Scared about using a Personal Trainer?

msmith2020
msmith2020 Posts: 365 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Is anyone else scared, and embarrassed, about using a personal trainer?

I'm freaking out! I have the opportunity to have one and all I can think is-

will it be to hard?
What if I don't want to? (Lazy thoughts)
What will they think of my inability to meet their standards?! (weak)
All they will think is "wow this chick is fat and out of shape..."


Why am I having these thoughts??

Has anyone else felt this way, and how did you manage to cover come it???

:indifferent:

Replies

  • Skeels
    Skeels Posts: 929 Member
    A good trainer should be able to design you a workout prgram that works for you.


    I always felt bad when I was puking after Burpees during my training........but my trainer liked that

    Just choose a trainer that you feel comfortable with
  • ubermensch13
    ubermensch13 Posts: 824 Member
    Think of it this way: a personal trainer is getting paid to help formulate a doable workout routine for you. They will not put you in a position to fail, as long as you stick to a plan. They will not judge you for not being able to meet a "standard" at first for many reasons: one, they are getting paid to help you so why piss of the client and two, they probably work with beginners 95% of the time. I"ve used a personal trainer, it wasn't my thing, but I've never experienced any real negatives. Don't worry so much, and just do it to see if it is right for you.
  • minkakross
    minkakross Posts: 687 Member
    I saw a personal trainer for the first time at a weight of 260, granted I requested someone with experience working with obeses women but I was still terrified. Turns out my imagination was way worse then reality and in fact I would go so far as to say it was the best thing I could have done for myself. She developed a routine for my level and as I have lost weight, gained stamina and strength she continues to evolve the workout to meet my goals.
  • LoveMy3Boys605
    LoveMy3Boys605 Posts: 9 Member
    I'm not a personal trainer, but I am a fitness instructor specialist and I NEVER judge anyone who comes to my class...Big, small, uncoordinated or not. I want them to stick with it, so I encourage them and try to make them feel good about themselves so they continue the journey to healthier living. I promise, unless you just get a total *kitten* your trainer will not make you feel any of those things you are afraid of. They will simply guide you, and push you to YOUR limits, not theirs. Go for it!! I have a trainer (not one on one) and I love her to death!!! They are good people who went into the business to help us meet our goals. YOU GO GIRL!!! YOU CAN DOOOO EEEETTT!!!!
  • wordena
    wordena Posts: 177 Member
    My mom has a trainer. She loves it. He's pushed her to do things she Never
    thought she could do and helped fill the gaps in her fitness. She also workout more because she gets homework and is finally doing the things she should have been going all these years like strength training which she really needs. She ran for theorist time at 50 for the first time in my life. Needless to say everyone is proud.
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    Loved working with a trainer. I learned the value of different exercises I had not considered. I now do more free weights than machines.
    My trainer is also the weight training coach at a D1 NCAA school. Knows his stuff.
  • ImperfektAngel
    ImperfektAngel Posts: 811 Member
    Only reason I do not get one is that i only need them for a few sessions and would feel bad getting rid of them
  • Dmarisol
    Dmarisol Posts: 35 Member
    Don't be scared. Having a personal Trainer is awesome, well if you pick the right one. If you feel more confortable with a woman, do so. It doesn't really matter as long as he/she knows their stuff. Personal Trainers push you when you want to give up and give you excellent advise :D
  • semperfit1823
    semperfit1823 Posts: 153
    I'm not certified yet currently working on my ISSA certs but I have taken a few clients personally and online and in no way would I criticize you or try to shame you. Everyone is different and no two programs are ever alike (not suppose to be)
    Its ok to be scared & nervous anything we do new usually is but as long as your trainer gets you the results you want and you continue to learn from them there should be nothing to fear.

    Good luck in your transformation.

    and I guess my personal experience was my strength coach for Football and I definitely had similar feelings but in the end I used those thoughts of never being good enough to push myself even farther and yes the workouts were intense but in no way would I ever take back the experience and what I learned.
  • mbk830
    mbk830 Posts: 164 Member
    I love , love, love my trainer. The exercises, weight, intensity, and variety, have increased as I've used him. He's always encouraging, always willing to work with how I'm feeling (migraine = less intense workout), worked on my weak muscles (ankles) and now they are strong, but most importantly he's loads of fun. I keep thinking I should scale back to save money, but I like having someone to guide and encourage me.
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    I was thinking the other day of posting something like this! After reading through the replies, I feel like a personal trainer is just like anything else-if you don't like one, you might like another. I have the same fears/thoughts but after reading what people have said, I feel a bit better about looking into getting one :smile:
  • msmith2020
    msmith2020 Posts: 365 Member
    thanks everyone for replying. My first experience with personal trainers I was maybe 14.. my mom signed me up and made me go to the gym with her every morning. I hated it, hated the feeling of being there with her (personal trainer) it wasn't what I wanted at the time, so I guess its hard to compare then to now.. I will try it! hopefully I can overcome these thoughts and learn to really appreciate what I will get out of it!
  • ejwme
    ejwme Posts: 318
    My cousin is a personal trainer. Ok, she's my cousin (by marriage, but I adore her), but she is one of the most encouraging, supportive, totally non-judgey people I know. Your average personal trainer isn't in it for the money, they're doing it because they love helping people improve their health and achieve their goals. If you're already in fantastic shape, they wouldn't be very helpful!

    edited to clarify - it is their job, but if they were really looking for big bucks, they'd have chosen another career. It's one of those things people choose for the work, not the check, is what I mean. sorry, I'm distracted and not making any sense!
  • Wabbit05
    Wabbit05 Posts: 434 Member
    I LOVE having a personal trainer. They push you so much more than you can mentally push yourself. I'm a finisher and a bit of a perfectionist so if they tell me to do a move, I'm doing to show them that I will do the move right and finish the sets. It's doing to suck, they are going to push you harder than you want, but they are also going to give you the encouragement and motivation you need to get through that workout. Also, the variety of workouts they give you is great. I use different moves from different sessions to come up with my own workout routines.
  • Inforthelonghaul
    Inforthelonghaul Posts: 33
    Be very selective, take recommendations from others, there are many so called trainers out there, granted they may have a certificate, but many of them are not up to scratch. May be different your side of he pond, perhaps you have a higher possibly legislated standard.

    Does your personal trainer have insurance? Perhaps they don't need it.

    At the end of the day it doesn't matter how good or bad the personal trainer is, it is the result of your mental and physical application that yields results.

    Personally never used one. I hear a number of trainers at my local gym talking absolute c***, but because the clients have paid for this advice they lap it up.

    Whatever you do good luck.
  • Donnaakamagmid
    Donnaakamagmid Posts: 198 Member
    I have the same exact thoughts :embarassed:
  • cheerforsteelers
    cheerforsteelers Posts: 686 Member
    I used to have a personal trainer and I absolutely loved her. She was very overweight at one time and then became a trainer and runs a lot of marathons. She completely knew how I felt (though at that time I was actually like 40 lbs lighter) and I never felt judged. I came to every appointment and it helped me be accountable/workout more. I enjoyed her training me because when I thought I couldn't do it...I did because she helped push me a bit in the right direction. I agree that being a bit selective will help.
  • scorpiotwinkles
    scorpiotwinkles Posts: 215 Member
    My PT saved me from myself. I was MUCH bigger than you when I started. I see him once a week since January and I couldn't do it without him. He has taught me about my body - and at the age of 50 I thought I knew my body - how wrong I was! He is half my age but I trust him and he respects me and my commitment and effort. I would always recommend taking a trainer. Shop around, "interview" them, choose one who feels right.
  • lookatme09
    lookatme09 Posts: 57 Member
    I was scared and embarrassed to have a person see how fat and out of shape i was and it has been 3 months and so happy I have one. He pushes me past the point I would push myself. That the change and u will not regret it
  • NataBost
    NataBost Posts: 418 Member
    Love my trainer. He eats, lives and breathes fitness. He corrects my form - which I NEED. I hate injuries! And he knows when to challenge me and when to back off. It'll be sad when my sessions run out. I'll have to sit down with him and grab some of my favorite routines.
  • ChinUp4Life
    ChinUp4Life Posts: 61
    Know that a lot of Trainers have trainers themselves.

    There's just something powerful about having a person push you beyond what you would normally do for yourself.
  • Nicolee_2014
    Nicolee_2014 Posts: 1,572 Member
    I love my trainers
  • nexangelus
    nexangelus Posts: 2,080 Member
    The expense has to be justified and usually is, as the results can be fast. It is hard graft and you will sweat, hurt and even almost cry at times. They push you way harder than you would push yourself (well d'oh!)
  • em9371
    em9371 Posts: 1,047 Member
    I see a personal trainer once a week and it is the best thing I have ever done, totally love our sessions and the extra weight training has made a big difference to my body shape. Its VERY important to find the right trainer for you, after going to the gym on and off for 10 years I've never really been bothered and thought it was an unneccesary expense, but after my PT took a boxing class one day, I just thought I really like how you do things, I want to buy some sessions, where as some of the other trainers at my gym are about as motivating as a dead fish!!!

    They won't think you are fat / lazy etc, if you are in the gym and not at home on your couch!!
    A good trainer will ask what you want to acheive from your sessions, and within a few weeks should know the best way to motivate you to do that. The thing that works for me is my trainer says do 10-15 reps - because he has given me a range, I know he would be happy with 10 but I want to do the 15, so now anything I am unsure about he is like I know you can do this, and I do!

    Yes its expensive at £20 an hour, but I have learned so much about weight training, how important the correct form is and SO many different exercises that I never even knew about, I tend to get very bored doing the same old routine but now I get a different workout every time and he always challenges me to do a bit more weights / a few more reps than I think i can do.
    Now on the days I have to do weights by myself, I have learned so many more exercises and it helps to keep me interested :-)
  • 305muscle
    305muscle Posts: 97 Member
    we are not too bad lol I been a personal trainer for many years and I try my best to make it fun!

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