Is paying for a personal trainer worth it?
Kimberleerunsandcounts
Posts: 8
I am looking at purchasing personal training sessions. I work out regularly, eat good more often than not, but just need that extra boost to get something going. I am looking at spending 260 on 6 one hour sessions with a personal trainer in addition to body assessment, measurements, and fitness plan. Is it worth it? Thoughts?
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A good one would be. Unfortunately, good ones are difficult to find.0
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I am looking at purchasing personal training sessions. I work out regularly, eat good more often than not, but just need that extra boost to get something going. I am looking at spending 260 on 6 one hour sessions with a personal trainer in addition to body assessment, measurements, and fitness plan. Is it worth it? Thoughts?
Only if the trainer has some good credentials AND a good amount of experience. Something like an A.C.E certification or a CSCS certification from the NSCA are a good start or probably some of the better credentials. Evaluate how he looks physically and watch his training sessions with other clients if you can and see what they look like. Unfortunately I'm very cynical about most trainers because of what I've seen in the gyms I belong to. Personally, I'd grab some books from prominent trainers and websites for those trainers and start there before I dished-out $260.0 -
rule of thumb.. find a trainer who is at the level of fitness you would like to be.
There are a lot of bad trainers out there. LOTS0 -
I would say no. I would go with a session or two if you are unfamiliar with what to do but thats it. Its really hard to find a good one who is worth it.0
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I had a great trainer and the results were amazing. Unfortunately, she moved to Dallas and I have tried various other trainers that just were not that great. I agree with the previous comment that a good trainer is hard to find. If you do find one that you can connect with and feel comfortable you will see amazing results. Good luck!0
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If they are good and mesh well with you and understand your goals yes!
Also depends on how much you are paying.
Most big gyms (ballys, 24 hr, etc) just hand u a random trainer.
Id suggest going to a smaller gym that has trainers available. Smaller places like that know their on staff trainers well.
Let them know what you are looking to get out of having a trainer and your personal goals. Get a few trainers names and
set up a consultation. Find one you think would work best with you.
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If it's a good trainer, yes - and that is a pretty great price. I have a training session every other week and it's invaluable.0
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I don't know. I see the trainers at my gym and they have no energy. They have no pep in their step. They seem like they don't want to be there or they don't want to be training whoever they are training.
Then....one of the trainers will be training his girlfriend on a day he's free and he's got all sorts of pep in his step and is super into everything she's doing and all excited. Its like night/day difference.
I couldn't imagine spending money on any of the trainers at my gym. I find more helpful advice for the regulars who have been working out for years and years.0 -
It's definitely worth it if the trainer is good. Have you met the trainer before or is it someone you would meet only after paying for the sessions? If you don't click with the trainer, you won't get as much out of it. And, as another poster implied, there is a wide range of ability in this profession (as in any other). I've gotten a personal trainer at times when I felt like I was getting stale and needed something new. The best one I ever had was one whom I met with for six sessions initially, and then once every six weeks to change up my routine. He was great. The routines he gave me were things I could do on my own after he showed me the exercises. He could tell if I was regularly doing the workout based on the progress at the next session. I miss him!0
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I've had a personal trainer since the end of February and it's the best investment I've ever made. I look forward to our sessions. He pushes me when I feel like quitting...similar to Jillian on Biggest Loser only he doesn't make me puke lol I have cut out other expenses in my life just so I can keep seeing him.0
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rule of thumb.. find a trainer who is at the level of fitness you would like to be.
There are a lot of bad trainers out there. LOTS
I totally agree. I met with a potential trainer and she told me I have achieved good results and she couldn't help me. I was pretty pissed at her for wasting my time and gas.0 -
I've had trainers and I really haven't seen anything that is worth paying for, unless you really don't know anything about exercising. There is a ton you can learn about training with videos on Youtube and the books. If you need someone to yell at you and push you, then maybe... or you can get a Jillian Michaels video for a whole lot less.0
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In my experience I've found I can do cardio by myself no problem, PTs seem to be more there for making it interesting or motivation. I do need to do some more reading on HIIT but thats something I dont really need help with I think - or I could go to the spinning classes they do for free.
What I am looking for is some help with my form in lifting for the big 3 complex moves (deads, squats and bench). For that I found a 10 week class at a proper gym (read not health club) for less than 1 PT session at my normal gym.0 -
If they are good and mesh well with you and understand your goals yes!
I picked my own personal trainer and she is amazing! I paid for my gym membership up front (just because I wanted to) and I pay monthly for my trainer. At my gym you dont have to join the gym to hire the trainer. It is definitely worth the expense to me. I had a 3 month contract with her but just recently extended the contract another 6 months. That should take me into December and hopefully I will be at my goal by then.
I would have had no idea where to start without her since I hadnt been in a gym for many, many years. Now I find I do well because I am accountable to her.0 -
The trainer is the fitness director at our local gym. He manages about 10 other fitness leaders. Our gym is ran through our park district and is definitely one of the more impressive ones around. I do not know his specific credentials nor would I know what they meant if I asked!! (I will have to do some research first) I feel very good about his knowledge and expertise. I also believe the $260 is not going to break me financially but is definitely costly enough to keep me accountable.
This was my first post for a topic and I am amazed at all of the immediate feedback I received!! You guys are great!0 -
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"I totally agree. I met with a potential trainer and she told me I have achieved good results and she couldn't help me. I was pretty pissed at her for wasting my time and gas."
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syncerepassio - Not sure how she wasted your time and gas. She could have taken your money when you really didnt need her. Instead it sounds like she was honest with you.0 -
I'm going to say yes. I have had a trainer for over a year and I wouldn't be half as capable as I am now if I hadn't gone. On top of that, having an appointment with her made me accountable, because if I didn't show up, I wasn't just failing myself. She keeps track of your progress, pep talks you when you don't see any, adjusts things to help get you what you need and most importantly, you show the hell up and you push harder with her/him. I just recently started taking silks classes, which requires an UNBELIEVABLE amount of strength to do any of the moves they teach you. Had I not been going to a trainer for a year before I started the classes, I'd have been screwed. It took forever to start really losing any weight for me, but once I did, the fat was melting away to show that there was muscle underneath. I can climb those silks to the top, hefting my 185 lbs frame up those bad boys isn't a breeze, given that it took my fifth class to finally be able to do it... couldn't have EVER done it if I hadn't been seeing my trainer the year previous.
That's just my two sense.0 -
And by sense I mean...freudian slip?
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I'm going to say yes. I have had a trainer for over a year and I wouldn't be half as capable as I am now if I hadn't gone. On top of that, having an appointment with her made me accountable, because if I didn't show up, I wasn't just failing myself. She keeps track of your progress, pep talks you when you don't see any, adjusts things to help get you what you need and most importantly, you show the hell up and you push harder with her/him. I just recently started taking silks classes, which requires an UNBELIEVABLE amount of strength to do any of the moves they teach you. Had I not been going to a trainer for a year before I started the classes, I'd have been screwed. It took forever to start really losing any weight for me, but once I did, the fat was melting away to show that there was muscle underneath. I can climb those silks to the top, hefting my 185 lbs frame up those bad boys isn't a breeze, given that it took my fifth class to finally be able to do it... couldn't have EVER done it if I hadn't been seeing my trainer the year previous.
That's just my two sense.
I agree!
When I had my intial consultation we had a "mini session" After 3 mins of warm-up I was already about to pass out! I was only able to do 5 push ups on my knees!!
I look at the things I do now, like, Getting a bosu balance half ball putting my hands on the platform and doing a full body push up balancing on that ball with one leg in the air. Its incredible the things I can do now. I wouldnt have been able to do it, if it werent for my trainer.
I can say another thing to, he knows my capabilities better than I do, bc during some of our sessions now he will tell me to do something and I tell him "youre bananas if you think I can do that!" and then I do it and its like woah I can do that? lol0 -
My trainer came highly recommended by my physiotherapist and I work with him to ensure I'm learning proper form and not re-injuring myself. I've only been going to him for 8 weeks now but my strength gains are amazing (for me) with the added bonus of no injuries and a significant amount of increased mobility. I joke that I love to hate him but I can't imagine having made it this far without his support.
Like everyone else said, a good trainer is worth his/her weight in gold 0 -
My trainer wasn't amazing but I got what I needed out of her...a feeling of comfort at the gym. I was terrified to go..so just having her with me broke the ice.0
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I think that for someone just starting a fitness routine who needs motivation, guidance, and help getting good form, that it's great. Especially if they help you set out workouts you can do on your own. I just started with a trainer who was a really great match, that I found from zeel.com. She's a little pricey but she is exaclty suited to my personality, she's encouraging, but not a cheerleader, she makes me push myself but she doesn't make me run myself into the ground, she checks in after training sessions, gives me tips for what I should be doing through the week when we're not meeting up.
If you can afford it, go for it, but I wouldn't sign on for 6 sessions until you've had at least one consult session with them, even if you're not paying the discounted price, it's worth it to see if you are a good fit.0 -
I paid $340 for 10 sessions and LOVED my trainer. He never gave me the same routine twice, always kept me going, pushed me, never let me give up or say I can't do this. Best advice I can give, watch how they train other clients at the gym, make sure they are in shape and try them for a couple of sessions. It's worth every penny when you are committed!0
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Absolutely! Personally, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I've far exceeded all of the goals I had set for myself, and I truly believe that would not have happened had I not found the perfect trainer. Expensive yes, but money well spent in my book.
Just be sure to interview several trainers and pick somone that is going to be right for you.0 -
Well a good workout partner like a family member of friend can do the same thing and they are free!!
I don't think its worth it! 0 -
I can't tell if that seems really expensive... or if my gym is just cheap.
For me, the pricing is as follows:
1 session: $34
4 sessions: $120
8 sessions: $195
12 sessions: $275
I was thinking about investing in one, but I can't decide if I want to or not as well!0 -
Personally... definately worth it.
However, I would buy 1 session to start with to make sure you like their style etc. Not all PT's are good & everyone has their own style... supportive & encouraging whilst pushing you further then you would push yourself or could be in your face...
Definately give at least 1 session ago to see what you think 0 -
Id suggest going to a smaller gym that has trainers available. Smaller places like that know their on staff trainers well.
I totally agree! I work at a small gym, and I know the six trainers personally and they are all fit and fantastic with their clients and they also specialize in different things, so we are able to recommend the perfect match for interested clients..0 -
I think so.. I mean, had to go through three PT's before I found a perfect one, but now that I've found him, it's a night and day difference. He pushes me, understands me, and is all around a nice person... Plus he still has clients training with him from when he started 5 yrs ago.. which tells me, he must be good at what he does to have clients hang around that long!
Plus that is a really good price.. I'm buying 30 PT sessions on thursday, and the downpayment alone is close to 500 dollars... so redic, but really worth it!0 -
You guys have motivated me to start working a PT into my normal lifting schedule. Sounds like a good way to break out of this damn plateau.
Good luck to you!0
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