Your Experience with a Personal Trainer

Every trainer is different. Some try to get everyone to do the same program...others tailor each program to each individual. Sounds like you had one of the trainers that don't give it a lot of effort. I wouldn't give up on trainers altogether but maybe that one isn't worth it.

I had one that was excellent. he tried to teach me why we were doing things, how to hit certain muscles in different ways, and show me what can be achieved with certain exercises.

I also had one that sucked...just went through the motions and didn't explain things so I'd understand...seemed like he just wanted the session to be over. Maybe he had an appointment with someone prettier than I am after me or something...haha.

In my experience with personal trainers, the more specific your goals are and the more able you are to really define those goals for the PT, the more benefit you're going to get as the PT can truly tailor a plan.

Having been around a lot of PTs and now having some friends that are PTs, a lot of people's goals are pretty generic..."sculpting" and "toning" are rather generic and abstract kind of goals.

I would also add that man PTs I know do use certain tools like dotFit or whatever...not as part of a package, but because that's the tool they use. For example, I would probably direct people to MFP if I was a PT just because I'm familiar with this and it's the tool that I use. Also, most PTs are going to have a certain way that they go about their training...it is important to watch various PTs in the gym as you can see how they all work differently...I personally would not seek the training of a PT who I see doing primarily circuit type of stuff when what I wanted as a goal was an actual strength program...I would seek out the PT that I saw doing actual strength training and working their clients with compounds, etc.

All that said, as with any profession, there are good ones and bad ones. I do not have a full time trainer, but I have had one when I wanted to get back into Oly Lifting and I sought out a trainer who specializes in that. When I first got started I signed up for training sessions with a PT who specializes in weight loss and metabolic work. They were both good within their perspective areas of expertise and both had a good amount of knowledge on top of that.

ETA: both trainers I've used were not employees of a gym...they were private contractors who rented space at a few different gyms to train their clients.

I have only had one trainer and she rocked. She let me know why I was doing certain exercises and in the beginning I let her know my goals and she worked to get me toward those goals. I felt pushed by her and she helped me increase my running performance.

I have many personal trainers over the years that I have made attempts to lose weight without address the root cause.

First one was a fat women (nothing against fat women) at a LA fitness and was rubbish, when I saw her I thought how can you train me when you are not what you sell also no motivation and weak knowledge.

Second trainer took 250 pounds of me gave my wife and me one session then disappeared of the face of the earth screwing over a load of people at Bannatynes,

Third trainer was good his knowledge was great he gave me multiple exercises for the different muscle groups and also chased me for sessions even though I had paid him already for a block. It was only the fact I moved out of the area otherwise I would use him again. I got results with this guy I put on muscle mass, but did not address my diet so did not really shed any weight.

I would say a personal trainer needs to have good knowledge and should be chasing and encouraging you.

Private Gym. Experience with 2 personal trainers at the gym.

I. Explained that I wanted to do barbell program and that I use mfp. She was a past bikini competitor (I think) and she explained that after reviewing my stats that she had a planned program. We did a bunch of HIIT and machine work with a 15-12-8 reps. After the sessions I didn't feel like I learned anything (I know how to work machines and I'm so fun and do everything the personal trainer does because I naturally do a lot of cardio given my past as a running competitor).


II. The second personal trainer is in school for Pre-PT (Physical Therapy). Is running his own Cross Training program (not Cross Fit, but based on similar movements & class like routine). He sets up strength routines on a board at the weight area (WO of the week or daily WO). During the Cross Training I noticed he had really specific advice on form. I wanted to give barbell training another shot. I explained him the moves I wanted to learn and I wanted specific feedback on form. Best PT sessions I have and I'm doing well with 5x5 so far.

Agree with making your goals clear. I've had personal trainers before but was very vauge about what I wanted so they couldn't really help me - which turned out well really. Becuase this time I was more specific about type of trainer I thought I'd feel comfortable with, and let him know what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be.

He's helped me with programs so I can be independent 2-3 sessions a week, plus one session per week where I work with him, get my *kitten* kicked and learn new things! So I've ended up with what I was after. I really, really enjoy it, and he's a great guy - very motivating.

So, if you can find a good trainer and be clear about what you want, you'll end up where you want to be!

Personalized experience? Yeah right. I am obese and the woman who I had treated me like I was trying to tone up. She pushed me so hard on the first session that it took over a half an hour before I could breath again and I never went back.

I think it depends on your goals. When I was losing weight my two trainers were very good at designing workouts that helped me burn calories and slowly build my flexibility and get me back to a person who could exercise without hurting and giving up. We started slow and worked on increasing weights and intensity.

Now that I have reached my goal weight and educated myself I chose to start lifting heavy and doing compound lifts. My trainer wasn't really able to help me with lifts beyond the basics. No real critique on squat form, focused too much on 15 rep sets, and didn't know how to correct form to get depth where it needed to be. He was honest about his limits and told me that I was not going to find that type of coaching in that gym.

I spent a lot of time watching videos, practicing, and lifting. Still fighting for depth and fixing form on my own I almost gave up. I made a last ditch effort to find a powerlifting coach. Turns out there is a world class lifter who owns a gym down the street. He was happy to coach me and after an hour my squat and deadlift made a huge improvement in form. The weights are lower but I know how to judge my own lifts. Best of all, he only charged $25 for the session. You can bet I am going back to him.

If you really want to lift, look for a powerlifting or oly gym and ask for help there. Amazing difference learning from a guy who squats 800+ vs a national chain PT.