The trouble with Trainers.

cmriverside
cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
edited September 18 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all,

So I did my last session with a trainer yesterday, (only seven in total) and I'm not willing to pay for more. My biggest complaint was they didn't give me a written plan with explanations of exercises, how many to do and how much variation I needed to do. EVERY single time I was there for seven sessions I asked for this -and I was very specific. I actually fired one trainer because he didn't do it, and said he would. The second one kept saying she would, and yet never did until I said - ok, no workout: Let's talk and write this stuff down so I have a plan. She wrote me a plan, but you know they call all these resistance exercises by the technical names - which I don't know - it's like Greek to me.

Last night I sat with my computer for several hours and made a plan I can stick to and found these REALLY good websites to demonstrate the different types and correct form to avoid injury. They have exercise routines too.

Hope someone else will get something from my experiences. These websites are great. I wish I had found them sooner! They both have interactive visual (in motion) pictures of the different exercises. I think I like the first one best.

http://www.exrx.net/Exercise.html

http://web.mit.edu/21w785/F97/weights/menu/excercises.html


Cheryl

Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
    Hi all,

    So I did my last session with a trainer yesterday, (only seven in total) and I'm not willing to pay for more. My biggest complaint was they didn't give me a written plan with explanations of exercises, how many to do and how much variation I needed to do. EVERY single time I was there for seven sessions I asked for this -and I was very specific. I actually fired one trainer because he didn't do it, and said he would. The second one kept saying she would, and yet never did until I said - ok, no workout: Let's talk and write this stuff down so I have a plan. She wrote me a plan, but you know they call all these resistance exercises by the technical names - which I don't know - it's like Greek to me.

    Last night I sat with my computer for several hours and made a plan I can stick to and found these REALLY good websites to demonstrate the different types and correct form to avoid injury. They have exercise routines too.

    Hope someone else will get something from my experiences. These websites are great. I wish I had found them sooner! They both have interactive visual (in motion) pictures of the different exercises. I think I like the first one best.

    http://www.exrx.net/Exercise.html

    http://web.mit.edu/21w785/F97/weights/menu/excercises.html


    Cheryl
  • Nich0le
    Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
    if you have an ipod you can download personal training for a fraction of the cost and its yours forever. What they don't tell you is that there are a lot of personal trainers out there that have been trained by the gym and not school so they may not know why they are telling you what you are being told to do, just that your body type needs certain work.

    Best personal trainer is you.
  • deanea
    deanea Posts: 1,437
    I remember when I went to a trainer years ago, excellent learning experience since I knew nothing about exercising, but I remember they never discussed diet. I asked them... as well, they gave me a verbal run down of foods and that was it. Maybe it is some unwritten code with trainers that it is not there job? We had a trainer on this site not long ago, I don't lnow where they are now but maybe they can give us some insight.
  • yoginimary
    yoginimary Posts: 6,788 Member
    I believe the trainer is the post above you, Anne. I could be totally wrong though.

    I been throwing around the idea of becoming a personal trainer, and I have done a little research. Some of the "best" known places just require you to take a written test. You past the test, your certified. You can even do it all on-line with some places. Some require/suggest a couple days of classes. Then there are those that went to college - basically a two year degree. So you can get a really wide range of people here.

    I was thinking about doing the middle route at Cooper's Clinic in Dallas (any insight from anyone would be much appreciated here). Not really to find a job, but just to help out the people I know. Even so, it is good to know what people want from their personal trainers. I think other than the really basic stuff (cut calories, cut back on processed sugar), p.t. should not give diet advice - they're not nutritionist - and I've seen so many of them endorse products.
  • neverbeenskinny
    neverbeenskinny Posts: 446 Member
    I think that each person's program should be personalized: herein lies the problem with "gym trainers". I call them gym trainers because they are not really "personal" trainers. Most gym trainers are trained by the gym to give just about EVERYONE the same routine. I've been a gym rat for almost 30 years and was a competition powerlifter for over 10 years. I know lifting and I know gyms. I would watch these gym trainers with their clients all the time and they don't really know much. They are usually given a work book and have to take a written test.

    If I was to hire a personal trainer, I would interview them first, just like any employer would interview possible candidates. Ask them what their education was and what their experience has been. I promise you that there will be a wide variety in answers. There is no regulations for this industry. Each gym sets their own standards. I know trainers that have only read books and know CPR, they are really novice lifters themselves and don't understand how each muscle works let alone safe form for each exercise, and I also know trainers that have physical education and nutritional degress and have lived the lifestyle all their lives. So before investing your hard earned money on a trainer, do yourself a favor and please interview them.

    Each person have different needs, some can benefit from a good trainer and some only need guidence from a trainer to get comfortable in a gym environment. You may need nutritional guidence or just want to learn new lifting techniques. Your job is to know what your needs are and talk to multiple trainers and find out if any of them will be able to fulfill your needs.

    Hope this helps. Good luck.
  • Nich0le
    Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
    I agree, if you are going to go the personal trainer route the kids at the gym are more than likely not the ideal first option. You should look into personal trainers in your area, a great thing about that is they will be able to come to your home and teach you how to use what you have available to get an optimal workout. Also they will take you outside of the gym, to parks, pools, etc to get some equipment free ideas. You should also look for a personal trainer that is also a nutritionist because they will be the ones to truly get you on the right path.

    Keep in mind that there are thousands of people out there that have made huge lifestyle changes without the assistance of someone who gets paid. There is a ton of info out there for us to rely on and many books that will explain those exercises to you and how many reps you should aim for etc.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,420 Member
    Thanks, everyone, for posting on this thread. I wish I had asked for your input before paying the gym trainer: but we live and learn.

    I wanted to get guidance, but didn't even know what to ask. I did learn some things, so I don't feel it was a total loss, but I would NOT recommend my route to anyone else. Having never been in a gym before I was a bit naive.

    I've learned much more from all of you on this site....and agree that the best trainer is you. At least I haven't injured myself yet!

    Cheryl
  • sanlin20
    sanlin20 Posts: 73 Member
    Question to mnbarnum:
    if you have an ipod you can download personal training for a fraction of the cost and its yours forever. What they don't tell you is that there are a lot of personal trainers out there that have been trained by the gym and not school so they may not know why they are telling you what you are being told to do, just that your body type needs certain work.

    Best personal trainer is you.

    Could you provide additional info about downloading personal training to ipod? From which website?
  • ariannedavis
    ariannedavis Posts: 520 Member
    I am an athletic trainer, which is not a personal trainer. I am one of those people who run out on the field during football games when a player goes down (sports medicine, not just fitness training) but I have a lot of training experience from rehabing athletes. ie volleyball player blew out ACL this fall, I will have her running in about a month!

    I recommend that if you are getting a personal trainer that they should have be a CSCS (certified strength and conditioning specialist). This is a highly respected credential and requires a lot of knowledge in order to pass the test, including exercise physiology, nurtirion, exercise prescription, etc. CSCSs are typically hired by colleges and elite athletes, they know what they are doing. The head ATC at my work is a CSCS, and he spent over 10 years working professional baseball before coming to the collegiate level.

    Anyone can sit for the test. but only a few can pass! You may be able to find them online; not sure where to direct you. It's through the NSCA org. I can check if anyone is interested.
  • Xtracrispy69
    Xtracrispy69 Posts: 55
    just simply my opinion, i started at the gym two years ago. I hit cardio exercises pretty good for a year to lose my weight and now read up over many sites on various routines to use. Simply my opinion, always felt like trainers where like chiros, they create a need and place for themselves and want you to remain with them. I'm guessing if you spent the time on hear to research this site, you'll do just fine at the gym!
  • Nich0le
    Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
    For personal trainers on your ipod or mp3:

    pumpone.com

    or type in personal training for ipods and you will get a lot of results. They come with videos and all and usually cost about $30, some are monthly fees and others you own the workout for a one time fee.

    Personally I have just gone with podcasts and podrunner for exercise music, I need all the entertainment I can get when I do cardio.

    A really good cardio series.... cardiocoach.com, these are awesome interval training cardio workouts for any kind of cardio or cardio machine they really get you going to places you might not push yourself otherwise!
  • sanlin20
    sanlin20 Posts: 73 Member
    For personal trainers on your ipod or mp3:

    pumpone.com

    or type in personal training for ipods and you will get a lot of results. They come with videos and all and usually cost about $30, some are monthly fees and others you own the workout for a one time fee.

    Personally I have just gone with podcasts and podrunner for exercise music, I need all the entertainment I can get when I do cardio.

    A really good cardio series.... cardiocoach.com, these are awesome interval training cardio workouts for any kind of cardio or cardio machine they really get you going to places you might not push yourself otherwise!

    Thanks for the info.
  • ariannedavis
    ariannedavis Posts: 520 Member
    just simply my opinion, i started at the gym two years ago. I hit cardio exercises pretty good for a year to lose my weight and now read up over many sites on various routines to use. Simply my opinion, always felt like trainers where like chiros, they create a need and place for themselves and want you to remain with them. I'm guessing if you spent the time on hear to research this site, you'll do just fine at the gym!

    Definitely! There are some smart cookies on here. But don't forget that for newbies, the instruction from a "qualified" individual can make the difference in success or failure, health or injury. To each their own!

    Merry Christmas everyone!
    Arianne :happy:
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