Can a personal trainer help with motivation and therefore weight loss?

bellissimaluna
bellissimaluna Posts: 75 Member
edited December 20 in Motivation and Support
hi guys! I have the possibility to get a personal trainer THREE times a week (three hours a week) along with three visits to a nutritionist for three months at my local gym. It is a great rate...but still costs. When I go to the gym on my own, I don't feel like I get a lot out of it probably because I am doing 25% of what I should be doing in a class or with a personal trainer. It just seems like three days a week with weights for three months could make a difference. I am a 50 year old female who rarely uses weights, but walks and runs. Would that kind of consistency make a noticeable difference? Also...I REALLY like the idea of being held accountable to someone.....What do you guys think?

Replies

  • Fflpnari
    Fflpnari Posts: 975 Member
    If you think it will help, try it!
    For me it helps having some accountability. I know if I don't go to the gym my coach will notice. 😄
  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    Certainly a GOOD personal trainer can help with motivation. Many of us work out best when we have someone pushing us and to be accountable to. I don't work with a personal trainer, but in a gym that is all class based, so I have the instructor always keeping me motivated and that pushes me a lot farther than when I work on my own. But now that I have been doing that for a while, I am able to motivate myself more when I am on my own than I would have been able to in the past.

    If you can afford it financially, I think it is a good route to go, but make sure it's with a trainer you think can you can get along with and who understands your goals and preferred motivational style. Not every trainer is a good fit for every client. You'll get much more out of one who you mesh well with. Same thing goes for a nutritionist. Just because they are a nutritionist doesn't mean they are necessarily the right one for you.
  • emmoen
    emmoen Posts: 218 Member
    So I hired a personal trainer for the first time this year. The key is a good trainer that listens to you.

    I always thought since my background is physical therapy I should know what I need to do to get in shape but my trainer helped me realize that sometimes I just need the added accountability! Which.. PAYING.. for trainer was the extra motivation I needed!
  • fatmonsters
    fatmonsters Posts: 30 Member
    I pay for a trainer 2x/week- I needed accountability and was a total noob in the gym. Would have gotten nothing out of going to the gym without the trainer and may have even stopped going in the earlier days. So I say go for it! Sometimes it’s worth if it if you get a good trainer that you connect with. And I have seen a nutritionist at the gym twice in the past 8 months. I’ve found that helpful too.
  • GemimaFitzTed
    GemimaFitzTed Posts: 260 Member
    Do it! I have had a persoal trainer since early January for the same reasons as you - I need accountability. He has been great and I am getting the results I want from him

    At the moment, I do 2x30min sessions with him, and I will reevaulate at the end of this year if I increase this to 3x30min or 2x45min. I also go to the gym for running and extra strength training.

    I am so glad that I made the decision to use a personal trainer. One of the best investment to my health IMHO
  • JBanx256
    JBanx256 Posts: 1,479 Member
    A GOOD, competent personal trainer is an EXCELLENT source of motivation as well as guidance. Make sure you "click" with them before dropping a load of money on them though - they should provide a consultation prior to you signing anything. Go over your goals, needs/wants, expectations, etc. They should do the same with you - what do they expect/require of you as a client? IMO, make a list of questions, concerns, etc before the consultation so you can ask and make sure they have solid answers.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    go for it!
  • Cahgetsfit
    Cahgetsfit Posts: 1,912 Member
    yep I'd say go for it. As said above - a GOOD trainer is invaluable. And yes, before you go paying money make sure the right trainer - who listens to you, answers your questions (doesn't just say "trust the process"), actually tells you which muscles you should be activating/using in each exercise (not just "here - sit on this machine and pull the handle").

    I found having a GOOD trainer has set me up so that now I can do stuff on my own because she taught the basics so well.

    Do it. it's not only motivational but I think you get more out of it when you have to be accountable to someone.
  • JBanx256
    JBanx256 Posts: 1,479 Member
    Cahgetsfit wrote: »
    And yes, before you go paying money make sure the right trainer - who listens to you, answers your questions (doesn't just say "trust the process"), actually tells you which muscles you should be activating/using in each exercise (not just "here - sit on this machine and pull the handle").

    YES! I was listening to a podcast last night where they compared personal trainers to car mechanics. If you have an issue with your car, you take it to a mechanic and they say, "ok well first we're going to do this however-many-point inspection, check this and that, run some diagnostics..." then they come to you with an explanation of what is wrong and an estimate of how long it will take to fix it and how much it will cost you. If you take your car to a mechanic and they don't even look at your car but just say, "pfft yeah I can fix it just leave it with me tonight and it'll be good to go tomorrow morning" you'd be like...ummm....no. So if a trainer doesn't ask/answer questions as detailed as you feel comfortable with and is like, "TRUST ME BRO, we're gonna get you JACKED in NO TIME!" then just think of leaving your vehicle with that same guy

  • bellissimaluna
    bellissimaluna Posts: 75 Member
    MikePTY wrote: »
    Certainly a GOOD personal trainer can help with motivation. Many of us work out best when we have someone pushing us and to be accountable to. I don't work with a personal trainer, but in a gym that is all class based, so I have the instructor always keeping me motivated and that pushes me a lot farther than when I work on my own. But now that I have been doing that for a while, I am able to motivate myself more when I am on my own than I would have been able to in the past.

    If you can afford it financially, I think it is a good route to go, but make sure it's with a trainer you think can you can get along with and who understands your goals and preferred motivational style. Not every trainer is a good fit for every client. You'll get much more out of one who you mesh well with. Same thing goes for a nutritionist. Just because they are a nutritionist doesn't mean they are necessarily the right one for you.

    Awesome advise! Thanks!
  • bellissimaluna
    bellissimaluna Posts: 75 Member
    emmoen wrote: »
    So I hired a personal trainer for the first time this year. The key is a good trainer that listens to you.

    I always thought since my background is physical therapy I should know what I need to do to get in shape but my trainer helped me realize that sometimes I just need the added accountability! Which.. PAYING.. for trainer was the extra motivation I needed!

    right??? The cash part really figures into making sure you dont miss a workout.
  • bellissimaluna
    bellissimaluna Posts: 75 Member
    GemimaFitzTed wrote: »
    Do it! I have had a persoal trainer since early January for the same reasons as you - I need accountability. He has been great and I am getting the results I want from him

    At the moment, I do 2x30min sessions with him, and I will reevaulate at the end of this year if I increase this to 3x30min or 2x45min. I also go to the gym for running and extra strength training.

    I am so glad that I made the decision to use a personal trainer. One of the best investment to my health IMHO

    Again...I so agree with you all! And to be honest...I have WASTED so much money on gym memberships, then never going.......So....even though there is an investment involved.....it won't be like wasted money in the past....thanks so much for your input!
  • bellissimaluna
    bellissimaluna Posts: 75 Member
    JBanx256 wrote: »
    A GOOD, competent personal trainer is an EXCELLENT source of motivation as well as guidance. Make sure you "click" with them before dropping a load of money on them though - they should provide a consultation prior to you signing anything. Go over your goals, needs/wants, expectations, etc. They should do the same with you - what do they expect/require of you as a client? IMO, make a list of questions, concerns, etc before the consultation so you can ask and make sure they have solid answers.

    Great advise! Thanks!
  • JBanx256
    JBanx256 Posts: 1,479 Member
    bellissimaluna wrote: »
    JBanx256 wrote: »
    A GOOD, competent personal trainer is an EXCELLENT source of motivation as well as guidance. Make sure you "click" with them before dropping a load of money on them though - they should provide a consultation prior to you signing anything. Go over your goals, needs/wants, expectations, etc. They should do the same with you - what do they expect/require of you as a client? IMO, make a list of questions, concerns, etc before the consultation so you can ask and make sure they have solid answers.

    Great advise! Thanks!

    Very welcome - best wishes! :)
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