So confused with some advice that was given by a personal tr

jchapa83
jchapa83 Posts: 71 Member
edited November 11 in Health and Weight Loss
I had a free session yesterday with a personal trainer at my gym. He was nice and all but made me feel like everything that I had done was wrong. I am not fat, I am where I want to be if anything maybe lose 5-10lbs. I told him I wanted to do strength training and I wasn't concerned about my weight. I told him I had done 2 rounds of Insanity and I eat my 1200 cals plus the cals burned during my Insanity workouts. So which all together was about 1700. He said that I wasn't losing weight because I wasn't eating enough that I should try eating 300 calories more.

He also said that with Insanity I'm not making any progress in weight because I am not at my target heart rate while doing those workouts since it's HIIT workouts. So he goes and shows me how to use the elliptical which when I do it I don't pay attention to my heartrate if it's where it should be which he says its 115-125. So he had me keeping it at that rate because he said that that's when I'm really burning the calories. So I asked.. your telling me when I have done it in the past burning 300 calories not in that range I'm not getting anything done. He said yup it was just a waste of time.

I for one may not have lost weight during my rounds of Insanity but I sure do look different and lost those love handles that I hated so much plus it flattened my tummy! And I told him my goal is a six pack and he says that will never happen with Insanity. I don't know I can go on and on but this is long as it is.

What do you guys think?
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Replies

  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    I agree with upping the calories but I have no idea what he's talking about "because they are HIIT workouts". First off almost everyone knows HIIT workouts burn tons of calories even after they are over. I personally think spending hours on the elliptical is a waste of time and prefer shorter more intense workouts, ESPECIALLY if you are in the range of only needing to lose 5-10 pounds.
  • aprilgicker
    aprilgicker Posts: 395 Member
    if he works for the gym remember he wants you there as long as possible. HE doesn't want to show how to lift because you will go out and buy some used equipment find a friend for a few hours for 3 days and save a sh1t load of money. Find and save your money for real trainer. One that has an office with a lift room. They will show how, and give you a workout buddy. Way cheaper.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    He's full of it

    http://www.alanaragon.com/myths-under-the-microscope-part-3-discussion-afterthoughts.html
  • jchapa83
    jchapa83 Posts: 71 Member
    I agree with upping the calories but I have no idea what he's talking about "because they are HIIT workouts". First off almost everyone knows HIIT workouts burn tons of calories even after they are over. I personally think spending hours on the elliptical is a waste of time and prefer shorter more intense workouts, ESPECIALLY if you are in the range of only needing to lose 5-10 pounds.

    Yea I thought the same, but it seemed like he knew what he was talking about so I just let him talk lol! I didn't say much back because either way he prbly feels like he is in the right bc he's the personal trainer not me. I agree that elliptical was a waste of time and I told him that before I started Insanity I went to the gym for 3 months and I didn't see a change vs when I do Insanity. But there he just said that I didn't have the right plan and guidance at the gym.

    Thanks for your response!
  • love2cycle
    love2cycle Posts: 448 Member
    I agree with everyone else. I know personally two people who have consistently done Insanity, and one has lost 16 pounds, one 30 pounds, and they both look great! This is in about 2-3 months time period as well.
  • NotGoddess
    NotGoddess Posts: 1,198 Member
    I thought the 'zone' idea with heart rates was debunked?

    If he responded to your desire to strength train by brushing past it and focusing on weight loss, he's not a good fit. He should have taken you to the weight room, not the elliptical.
  • jchapa83
    jchapa83 Posts: 71 Member
    if he works for the gym remember he wants you there as long as possible. HE doesn't want to show how to lift because you will go out and buy some used equipment find a friend for a few hours for 3 days and save a sh1t load of money. Find and save your money for real trainer. One that has an office with a lift room. They will show how, and give you a workout buddy. Way cheaper.

    Yea I think his goal was to convince me that whatever I was doing was wrong and to go with him with at least 3 sessions and he can get me to where I want to be. Thx for the advice :)
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,430 MFP Moderator
    I thought the 'zone' idea with heart rates was debunked?

    If he responded to your desire to strength train by brushing past it and focusing on weight loss, he's not a good fit. He should have taken you to the weight room, not the elliptical.

    It is. look at the link ACG posted.
  • wildie71
    wildie71 Posts: 3
    His job is to make you feel like you know nothing and will fail without him. Then he can sell you 10k of personal training. However see free session is probably unpaid so he will be going hard pressure for a sale.
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    don't continue using his services!
  • jchapa83
    jchapa83 Posts: 71 Member
    He's full of it

    http://www.alanaragon.com/myths-under-the-microscope-part-3-discussion-afterthoughts.html

    Thanks for the link, I agree that he is full of it lol!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Sorry double post
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I had a free session yesterday with a personal trainer at my gym. He was nice and all but made me feel like everything that I had done was wrong. I am not fat, I am where I want to be if anything maybe lose 5-10lbs. I told him I wanted to do strength training and I wasn't concerned about my weight. I told him I had done 2 rounds of Insanity and I eat my 1200 cals plus the cals burned during my Insanity workouts. So which all together was about 1700. He said that I wasn't losing weight because I wasn't eating enough that I should try eating 300 calories more.

    He also said that with Insanity I'm not making any progress in weight because I am not at my target heart rate while doing those workouts since it's HIIT workouts. So he goes and shows me how to use the elliptical which when I do it I don't pay attention to my heartrate if it's where it should be which he says its 115-125. So he had me keeping it at that rate because he said that that's when I'm really burning the calories. So I asked.. your telling me when I have done it in the past burning 300 calories not in that range I'm not getting anything done. He said yup it was just a waste of time.

    I for one may not have lost weight during my rounds of Insanity but I sure do look different and lost those love handles that I hated so much plus it flattened my tummy! And I told him my goal is a six pack and he says that will never happen with Insanity. I don't know I can go on and on but this is long as it is.

    What do you guys think?

    zones are a crock os S%^t, but I think you need to eat more, much more. With so little to lose your weekly goal should be 0.5lbs/week, plus eat back the cals you burn. This way you are more likely to burn fat and preserve muscle (a too large of a deficit will cause you body to burn muscle along with the fat)
  • lisao62
    lisao62 Posts: 80 Member
    bump
  • Alexstrasza
    Alexstrasza Posts: 619 Member
    His job is to make you feel like you know nothing and will fail without him. Then he can sell you 10k of personal training. However see free session is probably unpaid so he will be going hard pressure for a sale.

    It makes me sad that some personal trainers do this.

    My husband is training to be a personal fitness trainer and he said he's not going to do that to people. We've lived the past 3 years living paycheck to paycheck and so he knows how hard it is for people to afford a trainer, let alone for people with low income to eat properly and find time to workout.

    Plus, he's just not the kind to bull**** people.
  • H_Factor
    H_Factor Posts: 1,722 Member
    I think your trainer is a buffoon. EFF the target heart range. HIIT and other interval exercise works! new science shows that...as well as the effects you can see for yourself.

    when I exercise, I push hard. If I had to stay under 130 HR, I'd be bored. LOL!
  • Bevkus
    Bevkus Posts: 274 Member
    When I was a fit distance runner and in the gym every day I knew loads more stuff than all the trainers put together. I read online, mags, books..my learning never stopped. These guys pass one or two programs by the skin of their teeth and suddenly they know everything. They don't. Don't waste your money dude...dont!!!
  • jchapa83
    jchapa83 Posts: 71 Member
    I thought the 'zone' idea with heart rates was debunked?

    If he responded to your desire to strength train by brushing past it and focusing on weight loss, he's not a good fit. He should have taken you to the weight room, not the elliptical.

    The reason he told me that he took me to the elliptical was because he wanted to show me about my target heart rate. I told him the reason I was there was to learn how to use the machines and if he can show me. He took me to the shoulder press machine and taught me about weights low, med, and High and how to do proper squats and have perfect form. But other than that, that was it.
  • NotGoddess
    NotGoddess Posts: 1,198 Member
    I thought the 'zone' idea with heart rates was debunked?

    If he responded to your desire to strength train by brushing past it and focusing on weight loss, he's not a good fit. He should have taken you to the weight room, not the elliptical.

    It is. look at the link ACG posted.
    Was checking it out after I posted. :) Thanks.

    I am not a fitness expert or trainer, but I try to educate myself. If I go to a personal trainer I'd expect they would be more aware of the latest/best information since it's their job. But in my experience it seems a lot of them are just good-looking salesmen who speak with such conviction and try to make you feel like an idiot.

    That's not a knock to the good trainers- I've seen plenty of them on this forum so I know you guys/gals are out there.
  • BigDaddyBRC
    BigDaddyBRC Posts: 2,395 Member
    Do him a favor....walk into the gym, give him a helmet a smile, and walk away....

    If you're on a plateau, change something...take a week off, change your intake, something needs to trick the body.
  • 10acity
    10acity Posts: 798 Member
    I think you have to be really careful about who you listen to and take advice from (that goes for those on MFP as well, however well-meaning). I am fortunate enough to have several friends who are medical professionals (and another who's a food scientist!) so I'm set up quite well, but that's just incidental. Gyms can be scary places when it comes to this kind of thing, I have found. I always ask what their credentials are, and if it's just some certifications or whatever, I take their suggestions with a grain of salt.

    I'm not saying every personal trainer or gym employee is ill-intentioned or full of crap, just make sure what you're taking to heart is reliable information. "I work at a gym" is not enough of a credential for me, personally.

    You may actually find that eating more does help, though. I have gotten over plateaus that way in the past. The rest of what he said I am highly skeptical of... but I don't have anything to base it on other than my experience. ;)
  • jchapa83
    jchapa83 Posts: 71 Member
    His job is to make you feel like you know nothing and will fail without him. Then he can sell you 10k of personal training. However see free session is probably unpaid so he will be going hard pressure for a sale.

    You are right, I had that feeling when I was there! The only reason I went is because it was free but other than that he will not be someone I would go to in the future.
  • nitka653
    nitka653 Posts: 97 Member
    He's full of it

    http://www.alanaragon.com/myths-under-the-microscope-part-3-discussion-afterthoughts.html

    Thanks to the original poster and thanks for this post! I have often wondered myself. Unfortunately you get a whole gambit of answers both in the training and medical world. I have always felt guilty for working harder just the see the calories roll... And wondered why it was calories in/calories out for eating, but not exercise?!
  • hope516
    hope516 Posts: 1,133 Member
    new trainer :huh:
  • mocoworm
    mocoworm Posts: 31
    Hi guys.

    What is 'insanity' training ? Do you mean Interval training ?
  • staceyseeger
    staceyseeger Posts: 778 Member
    bump for later reading
  • r1ghtpath
    r1ghtpath Posts: 701 Member
    i was given a test and results that showed where your optimal level of fat burning was per your heart rate. it talks about how your threshold is your last stop for burning fat. working about above that you will improve your fitness but not readily lose weight or burn fat.

    the HIIT work outs, they make your heart rate go above your threshold, would be my guess. i know that MY HIIT work outs do. i'm supposed to stay in zone 3 for the optimal fat burning. but during a HIIT work out where i'm really bringing it, i can easily hit zone 4 even 5!!!

    i have read some people talk about heart rates in the 170-180 range. for me, that would be WAYYYY beyond zone 3.

    so, my guess, is this is what he is talking about. the HIIT work outs will burn calories even after you're done. but, he is probably thinking clearly from a heart rate zone/ threshold stand point. this number will increase with your exercise intensity though.

    that's about the best i can come up with. cuz HIIT work outs, WORK!!! so.............


    FINISHED reading the rest of the thread. yup! what others said. he's got heart rate on the brain. HIIT work outs work. so, i would just stick to what you're doing. i'd have to second the, he wants you in the gym so he can make money off "training you the right way." ;-) i would skip it, personally!
  • etajr
    etajr Posts: 49
    I have worked with trainers on and off for 30 years. 99% of them have minimal education in training, and are in the business to put you in "their" box of an exercise routine. They need to generate clients to make money. Most do more harm than good. Run away from that guy he is really clueless. The whole heart rate thing has medical data behind it to support it is incorrect. It is a nice guideline to keep you in aerobic respiration vs annerobic respiration(building up lactic acid in your muscles) but that is about it.
  • Cindym82
    Cindym82 Posts: 1,245 Member
    I agree with don't listen to him. I go to the gym all the time and see the SAME people for the last 6months with the trainers and they do not look any thinner. They look exactly the same. Me on the other hand have lost inches and lbs.
  • jchapa83
    jchapa83 Posts: 71 Member
    Thank you everyone for your advice, it really helps and motivates me to keep pushing even though I had a bad experience yesterday! I just felt that the reason he was talking bad about Insanity and HITT is because it works and I don't need his services or advice while doing it.

    Just received good news! There is a gym here at work, I just found out I have access to it. Wasn't sure because I wasn't an actual employee just here on contract and I just got my boss to give me permission after I told him what happened yesterday. Everything is free and they have free personal trainers, so I will be going to them. They don't have sales on their agenda so I'm sure they will be there to help me. I hope I have a better experience with them!

    I just bought the book The New Rules of Lifting for women. (Has anyone tried that program?) I hope to start doing it in 2 weeks when I finish Insanity. Since I have no experience in weight training I hope that program will help me to get to my goals. I am shy of using weights at the gym especially because it's mostly men and I have no idea on how to use them and I don't want to look dumb trying to figure it out. What gives me motivation to start it is knowing that now I have the access to the trainers to help and teach me how to use the weights.

    Once again thank you everyone!
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