Question for those with personal trainers

Over the years i have used PT sessions off/on. I am pretty good at getting up to speed in the gym but then get bored and lack motivation - almost sleep walking thru my gym time. I used PT sessions once a week to compliment my other sessions and to take my workouts to the next level - get me working harder and push me out of my comfort zone. Also introduce some new and different ways of working some of my problem areas. Also, it really does depend on the trainer - I have experienced 1-2 really great trainers and some just average trainers too. Just booking too many sessions, arriving late or little or no planning around the sessions.

As many on the forum have said try a few sessions - be clear about what you want, like and don't like and if you do not feel a fit with a trainer - then do not be afraid to change.

I've been with a trainer for three months. First of all, trainers get me INTO the gym. If I cancel without 24 hours notice, I have to pay for that session. So I can't be lazy and say "yeah, not today." Secondly, she teaches me proper form, new exercises, gives me equipment I've never used etc. Thirdly, she pushes me harder than I would push myself...we're now in a heavy lifting routine and it's tough! Lastly, she does regular check-ins of my weight/muscle & fat mass/water percentage etc. so together we're keeping track of my progress. The only thing my scale at home measures is weight but those other numbers are important to and it's great to get an analysis.

I had one for 4 sessions and she started me on strength training. Pricy, but she knew that I wanted an at home workout and helped me to develop one.

Oh , also as someone else mentioned, every 4-6 weeks she checks my body fat and measurements for me, and I also do a fitness test , which lets me see how I'm improving.

Don't know if this will help, but my first conversation with my current trainer went like this:

Trainer: "So what do you want to achieve?"
Me: "I don't know for sure"
Trainer: "Then I can't help you. That will be $30 please." After which HE WALKED AWAY. When I chased him down, he added this..."My goal is to make money, I succeeded. Now when you have a goal, come back and I'll have to actually work to achieve my goal because you will know what you expect me to help you achieve."

Next conversation:
Trainer: "So what do you want to achieve?"
Me: "I want to squat my own weight, in proper form; lose four inches off my waist; and workout everyday of the week but Saturday and Sunday. Oh, and I want to get rid of my asthma medication forever."
Trainer: "Okay, so here's what we can do....(60 minutes of conversation, finally formulating into an acceptable plan)"

Morale of the story: Have a GOOD idea of what you want to achieve BEFORE you set up your appointment with the trainer!

Since then, my trainer has helped me in the following ways:
1. Makes sure I don't get injured by making me do everything in perfect form, every time.
2. Ending every session on a positive note
3. Modifying workouts that are out of my ability to keep me challenged
4. Recommended a fantastic nutritionist (covered by my health care)
5. Makes sure I remember his 3 Golden rules:
Rule 1. I will not be discouraged about how far I have to go; I will be excited about how far I've come.
Rule 2. Workout like your life depends on it...because it does.
Rule 3. Never quit, never give up; because if you do, we'll start over.

But as rybo said truly good trainer is hard to find.

Edited to fix typos...

I started with my trainer in June of 2012, so we're coming up on 2 years. He's become one of my best friends, one of my biggest supporters, and one of my strongest motivators. He pushes me when I need pushing, reminds me to rest when I may be pushing myself too hard, and he's taught me more about my own abilities and potential than I ever believed possible. When I first started working with him, I could barely walk, because the cartilage in my knees was crumbling because of my excessive weight, and bad form. This spring, I started jogging short distances. I've lost 70 lbs, and a total of about 30 inches combined between my waist, hips, arms, and legs. I'm stronger than I've ever been, I know how to reach my goals, and I have a support structure to keep me pushing to reach them. A good trainer is PRICELESS. There's simply no price that can be put on all the benefits of having this person in your life. Don't be afraid to "test drive" trainers, though. They make their money out of this profession. If you try a trainer and don't like them, don't feel obligated to stick with this person. Find someone who works for/with you. Don't settle for a hard touch if you need a soft one, and vise versa.

The last thing I will say is truly, watch out for trainers who work out of a specific gym. Sometimes, those people are barely certified. Check their background, see if they can provide references. My trainer has his own company (Iron Cross Fitness, ironcrossover.com) and so he's dependent on his Clients' word of mouth, because he doesn't have a gym to sell his name for him. Private trainers may be far more expensive than gym trainers, but often times, they are far better qualified, more focused on helping you get results, and are often more willing/able to travel to where you are/need to be. Not to mention, an individual may be more likely to help you work out a payment plan if you can't "afford" them, because if they believe in you and your goals, their first desire is to help you, because again, that sells their name to other people. A satisfied, brand loyal client is worth 1000 business cards.

I couldn't agree more. My trainer and I connected a couple years ago. I took a break, and now am back with him since July, 2013. He is the single biggest reason that I am now at goal, stronger than I ever thought I could be (who knew I had upper body definition), and motivated to continue to stay healthy. He has truly become not only my trainer, but one of my best friends. I am very, very, very blessed. He has been at the finish line of many of my races, including the LA Marathon last month, and I have supported him with his events. We've even done some together and are both doing an Olympic Triathlon in Malibu this September.

He has not only helped me with the strength and the workouts that I do, but more importantly with my overall nutrition and maintenance. I have always been good at gaining and losing, and just didn't want to do that again - wanted to learn to control my nutrition and not get too OCD, but maintain in a realistic and clean way.

Not going to lie - it's a commitment in costs, and one that I pay for above everything else. However, I train with him privately, not through a gym anymore. Win-win as I pay less than I would through a gym and he gets a whole lot more than he does through the gym. (It doesn't work for trainers to do this if they work at a gym though - they could get fired. Mine is no longer at that gym - only works privately now.)

One other thing - I've sufferered through two injuries where my foot has been in a boot since July. Having someone knowledgeable who knows your limitations and makes sure you don't redamage anything, but still stay healthy is worth every single penny. In the past, I would have just sat on the couch and eaten stuff. Now, I look for ways around it. For example, I have a 20% achilles tear, sprained ankle and swollen heel on my left foot. Thus, I'm on the bikes. We can't lunge or squat, so we do a lot of lifting in different ways. I totally trust his expertise and last time that this happened, I had the energy to go run once I was cleared to do so.

I also agree with another comment about making sure that form is key - this goes along with injury. I'm not an expert, but he is. He oversees my form so that I'm doing things the right way. Again, worth it. If you can afford it, absolutely do, but ask questions. Find someone you trust and that works for you!