| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 9/13/2009 12:12:19 PM | Hey everyone,
I have never posted on here, but thought I'd throw these couple of pieces of information out there. Firstly, learn what kind of certification any PT you would be looking for has. Once you have that info, do the follow through and learn what is exactly required of the organization to get certified. There are some certifications that only require you to spend a couple of grand, go to a class that only lasts a few hours and take a test aided by a take home book before you get your certificate. Looking for ones that are NCCA recognized is a good place to start, such as NCSE or ACE.
Another good thing to do before you look into something like this is to ask for references and reasonable expectations as to what you can expect from the trainer. Any trainer who has been doing this for a while should be able to provide you with old or current clients who can attest to methodology, professionalism and results, etc.
Also, this is something you can pretty much expect to get what you pay for. There's a reason why people who PT out of places like LA fitness or Bally's tend to be reasonably affordable. More often than not, working in a cookie cutter place that has no real requirements for performance is a sign that they're not very good to begin with. For reference, when I looked into a PT for the sake of helping me with some squat plateau I had hit a couple of years back, I was looking at around 600 to 1000 a month for consultation only sessions, which included nutritional and supplement counseling as well. However, it did not include them being with me at the gym, with the exception of one or two short initial sessions to verify my form was right and I wasn't doing something simple that was getting me stuck.
Just some things to think about, and best of luck to anyone who works with a pt. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 9/13/2009 1:50:30 PM | i've used personal trainers in the past.
they really changed my life.
it has been years since i've used one and i have thought about going back. i would use a personal trainer to show me ways i don't know to help my problem areas.
and i just changed my diet, it seems they have good tips.
if you want to get more clients become part of a team. i am a massage therapist and i would recomend my clients to personal trainers. | |
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wl425
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Joined: 4/7/2009
Msg: 30 | |
| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 9/13/2009 6:56:13 PM | A quality personal trainer should be able to adapt a program with any type of equipment, not follow one dimensional programs, and be willing to listen and motivate their clients. Lets face it, there are good and bad trainers out there just like the medical profession. Whether you use one or not is solely up to you.
Some people need the push to succeed in their fitness program, while others can benefit from READING BOOKS and keeping a LOG BOOK of their training program. It doesn't matter how you get to your goals, as long as you reach them and strive to make new ones. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 9/17/2009 5:25:30 PM | | If there cert does not require some sort of physical fitness screen or testing I would avoid them. And that eliminates most of the fitness certs out there. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 9/17/2009 5:47:07 PM | | Your local university is a great place to start the search. Lots and lots of grad students who are doing work with all the latest and greatest research looking to make some extra cash. I have never, ever had a bad experience with the ones provided through my local U. I am not a born athlete, and they have really changed my life for the better! | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 9/19/2009 1:34:56 AM | I've used a trainer. They can definitely help set you on a routine, overcome plateaus, and introduce new exercises to your routine or change it up all togther. They will monitor your exercise and ensure you do it correctly and effectively and can push you a little bit more.
But if you can find a buddy to work out with I think that's even more fun, cheaper and still achieve results.
I don't have any good friends so option 2 was hard for me. I tried being friendly in the gym and asked for pointers from other members but they just told me I can sue them for providing me misinformation on how to correctly perform an exercise and as a result get injured from it on privately owned property. So the next day I just went to the front desk and asked for the black guy. lols | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 9/19/2009 8:36:31 AM |
I tried being friendly in the gym and asked for pointers from other members but they just told me I can sue them for providing me misinformation on how to correctly perform an exercise and as a result get injured from it on privately owned property.
Jesus. You must be working out at a gym full of paranoid lawyers...or maybe they're just lazy, lol. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 9/20/2009 2:18:32 PM | ^^^^^ hahahaha I agree, someone talks like that at the gyms I go to they would laugh him out of the place.
Most gyms people help each other, even if they do sort of ignore each other. You just have to ask. Most gym managers or owners will even show you stuff. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS Are you nuts
Posted: 10/24/2009 9:10:33 PM | 
I've read some of the worst advice ever in this thread. Yes I would use a trainer and no I wouldn't.
I've advised on training systems and trained many people over the years here are a few things you ought to consider before you employ ANYONE to train you:
1. Most commercial gyms use a template for their trainers as the easy way out, since they rely on a turn over rate to get the profit margin up. A good trainer will not use a template and tailor training to you (which is what you are paying them for in the first place).
2. Commercial gyms rely on the fact that you will pay for a package in bulk (and will convince you to do so to save your money). However most people never complete the full package and quit (New Years resolution syndrome). Avoid getting locked into one of these especially when you become dissatisfied with the trainer 3 sessions into the progamme.
3. Check the credentials of the trainers (ACE for instance requires no practical training and is completed over the internet). You will find quite a few ACE qualified instructors hiding out in gyms.
4. If you are consuming 3500 cals per day which is approx double of your required daily intake, something severely wrong in that one.
5. Contrary to extreme training events, going to a gym is stressful enough yet figuring out what you should be doing. A trainer can provide you and advantage to get you started and increase your confidence much less avoid injuries. The internet can only tell you so much.
6. The formula is pretty damned simple:
a) Caloric output => Caloric input
b) Eat balanced meals!
c) Avoid fat free foods as the fat is replaced by sugars (Fat free yogurt is the worst)
7. Educate yourself! IF your trainer isn't teaching you anything then he/she is useless. I used to tell my clients that I had no desire to train them for more then 6 months. The objective was to teach them good habits and look after themselves. Long term projects are a money grab.
That's my ten cents, after this its consulting fees.
Me! | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS Are you nuts
Posted: 10/27/2009 10:04:12 AM | The only way I'd use a personal trainer is if I was stuck and didn't know how to get where I wanted to be and that particular trainer had proven experience of getting people past the level I was already at.
I've known too many PTs who give astonishingly bad advice to accept the fact that they're a PT as an endorsement of their capabilities. You get some great ones and some ones who don't know their arse from their elbow. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS Are you nuts
Posted: 11/2/2009 9:58:41 PM | | i think if you are new to the gym, and dont know proper form and technique, it wouldnt hurt to hire a personal trainer. And for people who need a bit of extra motivation so they dont sell themselves short, sure. But I think after a while, its unnecessary. NO ONE knows your body better than you. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS Are you nuts
Posted: 11/3/2009 4:11:16 AM | | I am using one now, however I also plan to compete in the future and the man I am using is not only a bodybuilder, he has the background, and everything that I personally need. Not one of these people the gym hires for 10 bucks an hour, and has smaller arms or muscle than I have. I did my homework and I am getting results. Do I need him forever? No. And he even said that; but it does help to learn things I did not know before, and to get the correct direction on nutririon, supplements and things I want to do; something MOST gyms cannot and will not support. I also am not getting ripped off, and have developed a great freindship as well, not just a "write the check and see you tomorrow" crap. I do see people hire "trainers" that do tell them some crazy shit. The only reason I am not afriad of my decision is I do come from a very athtletic background, and knew what to look for and what to do. And for Bodybuilding, there are other things involved than just showing up. The way I live requires dicipline 7 days a week. And in the past six weeks, I have lost inches, not muscle, feel better and am getting results. So if people do the correct research and pay attention they can get a lot out of the right "trainer". But what you do with a trainer goes way beyond the gym and I think that is where people fail the most. Diet, 75% and all the other fun stuff involved. I do sometimes laugh at people who say they are not in need of help, and it is clearly appearent they are not "built" and show no results. They are normally the first people to tell me I am doing something wrong, etc etc and they are the also the first ones who slam my nutrition and supplemts of choice. Oh well, in 5 months, I will have the last laugh. The guy I am using is NOT an employee of the gym, he is self employed and pays the gym a fee to train there. He is big. And is no joke. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS Are you nuts
Posted: 11/6/2009 5:23:50 PM | I use one...and my improvements in cardiovascular and physical toning had been so dramatic...the dude is knowledgeable and would train us hard....very hard. The number of times I puked on the side of the road....Sanchez, you bag of shit!!!! Is that all you're made off? It must suck to be you Sanchez!. I respond well to positive reinforcement I guess.
Now I am so happy with my body, I just show off in the pool for the sake of it and just to annoy the fat guts. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS Are you nuts
Posted: 11/7/2009 6:35:55 AM | I've personally never felt that I needed one, given the fact that I've lifted all my life and have a basic idea of what I'm doing. Maybe it's a personal pride kind of thing, I almost feel that people who have a personal trainer are mainly people who don't know what they are doing OR they are people who need someone to push them. Probably not true in most cases though.
I lost a lot of weight, just by doing things on my own and I had a small idea of what I was doing. Nowadays, I work out with a friend, who is jacked, and probably knows more than a lot of personal trainers, in essence, I kind of have a personal trainer, except it's free. For example, I never would have done power cleans until I started working out with my friend and I see the benefits of doing this movement now.
Although, I should give props to Mystie for encouraging me to work out the legs, :) | |
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Posted: 11/8/2009 9:34:07 AM | | I do generalize. As I should.We do get what we pay for. The guy I use is 6'4 270 and no fkn fat on him and more muscle than I see on these half ass people who think they are trainers. he is self employed and has owned gyms and the whole 9 yards. Gyms hire people who take a 20 minute class and give them a shirt that says "trainer" on it. Complete joke for the person who is serious (such as myself) and they are NOT qualified to discuss nutrition, lifting techniches etc. Soory, I do not buy it. People claming to be such hot trainers trying to flex in photos with NO MUSCLE does not cut it for me. You are right..ya get what you pay for. Go independent people. Use a bodybuilder or someone LEAN who knows wtf they are talking about. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 11/8/2009 1:52:17 PM | | I choose my trainers carefully, i got one that i use when im prepping for a figure competion , she used to do fitness comps, has a child, looks amazing and has been at it for 20 years and knows what to train for the female competitors body then i have a trainer who helps me during my running season , he trains me specifically for sports and is an award winning athlete then i have my running group which works my well my running:)...all of them are not only certified but have done the things i want to achieve with my body... ive been at this awhile so can usually spot the newbies who might turn out to be good trainers later on but might not be what i need i remember a male bodybuilder who made me do exercises for men big mistake, hurt my abs baddddddddddddd then a woman cute and young who had no idea how to do a program that would challenge me..all that said trainers are a great resource just take your time and choose well:) | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 11/9/2009 12:15:53 AM | | personal trainers are a waste of money unless you play sport at a competitive level. The reason why people want to get them is because they are unable to motivate themselves.. the way i see it is, all you have to do, is go for a walk or a jog 20 minutes a day, do some situps or pushups when u wake up and in the evening and eat healthy. other than that there's not reason to have a personal trainer.. let's be honest, the stuff u end up doing with them u can do on ur own anyways. so don't be so lazy or make excuses, stay active. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 11/9/2009 12:56:23 AM |
Being lean itself has nothing to do with it.
I'll go with a powerlifter who knows what lifting heavy weight is like over some over inflated, weak bodybuilder who is abusing several drugs to maintain a physique that is more style than substance.
If you lift, you will see that the bigger lifters are not lean, and not metro looking types at all.
They're larger, and bulky overall and actually know how to lift.
Proper form is important when lifting heavy weight.........and I'd never go to a bodybuilder for that.
Powerlifters are the best in terms of technique and form........and they aren't going for a "look" so the whole she-male model mentality isn't a part of it.
Ask a bodybuilder what a negative is, or better.....what eccentric movement is and tell me what you get.........
I wouldn't take lifting advice from anyone who couldn't lift what I do..........and especially not from a bodybuilder gymrat type mentality.
If I want diet advice, I go to a nutritionist.
If I want lifting advice, I go to a powerlifter.
If I ever wanted advice on what combination of drugs to take for the sake of mass, I'd ask a bodybuilder.
Get the picture?
Lmao, you're an idiot.
Bodybuilders are weak? Really, you think you grow absolutely huge muscles by lifting the little pink dumbbells do you? I must've been imagining Ronnie Coleman's 500x12 bench, 800+ deadlift, or Ben White's 600lb bench press, Johnny Jackson's 800+ deadlift, Kevin Levrone easily repping 500 on the bench, Dorian Yates' massive lifts, etc. Man, what weak lifts. I bet you bench 600x12, right? What's your squat at? 1200lbs?
As for your ridiculous drugs comment, do you seriously think anybody hitting world records in powerlifting is not on drugs too? Any athlete at the upper levels of any strength based sport has used drugs to get where they are.
As for the form advice, I think you'll find any successful bodybuilder uses the form that's appropriate for their goal and will likely be full range of motion. On the other hand powerlifters only have basic rules for what form to use in competition and as long as the weight gets moved the rest doesn't matter. Either one successful in their own arena likely knows the correct form for their goals.
Your post reeks of someone without the discipline to eat correctly to get lean so he becomes bitter towards bodybuilders who have muscle definition. Let me clue you in on something; the biggest bodybuilders are the ones who lift the heaviest weights and they're miles stronger than you. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 11/9/2009 1:24:57 AM | | i think he was trying to say the right things but didn't say it correctly.. body builders r miles stronger than the average joe.. but in comparison to how much u think someone of them actually lift, they r not that strong.. well.. not that powerful.. i've run into the same types of people in hockey.. they have huge builds, r pure muscle but u would expect a whole lot more strength n power coming from them.. take creatin for example.. makes u bulk up... but it's mainly water weight, so ur not actually stronger.. maybe pump out a few more reps n u bulk but doesn't increase strength.. but... they r way stronger than most ppl. tru there r many athletes that use drugs to get to a certain level of strength or size, stop and work out to maintain where they got with the aid of steroids or illegal substances. but there are also a lot who don't. let's not get caught up with the lot of ppl caught with substance abuse and generalize every athlete. most body builders would have used some substance or the other in some point of time.. i'm pretty sure none of THEM r 100% aux naturale. but there may be. who knows? but size is generally related to power lifting.. so the more u can lift, the bigger u'd be. generally.. but there r odd cases. and ur right, body builders tend to have good form, full range of motion.. power lifters r allowed a bit more leeway. they have good form but at the end of the day they just need to get the weight up.. however... the better ur technique, the easier it is to lift and the more weight u can lift. so any good power lifter has jus as good of form as a body builder. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 11/9/2009 3:06:26 AM | i've run into the same types of people in hockey.. they have huge builds, r pure muscle but u would expect a whole lot more strength n power coming from them..
Yup, I know exactly what you're referring to.
I used to know a guy in college who was a wrestler, about 5'7" and just over 150lbs but he could bench press over twice his bodyweight with ease. Have always been more impressed by those guys, their strength to mass ratio is just amazing even though they might not look like much at the beach. Saw him get in a barfight with a hulking football player who had at least a hundred pounds on him, had the guy pinned and helpless inside of 10 seconds...it wasn't even funny! | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 11/9/2009 3:31:00 AM | And yet there are plenty of bodybuilders who can bench at least twice their bodyweight.... Kevin Levrone could rep 500 and stepped on stage at 260, big Ron could knock out 12 reps with 500, Ben White can bench 600 and steps on stage at less than 240, Johnny Jackson can deadlift 800+ and again steps on stage at less than 240, etc. In what world is that not enormously strong and unimpressive? More than double bodyweight bench presses and more than triple bodyweight deadlifts? Hell, Ben White's 600lb bench is only just over 100lbs less than the world record held by someone who outweighs him by well over 60lbs. Johnny Jackson's 800+ deadlift is similar, 200lbs less than the world record held by someone who drastically outweighs him. Whichever way you slice it those are absolutely huge lifts.
The problem is you get some fools who read articles written by 140lb teenage 'bodybuilders' on bodybuilding.com or ghost wrtten articles in Muscle & Fitness or something about pump training and feeling the contraction, drop sets and that sort of crap, etc. and they think this is the way huge guys train, whereas if you actually look at training videos from seriously massive bodybuilders like Ronnie, Kevin, Dorian, etc. then you see actually there's very little of that and it's basically them straining against massively heavy weights that 99.9% of gym g0ers will never lift half as much as.
But hey, if there's anybody here benching 500lbs for more than 12 reps with ease or ripping more than 800lbs off the floor with ease for reps then feel free to talk crap about how weak bodybuilders are. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 11/9/2009 3:34:00 AM | | And another thing to remember when you're talking about how much bodybuilders lift is does that lift reflect their real strength level? I mean, if Ronnie is benching 500x12 but he's doing it to train his chest, there's no doubt he could lift more if he was just trying to get the weight up however it went a la powerlifting instead of trying to focus on his chest. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 11/9/2009 11:17:15 PM | | some of the guys u mentioned are in a league of their own.. some of the other statements r general statements, meaning the average body builder.. and there r so many out there we dont know all of them.. but my old personal trainer knew some body builders who actually didn't lift as much as u think. those r average body builders, not superstars. and yes in the case of a bench press u'd end up using shoulders n be able to throw more weight up, n def if he did less reps etc. but i doubt u'd be able to lift more weight if u jus tried to get weight up on a dead lift or squat without proper form.. in those cases, the better the form, the easier to lift. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 11/9/2009 11:36:29 PM |
some of the guys u mentioned are in a league of their own.. some of the other statements r general statements, meaning the average body builder.. and there r so many out there we dont know all of them.. but my old personal trainer knew some body builders who actually didn't lift as much as u think. those r average body builders, not superstars.
Great, and there are plenty of average powerlifters out there who don't lift very much. The reason those bodybuilders you mentioned ARE average is because they're not lifting heavy weight. | |
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| PERSONAL TRAINERS
Posted: 11/10/2009 6:12:01 AM | | I have never seen body builders compete in Olympic lifting. I am not sure if any have world records or not. You don't need to be cut to have power. All those world strongest men competitions seemed to have round power lifter type of physiques not body builder types. I have known longshoreman who look fat who could lift incredible amounts of dead weight no grips or anything. | |
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