Personal training : yes or no?
kariplz
Posts: 41 Member
Is the cost of a personal trainer worth it? I live on a tight budget and was weighing the cons and pros of a personal trainer. If you had/have one, was it worth it?
Is having an "online trainer" the same ?
Is having an "online trainer" the same ?
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Replies
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Yes for me and no on the online trainer I did that for 6 months last year0
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Nope, I usually check the men's health for se tips or I'll YouTube some tips. Hasn't let me down yet0
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It depends on why you feel you need a PT.
My opinion.
To work on form for a specific exercise or exercises - maybe. You can get a lot of good information online but having someone knowledgeable to watch you and tell you where you are going wrong, to give you the queue points and helping you to remember, and routinely use those, is invaluable and can prevent problems down the line.
To build a routine - maybe. But this, IMHO, is more suited to advanced trainees with well defined goals. For weight loss or general fitness there is so much free stuff out there in internetland that you would probably be better working out what you want to achieve, how much time you have, and what you enjoy and then asking on here.
For motivation - No. You can't buy that stuff.
Is having an online trainer the same? - No. Very different.3 -
I currently have one. She looks at my food log and tells me where to tweak it, she works me hard but is very nice and friendly about it. I honestly was only going to hire her for a month but now that month is over I am going to retain her for at least a couple more months. She said I could lose 10 lbs a month but I have been losing about 1.5 lbs a week, when she was on vacation and I didn't meet with her (only meet once a week), I didn't lose anything. I am happy with 1.5 lbs a week since I am at a normal BMI now, I was actually overweight when I met her!
So, long story short, I am glad I have hired her. She has been a great motivator, I know I could (and have) do this on my own but her knowledge and help with form etc is so worth it for me.2 -
It depends what you need help with. Some are good, some aren't, but that is true with any profession.
If you need help with technique, hiring a trainer can be beneficial.
If your technique is good and you need accountability and/or programming, hiring an online trainer can be helpful.0 -
I didn't feel the need for a trainer but then I do all my workouts at home/outdoors.
Everyone is different, some like to have a trainer, others are happy to do it alone. Its not necessary in my opinion.0 -
I love my trainer. I just won't do it, or do it as well, on my own. Call it lazy, weak, whatever.....I work so much harder if I have someone standing there "babysitting" me through a workout.2
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Trainers are good on technique and maybe developing a routine. Much of that you can find online, like on Nutrition Authority or just searching You Tube. If the budget's that tight, I'd ditch the personal training idea for the time being and get a pack of playing cards.
Here's what you do:
Each suit represents a different exercise, with ace and face cards counting for ten (10) reps; the numbered cards are self-explanatory and the jokers are whatever exercise you want (crunches, mason twists, etc).
Make sure you hit each of the major muscle groups with a suit and go from one card to the next. It's the constant movement that makes this exercise so difficult.
Example:
hearts = lunges
clubs = bicep curls or pushups (if you want to use plain bodyweight)
spades = mason twists
diamonds = sumo squats or goblet squats (if you want to add weight)
joker = burpees
The varieties are endless, results many and cost next to nothing.1 -
Its not for me. Everything I need I can get online for free minus the brovice.0
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Having a trainer helped me a lot when I got started. He helped me with my diet, held me accountable, helped me set realistic goals, and kept me from getting bored and giving up. I would agree with others, it depends on what you need.0
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It's working for me. I'm stronger than I was 2 months ago and I have more motivation to get to the gym the rest of the week. Plus, I'm learning how to use equipment and do exercises safely that I wasn't aware of. I tried online trainers, many different ones, but they don't push me. I can make excuses online that I can't pull off in person. And, since it's a bit more expensive, I really feel guilty if I try to skip a session.2
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So far, I've found it very beneficial. Having another person, who sees me 4 times a week to workout (2 training sessions, 2 classes through the gym) holds me accountable to show up. My lazy tendencies get me in trouble. Having someone in real life (sorry MFP) helps me far greater. Eventually, I know I won't need it, but it got me started and consistent since the beginning/mid of March (sans two weeks vacation). So... I think it is worth it.1
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A GOOD personal trainer will give you a session for free. That's what I do for all clients. This usually gives us both information and at the same time, see if we mesh. Hope that helps.Is the cost of a personal trainer worth it? I live on a tight budget and was weighing the cons and pros of a personal trainer. If you had/have one, was it worth it?
Is having an "online trainer" the same ?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I did a free personal training session offered to all members of my gym after months of trying random things on my own and not seeing results. I ended up getting 12 sessions with her after that, and it was worth every penny. I went from having no guidance or understanding of what I needed to do, to having a plan and a mentor. I have been working with her once a week since October and have lost 40 pounds and have really been able to watch my body transform, as well as a huge gain in confidence when I am at the gym on my own. It was the best thing I ever did for my health!6
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A good trainer is priceless, a bad one is worthless. Most people who say they can't afford one, just don't prioritize it.5
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I have a personal trainer and Im a single mom not getting any help from the father at all and i managed to put it in my budget. My trainer helps me with routines, form, pushes me through my workout and makes me break out in a good sweat. It is pricey but worth it. I workout with him 4 x a week. He also looks at my food journal and tweaks it around for me and also gives me ideas for recipes and how much or how little of a certain food group i need to eat . I lost 42lbs since November 2015 with his help pretty much all of my baby weight plus 15lbs and losing more and more3
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I had an 'orientation' with a trainer and I guess I was just really turned off. She spent most of her time going over nutrition even after I explained to her that I eat and eat healthy and it's not my issue, but moving more and going out of my comfort zone at the gym is my priority. We never did a session together, she spent the whole hour going over nutrition and pushing the Gym's supplements PLUS she told me that she was training for a body building competition but she couldn't complete it because she injured her shoulder. I don't know, something told me if she injured her own shoulder working out that I'm probably not in the best hands as far as preventing injuries.0
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I have been working with a trainer for about five months now. I needed help with my nutrition more than anything. I have learned a lot, and I have a few years of experience lifting. The knowledge I have gained has been well worth the cost. Not only did I get help with my diet, but he writes programs for all of his clients. So, I'm never doing the same routine over and over. Is the internet a good source, yes. However, if you can afford it, you can not replace good face to face training and advice.0
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The most important piece of advice I can give is to have an idea of what you want to do, have a general idea of how you may want to get there, and then shop around. There's no need to pick the first trainer you meet.
I'm with 2 different trainers right now (one for pole and one for weights). My pole trainer is absolutely worth every penny and I will be with her until the end of time. I also invest in a online pole trainer, but it's apples and tofu, completely different. I use the online tool to supplement what I'm learning in my privates. For example, if I forget exactly how to get into a move, I'll go to the pole website and watch her video and it will jump start my memory.
I'm probably going to search for a different trainer to help me with weights because I'm not getting what I want out of it. Right now, I can't justify the cost for the trainer helping me with weights which lets me know that although he's a good trainer, he's not good for me.
The only piece of food advice I took from a trainer was to up my protein, which truthfully, I already knew I needed to do that. I flat out told one trainer that he didn't even need to mention nutrition to me because I wasn't going to take his advice anyway so there was no need to waste both of our time.1 -
i love my trainer.1
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My trainer when I was still in a commercial gym was good. She got me started again with weights, and I only left her when we had a fundamental difference of opinion on how heavy a deadlift should be.
My powerlifting coach now is amazing. Pushes me to my limits and then laughs with me when I manage to pull off the impossible. Slightly overprotective in the best way possible, and he's stuck with me until he kicks me out.2 -
StealthHealth wrote: »It depends on why you feel you need a PT.
My opinion.
To work on form for a specific exercise or exercises - maybe. You can get a lot of good information online but having someone knowledgeable to watch you and tell you where you are going wrong, to give you the queue points and helping you to remember, and routinely use those, is invaluable and can prevent problems down the line.
To build a routine - maybe. But this, IMHO, is more suited to advanced trainees with well defined goals. For weight loss or general fitness there is so much free stuff out there in internetland that you would probably be better working out what you want to achieve, how much time you have, and what you enjoy and then asking on here.
For motivation - No. You can't buy that stuff.
Is having an online trainer the same? - No. Very different.
I also agree. If you want to learn great form and have someone couch you through it. I hired a PT because I learn best in person one on one. I had absolutely no idea where to start. I had never heard of MFP. I had never thought about my diet before. I had no clue how to work out, track calories, or eat healthy. I ate a bunch of junk. I hired my PT short term. We worked on conditioning myself to run a mile, do some push-ups, and other basic bodyweight exercises. My goal by the end of our sessions, was to join a fit camp/ group fitness without feeling 100% embarrassed for being so out of shape. She was such an asset. All I needed was to meet with a knowledgeable person face to face to give me building blocks. She pushed me in the right direction. She taught me the importance of tracking my food. She introduced me to MFP. She educated me on making better food choices. My PT was well worth the money. As I said before, I knew I needed someone to teach me the very basics of fitness and nutrition. I lost 20 lbs working with her. I have kept the fat off. I joined two different fitness groups and I don't feel embarrassed at all. I gained a little confidence. I also found a way of healthy eating which works for me personally. I might hire her again next month to really nail proper form of weight lifting exercises. I'm sure most people don't need a PT for that. However, I feel safe knowing she is watching my form, encouraging me to do more than what I want to do or more than what I think I can do. I learn better one on one, but I need that with learning lots of things besides fitness. The success and knowledge and confidence and experiences I have are priceless.
You have to do what is best for you. Decide how you learn best. I'm always on a tight budget but I find a way to make time and set aside money for what's important to me. She even worked out a payment plan with me. Most of extra money came when I stopped eating at restaurants every single day! That helped my purse and my waist band.1 -
Is the cost of a personal trainer worth it? I live on a tight budget and was weighing the cons and pros of a personal trainer. If you had/have one, was it worth it?
Is having an "online trainer" the same ?
I'm struggling to figure out how an online trainer could check your form, which to me is one of the most important roles performed by a trainer.
I'm picturing myself, a yoga teacher, telling someone to do 10 Sun Salutations without being able to see if they are doing the postures correctly.0 -
I had an 'orientation' with a trainer and I guess I was just really turned off. She spent most of her time going over nutrition even after I explained to her that I eat and eat healthy and it's not my issue, but moving more and going out of my comfort zone at the gym is my priority. We never did a session together, she spent the whole hour going over nutrition and pushing the Gym's supplements PLUS she told me that she was training for a body building competition but she couldn't complete it because she injured her shoulder. I don't know, something told me if she injured her own shoulder working out that I'm probably not in the best hands as far as preventing injuries.
That is a good example of an awful trainer but in my experience they are not usually like that. If you got one free orientation and that was it, you could complain to the gym and get another one with someone else.
I once had a doctor who spent a large part of our time telling me she was leaving because she'd accidentally gotten pregnant...by another doctor, no less. Not typical of my experience when being checked for strep throat, lol. She did manage to take the culture and write the prescription so I didn't really care.0 -
Most things in life I've taught myself from books, but I've had a personal trainer for six months and it's whole now world. He fine tunes the workout - has me do subtle changes in grips on weights if I experience pain in my arms- things I've never seen in books. If I go in with a bad back feeling I'm not able to do any workouts - he can give me stuff to do that works my back and avoids pain.1
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I've been working with a trainer for seven months, am 58 years and never set foot in a gym before. He has been amazing, has pushed me past my limits, way past, encouraged me and told me off when needed, has tweaked my diet and I have progressed far beyond my wildest dreams with more to come. Honestly if he had told me when I started I would be training as I am now I would have run screaming from the gym. I am 40 lbs down and my dress size has gone from 18/20 to 12/14. Every penny has been absolutely worth it.3
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kshama2001 wrote: »Is the cost of a personal trainer worth it? I live on a tight budget and was weighing the cons and pros of a personal trainer. If you had/have one, was it worth it?
Is having an "online trainer" the same ?
I'm struggling to figure out how an online trainer could check your form, which to me is one of the most important roles performed by a trainer.
I'm picturing myself, a yoga teacher, telling someone to do 10 Sun Salutations without being able to see if they are doing the postures correctly.
First of all I'll disclose my biases: I'm an online coach and I also was a personal trainer in a gym setting.
My clients take video from multiple angles on specific lifts and send me those videos on a regular basis. I review all videos and discuss technical modifications during our next Skype call.
I'll typically only continually review technically demanding lifts. For example I will view the squat, bench, and deadlift frequently, but typically not things like calf raises for obvious reasons.
I HAVE done sessions for clients who train in their home where they literally set the laptop up, with Skype on, so I can view the lift in real time -- but this isn't standard practice since most people train in a gym.
In person training is generally superior for technique adjustments because you can get more done in less time and you can use tactile cues and also timed cues (for example, telling someone when they're breaking parallel on a squat AS they are doing it).
However, the online medium can definitely still be used to improve technique.
I do think there are advantages to online training. One of them being that some people are much more comfortable disclosing information to someone who they've been meeting with in a one-on-one setting from the comfort of their own home, vs in a gym in front of others.
There's also other advantages depending on the coach as far as how much support they offer through the online medium.
I DO think that just with in person training, online coaching has a LOT of variability as far as how much the coach actually coaches and what services he or she provides. I think some people try to streamline things so much (to earn more money) that they end up not actually coaching individuals, but that's another discussion....1 -
I don't think there is anything wrong with PT, but I've never needed one.0
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kshama2001 wrote: »Is the cost of a personal trainer worth it? I live on a tight budget and was weighing the cons and pros of a personal trainer. If you had/have one, was it worth it?
Is having an "online trainer" the same ?
I'm struggling to figure out how an online trainer could check your form, which to me is one of the most important roles performed by a trainer.
I'm picturing myself, a yoga teacher, telling someone to do 10 Sun Salutations without being able to see if they are doing the postures correctly.
I mainly asked because I was unsure of the difference. I assume an online trainer puts s specific plan together for you and is there to support you. It was an idea I wanted to explore since commercial gym trainer just seemed inexperienced to me plus the push of products
just wasn't my thing!
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kshama2001 wrote: »Is the cost of a personal trainer worth it? I live on a tight budget and was weighing the cons and pros of a personal trainer. If you had/have one, was it worth it?
Is having an "online trainer" the same ?
I'm struggling to figure out how an online trainer could check your form, which to me is one of the most important roles performed by a trainer.
I'm picturing myself, a yoga teacher, telling someone to do 10 Sun Salutations without being able to see if they are doing the postures correctly.
I mainly asked because I was unsure of the difference. I assume an online trainer puts s specific plan together for you and is there to support you. It was an idea I wanted to explore since commercial gym trainer just seemed inexperienced to me plus the push of products just wasn't my thing!
If you're just looking for a program, there's a lot of good ones out there to start you off. Start a thread on here stating your goals and you'll get a bunch of recommendations.
If you're wanting to work on technique, an in-person trainer can be incredibly useful, but only if they know what they're doing. If you don't have confidence in your gym trainer, don't go there. You might be able to find a non-affiliated trainer that can do a one-time session to work with you on form (there was a trainer who met with clients my apartment complex gym, so no gym membership required), or you can do what SideSteel suggested and find someone who will review videos of your form. Or go find the people in the gym who know what they're doing and ask for help.
Also, whatever your goals, consider the required commitment: I buy 5-session packages (my gym's minimum) as I feel I need them - right now I'm trying to fix some issues with my deadlift, so it's worth it to me. But once I get what I need, I don't renew. The commitment requirement can be where an online trainer has an advantage, because it can be a one-time consultation if that's all you need (i.e. custom program).0
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