Personal Training and Me - or you - or whomever

One of the perques I get with my gym membership is 3 personal training sessions at a pretty reasonable price...

I'm sure I can look this up - but i'm curious to know about your own experiences with personal trainers - ever been? How'd you like it? I know all experiences will be different - but I'm just curious if it's worth the added expense?

My head says, yes you need it because while you've mastered the treadmill and walking you know virtually nothing about how to use the other equipment.

The other side of my head says, after watching a personal training session with another woman who was much younger than I and she appeared to be very fit, she was struggling with the session.. wher the PT had her doing lunges carrying 10 lb weights in each hand. The bad voice in my head says - they'll make you do stuff that you can't do and you'll get frustrated annoyed and just quit (when I was younger and fairly athletic, i couldn't do a sit up or pushup to save my life)

There's a fine line that a personal trainer has to walk with me between getting me to do stuff that is in my capalities right now and making it too easy on me... as opposed to the other end and having me do stuff that i'm just not capable of right now....

I've no experience with personal trainers- so if you've been - how do you get them to walk that line?
 
Well I've had a personal trainer once, it was cool. She was nice, a little high strung but nice. lol She pushed me, which at times annoyed me and at others I was grateful for. I had her for a few sessions when I first joined my old gym a few years back. The lady I had set my workout up based on my previous level of activity and what my goals were and when my free sessions with her ended I just kept it up. At the time I was just looking to tone up and stay healthy.

It was great for those days when I wasn't really in the mood and was going to go in and do somethign easy to say I'd done it. She didn't let me get away with it. I'd be praying on the way there that she had called in sick or something. That heffa NEVER missed a day, darn her!! :p

It was great to have her teach me how I was supposed to actually use some of the machines and how to get the most out of them, that was cool.

I would think a good trainer individualizes your workout. Let me know what you decide.
 
maleficent said:
There's a fine line that a personal trainer has to walk with me between getting me to do stuff that is in my capalities right now and making it too easy on me... as opposed to the other end and having me do stuff that i'm just not capable of right now...
I have been dreaming of getting some training on weights but I'm not sure if I will or not. I think what I quoted you saying above - you should just go in and specifically lay that out. Tell the trainer where you've been with weight loss and exercise and where you're going and don't get burned out by it! I would definitely go for it if it's a good price. Good luck.
 
after watching a personal training session with another woman who was much younger than I and she appeared to be very fit, she was struggling with the session.. wher the PT had her doing lunges carrying 10 lb weights in each hand.

Sounds to me like she wasn't nearly as fit as you thought she was. :D

The whole point of a workout is to push yourself. A workout doesn't mean "just go through the motions". A good trainer should be able to show you how to push yourself in a safe and more meaningful way. If you're not willing to push yourself, then you need to stay away from trainers and just go through the motions because they'll just tell you things you don't want to hear.
 
I can relate to being afraid of trainers. Heck - I get overwhelmed by exercise classes, much less one person telling me what to do.

When I had a gym membership I had a staff member show me how to use each machine and how to get the best out of it. They didn't stay with me, just showed me how to work it and what it did, but it was perfect for what I was looking for.

Still, if you have the money for a PT, may as well give it a try. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work and you can go back to what you're doing with more knowledge
 
Llamabean said:
When I had a gym membership I had a staff member show me how to use each machine and how to get the best out of it. They didn't stay with me, just showed me how to work it and what it did, but it was perfect for what I was looking for
Yes! I think this is exactly what I want. I just don't know how to do stuff. *grin* Maybe the PT is more for motivation and accountability?
 
I'm really more interested in personal training to make sure that I'm doing the right thing - I don't need motivation or accountability-- I've got the scale and the tape measure for that... I can read fitness for dummies and other books to see what i should possibly be doing but that really doesn't make up for an "expert".

I think it's the lazyness in me -I just want someone to tell me what I should be doing and for how long - within my capabilities - and I understand that a workout is just that - WORK - I'm not looking to just go thru the motions but I also don't want to get frustrated because I know what my reaction to that will be... (i occassionally get flashbacks to high school gym class and the presidents campaign for physical fitness... I was an all state swimmer on the varsity team for 2 years (and went to college on a partial swimming scholarship)...but I couldn't do a sit up and used to get humiliated by the gym teacher because of it)
 
I actually used to work membership at a gym. the staff at most gyms will help you to use a machine or two each time you go in but won't be able to stick around to teach you more than a few things each time.

My suggestion would be to sign up for 3-5 sessions with a trainer you have asked questions of once or twice and have some comfort level with. You should be very specific with them as to what types of exercises or machines and type of workout you like. For example, I like the nautilus machines and one of the new trainers kept trying to get me to do all sorts of new stuff using the ball and my own body weight as resistance. it's really a great workout, but not my thing and i hated it.

I had one of the other trainers set up a program for me using the nautilus and i loved it. They showed me how to vary the routine to get the most out of the least time and made sure that i did them the right way (back straight, locking out arms, etc.) until it became something I was aware of.
 
I actually used to work membership at a gym. the staff at most gyms will help you to use a machine or two each time you go in but won't be able to stick around to teach you more than a few things each time.

My suggestion would be to sign up for 3-5 sessions with a trainer you have asked questions of once or twice and have some comfort level with. You should be very specific with them as to what types of exercises or machines and type of workout you like. For example, I like the nautilus machines and one of the new trainers kept trying to get me to do all sorts of new stuff using the ball and my own body weight as resistance. it's really a great workout, but not my thing and i hated it.

I had one of the other trainers set up a program for me using the nautilus and i loved it. They showed me how to vary the routine to get the most out of the least time and made sure that i did them the right way (back straight, locking out arms, etc.) until it became something I was aware of.

Great advice, thanks!

I probably should have mentioned that when I bugged the staff I made sure it wasn't a busy time (I was usually there very late). Also, learning one or two machines a visit was plenty for me to try and absorb. :) There's nothing worse than a rude customer who tries to monopolize your time.
 
unfortunately I am there at their busiest time and can't be there any other time....and from what I can see they don't have a lot of staff outside of the classes -- which right now dont interest me much...

I'm really leaning towards one session to get me started then coming back after for more when i feel less - challenged
 
I went to a gym for the first time tonight and I asked the guy behind the counter how to turn the treadmill on. (I know NOTHING about the machines. *grin*) He snickered, walked over and stuck a red magnet on the front of it and walked away. This is an example of a gym employee you will not want to have help you. *grin*
 
As a personal trainer, I can tell you, many people are nervous/unsure what to expect, etc.

What is really important to me when it comes to clients is their individual needs/goals/abilities, as well as likes/dislikes.

A trainer should approach your program from two views - the technical one, and the personal one.

On the technical side -
*they should get your health history and any injury/limitation info
*they should assess your current physical abilities, and your goals - and design an program to help you reach those goals accordingly

On the personal side -
*the program should accomodate for your personal preferences, what you like and don't like (but not to the point where it isn't worth doing you know?), and your lifestyle and scheduling

If the trainer doesn't design a program that you find enjoyable (but still makes you sweat;) ), then you should look into a different trainer.
 
Hey Mal,
I think I would set up 1 to 2 sessions with a trainer, and specifically say that you would like to learn how to use the equipment properly, and learn what you should be doing right now, in your capability range to tone and strengthen. Then, in about 2-3 weeks, meet back with that trainer and see if there is something you're doing wrong (body positioning, etc) and anything the trainer can suggest - then maybe an appointment every 3-4 months where they can watch what you're doing and make suggestions for increasing your strength or stamina aspects of your training.

Just be very specific and honest.

Let them know where you started, what you're doing on the home front and your concerns and desires for exercising.

Like anyone else, they TOTALLY appreciate working with someone who is willing & interested in learning. They are there to help you with that!

Good luck and keep us posted!
 
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