainers usually aren't paid all that great (kinda low end to middle of the road usually). They devote their life (unless they are like me and work a job during the day) to fitness, which is great, but it can make them a little jaded towards those of us who aren't in the best of shape.

Its good to hear im not alone in that aspect. and yes they do push the suppliments too which i dont think are necessary either simply good ol' fashion proper dieting does the trick for me. I feel very confident about my form with machines and free weights alike. Thanks for chimeing in I was starting to think I could not pull this off without one, they make me second guess my knowledge about working out with those odd stares and constant pestering.

In my expirenced I have had one trainer completely ruin my ligaments for another just to say that the first trainer was doing everything wrong! How in the world am I supposed to trust them when my first expirence was horrifying. Given, the second Trainer taught me well but more than half the things he presented to me I had already read in one place or another thus doing nothing but reassure what I already knew. and yes a lot of times I felt like he was only there for a friendly chat. specially when my workout routine was already established and there wasnt anything for him to do or say except for "good" "good" "one more" "ok good". At one point I was just asking questions like a mad man and getting him to teach me everything he knows to get my monies worth, but eventually I just couldnt afford it anymore and when I told him I couldn't continue he kept calling at home asking me when I could return to doing more sessions. This forced me to quite going to that GYM. Then I joined 2 others that were also a sour expirence.

I feel I need a GYM to keep me motivated as it is supposed feel like a working out enviremont, I just can't muster the energy to do this at home. To be honest its quite frusterating.

First of all, trainers are not qualified in any way, shape or form to push "supplements". That's one of those "professional ethics" litmus tests--i.e. if someone does it, they have none.

I'd say go to the management of the gym and complain, but it's THEIR policies and THEIR supplements these bozos are pushing.

The problem is that there are a lot of people who could benefit from a trainer, but finding a trainer who is qualified to meet one's needs is a crapshoot--the odds are really stacked against you.

I can say without equivocation, that 80% of the people with no exercise background, esp the ones over 40, who joined our fitness center when I was the manager would have benefited from working with a personal trainer--for those over 60 it would be more like 95%. We were a "high-attention" hospital wellness center with degreed fitness specialists on the floor at all times, so we provided a lot of daily instruction for free.

The biggest problems with newbies was learning proper lifting form, setting a focus for their programs, but, most importantly, not adjusting the training intensity as they progressed. I can't tell you how many times I found that, 3 months later, people were still doing the exact same workloads and exercises they had been shown on day 1.

You can make the (valid) argument that "I am paying all this money for dues, I shouldn't have to pay for a trainer as well" and my belief was always that there is a basic level of service (REAL service) and instruction that members are entitled to at no charge, but you can also make the case for "If you are going to pay all this money for a membership, why not invest a little more and get the most out of your membership dollars?".

There are a lot of people on this website who have had the ability to take the initiative and take charge of their own programs and get the information they needed--I suspect that same initiative is what led them to MFP in the first place. And I agree 100% with those who say, in general, that most people don't NEED a trainer. But that also requires a personal accountability and some intellectual ability to research and find quality information for yourself. I also think that a cursory glance at the topics in this forum on any given day also shows that there are a lot of people spinning their wheels and wasting a lot of time and effort because they haven't got a clue. What's even worse is that some don't want a clue, either.

Bottom line: I think more people could benefit from trainers if the overall quality of trainers was better. But because that is such an iffy proposition, it would be hard for me to tell anyone to go hire one, unless I was making a specific recommendation to someone I knew.

Thank you for that Azdak. I can see how people can easily fall into a plateau thinking they can follow the same regimen they learned the first day with a trainer. I myself have done plenty of research to avoid these types of mistakes and strive to learn more as I continue to lose weight. I just feel like I'm the scum of the earth when trainers walk by and stare me down like I am the anti-christ because I'm fat and not working out with a trainer. This always leads me to quiting time after time. It seems like I work out for 3 months and Im back on the couch for 3 months in a visious cycle. Its a cycle I know I need to break and I can't seem to find a way around it. The minute I jump off the couch and decide to take action I find myself overwhelmed by trainers once again!. This is why I was pondering if anyone had the same problem and if a trainer was absolutely necessary. This topic might just help me break that cycle.

I'm curious to how the other side of the coin looks like. Is there anyone here who absolutely can not lose weight without the help of a trainer?

Your story really sucks and it's a sad testimony on the state of affairs in many fitness centers. Even unemployed as I am, there are some large health club chains that I would never even consider working for because I despise the way they run their business--and it's exactly like what you describe.

It's another reason why I always "hid out" so to speak in the hospital-based side of the business.