Trainer or No Trainer - JP Fitness Forums

MrsTMatt · 03-26-2008, 03:53 PM

Hello everyone. I've been lurking since Jan. I wanted to start NROLW with everyone else then but I had already enrolled in a Basic Training program at my YMCA. We did cardio interval (stations) mixed with resistance training. I have definitely gained some strength and endurance and now that it's ending this Friday I'm thinking about starting NROLW. I have the book and am in the process of reading it. My question is...should I hire a trainer for a few sessions to get used to the program? In all honesty I think my fear is looking stupid in the weight room if I'm doing an exercise wrong. Has anyone else hired a trainer to help them with this program?

prof41 · 03-26-2008, 04:27 PM

No trainer for me, but I w/o at home. However, I gone to gyms and usually the first session, someone will help you out, and can show you around.

Perhaps if you bring your program with you, they can assist you on form questions. There are also alot of great clips here in this forum that show the exercises prescribed in the book.

rixatrix · 03-26-2008, 04:37 PM

I haven't used a trainer, but I have utilized friends, family, and the kindness of strangers to fill in the gaps for questions I've had. I go to my local YMCA in the morning, where the same group of people are there consistently. (As compared to the afternoon, where the place is overrun by hooligans.) Seeing the same people week after week, I've made friendships and asked questions of people - there's a guy who comes in and voluntarily trains another woman, and one week I watched him demonstrate proper deadlift form. I also have an aunt who used to bodybuild and if I have questions about a particular exercise, sometimes I'll go over to her house and work out with her.

That being said, after studying the exercises in the book and maybe watching a few videos on YouTube for the bigger or more complex ones (like squats, deadlifts, whatever), you'll probably have a decent sense of whether or not you're doing the movement right. Certain movements just feel right when all the pieces click into place.

And of course, you could hire a trainer just to walk you through the movements. But don't be afraid of looking stupid. The only people who look really stupid are the ones who are sending text messages between leg press sets or sipping coffee while they saunter from the calf raises machine to the triceps extension station. Just hit the weight room in earnest, show people that you're not there just to pose and preen, and people will respect your hard work and dedication, even if sometimes you wobble during lunges or lose your balance in a squat.

kfisherx · 03-26-2008, 08:26 PM

I think I am one of the only people on this board who started with and continues to use a trainer. I made this decision because I was brand newbie to lifting and just coming back from a hamstring injury. It was essential for me to have guidance so that I did not hurt myself. We ended up not doing NROLW and I allow him to guide me towards my goals. Even so I am learning the essential stuff like Deads and Squats and how much weigh to use and what to look for in form and what is good gym etiquette. The little things like how to put on collars, how to lift weights off the rack, etc are things l learned from him. This gave me the confidence I needed to go into the free weight section of the gym and lift with the boyz on my own. It is a great feeling.

It is not the cheapest way to go but if you can afford it, I think it is way worth the money for a good trainer.

MuscleMom23 · 03-26-2008, 08:50 PM

I did one session with a trainer to walk me through my facilities because they did not have what I needed for NROL4W believe it or not LOL! But in addition it was nice for her to check my form and know what to work on. It had been eons since I did a squat.

Amblus · 03-27-2008, 07:39 AM

I don't think having a trainer walk you through the first few times is a bad idea, especially if it'll help you get over the weight-room fear. Just make sure you pick someone who knows what they're doing in a weight room! Twice in the past I've used a trainer and told them I specifically wanted a free weights workout and twice I've been led right past the weights room to the Nautilus machines. It's like they're pre-programed to think that woman = stupid resistance machines. I hate those machines.

Lisa~ · 03-27-2008, 08:03 AM

I think the ideal situation is to learn from a quality trainer, but they're hard to find, especially at a YMCA. I work at the Y, but I still know that is a true statement. Karla worked hard to find someone qualified. If you're willing to ask about certifications and ask for recommendations until you find someone worth listening to, then I hope you'll begin with a trainer. Ask who can really teach a squat and deadlift. Tell them you want to learn a front squat to push press and a one-arm DB snatch. Which trainer can teach them? Like Amblus experienced, some trainers can't/won't teach the big compound lifts or the more technical lifts (sad but true).

Plan B is what rixatrix said. (Great post btw.) There's a lot of good information here that will at least get you started.

kfisherx · 03-27-2008, 08:26 AM

Lisa is 100% correct. I interviewed more than a handful of trainers before I hired one who I felt was confident enough to teach me to lift. I wrote up interview questions and a requirements document just to be efficient with the process. There are some amazingly bad trainers out there.

So that is a big component in the equation. Don't use whoever the gym hands you. Interview at least 10 of them before making your decision.

MrsTMatt · 03-27-2008, 09:46 AM

Thanks for the advice. I totally understand what you mean about some of the trainers at the Y. I've seen some pretty interesting things while observing a few of them train. I'm not completely new at working out at all and if I could just get my lazy husband to get up and go with me in the mornings (he's not an early riser) I know he could definitely help. He's a former weight room junkie. I think it probably just boils down to me being a big girl and getting over people watching or what I think the guys will think. The good thing is that there aren't very many people in the weight room when I go in the morning. It's all about me anyway, right!

rixatrix · 03-27-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsTMatt

Thanks for the advice. I totally understand what you mean about some of the trainers at the Y. I've seen some pretty interesting things while observing a few of them train. I'm not completely new at working out at all and if I could just get my lazy husband to get up and go with me in the mornings (he's not an early riser) I know he could definitely help. He's a former weight room junkie. I think it probably just boils down to me being a big girl and getting over people watching or what I think the guys will think. The good thing is that there aren't very many people in the weight room when I go in the morning. It's all about me anyway, right!

In my experience, 99% of the people in the weight room are men. So it helps if you think like them. Whenever I go in there and feel self conscious, I just remember that most of the guys in there are training for strength and power, not just to look good. A lot of the guys I see weight training have extra fat on them. Do they sweat it? No way! They just do their workouts and focus on getting stronger. You'll impress them by being un-self-conscious and working with heavy weights. Trust me. Pretty soon you'll be out-lifting some of the guys in there, and you'll scoff when they get on the lat pulldown station after you and have to lower the weight. And I speak from experience there. Nobody messes with the girl who's lifting 10x as much weight as some of the other girls.

pinkgingham_19 · 03-27-2008, 06:10 PM

I just met with a trainer at my gym (free session!)

She told me my squat form is limited by my inflexibilty (which I knew) and that I should work on stretching out my calves and hams (which I am, and I've improved quite a bit) Then she tried to sell me $400 of personal training.

kfisherx · 03-27-2008, 06:34 PM

Agree with Rixatrix... I have had nothing but respect shown to me in the weight room. This even when I was lifting baby weights. Now that I am throwing the bigger iron and even bigger than many of the guys it is even cooler.

Don't be intimidated by the men. Do your thing and they will respect that you are in there and lifting.

timezone · 03-27-2008, 07:23 PM

I don't mean to be a poo, but I have never had good luck with personal trainers. I have never seen one taking women to the free weights. I had one guy stop me during my squats to introduce me to the damn Smith machine. I had another one ask me "what's a squat rack" when I walked in to the gym to see if I wanted to join.

I mean really, what's a squat rack?? The receptionist had to tell her.

kfisherx · 03-27-2008, 08:31 PM

Not being a Poo at all. I think you are stating facts. Most trainers are not worth the money they charge from my experience either. That is why I did such an extensive interview process before I laid out the cash for mine. Mine is worth his pay and then some.

jenofthemountain · 03-27-2008, 10:22 PM

Kfisherx -

How did you find personal trainers to interview? I have thought about getting a pt, but unsure where to find any outside of my gym (which happen's to be the YMCA). I've try to find resources on the net, but haven't had much luck.

kfisherx · 03-28-2008, 01:10 AM

Really... Hey you are in Salem. Cool

I did a search on trainers in Salem and came up with a couple of cool places. Have you interviewed any of these trainers. The one place (Fitnesss together) seems to have a good selection of trainers. The chick teaches weightlifting and one of the guys does crossfit.

Fitness Together-Salem, OR – One on One Personal Training – 1 Client 1 Trainer 1 Goal

Welcome to 12th Street Fitness & Sam's Personal Training!

http://yourpt.com/New%20GGN%20 Health%20Services/Certified%20 Personal%20Fitness%20Trainers% 20in%20Salem,%20Oregon.html

Body Works Personal Training, Fitness, Massage, Body Wraps, and Cellulite Reduction

And if none of these guys work, you can always do a 1 hour drive North and try out the same asshole (whoops I mean trainer) that I use.

David Wayne - Portland Personal Trainer

He would be worth the drive.

Lisa~ · 03-28-2008, 10:23 AM

You can also use the NSCA's search engine to find trainers with a CSCS or NSCA-CPT in your state. This certification alone doesn't make them a competent trainer, but it's a good list of trainers to interview!

Trainer Locator

jenofthemountain · 03-28-2008, 07:32 PM

Thanks Kfisherx & Lisa! I will check out those links!

and yep I'm in Salem.. and trying to stay out of the hail (didn't quite manage that while at the dog park today)