Do You Use a Personal Trainer?
photo by vu bui
Can a personal trainer get me to do this…more than once?
I used to be the kind of exerciser who bopped from machine to machine until I worked out on every last one. It helped that the gym labeled them. I’d start with No. 1 and pump my way down the line until I hit 30. Done!
Now that I’ve been through physical therapy, I have a set of leg-strengthening exercises to choose from each day. I have a bunch of abs moves I throw into the mix. And, yeah, I work my way down the arms machine line before picking up the free weights and lifting. What I’m trying to say is, over the years I’ve learned more than a few exercises I bust out at the gym.
The Man? Er, not so much.
The Man spent his formative years on one sports team or another, so he’s kind of lost all by himself in the gym. Sure, he’s mastered the treadmill, bike, and elliptical. But when it comes to lifting, he wanders the gym like a little puppy sniffing out a good place to bury its bone. He does the whole machine thing, working his way down the line. Then, the minute he walks out of the weight room he piddles around until I’m ready to head out.
Which is why he’s thinking about getting a personal trainer. Here’s the deal:
Pro
- The Man will have someone telling him exactly what to do. He won’t have to wonder about other ways to challenge his muscles. He won’t stare at the exercise mat like it’s an equation for nuclear fusion.
- He’ll get tips on doing abs work—the most evil of all exercises in his opinion. Right now, he simply does a set of crunches and the plank pose before walking it off.
- Even if he only goes for a few sessions, he’ll take away a good number of moves that he can build on later.
- Since The Man tends to go easy on himself, a personal trainer would push him harder than he could push himself. You know, like when he wants to quit after 10 squats with a kettle bell, a trainer would tell him to shut up and do 40 more.
- With a personal training appointment, The Man (and me since I go with him) will be held accountable to going to the gym. I consider that a bonus.
Con
- Each session is $50 a pop. Is it just me or is that high? If he went once a week for a month, that’s $200. Yeah, that’s all I’ve got: cost. And, frankly, it’s a big one. We already pay $45 per month a piece. In case you were wondering, we aren’t made of mullah.
We’re still on the fence here. So we’re looking to you: What are your thoughts on personal training? Do you have a trainer? If you don’t mind sharing, how much do you pay per session? Is it worth it?
18 comments
When I first starting lifting seriously I worked out with a trainer for the first few months to learn proper form. After that I started working with online personal trainers which is a bit more affordable and it works well with my lifestyle.
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Tracey Reply:
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:14 am
Joanna…I didn’t think of online personal trainers. That’s a great tip!
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I think that a personal trainer could help in the beginning. It is on the pricey side. If I were looking at getting a trainer I would probably by a package for certain number of session, then once I learn the routine and form, I’d do it on my own. Once I was ready for something new, I would get another session.
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Tracey Reply:
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:18 am
Estella, funny thing is (and I should have mentioned this in the post) it’s more expensive to buy a set of five or 10 sessions than it is to buy five or 10 individual ones. Not sure why you’d charge $50 per session and $300 for five. Someone is a pretty terrible marketer!
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Hey! My husband is a personal trainer and I think it can be really beneficial for a lot of people for different reasons. As for cost…$50 a session is GOOD!!! My husband charges $85…I say go for it!
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Well wait…$85 for single one on one sessions. But mostly he does partners ($45/each person per session) or groups ($35/each person per session).
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I think this is a really worthwhile expense. He’ll take away so much more than the $50 paid. Even the few times I’ve had a personal trainer show me the ropes has been so beneficial. Not only to show him how to use each machine properly, but to check his form, the amount of weight, how the machine should be adjusted to suit his height/body. Go for it!
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Ooh–tough question. I am lucky enough to have a best friend who is also a personal trainer…so I’ve indulged in some free sessions, which have really helped me push myself, perfect my form, and learn new exercises. I think if you find a really awesome trainer, who you know will help you meet your goals, it’s worth while to temporarily shell out the extra dough and see how it goes from there. Again, only if the trainer is great. Personal training sessions can range anywhere from $70 to 120 or more in “bean town,” so $50, although still expensive, I feel is reasonable. Hope this helps! Good luck!
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Back when I was desperate because I couldn’t get rid of the last of my baby weight (thanks Maya!) I hired a trainer. She was okay. I mean, she didn’t tell me anything earth shattering. I kept her for about a month and once I learned the proper form for different weight training exercises I stopped using her.
Check out Craigslist for affordable trainers. You can get resumes, references, etc. I paid mine $50 an hour which is very reasonable but still gets expensive after a while!
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As somebody who has been on both sides of this equation I have to say a personal trainer CAN be invaluable if they know their stuff. A well thought out exercise program and proper lifting form are key to meeting your goals and avoiding injury.
You mention previous appointments with a physical therapist, I’m guessing for knee pain, a good trainer will be able to guide you around any past injuries in the gym. Otherwise you risk re-injury and then no working out at all.
Why not buy 1 or 2 sessions with the trainer to get your program dialed in and learn the basic rules of proper form. Then grab another appointment every 3-4 months to keep your program fresh and you on track to your goals.
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Tracey Reply:
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Dave, thanks for your tips. I’m actually inquiring about personal training for my husband, not myself. I’m still a bit leery about getting a personal trainer because of my knee injuries. I’ve seen too many trainers making their clients do exercises I know are horrible for the knees. And since I have a good deal of physical therapy exercises to do, I’m set. He, on the other hand, could use some guidance!
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thats how much I charge, and I think I am worth it
seriously though for that money you are not just getting their time and expertise, you are also paying for their 2-3 hours of tailoring an individual plan to your needs. I think once you are confident with your ability in the gym then you should totally try yourself to get access to programs via online resources or decent books. Rachel Cosgrove – The Female Body Breakthrough, or Alywn Cosgrove New Rules for Lifting (Men and Women)
Occasionally revisiting your trainer will be a good idea too. Hope this helps.
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I can’t weigh in on this one because I’ve never used one. But I know lots of people who swear by them.
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As you probably already know, I use a personal trainer right now and it’s been a wonderful experience for me. Granted, the cost will never be cheap (when I finish up this month, I’ll have spent almost $1500 over five months total) but I’ve been very pleased with the results I’ve seen. Mainly because I know that I would’ve had difficulty getting to this point on my own. Like you said, I never would’ve pushed myself as hard as I would’ve had someone not been sitting there waiting for me to finish 5 more reps. Plus, I’ve learned a lot as far as what exercises to do, how to put them together into circuits, how intense they should be, how to modify or substitute exercises, etc. Not only am I in better shape now but I feel smarter about having to go on my own again in a few weeks.
I think my trainer has been invaluable in getting me to the point I’m at now. It’ll just be up to me to keep it at a high level.
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Well, I’m not sure if my answer counts being as I am a personal trainer. However, if those are one hour sessions its a steal! Just make sure that the trainer is a good fit for him. There’s a difference between a good trainer and a trainer that’s good for a particular person. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email.
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i definitely see the value in having a personal trainer, esp when you are first getting in to working out/ need to shake up your routine. that being said, i don’t think it’s necessary at all! you can totally have great workouts without one. i’ve been through physical therapy too and did a lot of training for gymnastics/swimming/water polo so i feel very comfortable with the weight room and diff types of cardio/plyo, etc so i opt not to have one and save the $ for workout clothes instead
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I’d love to have a personal trainer, mainly so I’d have someone to keep me honest and going to the gym to avoid wasting money. However … I don’t have one because I don’t have the money to spend on one. It’s a dream, though. When I do get one, I want one who looks just like that guy in the photo you posted… heheh.
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i grew up w. a personal trainer and loved it!! i didnt know how lucky/blessed i was to have one until i came to college! He pushed me, but not TOO hard and not TOO less! it was great.
Nutr yeast=cheesy flavor? haha i dk! i like it tho girl!
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