Is Personal Training Worth The Money?

Hello all =)
I'm just wondering, how many of you use personal trainers? Would you recommend getting a personal trainer, or is it not worth the money? I have had 2 fitness consultations at my new gym, one month apart. The consultant is a personal trainer and she took my height, weight, measurements and body fat percentage. The next month I was down 5 pounds and about 5.5 inches total. My body fat percentage did not change, and she mentioned that she's more focused on that number than the number on the scale. She keeps trying to push personal training on me, but I'm not sure if I should do it or not because it's so damn expensive! One session costs about $150. Do you guys think that the knowledge and workouts they give you in the sessions are worth that much money? Or would it be better if I keep going on my own? I know that personal training can get me to my goal faster, as they target specific areas of the body that I would like to work on, but is getting results faster really worth that much money??
Thanks guys xx

Replies

  • Pumpitusa
    Pumpitusa Posts: 169 Member
    I know someone that did and got in incredible shape. a year later back to the way he was before. So to answer your question you have to mentally ready to maintain after the trainer is gone. It should be a life style change that the trainer will tech you. Good luck on your choice
  • The guys I use are not affiliated with a gym and they charge $149.95/month for 8 one-hour sessions. Everyone seems to be overpaying by using whatever their gym offers.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    $150 for one session is outrageous. I pay about $65 per session and that's pricey in my area.

    I get a lot out of my sessions. I've gained a lot of strength over the last 6 months. My body fat has dropped quite well. My weightloss has stagnated though.
  • DaRealMcKoy
    DaRealMcKoy Posts: 56 Member
    $150 per session is a lot. But, I think it depends on the trainer. I absolutely love mine. He not only helps me in our sessions, but we work together to come up with nutrition and exercise plans for each week which help me form healthy habits. He holds me accountable while encouraging me. Before putting money down on a trainer find some of their clients and get their impressions. Every client is different so talking to at least 2 who be better.
  • kathystrauss1
    kathystrauss1 Posts: 142 Member
    I work with a trainer that does small group personal training. He works with a few people at a time but everyone follows there own plan. I feel like I get plenty of attention and it keeps the price reasonable. Best of both worlds.
  • JasonT1973
    JasonT1973 Posts: 229 Member
    $150 is out of this universe unless you are wealthy.
    You can get a general workout consultant for about $30/hour.
    You can get an elite 'health' coach who will evaluate you and give you a workout plan/diet plan for like $50-$100 an hour.

    This all depends on your level of commitment to the process.
    Everything they teach you can be learned through research... but putting it all together sometimes takes an outside person.
  • marciebrian
    marciebrian Posts: 853 Member
    WOW unless its Jullian Michaels $150 is extremely high for a session. My gym charges $45/half hour which is expensive enough but I only use her for the basics and form and do the rest on my own. I think I'd shop before I paid $150 for a trainer unless they are extremely highly recommended. good luck
  • FitFunTina
    FitFunTina Posts: 282 Member
    I too, am doing a small group personal training session. (4 of us, although only 2 of us showed up last week). I still feel like I get plenty of personal attention.

    $150 is crazy for one session, though.
  • cstoney2013
    cstoney2013 Posts: 167 Member
    In my area the trainers at the gym charge $40/hr and I think the gym takes a percentage. I work with several guys who are 'freelance and they are happy getting $25 per hour.

    Are you sure you didn't get the trainer mixed up with an escort service? 150 is pretty steep!
  • Agate69
    Agate69 Posts: 349 Member
    My trainer is gold. She she stuck with me, motivates me, encourages me, all through my weight loss journey. She has turned me from a gym hater to happy to pay to keep me motivated and never bored
  • Kevalicious99
    Kevalicious99 Posts: 1,131 Member
    150 is just crazy. The going rate when I had a personal trainer was like 50$ a session, and even that I found expensive. It does depend on the trainer .. I had 6 personal trainers, and some were worth it but most honestly were not.

    I would go it alone .. as you can probably make up a reasonable program that will get you to your goals.
  • PinkNinjaLaura
    PinkNinjaLaura Posts: 3,202 Member
    It depends on the trainer, and it depends on you. I hired a trainer in February and it's been life changing for me. In addition to our sessions he plans my workouts the rest of the week, he's my accountability, and he's my biggest cheerleader. I do see him through my gym where you sign a contract and the cost depends on how long the contract is (3, 6 or 12 months), how long your sessions are (30 or 60 minutes) and how many times a week you go in (1, 2 or 3). I'm paying $180/mo for three 30 minute sessions a week, so $150 for one hour seems asinine.
  • JenBot
    JenBot Posts: 18 Member
    I paid $30 for each 1/2 hour session and went 3 times a week for 15 visits. I was starting to see good results so I signed up for another 15. Well worth the money if you take what you learn and continue doing it on your own when the training sessions run out. I definitely recommend it.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    Hello all =)
    I'm just wondering, how many of you use personal trainers? Would you recommend getting a personal trainer, or is it not worth the money? I have had 2 fitness consultations at my new gym, one month apart. The consultant is a personal trainer and she took my height, weight, measurements and body fat percentage. The next month I was down 5 pounds and about 5.5 inches total. My body fat percentage did not change, and she mentioned that she's more focused on that number than the number on the scale. She keeps trying to push personal training on me, but I'm not sure if I should do it or not because it's so damn expensive! One session costs about $150. Do you guys think that the knowledge and workouts they give you in the sessions are worth that much money? Or would it be better if I keep going on my own? I know that personal training can get me to my goal faster, as they target specific areas of the body that I would like to work on, but is getting results faster really worth that much money??
    Thanks guys xx

    I paid $36 per hour or $180 for 6 sessions for my trainer. I thought I would only do a few sessions, but ended up with probably 3 dozen session because I loved it so much.

    My first trainer walked me through a new routine 2x a week for about 3 months. I made amazing strength gains, and did lose some inches. Unfortunately, he moved out of state.

    My second trainer also walked me through a new routine weekly, but I only saw him 1x a week. He wrote out each routine for me, and I keep them in a folder at the gym. One day a week, I pick an "old" routine out of the folder to do.
  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    90% of the time no it's not. cause they usually suck.

    source: I'm a former PT.
  • I'm a PT and I charge 1/3 what you're paying... Seems very excessive to me, but I guess it depends on where you live? O.o

    I can't imagine many people could afford $150/session. Geez...
  • TigerBite
    TigerBite Posts: 611 Member
    The guys I use are not affiliated with a gym and they charge $149.95/month for 8 one-hour sessions. Everyone seems to be overpaying by using whatever their gym offers.

    I used to work at a gym, now I train out of my home ... When I worked at the gym, I pocketed less than half of what they charged for a session ... On my own, I charge slightly more than what I pocketed at said gym ...
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I love my trainer but sure wouldn't spend $150 a session.
  • glamasjr
    glamasjr Posts: 31 Member
    Hi there, I sent you a friend request along with a message : )
  • Prices vary wildly depending on where you live. Hiring a trainer was the best decision I ever made health-wise, but I also made sure to ask lots of questions and get one who had a proven track record in helping people with similar goals to mine. I particularly love having the trainer when it comes to checking my form and preventing injuries.
  • alisonlynn1976
    alisonlynn1976 Posts: 929 Member
    I get useful one-on-one feedback on improving my form when I take group classes, and that's good enough for me.
  • I know someone that did and got in incredible shape. a year later back to the way he was before. So to answer your question you have to mentally ready to maintain after the trainer is gone. It should be a life style change that the trainer will tech you. Good luck on your choice

    This!
    Im working with one at the moment. She's helping me drop the last 10llb and teaching me lifting form and healthy diet.
  • TheFitnessTutor
    TheFitnessTutor Posts: 356 Member
    You get what you pay for....

    As a representative of the profession who is also almost absurdly critical of the industry in general, I have to say its in your best interest.

    If one wants to start using machines or weights for ANY reason, it's in your best interest to try a trainer or three or thirty. Sure it's a crap shoot as to what kind of quality you'll get, there is no equation to figure it out, but chances are they still will know more about proper loading of joints and movement patterns than someone who is a lay person.

    A trainer is not needed to lose weight or get in shape. It's an insurance policy. Cause otherwise how do you know what you're doing? A dvd? Youtube? Magazine? Your friend? Specific goals require specific action.

    And everyone wants the cheapest of everything. We'll spend a thousand dollars for a tv to sit in front of but can't spend 500 on trying to change our lives.

    Priorities. It's partially the industry's fault because it is a barely regulated industry, but consumers looking for cheap answers continue to drive the industry into a fire sale of shltty discount services...then the customer has the nerve to complain?

    And for whatever person saw 8 sessions for $150 ... lol 18 bucks a session? That's what your training is worth? Guess so...if you say so... ugh
  • Sporks42
    Sporks42 Posts: 44 Member
    Not for $150, that is way too much!

    Honestly I think it depends on your goals, I've seen personal trainers with my gym assist their clients with running on the treadmill, and I don't understand why they are paying for a session to have someone stand awkwardly beside them, seems like a waste. I do however wish it was in the budget for when it comes to the free weight section, but they would have to be good and care about correct form.

    Also, don't take nutritional advice from them unless they can prove they have taken more than nutrition 101, and if you don't like your trainer get a new one.
  • bowbeforethoraxis
    bowbeforethoraxis Posts: 138 Member
    I think you should look around and try to find someone cheaper. Or make sure that the $150 is only for one session, maybe it's for more?

    I am so happy with my personal trainer. My gym has several trainers, and the head one met with me and we filled out a questionnaire type thing and talked for close to an hour so he could get a sense of what might work best for me. The trainer he chose is absolutely perfect for me. She met up and helped create a meal plan for me (and when I was having trouble with it and told her, she made modifications that worked better with my lifestyle), she comes up with new, fun workouts for every week that have been based on the stuff I like to do (I love yoga and body weight exercises, so she throws a lot of those in, along with lifting weights), and she will generally text me once a week, during the week, so check in and see how things are going on my own (we meet up Saturday mornings, the rest of the week I do classes and stuff). She's a huge motivator for me, and I'm so thankful that I have a PT as I can totally see where I would have given up by now.

    Also, one thing that helped me realize my trainer is amazing is that I convinced my mom to sign up with her. My mom has high cholesterol (mainly genetics, but changing her diet will help), a bad back, and something weird with her shoulder (I think a bone spur), and is 22 years older than I am. My mom's meal plan was completely different than mine, adjusted for age and dietary concerns and preferences, so I knew she wasn't just using a standardized plan. The workouts that my mom does are also different than mine, less stressful for joints and careful of her weak spots, but they are still intense and my mom actually enjoys them (which is huge, I have never heard her say she enjoys any form of exercise ever).

    I totally think personal training is worth the money for me and my mom, both of us need that extra kick of motivation, and the help with strength training.

    I also think $150 is way too much per session. I pay $55-$45 per session, depending on the package I buy (6 sessions is $55 each, more than 12 sessions is $45).
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    Not for $150, that is way too much!

    Honestly I think it depends on your goals, I've seen personal trainers with my gym assist their clients with running on the treadmill, and I don't understand why they are paying for a session to have someone stand awkwardly beside them, seems like a waste. I do however wish it was in the budget for when it comes to the free weight section, but they would have to be good and care about correct form.

    Also, don't take nutritional advice from them unless they can prove they have taken more than nutrition 101, and if you don't like your trainer get a new one.

    For a normal session on the treadmill, yeah, that's insane!

    My current trainer has used the treadmill as part of a workout before. I did like 10 minutes on the treadmill with him changing speed/incline every 60 seconds...then he had me do a minute on the treadmill ( with him controlling speed/incline) then jump off, do a minute of a weight exercise, then jump back on and do another minute of the treadmill...wash, rinse, repeat for like 40 minutes. Then we went and did other stuff for another 20 minutes.
  • 90% of the time no it's not. cause they usually suck.

    source: I'm a former PT.

    As a current personal trainer, I agree with this. At the same time, if you find that 10% they will be worth much more than $150/hour.

    Just do your research ahead of time.