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is getting a personal trainer for a few sessions worth it for a newbie?

D

dolph

Diamond Member
*note - this is different than the other "how do i get in shape" threads*

i just joined a gym and went in today. after doing a body fat analysis, she recommended doing a few personal trainer sessions. i've never had any clear direction as to how to get in shape (last fall, i started intense dieting with running/swimming, and lost about 20 lbs in around 3 months), but i know that i need to do weight training to get the body type i'd like. unfortunately, personal trainers are expensive. is $120 for 3 sessions worth it to get started? a big part of me says yes, because the gym will do me very little good if i don't know what i'm doing (btw, i'm getting membership for free), but at the same time it is $120. can i learn what i need to know from reading about it? or should i just suck it up, because i won't regret it come summer? keep in mind, i am just about completely ignorant of muscle groups, amount to do, amount i should be lifting, etc. in fact, the more i think about it, the more i realize that i probably do need a personal trainer to start out. looking for advice either way before i take the plunge. (if you say i don't need one, please recommend books/articles/sites)
 
I think it's a good idea to get some direction when you're just starting. You can read on your own for extra info but I would just spend the money so you don't waste time up front doing the wrong stuff.
 
Personal trainers aren't necessary by all means. A friend of mine hired mine and said it was a waste of money. I suggest you learn how to do everything on your own, and the net is the perfect place to start. You can talk to people who know far more than most of those trainers, and you won't have to pay a cent for their advice. Start here.
 
Mens Health magazine has (had?) a very good and comprehensive book on working out (I'd link it for you, but stupid work firewall blocks their website). The book was around $35 if I remember, but that was like 4 years ago.

It listed exercises for all muscle groups, workout plans for different types of people (20's, working guy, football player, etc.), and good general knowledge.

I'd say get the book and do the personal trainer bit. A qualified and experienced PT will do more help than any book can. The PT will take what your goals are and how much committment you have (how many days, how long) and develop a workout for you. They will also help with finding the right weight to use at the start and developing good form.

After a bit of that, you will have the knowledge to use the book and develop your own plans.
 
You need SOMETHING. I've never had a personal trainer and many people never have. You most definitely do not need one, but if you have no real idea of what you're doing you need to get one or read a book. When I started working out I used to read quite a few books, which is where I gained my knowledge from. Before that I knew nothing at all. Either pay the $120 (and make it clear to the trainer that you're not paying past this and that you want a predominantely free weight program and not their circuit training stuff), or get a weight lifting book from the book store. Unfortunately you'll find a lot of them and they all have different programs. If you don't get one based on reviews from, say, amazon, then get one that at least has a newbie section in it. I'd stay away from celebrity guides on getting fit because they're crap. Get something like gold's gym or something along those lines and a book that starts at the very basics.
 
Don't waste money on a personal trainer... they use the same program 80 year olds ladies as they do for football players. all they'll do is familiarize you with the machines.

I started out with Body For Life, which i highly recommend for beginners. It has a good exercises and a good program for getting familiar with weightlifting. Hopefully you'll start seeing results and get addicted to lifting (like i did 😉), and eventually you'll move on to more advanced programs, and i definately recommend T-mag for more advanced stuff. They do have some beginner programs which you can try out without reading body for life. but it's up to you what you want to do.
 
Originally posted by: yobarman
Don't waste money on a personal trainer... they use the same program 80 year olds ladies as they do for football players. all they'll do is familiarize you with the machines.

I started out with Body For Life, which i highly recommend for beginners. It has a good exercises and a good program for getting familiar with weightlifting. Hopefully you'll start seeing results and get addicted to lifting (like i did 😉), and eventually you'll move on to more advanced programs, and i definately recommend T-mag for more advanced stuff. They do have some beginner programs which you can try out without reading body for life. but it's up to you what you want to do.
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Not all personal trainers are like that. I have found that personal trainers at their own gym to be excellent, while the personal trainers that work at one of those huge gyms have been medicore.

I had a personal trainer for track... he made me so much faster, it isn't even funny. They are well worth it, I stopped going because I couldn't afford it 3x a week😱
 
FIRST check out the machines, learn how things work, learn the ropes. Then, see if you can connect with some other people there who can give advice - find out who the good trainers are.

Once you have established a beginning routine, THEN have a trainer check you out to make sure you are doing things right and to make suggestions what to add/change.

Obviously, do some homework - books, web site, whatever.

It's stupid to pay someone $40 an hour to show you how a machine works. Unless you have a lot of $$ and you like that sort of thing.
 
I have a friend who's a personal trainer at 24Hr Fitness. She's also in school for a Master's degree in that line of work
 
I figure you can get all you need to know from the internet. All the sites give different ideas on proper intensity, duration and type of exercises but then again so will personal trainers. Get them to show you the proper way to use the machines if you don't already know and just go from there.
 
Personally I thought my personal training sessions were worth it.

I used one to help me rehabilitate my knee (already went to rehab, this was to make it less weak).

Learned lots of good habits for exercising, proper use of the machines, etc.
 
If you have no idea what you're doing, I'd suggest getting one. $120 for 3 sessions sounds pretty steep, but since the membership is free it may not hurt. Let them know your goals - what you want out of it and the best program to achieve those goals. Some trainers are worthless - some are worth the money.
 
Originally posted by: Antisocial-Virge
I figure you can get all you need to know from the internet. All the sites give different ideas on proper intensity, duration and type of exercises but then again so will personal trainers. Get them to show you the proper way to use the machines if you don't already know and just go from there.
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Yeah you can get a lot of info online but it helps to have someone knowledgeable with you to correct your form, especially if you're using free weights. It is pretty dangerous to squat, for example, if you don't know what you're doing.
 
my opinion is a qualified yes, provided that they have some sort of certification.

it's difficult to see how to do something right or what you're doing wrong by looking at pictures in a magazine or on the internet.

random dudes in the gym or even your friends can give you plenty of wrong advice - even if they can lift a lot.

if the trainer says something like "squats are bad for your knees, you should only use the leg press or the smith machine,"
then demand a refund.
 
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