What would you do..Gym/trainer/lifting
wendyg311
Posts: 239 Member
Hello all
I recently joined a local gym (not a name brand). I was full of fire about starting a lifting program. As part of the sign up, I got a pretty extensive evaluation of my current strength and flexibility, and a program made by the personal trainer based on that evaluation. My problem is.....it's all stuff I could do at home! Stretches, pushups, things like that. I told the trainer I was really hoping to have more lifting involved and he said, at this point, I need to start out with baby steps. We will get together in 3-4 weeks and evaluate again.
Yes, I am starting from sedentary, but that doesn't mean I can't do some things with weights.
I really feel this is wearing on my mojo, and I'm losing interest. I was hoping to start a 5x5 stronglifts, or New Rules of lifting, or something.
It's a very small place, so for me to just go and do my own thing would be very uncomfortable.
Oh, it's costing me more than a name brand place, much more, but it's so close I could walk there.
Has anyone who has done a lifting program started out with no weights at all? If so, how did you keep up your motivation? Should I be more insistent on being able to follow one of the programs I mentioned? My husband says I should just grow a pair and tell him what I want since I'm the one who is paying.
I recently joined a local gym (not a name brand). I was full of fire about starting a lifting program. As part of the sign up, I got a pretty extensive evaluation of my current strength and flexibility, and a program made by the personal trainer based on that evaluation. My problem is.....it's all stuff I could do at home! Stretches, pushups, things like that. I told the trainer I was really hoping to have more lifting involved and he said, at this point, I need to start out with baby steps. We will get together in 3-4 weeks and evaluate again.
Yes, I am starting from sedentary, but that doesn't mean I can't do some things with weights.
I really feel this is wearing on my mojo, and I'm losing interest. I was hoping to start a 5x5 stronglifts, or New Rules of lifting, or something.
It's a very small place, so for me to just go and do my own thing would be very uncomfortable.
Oh, it's costing me more than a name brand place, much more, but it's so close I could walk there.
Has anyone who has done a lifting program started out with no weights at all? If so, how did you keep up your motivation? Should I be more insistent on being able to follow one of the programs I mentioned? My husband says I should just grow a pair and tell him what I want since I'm the one who is paying.
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Replies
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My biggest regret is not growing a pair and not learning how to do starting strength lifts properly.
I specifically asked about learning that type of program and all I received was H.I.I.T workouts & circuit training b.s.
this may work for other clients, however, for me-nothing.
This is because I did not say anything and just went with it.
Tell the trainer what you specifically want. If they want to add a program of stretches and push-ups have them write it out for you so you can do that at home. However, at the gym-pay for what you want.
I'm so baffled why personal trainers do this.0 -
Please tell me you are not paying the trainer and it's just a free consult.. I would run away very fast.
I just joined at my local YMCA last year and self-taught a lot of weight training stuff. I followed Stronglifts 5x5 (still do).. Your trainer is right in a sense that you shouldn't go jump in a fire when you're a new firefighter but that doesn't mean you still can't do something. If I were you, I'd tell him what YOU want out of your first month and onwards.. if he/she doesn't get it, ditch em and that gym too. Your husband is on to something BTW, I'd listen to him...0 -
So you joined a gym that you can't workout by yourself at, pay more just to have someone tell you to do things that you don't need a gym for and you won't push him to teach you what you want? This one's easy. You can either join another gym and do it on your own or tell the person you're paying that you didn't join a gym to do push-ups.0
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I personally would not pay more to get less. Is this a CrossFit focused gym by any chance? They tend to be more costly and focus more on body weight exercises to begin with. Once you work up to doing those well then they work with you on other things such as weighted squats, deadlifts, etc. At least that is how my husband's box (gym) works.
If there is another gym close to you go in and see what they would charge and if you can get membership and personal coaching for a month for the cost of the other one then switch.0 -
I think a trainer who wants to teach you to lift would at least give you a bar and teach you proper form while you're building some basic strength and mobility from stretching and body weight exercises.
If I were you, I'd probably ask for specifics. If he wants to start with "baby steps," fine, but I'd want to know exactly when we were going to start working with a bar and what I was going to be learning. If he won't discuss that with you, he probably doesn't have any legit intentions of teaching you to lift.0 -
Luckily the PT session was "free". Also it is a month to month so I can leave also without a contract. When I was shown the place (by the receptionist) I thought the weight area was adequate, but realize now....it was empty. hmmmm.......
I totally forgot about the YMCA as someone mentioned. That sounds like an alternative if I don't get what I want here.
Although I am intimidated by the PT's knowledge (and physique) I should be getting what I want.
Thank you all for taking the time to respond to my dilemma...........much appreciated.0 -
I woud ask the trainer to incorporate some free weights into the routine, evrn if you aren't ready to do anything major. I was 90lbs overweight and sick when I started with my first trainer. He had me on the machines and slowly transitioned me to some free weights.
My second trainer did the cable machines and more free weights
I am on my 3rd trainer now (that's him in my profile pic) and he's training me in power lifting technique! Just recently I started squatting over body weight,, and am working on my other lifts.0 -
Baby Steps:
PVC Pipe/Wooden Dowel - 1 lb.
PVC Pipe with sand - 2 lb.
Rubber Pipe - 5 lb.
Light bar - 10 lb.
Standard barbell - 12 lb.
Add weights to standard barbell in 5 lb increments - 17 - 45 lbs
Olympic barbell - 45 lbs
Add weights to olympic barbell in 5 lb increments - 50 - 800+ lbs
Find a trainer who understands what baby steps really means.0 -
Yes, I thought even baby steps would include some type of weight or weight prep (bars etc.)0
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no reason you can't start resistance training with weights from day one if your an adult.
find a different gym0 -
Why would it be uncomfortable for you to do your own thing? If the trainer came by and asked what you were doing then you tell them that what they gave you is boring. You joined a gym to use weights and if all you wanted to do was stretch and do push-ups you wouldn't have shelled out the money to them.0
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I would follow the trainer's advice. He is, after all, a trainer and you are sedentary.
When I start training a new lifter I begin with a MINIMUM of 2 weeks of calisthenics, labor type exercises and conditioning work to build a baseline of strength before they ever touch a barbell. When a person goes from being sedentary to lifting, they don't have the flexibility, muscle control or strength to perform the lifts properly with even just a barbell (Most people actually can't do the lifts properly with just a PVC pipe). The 2 weeks of calisthenics and conditioning will get them in good enough shape to start lifting.
You also have zero work capacity and ability to recover when you are untrained so jumping straight into barbell lifts is a bad idea because of this as well. In a nutshell, you're not in good enough shape to properly recover from a barbell training session so you're just going to spend a few weeks to get to that point and then you can start lifting.
DO NOT RUSH THINGS IN WEIGHT TRAINING. It is much better for you to be bored for a couple weeks than it is for you to get under a barbell and start to develop poor motor patterns or injure yourself. It's a marathon, not a sprint.0 -
While I understand the trainer should try to provide something suited to your needs and wants, there is nothing wrong with establishing a solid calesthenics base for a few weeks. Honestly a good well rounded program will be a mix of both BW & bar bell training. Be patient0
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What does your workout look like? Are you struggling to do it?
He is having you do push ups... are you doing them on your toes, on your knees, or on an incline (as in hands higher than your feet)? Are you doing 3 sets of 10 reps, or struggling to do 3 reps the first set?
Doing a pushup while on your toes means you are lifting about 65% of your body weight.
On your knees that is about 49%.
If your feet are 2' lower than your hands it is about 35%, 4' is 10%.
And if your feet are 2' higher than your hands it is about 72%, while 4' is 87%.
http://www.allthingsgym.com/push-up-weight-distribution-percentages/0 -
my guess is that they make you pay for a few months up front, and hope that 15% or so get so bored and frustrated during this intial period that they never come back and the gym keeps the payment.
doesn't the 'trainer' monitor you during your push up sessions? or is he basically getting you out of his hair?0 -
What does your workout look like? Are you struggling to do it?
He is having you do push ups... are you doing them on your toes, on your knees, or on an incline (as in hands higher than your feet)? Are you doing 3 sets of 10 reps, or struggling to do 3 reps the first set?
Doing a pushup while on your toes means you are lifting about 65% of your body weight.
On your knees that is about 49%.
If your feet are 2' lower than your hands it is about 35%, 4' is 10%.
And if your feet are 2' higher than your hands it is about 72%, while 4' is 87%.
http://www.allthingsgym.com/push-up-weight-distribution-percentages/
well if thats true then bench pressing the bar is less wieght then push ups on her knees (assuming she wieghts more then 100 lbs) so in that respect it would be 'safer'. plus she's actually learing how do do the lift0 -
What does your workout look like? Are you struggling to do it?
He is having you do push ups... are you doing them on your toes, on your knees, or on an incline (as in hands higher than your feet)? Are you doing 3 sets of 10 reps, or struggling to do 3 reps the first set?
Doing a pushup while on your toes means you are lifting about 65% of your body weight.
On your knees that is about 49%.
If your feet are 2' lower than your hands it is about 35%, 4' is 10%.
And if your feet are 2' higher than your hands it is about 72%, while 4' is 87%.
http://www.allthingsgym.com/push-up-weight-distribution-percentages/
well if thats true then bench pressing the bar is less wieght then push ups on her knees (assuming she wieghts more then 100 lbs) so in that respect it would be 'safer'. plus she's actually learing how do do the lift
Correct. Just wanting to point out that doing bodyweight workouts is lifting weight, and often are compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups. And I'd hope that learning some of these "I could do this at home" stuff carries over to her doing just that later on when she is lifting weights and can't make it to the gym.0 -
I would follow the trainer's advice. He is, after all, a trainer and you are sedentary.
While I agree to an extent there is absolutely no reason why the OP can't start lifting actual weights, even if they are just using 5 lbs. When I started working out at a gym I was fairly sedentary as well. I started out with group exercise classes and then I wandered into the weight section and started lifting weights on my own.
I think the point is that the OP WANTS to lift weights but feels like the trainer is telling her she shouldn't and she's getting bored with what she's doing. Not only that but she would feel awkward if she went to the gym herself and started lifting (I'm guessing OP is afraid the trainer will see her and yell at her).
ETA: in all honestly I'd feel a bit let down if I went to a gym, hired a trainer and was told 'well, no you can't lift weights yet. You have to start out with push ups first and then work your way up to that". Add in the fact that it sounds boring to boot it would probably make me dread going to the gym and doing the exercises and eventually quit or find a gym with trainer who understands my goals0 -
Correct. Just wanting to point out that doing bodyweight workouts is lifting weight, and often are compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups. And I'd hope that learning some of these "I could do this at home" stuff carries over to her doing just that later on when she is lifting weights and can't make it to the gym.
i find most bodyweight exercises to be more challenging then thier weighted counter parts.
I just don't see it as necessary to do them before starting a barbell/dumbbell program.
And if its that important to the OP that it might discourage them all together then i just think she should find another gym/trainer. plus it sounds expensive for little instruction.0 -
Maybe ask for a different trainer that is willing to listen to you more, and adapt to the needs/wants of their clients. It took me a long time to find a trainer that was excited to help me with weight lifting. We started slowly, by using machines and light weights first.... She reasoned that while my muscles might be capable of performing the movements, my joints needed to be just as capable before we moved on to heavier weights.
In my experience, some trainers just don't listen to their clients. They have a set schedule of what they want to do, and they don't communicate their reasons. Maybe try communicating your frustrations first, expressing an interest in light lifting to build up to a heavier program, and if he's unwilling to budge, maybe ask to change trainers.
Good luck!0 -
Correct. Just wanting to point out that doing bodyweight workouts is lifting weight, and often are compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups. And I'd hope that learning some of these "I could do this at home" stuff carries over to her doing just that later on when she is lifting weights and can't make it to the gym.
i find most bodyweight exercises to be more challenging then thier weighted counter parts.
I just don't see it as necessary to do them before starting a barbell/dumbbell program.
And if its that important to the OP that it might discourage them all together then i just think she should find another gym/trainer. plus it sounds expensive for little instruction.
I don't know the weight of the OP, but th^s is especially true for very heavy people.
When I was at my heaviest, it was actually easier for me to start with weights (like a bench press) rather than a pushup because the weight could be reduced/controlled. I wasn't in shape to be "lifting" 49% of my 287-pound bulk or whatever.
Really, that "a-ha" came when I was having knee pain from the squats I was trying to do, and a physical therapist told me to use the leg press instead so I could reduce the weight - and pressure - on my knees to alleviate the pain. And then as the muscles got stronger I could increase the weight in a controlled manner. It worked, and I figured out that it would be smart to do that for the pushups and other body weight exercises too.
So the idea of starting with body weight for sedentary people - especially particularly heavy people - is just ridiculous to me.0 -
Get a different trainer.0
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When I joined my gym I got a free "fitness assessment". At that time, I went in with my printed SL 5x5 workout plan and said "This is what I want to do". They really wanted me to do some cardio and stuff too, but they mapped out my whole lifting program for me and went over form on all the lifts. If your PT doesn't want to help you, get another one.0
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I agree with Lofteren. You should really have some baseline flexibility/mobility before beginning training with weights. A lot of people can't put themselves into the proper body positions in the beginning due to these factors.0
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Your trainer is right and isn't right. You need to progress slowly and gradually, sure. But moderate strength training didn't kill nobody so far.
If you wan't to start weight training I suggest you use kettlebell. It's a full body exercise and If you swing it your body positions into its natural form without thinking. Not so with barbell lifting - there you have to correct your form over and over again.
Do it on your own and don't be afraid of what people will say. They will get used to it.0 -
I agree with Lofteren. You should really have some baseline flexibility/mobility before beginning training with weights. A lot of people can't put themselves into the proper body positions in the beginning due to these factors.
But isn't that what the trainer is for? To show people the correct way to lift, form, etc? Baseline flexibility/mobility doesn't teach you how to lift. Doing a push up isn't going to show me the correct form for a bicep curl.0 -
You can definitely do strength training with weights from sedentary. I have a chart I am using and each week if things become easy or I can complete the full set, I add a bit more weight. Things like lunges and squats it's just my body weight right now, but chest and biceps, I need the weight.
There is nothing wrong with using your own body weight, but there is no reason to not use weights if they are freely available.0 -
I agree with Lofteren. You should really have some baseline flexibility/mobility before beginning training with weights. A lot of people can't put themselves into the proper body positions in the beginning due to these factors.
But no problem putting themselves in the proper position to do a pushup with their own body weight, which for many sedentary fat people is going to be heavier than any weight they would start out with to do a chest press.0 -
Yes, you probably should start out with baby steps, no matter what type of exercise you want to do. But the best-designed workout program is useless if you don't like it and won't do it. Even if you make yourself run though the motions of doing a program that bores you, you won't be pushing yourself as hard as you would if you were excited about making progress.
Any good trainer can tailor a program to your goals, interests and personality. If the trainer can't or won't listen to you about what you want to do, they're not right for you.
That isn't to say that they should let you run the show and hurt yourself. If an exercise isn't appropriate for you, they should be able to 1. explain why, 2. give you an acceptable alternative, and 3. give you a progressive plan to get you to that exercise, if possible. If you want to lift and are not medically prohibited from doing so, you should find someone who can work within your current physical abilities.0 -
What does your workout look like? Are you struggling to do it?
He is having you do push ups... are you doing them on your toes, on your knees, or on an incline (as in hands higher than your feet)? Are you doing 3 sets of 10 reps, or struggling to do 3 reps the first set?
Doing a pushup while on your toes means you are lifting about 65% of your body weight.
On your knees that is about 49%.
If your feet are 2' lower than your hands it is about 35%, 4' is 10%.
And if your feet are 2' higher than your hands it is about 72%, while 4' is 87%.
http://www.allthingsgym.com/push-up-weight-distribution-percentages/
well if thats true then bench pressing the bar is less wieght then push ups on her knees (assuming she wieghts more then 100 lbs) so in that respect it would be 'safer'. plus she's actually learing how do do the lift
Push ups and bench presses are not interchangable movements. They are different lifts that facilitate different physical adaptations.0
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