Personal Trainers: Yea or Nay?

useful to help with technique and set up a plan, and then maybe a review now and then. Overkill and expensive for every session.

I think it depends on your outlook on things. Some people find it helps to make them feel accountable to someone else. Personally I don't find any motivation in needing to meet the expectations of someone who I am paying to set those expectations. If you've been trained on proper form, and you have a plan, I don't see much benefit that you'd be getting by having a trainer work out by your side. My cynical side says you are just paying her to get her workout done.

As I have experience with weight lifting, my primary purpose of using a trainer is accountability. We are working on a plan and I'll have 3 lifting sessions/week, one day with him. I see him every week. It is worth it to me but I know my goals and what I want to achieve.

What is your opinion on personal trainers, their usefulness, and how often to use them? I've met with one twice now, and both times, she's taught me how to do the basic moves for weight lifting (squats, deadlifts, etc.), which I needed to learn, since I'd never done weight lifting before. She set up a modified version of TNROWLFW for me, and suggested She checked up on my form, and said that it was perfect, so that's good.

Yesterday, after our second meeting, she said that next time she hoped we could do the workout routine together. Is this useful? It's $40.00 per session, and money is a little stretched around here. Thanks for your input!

I don't really have any input on your question b/c I've never used a trainer, but I use NROLFW too, and I'm curious why she modified it for you, and what modifications did she make?

Trainers are good for newbies and veterans alike. They can help with form, help you adjust your workouts for the results you want, help you prevent injuries and so on. What I wouldn't get from personal trainers is diet advice. My friend always suggests seeing a doctor for that. You don't need weekly sessions, unless you won't go workout otherwise. But once a month, or every 6 weeks is usually good for keeping you on your toes and maintaining good form.

I see my trainer once a week and love it (I go to the gym 4 times a week). I've always been around sport but he has taught me how to exercise properly and efficiently and introduced me to loads of different exercises and ways to exercise. No two sessions are the same and I get to use a lot of equipment that isn't available to the general public.

I've learned enough to work out on my own, and I do (I have a number of programs that have been developed for me also), but I love not knowing what I will be doing in my PT sessions and he always manages to push me that bit further than I think possible.

I've seen a lot of trainers that don't give a monkeys about their client, they put the client on a treadmill and stand there and watch them for 10 minutes - That's not a good trainer! I think the key is finding a trainer/gym/equipment/attitude that suits you and your aims.

I meet with mine 5 days a week and have been for 2 years now. I have learned so much and she is always pushing me to go harder, faster and for me that's what I need!

I've managed to whip my own behind into shape without one. lol.

A personal trainer has been invaluable to me. I've been working with one all summer gearing up to train for a half marathon. The accountability has been great, but more than that is the program she has put together for me. She's changed me up 3 times now, and I've dropped time in my runs that I don't believe I would have done otherwise. I'm slow anyway, but I've gone from a 40 minute 3 miler to just over 29 minutes. I've changed the shape of my body and pushed myself further than I would have alone. All that being said, you have to decide at what point your finances need to be redirected.

I was a bit dubious about them, I'd seen them at my old gym and they just didn't look bothered, I've just moved to Canada to start a new life and joined the gym, had a personal trainer induction (for free) and she (the manager) laid out what the next 12 months would look like, foundation stage, building/strength phases and a few others. I was impressed and I figured that after trying to lose the weight for the last 10years it was time for something drastic! I have over 100lbs to lose.

This evening I've had session number 6 - I see my pt twice a week and he's lovely, he can see when I'm flagging and encourages me to finish the set, or if he can see something just isnt going to happen, he changes the exercise. So far he's got me doing lots of stuff with dumbells and hand weights that I've never done outside of fitness classes and didn't feel comfortable doing on my own, he's adjusted my squats and ensures I do everything correctly. Although this evening the git made me do burpees - he admitted he hates them as well but apparently they have their uses!

So far I've lost 11lbs in 3 weeks, he has suggested I change my diet as well, cut out wheat and sugar (no fruit). I have found I already have tonnes more energy no more mid-morning or afternoon hunger lulls and my jeans already fit better and I feel fab! Can't wait till my next session (and that is something I really thought I would never hear myself say) and I feel fab and am really looking forward to how I'll feel after the next 50lbs comes off! He's also said I shouldn't plateau like I have done so many times before where I've then given up!

So if you can afford it and you're ready to lose weight once and for all (like me) then do it! Just make sure they are motivated to help you by more than the money - mine stressed he really wants to help people lose weight, he's been on his own weight loss journey so knows how hard it is!