Trainer working me too hard?

Tykk
Tykk Posts: 153 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Morning all!

I signed up with a personal trainer to get a kick-start to my exercise program. I'm seeing him once a week, and doing another session on my own.

I'm frankly feeling like I've been taken through the wringer each session, and am not enjoying them at all. I'm wondering whether he's pushing too hard. For example, in the cardio part of the workout, he's got me at > 160 bpm heart rate, spiking as high as 175 bpm. I'm thinking for a 48 year old man weighing 270 lbs, this is ludicrous.

Am I correct, or just a wuss?
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Replies

  • jimmie65
    jimmie65 Posts: 655 Member
    Are you still breathing? Then I'd say the answer is "no". Sounds like you're getting your money's worth.
  • danlarson
    danlarson Posts: 27
    I've had similar experiences. You pay them to push you past your comfort zone. You will get results this way.
  • Katey911
    Katey911 Posts: 80 Member
    Here's how I think of it: My trainer pushes me to do more than I thought I could, more than I knew I would on my own. That's why I pay her! And while sometimes I'm barely walking afterwards, and while sometimes I hate her for what she makes me do, there are times when I feel empowered and awesome and STRONG for what I accomplished with her.

    Stick with it!
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Faint, puke, die or keep going. I'd be pissed if I hired a trainer and didn't leave the gym feeling like I couldn't move one more step.
  • ptjolsen
    ptjolsen Posts: 365 Member
    You are just going past what your body is used to. Sounds like a great service being given so far.
  • sunlover89
    sunlover89 Posts: 436 Member
    Faint, puke, die or keep going. I'd be pissed if I hired a trainer and didn't leave the gym feeling like I couldn't move one more step.

    This!! You're still alive aren't you?
  • Novemayune
    Novemayune Posts: 11
    How many sessions have you had thus far? How many are you planning on? When is your progress meeting?

    Long story short? This is what you are paying this man for. Give him your trust and he WILL reshape your body. Guaranteed. This is his livelihood. Maybe it also means you need to push harder exercising on your own. If you wanted someone to hold your hand, you should find a workout buddy. A trainer is going to push you harder and farther than you would do on your own. And you will learn what your body is truly capable of. Have you never seen Biggest Loser?

    You are for sure getting your money's worth. Thank him next time you see him.
  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    I hopefully you went to the doctor before you started exercising and got a clean bill of health!
  • krisiepoo
    krisiepoo Posts: 710 Member
    when I meet with my trainer, I can barely lift my hands above my waist, every step I feel like I'm going to fall over and I'm so tired I go home and wanna nap. You're not paying them to make a new BFF, they're there to PUSH you!

    And really, if you're only going to the gym twice a week then it'll be harder when you DO see him.

    Keep it up, he's gonna help you get kickstarted for sure, LOL
  • cloggsy71
    cloggsy71 Posts: 2,208 Member
    What is this 'too hard' of which you speak? :laugh:
  • andreajp
    andreajp Posts: 52 Member
    I worked out with a trainer for a year and his words to me were always "If it HURTS stop. If you are just UNCOMFORTABLE quit whining."
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Personal trainers are not gods...and there are good ones and bad ones. It would seem to me that he has you doing a lot of work in an anaerobic zone with your HR being that high. Is it that high throughout or just in spurts and then it comes down and then back up again (interval training)...what's the average? Generally speaking, it is ok to work in an anaerobic zone 1-3 times per week...whether you're truly over training comes down to how often this type of exercise is being performed and duration. If you're doing it once per week, I'd say no biggie....3x per week I would say ok, but make sure the other days you workout are truly in an aerobic zone or recovery zone. Just my $.02
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    Faint, puke, die or keep going. I'd be pissed if I hired a trainer and didn't leave the gym feeling like I couldn't move one more step.

    Agreed-personal trainers aren't cheap-when I hand over my money I want something for it. I push myself at the gym but there's another type of pushing completly from the trainer. keep at it
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    I worked out with a trainer for a year and his words to me were always "If it HURTS stop. If you are just UNCOMFORTABLE quit whining."
    That is very interesting because there definitely is a difference. A trainer wouldnt want to do damage so if there is a real pain and your body is protesting (not soreness or out of breath), speak up. Explain what youre feeling.
  • tinak33
    tinak33 Posts: 9,883 Member
    I had a trainer once tell me that if I didn't hate him at some point during our session, then he wasn't doing his job.
    I agree. And I hated him for at least half our session time. hahaha He was definitely doing his job. :wink:
  • hifromjamers1984
    hifromjamers1984 Posts: 300 Member
    Amen to everyone who has already posted on this thread. I'm a 28 year old (for another week anyway) female and I have a trainer. He pushes me so hard that putting my coat on to leave the gym is painful. If you aren't hurting (at least a little bit anyway), sweating like you've never sweat before and rediculously tired after your session then your trainer isn't pushing you hard enough. I've been working with my trainer since the beginning of December and I've noticed a HUGE difference in my endurance/strength and body overall. Your trainer is there to push you past your comfort zone and get you results. Have you taken measurements? If you haven't have then done and then do them again in a month (that's what I do anyway). I saw HUGE results in the first month and that was strictly doing the routines that my trainer gave me. Keep the faith grasshopper. There will be a happy ending to this story for sure :)
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    It's the best feeling to finish a workout and feel like you've been taken through the wringer.

    Tough it out, buddy.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    I worked out with a trainer for a year and his words to me were always "If it HURTS stop. If you are just UNCOMFORTABLE quit whining."

    It's like the difference between hurt and injured. I coach kids hockey, and of someone comes off the ice in distress, I always ask the question (after are you ok, what happened, etc) ... "Are you injured or just hurt?"

    If you're injured, I'll get your parents over here and give them the key to the locker room. If you're just hurt, shake it off, your line's on next.

    (Don't get me wrong, it's not that cold. Kids dont always know the answer to that question, so you have to help them figure it out)

    but I digress. Sooner or later you're going to LOVE feeling like you've been run through the wringer and will look forward to "good pain"
  • errorika
    errorika Posts: 89 Member
    I worked out with a trainer for a year and his words to me were always "If it HURTS stop. If you are just UNCOMFORTABLE quit whining."

    I LOVE this! And this is exactly what your trainer's attitude should be. If you could do it on your own, you wouldn't need him to make you work so hard.
  • 19kat55
    19kat55 Posts: 336 Member
    I say see your doctor and ask him/her if it's too much. And I agree you hire a trainer to push you harder than you would push yourself. Mine sure does and I love him for it!
  • Katey911
    Katey911 Posts: 80 Member
    I worked out with a trainer for a year and his words to me were always "If it HURTS stop. If you are just UNCOMFORTABLE quit whining."

    Love this. I have a lot of uncertainty about what my body can do and a touch of body dysmorphia - my trainer told me that if I tell her I "can't" do something, I have to give her 10 burpees. That's been motivation to keep my mouth shut!
  • GaiaGirl1992
    GaiaGirl1992 Posts: 459 Member
    As I was told as a kid during 3 mile runs, "Puke to the left, run to the right." Get your money's worth with the trainer, you'll get used to it and be able to push yourself more if you keep at it!
  • Cyclink
    Cyclink Posts: 517 Member
    I signed up with a personal trainer to get a kick-start to my exercise program. I'm seeing him once a week, and doing another session on my own.

    I'm frankly feeling like I've been taken through the wringer each session, and am not enjoying them at all. I'm wondering whether he's pushing too hard. For example, in the cardio part of the workout, he's got me at > 160 bpm heart rate, spiking as high as 175 bpm. I'm thinking for a 48 year old man weighing 270 lbs, this is ludicrous.

    If you've got medical clearance, I don't see a problem with it.

    Usually the question of "too hard" is defined in relation to your following workout. If one day's workout is so demanding that you cannot complete your next workout day as scheduled, then you are pushing too hard.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Sounds about right to me. I started when I was 300lbs and I would see heart rates in the 197-198 range often, probably averaging 170+. I'm still alive (and 80lbs lighter) now so I think you will be just fine :) I generally feel that if you're comfortable when you're training, you're just mailing it in. It should be hard, or you're wasting your time (and in this case, your money).

    Edit: I wanted to mention as well, I wouldn't sweat the heart rate too much. If a doctor has cleared you for exercise and you don't have heart-related medical problems it really doesn't matter. If you exert yourself too much your body just won't let you. You'll be forced to slow down, you'll get light-headed, you might even puke (never happened to me), but you won't just keel over and die.
  • jackaroo21
    jackaroo21 Posts: 127 Member
    Suck it up. Quit whinning. Keep at it.
  • AlmstHvn
    AlmstHvn Posts: 376 Member
    Have they figured your max heart rate and target zones based on your height, weight, and age? That should be your limit-point.
    I wear an HRM and my trainer wants me to hit Zone 5 (the max) for a minute or two, but then let it drop back down to Zone 2 before we hit the next circuit.... back up to Z 5 briefly, and so on.
  • partmaps
    partmaps Posts: 1
    Ask your doctor about this. For me... that is too high a heart-rate. But I'm quite a bit older. For you it might be spot-on. Better to be cautious and check with your doc.

    Some random thoughts...

    What are your goals? Maybe you and your trainer are out of sync with this.

    What are your trainers qualifications?

    What is your resting heart rate?

    A couple of year back I told my doctor what my h/r was during an aerobic workout and he said... "Oh-no... you can work harder than that"

    How long does it take your hr to return too normal?

    I occasionally feel a bit nauseous after a tough work out. But if I don't feel pumped and up, then I know I need to cut back.
  • traceyjj
    traceyjj Posts: 406 Member
    The gym I go to has a small group session training.... 1 trainer, 4 -5 people per group. The first couple of times I went it was OMG, and I could hardly walk for 2 days after, fast-forward 5 or 6 sessions, and we were doing similar exercises, and we were all lifting heavier kettlebells, going faster on the treadmill/bike... showing major improvements!

    Yes there are some exercises I cannot do, because of injury, but he always supplies an alternative when he knows someone cant do the set exercise... you just have to let them know what you cant do.

    Being pushed like this was a major eye opener for me as I thought I was working as hard as I could, but obviously I had that little bit more to give.
  • jeffmineo
    jeffmineo Posts: 9
    Thats way too MUCH! Forget all the whinning comments. Thats just wrong. At that rate your not burning fat your burning sugars that already have been processed. Its not the zon you should be in for weight loss. I am 5'8" who was 265 last year. I am down 75lbs. It wont take you long to get up to that but start is just wrong by the trainer. Just look up info for yourself and you will see for fat burning your HR should be alot less at your size and age. I hate cardio but its a evil needed to a point. Its not how fast or hard you go its where your HR should be.
  • Katie_Norton
    Katie_Norton Posts: 26 Member
    best cardio test for me is ...

    can I hold a convo? --- not trying hard enough
    can I speak a sentence? --- decent pace
    can I speak a few words? --- I'm pushing myself
    am I grunting? --- working towards a PR

    Trainers are there to push you, otherwise you might stay in your comfort zone. I had a trainer a few years back and when my sessions were up, he told me the lines above and I still ask myself them when I am working out.

    Good luck

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