Why personal trainers can't be trusted

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  • RECowgill
    RECowgill Posts: 881 Member
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    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.

    You have just helped to reinforce my own beliefs and biases. :laugh:
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
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    As a personal trainer myself, I will agree that there's a lot of incompetent trainers out there, but there are good trainers, so it's really not fair to knock the whole industry because of one ignorant idiot. I absolutely love when I'm given the opportunity to teach clients compound lifts. Deadlifts and Squats are the 2 single lifts that work the most muscles. That said, If a client is physically able and they're training with me my desire is always to progress them to a point where we can include these lifts in their training regime.
  • joel3736
    joel3736 Posts: 55 Member
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    As a personal trainer, I find it offensive to group all personal trainers together and say that they can't be trusted or that they are all bad. Yes a lot are bad but you can find good ones as well. The best ones usually find their own private studio to train at after spending a little time at a commercial gym to gain experience training clients. It is best to find a trainer that actually looks like he does as he preaches because you will see a lot of trainers that don't even look like they work out.
  • Txracy
    Txracy Posts: 78
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    Dead lifts = great *kitten*.

    Seriously! My *kitten* is AMAZING since I started dead lifts. It's like the gift that keeps on giving (according to my husband LOL)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,668 Member
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    I'll be the first to say that lots of PT's with certs don't have a clue on how to actually customize a program for each individual they assess. In fact many have ALL their clients on the same exact program.
    I'll also be the first to say that lots PT's follow a lot of the fitness myths that still carry on in the gym and broscience out there.
    There are a good trainers out there. You just have to find them.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • upgetupgetup
    upgetupgetup Posts: 749 Member
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    There are a good trainers out there. You just have to find them.

    It would help people out if good trainers lobbied for standardized knowledge across competing certification bodies, so people knew what to look for.

    (which seems to be happening in pilates: http://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3278 ) <- wrong page before, sorry
  • volume77
    volume77 Posts: 670 Member
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    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. :tongue:

    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 :p
    ^LOL
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,668 Member
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    There are a good trainers out there. You just have to find them.

    It would help people out if good trainers lobbied for standardized knowledge across competing certification bodies, so people knew what to look for.

    (which seems to be happening in pilates: http://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3278 ) <- wrong page before, sorry
    Well there is "standardized" knowledge, but only a few really apply them. Unfortunately certifications aren't licenses so just about any person who has decent reading skills and abilities to pass tests can get a cert.
    But application of knowledge in the real world sets apart the good ones. It took me 5 good years just to become proficient at writing programs for individuals needs.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
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    I didn't know what a dead lift was until my PT introduced me to them.
  • CrystalDreams
    CrystalDreams Posts: 418 Member
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    I agree with you. There is only one woman I would trust advice on my working out. She just so happens to be a personal trainer. Every other pt I have had would say equally stupid things and get mad when I questioned it.
  • healthylifeforme
    healthylifeforme Posts: 156 Member
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    If you find a great personal trainer they are worth their weight in gold!!! It's too bad one person spoils it for others. But like everyone has said, you need to find one that knows their stuff. BTW, I do deadlifts almost every visit with my trainer!
  • upgetupgetup
    upgetupgetup Posts: 749 Member
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    There are a good trainers out there. You just have to find them.

    It would help people out if good trainers lobbied for standardized knowledge across competing certification bodies, so people knew what to look for.

    (which seems to be happening in pilates: http://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3278 ) <- wrong page before, sorry
    Well there is "standardized" knowledge, but only a few really apply them. Unfortunately certifications aren't licenses so just about any person who has decent reading skills and abilities to pass tests can get a cert.
    But application of knowledge in the real world sets apart the good ones. It took me 5 good years just to become proficient at writing programs for individuals needs.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    No reason a practical component, and just time itself (# of hours) couldn't be part of it!
  • Ejwelton
    Ejwelton Posts: 331 Member
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    I've had and currently work with great PT's, my only gripe is that none of them seem capable of counting or marking time!!
    My 15 reps is always more ( when I remember to count too) and I'm sure the 60 seconds they time are the longest minutes ever!!!

    Other than that my commitment to pt is now an essential part of my training - not an indulgence.
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
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    I've had and currently work with great PT's, my only gripe is that none of them seem capable of counting or marking time!!
    My 15 reps is always more ( when I remember to count too) and I'm sure the 60 seconds they time are the longest minutes ever!!!

    Other than that my commitment to pt is now an essential part of my training - not an indulgence.

    Mine does that too. He also chats to me mid set to try to and get me to deliberately lose count. I think they learn these tricks at PT school :bigsmile:
  • taryn_09
    taryn_09 Posts: 196 Member
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    As a personal trainer, I find it offensive to group all personal trainers together and say that they can't be trusted or that they are all bad. Yes a lot are bad but you can find good ones as well. The best ones usually find their own private studio to train at after spending a little time at a commercial gym to gain experience training clients. It is best to find a trainer that actually looks like he does as he preaches because you will see a lot of trainers that don't even look like they work out.


    ^^ agreed, being a personal trainer as well you see the good with the bad. however, that does not mean we all have no idea what we are doing. now it doesnt help that a lot of corp. gyms will hire on the spot if you flash a cert their way, but good ones get thrown in there as well. before i was a trainer i picked my trainer based on did they look like they worked out & watched a few sessions. i wanted someone who i saw having results, not just someone who passed a test.

    and for the record deadlifts = awesome. part of my back workout and stiff legged ones are included in legs. they have strengthened my lower back, and i am no bodybuilder. i want to be able to do 150! getting there @ 135 right now :}
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
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    As a personal trainer, I find it offensive to group all personal trainers together and say that they can't be trusted or that they are all bad. Yes a lot are bad but you can find good ones as well. The best ones usually find their own private studio to train at after spending a little time at a commercial gym to gain experience training clients. It is best to find a trainer that actually looks like he does as he preaches because you will see a lot of trainers that don't even look like they work out.

    I don't think anyone is arguing that all are bad. But even the personal trainers agree that
    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.

    Also, I don't agree with your practice what you preach speech. Most personal trainers I know are in fantastic shape. And most of them are not very bright and are full of bad advice....except for the one guy I know who's not in very good shape. But he's also been in shows, and knows exactly how to get in shape. I'd rather an intelligent person teach me then one that just happens to be fit. lots of stupid fit people out there.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
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    Yep--it's all them "other trainers" who are the bad ones. ....:laugh:
  • jody664
    jody664 Posts: 397 Member
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    Funny, I just switched personal trainers. My former trainer was of the "ladies should stick to machines and not free weights" mindset. I met with my new trainer last week and I told him specifically that I liked doing deadlifts. His reply, "You and I are going to get along GREAT then because that's the best exercise there is." :-)

    So far all the workouts we've done have included free weights (or body weight exercises) and light cardio. I like this guy.....
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
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    Funny, I just switched personal trainers. My former trainer was of the "ladies should stick to machines and not free weights" mindset. I met with my new trainer last week and I told him specifically that I liked doing deadlifts. His reply, "You and I are going to get along GREAT then because that's the best exercise there is." :-)

    So far all the workouts we've done have included free weights (or body weight exercises) and light cardio. I like this guy.....
    Body weight exercises and light cardio has you liking this guy hey? What kind of program are you doing again :tongue:
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
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    There are a good trainers out there. You just have to find them.

    It would help people out if good trainers lobbied for standardized knowledge across competing certification bodies, so people knew what to look for.

    (which seems to be happening in pilates: http://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3278 ) <- wrong page before, sorry

    It's been a topic of discussion for at least 25 years. There are several reasons why it never goes anywhere:

    1. Powerful enemies--professional organizations like physical therapists oppose it because they don't want the competition; commercial health club owners opposed it because it would cost them more money.

    2. A lot of trainers are only interested in becoming the next faux "fitness celebrity" ala Jillian Michaels, so they are not interested in improving the profession as a whole.

    3. It's hard to study and look in the mirror at the same time.

    4. There is no consensus concerning core standards.

    5. The only way a standard licensure bill would pass would be if it grandfathered all existing trainers. So you would just be institutionalizing the chum.

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