Personal Trainer- Yea or Nay?

I've always wondered about this. I've been reluctant to get a personal trainer, because I feel I know the basics and should be able to save the money, and lose the weight on my own. However, I have seen people lose a lot of weight when having one, and I know it's great to have someone hold you accountable. I would love to hear your thoughts on this or share a personal story.

Tue. Jul 3, 11:37pm

Sorry if this is an obvious comment, but I think personal trainers can be very helpful as long as they're a good match with the client. Just like there are people here who want to be more nurtured, and others who are more successful when they get a kick in the butt, there are of course different types of trainers. You have to be willing to look for someone who's right for you and your goals.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007, 11:53 PM

I believe in the value of hiring a personal trainer. Make sure he or she has good credentials and education, like ACSM certified, NASM, NSCA, or a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology or Exercise Science. Trainers know how to keep you motivated, accountable and how to manipulate your workouts to avoid and/or bust plateaus, as well as how to help you avoid injury/overuse. A good trainer is definitely worth the money, in my opinion. I lost 20 lbs in 3-4 months with a trainer but the best part was watching the inches melt off my hips. I also loved seeing my little bicep muscles emerging. It made me feel strong and happy.

I hope this helps.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007, 12:20 AM

I just had a 1 hr kettlebell training session and the experience of working out in that way with a trainer was intense. I'd say if you can afford to have a PT once a week, or 2x a month, it's an excellent way to kick up the interest and intensity.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007, 8:25 AM

Wow. you love the kettlebell training! You really can't say enough about it.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007, 2:17 PM

Anyone else out there ever hire a personal trainer?

Friday, July 06, 2007, 6:14 PM

yep, i love mine... it took several rounds of sessions to get what i needed from him but it worked out in the end. the first 5 sessions were him figuring out what i could do and what i was willing to do. there was a lot of floor work and stretches, not exactly what i was looking for. the second 5 sessions were similar but we moved on to weight machines. now that was more like it, except he still had me do a lot of floor work too. the third of the 5 sessions i bought were all weights and some interval training... perfect!

it made me very accountable to him, because not only was i paying for a gym membership i was also paying for him to help get me into shape. he still sees me everyday at the gym and if he doesn't for a few days he calls to make sure everything is okay. i say it's definitely worth it, but it can be difficult to find the right trainer for you. make sure you talk in depth your expectations of him and his of you, i should have done that the first round of sessions. but it all worked out, and i'm so glad i did it!

Friday, July 06, 2007, 7:00 PM

I've lost weight before - on my own - and know what I need to do (right now I'm working on pregnancy weight), but I could actually use a PT to get me back to my goal weight - mainly because I am in a rut! I've been doing the same exercises and I could use someone pushing. I think I've become to comfortable and new exercises and someone challenging me would really help. I haven't done it yet (I've been watching PT sessions at the gym and stealing their moves instead ;)) but I do think it would help!

Sunday, July 08, 2007, 8:24 AM

sorry i can't speak from personal experience, but i can tell you about a good friend that has one.

after getting pregnant she wanted help to stay in shape and got a PT at her gym. he really helped her get in even better shape while not doing anything too strenuous or harmful during her pregnancy. 7 months after baby was born she still uses the PT and doesn't regret it at all. She's always been in great shape, but the PT helps her really target certain areas and now she's getting ready for her HS reunion w/ his help.

i would get one, but the money isn't there right now....don't even have a gym membership but that's not stopping me from working out :-)

Sunday, July 08, 2007, 4:23 PM

i just posted at 4:23 and wanted to add that I think it's worth the money (if you can spare it), but make sure you get someone who gives you guidelines for the rest of the week or month when you're not with the PT. Some of them are really awesome, but some do just the bare minimum with you. Most should give you a set of exercises and a guideline of reps/weights and even nutrition info to use before you meet again. Hope this helps!

Sunday, July 08, 2007, 4:26 PM

I have, and agree if you have the money it’s nice, but if you are trying it for the first time don’t try to save a couple dollars off each visit by paying for a package of 10 or more sessions upfront. I had one trainer years ago that was great they checked my technique gave some great pointers and showed me that I can be pushed harder then I thought and I learned a great deal from them, it was a good experience, then a few years later they were gone and I hired a different one from the same club, and to save a few dollars I purchased 10 sessions upfront and after the 2nd visit I wished hadn’t It just didn’t click and then I was stuck with the same instructor for the next 8 sessions (they are usually not transferable) so buy 1 or 2 first to make sure you will have a good working relationship before you buy a package and end up wasting your money.

Sunday, July 08, 2007, 5:33 PM

OP

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their stories and comments. I greatly appreciate it, and will take everything into consideration. It looks like pretty much everyone is for it, granted the money is there. I am surprised that no one had a negative experience with a PT. If I do get one, I hope I will get lucky and it will be the right fit for both of us. Thanks again for the useful tips.

Friday, July 13, 2007, 2:12 AM

A good experience and an awesome experience - and a tip

It's all about finding someone that fits well with you. I usually scope out trainers at the gym to see whose style I like best. It's good to tell them what your expectations are and let them decide if they'd like to take you on as a client (I'm a girl that asks a lot of questions and wants to understand the "why" to everything - probably a royal pain in the @ss for some - so I've warned them ahead of time so they can decide if I'm the kind of client they like to work with.)

They should #1 - be good listeners. They should ask about your goals and then deliver a program that will meet those goals, not just give you a cookie cutter workout. (This is why watching them in the gym is great - if you see them doing the same routine with all clients, stay away!)

The first personal trainer I worked with I didn't like and I learned this lesson the hard way. He wasn't training me for my goals at all.

The trainer I work with now is AWESOME. She listens to what my goals are, translates them into workouts AND she is very knowledgeable about modifications for dealing with my injuries.

I think the biggest benefit to a personal trainer is that there are different styles of working out for different goals. Workouts for strengthening, toning, building muscle mass, increasing cardio fitness, will all be different. Good personal trainers know this. You'll also learn a new repertoire of exercises.

My tip: I can't really afford a personal trainer very often, but luckily I am very motivated and don't need that kind of push. My trainer meets with me once every 3 weeks to check in and give me a new workout, just as my body is getting accustomed to the last one. It is well worth the investment!!

Friday, July 13, 2007, 10:11 AM

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