Joined a gym=> Is a personal trainer worth it?

[JEDI]

So i joined a gym. you get 3 personnal training sessions (1/2 hr each) for free for joining.

I met the trainer for the 1st session. I want to add a little muscle.

He suggests the free weights instead of the circuit (Nautalist) machines. He believes they're better/more effective for the body for adding muscle.

So we did chest today. Session #2 will be the back, and #3 will be legs.

At the end of today's session, he gives his sales pitch.

Most expensive plan is 3 sessions/week for like $300/month.

The cheapest plan is $70/month. It's for 2 sessions/month. Each session he's going to write up what excercises i should be doing for the next 2 weeks, and of course show me/help me w/the excercises.

He's also going to give suggestions on nutrition.

Is a personal trainer worth it for $70/month? or should i just stick to the circuit machines?

Your suggestions?

 

[crystal]

No. But then I am cheap.

 

[krunchykrome]

No, unless you're 40+ and you're loaded financially, it's not worth it and there's no reason you should have to pay someone to show you how do exercise when you can research the same information online.

 

[fishmonger12]

Just ask someone that knows what they are doing for advice on technique. I dunno about you, but at my gym we always have 3-4 guys walking around who are so willing to help they'll give you advice even if you don't ask for it.

 

[Chunkee]

yes. if you are just beginning...you can get hurt...

i would think hard and ask for credentials about so called trainers however. i have been a CPT for several years and have trained many peoplel, some have gone to be pro body builders...make sure they have experience... the list below is some things to look for and lookout for

1. They should be in shape themselves. NO FATTY trainers. It makes me laugh when going to a gym, an their trainers are out of shape. That does not mean they do not know what they are doing per se, but come on?
2. If they do not do a thorough analysis...then they suck.
3. If they do not ask you about your goals, they suck.
4. If they do not inquire about medical history, current conditions, they suck.
5. If they do not do at least a 3 day full diet evaluation (your personal log of eating and drinking for 3 whole days), they suck.
6. If they start you off with maxing out, they suck.
7. If they negelect your flexibility training and the importance of warming up and cooling down, they suck.
8. If they eat in front of you while you are training, they suck.
9. If they talk about themselves all the time, during your training, they suck.
10. If they do not encourage you and follow-up they suck.
11. If they do not focus on good form, they suck. No fast hard jerky movements. Controlled, nice eccentric contraction form as well.
12. If they allow your session to be interrupted by others, they suck.
13. If they do not ask you how you are doing before each sesssion, they suck.
14. If they do not log or do not have you log your workouts, they suck.
15. If they do not mix up and change your routines, they suck.

I enjoyed doing it for the year that I did. The last few I charged a high premium. I also enjoyed getting referrals and working with re-hab, post-rehab and people with some problems, such as eating disorders, fibromyalgia and other auto-immune illnesses. Those that went to pro bodybuilding were okay...but required a tighter grip, due to the nature of the goal "Too quick of gains can be dangerous"

Use it for what its worth. BE VERY CAREFUL!!! I truly promote safety, good form, and flexibilty. Ironic this past Sunday in demoing an exercise on a leg press for my wife and two of her friends...I end up tearing my internal oblique or some connective tissue just below my rib. I am getting OLD....i am taking the week off and seeing what i can do next monday and ease back into it.

Good luck and have fun.

jC

 

[Majesty]

Originally posted by: Chunkee
yes. if you are just beginning...you can get hurt...

Google "SuperSlow" or High Intensity Training (HIT) for an idea of what a training should be.

Those kind of workouts takes about 25-30 minutes to complete (for about 8 machines) and are more or as much effective as the Nautilus one.

Yes, it's harder to do alone, you have to check your time, but it's worth it. You save 1h!

JEDI, make yourself a favor and don't use a personnal trainer. They know about training as much as you do...

 

[sash1]

http://www.ast-ss.com

max-ot. you don't have to follow the routine, but look up the different exercises and how to properly do them

 

[Ctrackstar126]

Yea there are plenty of sources out there for a workout. If you arent sure of how to do them there are videos also. Do your research if you put in the time and effor it will save you money.

 

[Ctrackstar126]

Originally posted by: sash1
http://www.ast-ss.com

max-ot. you don't have to follow the routine, but look up the different exercises and how to properly do them

Hey I saw your sig...What was your guys time for the 4x8?

 

[EvilYoda]

I actually think that a trainer can help with someone just starting out. You don't have to see them for a year, just a few months...proper form, knowledge of different exercises, dieting tips, proper stretching...I wouldn't trust the advice of just anyone in the gym. Make sure they're certified to a degree that you feel comfortable with them and don't forget that if you're using a gym's trainer, they probably have other ones if the first person doesn't work well with you.

Don't be the guy that just jumps into a gym, sits down on a bench and tries pumping out sets as fast as he can.

 

[CellarDoor]

It kind of depends on you I think. I think the most important thing you can learn from the trainer is how to reduce your risk of injury if you're new to lifting weights. For me, once I got an idea of the approach I should take, and how to do things safely, I did some research on the types of exercises for each muscle group. I would stick it out with the three sessions and if you feel confident that you can work out safely then I would try to go without the trainer. You can always get one down the road.

For me, I use a blend of machines and free weights. I feel safer with the machines because I often dont' have a spotter. Just because you don't have a trainer doesn't mean you can't use free weights, especially if during your free sessions he's showing you proper form and whatnot.

Edit: Actually, if the plan is really 3 sessions/week for $300, as in 12 sessions for $300, that's pretty good. $25 a session is pretty good. Oh wait, are these only 1/2 hour? For 1/2 hour that's standard, but for an hour it's a bargain IMO.

 

[Rudee]

No reason to pay somebody to show you this when this information is readily available in the form of books and videos. Just go to a book store and read books on the subject.

 

[RaiderJ]

It might be worth it if you are new to the whole gym thing and need some basic education. After that if you just want to exercise, no reason to pay some guy $$$ to tell you how.

As someone said, if you ever have questions, ask someone! Many times a "regular" is far more experienced and knowledgeable than any gym foot soldier.

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: Ctrackstar126

Originally posted by: sash1
http://www.ast-ss.com

max-ot. you don't have to follow the routine, but look up the different exercises and how to properly do them

Hey I saw your sig...What was your guys time for the 4x8?

8:06

my split was a 2:02, I was the first leg (as always )

 

[Ricochet]

Absolutely NOT! You get free advice over the internet anyway.

No, seriously I won't do unless 2 of the 3 reason provided is true (with reason #1 being a must).

1. You have gobs of money so it's not an issue.
2. Your trainer is in the best possible shape and you wish to be built just like him.
3. Your female trainer looks like a Victoria Secret model.

At my gym they offer 2 free sessions/month. I don't take advantage of them at all. The trainers that do approach me were all in worst shape than I. The last guy that I permitted to workout with me couldn't even keep up with me despite being bigger. He claimed to have done power cleans before but struggled with the weight I was using (I wasn't even going heavy) and the proper form. He just wanted to gain my confidence so he can give a sales pitch. He had failed miserably.

Chunkee, LOL @ the fatty trainers. I see them too. We don't need hypocrites for trainers.

 

[j00fek]

i alwayse thought that you are your own trainer, if you cant get it going then how can another person help you out?

 

[edro]

Get a trainer for the first month or so and take notes on what you do, down to specific movements and weights. Then, do it yourself.

I like to train by myself listening to headphones the best.

 

[Special K]

I would only do it for one of two reasons:

1. You need someone to motivate you to stick to a workout plan
2. You are brand new to training and need someone to spot you and show you proper technique for the different lifts - sometimes a description and a few still shots (or even a video) isn't enough, especially for something like a squat or deadlift. This of course assumes that the trainer knows what he or she is doing - I have seen trainers at gyms give out poor advice before.

The best information on how to improve your physique is freely available online - you just have to know how to sift through all the BS. The two links in my sig are good.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: ricochet
Absolutely NOT! You get free advice over the internet anyway.

No, seriously I won't do unless 2 of the 3 reason provided is true (with reason #1 being a must).

1. You have gobs of money so it's not an issue.
2. Your trainer is in the best possible shape and you wish to be built just like him.
3. Your female trainer looks like a Victoria Secret model.

At my gym they offer 2 free sessions/month. I don't take advantage of them at all. The trainers that do approach me were all in worst shape than I. The last guy that I permitted to workout with me couldn't even keep up with me despite being bigger. He claimed to have done power cleans before but struggled with the weight I was using (I wasn't even going heavy) and the proper form. He just wanted to gain my confidence so he can give a sales pitch. He had failed miserably.

Chunkee, LOL @ the fatty trainers. I see them too. We don't need hypocrites for trainers.

There is no guarantee you will end up looking like your trainer, even if you do everything they do. Genetics are a very powerful factor when it comes to improving one's physique. Not everyone is capable of the same results, no matter what they do.

 

[platinumike]

No frickin way. If you wanna gain muscle just head on over to bodybuilding.com and search the articles and forums. If you are overweight and have motivational issues and all that, then I guess you could use anything and anyone to help you.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: platinumike
No frickin way. If you wanna gain muscle just head on over to bodybuilding.com and search the articles and forums. If you are overweight and have motivational issues and all that, then I guess you could use anything and anyone to help you.

Half of those guys on the bodybuilding.com forums are 16 and weigh 120lbs. So be picky and cureful as to what advice you take from those forums. I frequent those forums a lot for product experiences and reviews. But again, be careful as to what you read over there.

 

[fishmonger12]

Also, friends/coworkers who lift regularly always need someone to come to gym with them on chest/shoulders days for spotting. If they dont mind, take advantage of that. Be observant and ask questions. No reason to pay out the ass for information and help that's usually free for the asking.

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: platinumike
No frickin way. If you wanna gain muscle just head on over to bodybuilding.com and search the articles and forums. If you are overweight and have motivational issues and all that, then I guess you could use anything and anyone to help you.

Half of those guys on the bodybuilding.com forums are 16 and weigh 120lbs. So be picky and cureful as to what advice you take from those forums. I frequent those forums a lot for product experiences and reviews. But again, be careful as to what you read over there.

you should start atotbodybuilding.com I'd join

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: sash1

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: platinumike
No frickin way. If you wanna gain muscle just head on over to bodybuilding.com and search the articles and forums. If you are overweight and have motivational issues and all that, then I guess you could use anything and anyone to help you.

Half of those guys on the bodybuilding.com forums are 16 and weigh 120lbs. So be picky and cureful as to what advice you take from those forums. I frequent those forums a lot for product experiences and reviews. But again, be careful as to what you read over there.

you should start atotbodybuilding.com I'd join

What we need is a ATOT muscle club.

 

[Red Dawn]

There's nothing stopping you from observing the trainer working with other clients. I've picked up a lot of good points from watching one trainer in our gym who seems to know his stuff along with observing others who seem to know what they are doing. Of course if you are just beggining it really isn't a bad idea to use a trainer for the first month or so if you can afford it. You might has some kind of issues that might need personal attention to get started and nothing will stop you dead in the water when weight training than an injury right when you are getting started.