Evaluating a new personal trainer....

[Roonytunes]

I've got a complimentary session set up tonight with a new personal trainer and would like everyone's input on how to gauge whether there's a good fit.

I'm quite clear on my goals:
- am happy with my weight (5ft 5", 118-124 lbs) and am okay with having to bulk up if I have to.
- would like to drop body fat (think I'm around 23-24% now, and would like to get in the teens)
- would like to get much stronger and see a lot more definition especially in my upper body

I have worked out with two trainers in the past two years. The first one ended up running off to cocaine rehab after six months and I never saw him again. He was a hard ass, but also made me feel miserable with insults and pushing me beyond my limit. The other one, I really liked, but he got into the bar business and is now very unreliable and unavailable. We have barely been able to get one session a week if that, although he always schedules and ends up cancelling at the last minute. We get along well, but he continues to make me do high reps in circuit training mode, when I'd like to lift heavier. But in all fairness, my body has made some visible transformation while working out with him over the last 16 months.

Right now, my primary concern now with a trainer is availability and having some flexibility to fit in at least two sessions a week. I need someone to push me hard, but also not be too ridiculous and make me miserable. I am willing to do HIIT/cardio and eat clean on my own. What else should I be looking at? I am tired of switching trainers when all I want is one who will work with me toward my goals and respect my schedule.

 

[sasharawkz]

Sounds like you don't need any help from us in figuring out if the new trainer fits. You've just listed everything that you need from one in this post. If ther new trainer doesn't meet your criteria, move on.

Best of luck!

 

[Roonytunes]

Sounds like you don't need any help from us in figuring out if the new trainer fits. You've just listed everything that you need from one in this post. If ther new trainer doesn't meet your criteria, move on.

Best of luck!

Thanks! I am just second guessing myself at this point since I've had bad luck with two trainers knowing what I needed out of the experience. Maybe you guys can tell me what it is that you like particularly about your trainer and that will help?? I just feel, as with any other sales, people will just tell you what you want to hear when you are meeting up for your first session...

 

[Sassy69]

Here's my take on trainers. If you already have some basic knowledge of training and you are mostly looking to kickstart a new routine or change a routine, especially if you are at a new gym - tell them you already have some experience w/ training and maybe ask for the guy's experience & credentials, who he usually trains, etc. If they aren't the ones who count reps for fat old ladies all day, this may be someone youare interested in using. The complimentary session is basically to get the dumb new people into paying for a trainer as well as the introductory tour of the gym facility. So I guess its hard to expect much from this. But if you intimate that you are interested in a new routine, then they may try harder to impress you with their knowledge.

If you like the guy, I might buy some small number of sessions (usually get a volume discount) but state explicitly that you are planning to use them over a period of time when you need the routine changed up again (e.g. every 6 weeks). Personally I just don't see the point in paying someone to count your reps for you once you have the routine set. My goal was always to gain the KNOWLEDGE and use it to modify my own routines eventually, instead of just a static thing that I just sit there & do what the trainer says. I realize these guys do this for a living, but if you really want to learn to understand & manage your own fitness, you can use these as education periods to ask the questions & make the trainer "earn" his / her fee. Otherwise I really feel that they are just there to count your reps, listen to you cry about how hard the training is & how much you hate the diet and then occassionally berate you to get you motivated (like a drill seargent). If you are learning new things, then you are personally motivated to try to apply what you learned, see what you can accomplish & drive yourself to really intense & satisfying workouts. This also lets you understand your own body better too -- how the diet , training, recovery, etc. all works or doesn't. Easier to tweak for max results and things that a trainer won't necessarily pay attention to or be aware of. And besides, you've got a HYUGE wealth of knowledge & experience & support right here that you can take advantage of!

Or maybe I'm just too cheap to pay a trainer.....


Nope. I prefer to learn & empower myself.