Selecting a BB Trainer/Coach

[Gladiola]

Well, last month as one of my numerous attempts to regain my love of Iron, I purchased myself a membership to the local Gold's - a REAL gym! My partner won't be renewing his membership at our spa/retirement home in February so I won't have him to lift with anyway & there's no way I'm going to find someone else to lift with at that place!

I decided to also purchase some sessions with a trainer - the price was good (3 intro sessions for $99) and thought some input on a few things like deadlift form & new ab moves could be fun & maybe beneficial.

Finally met with this Trainer last week. He has done a few BB comps & even coached one female through a fitness comp - she took 2nd. He says he's all natural.

So he's trying to convince me to do BB. He acknowledges that I should do what I'm going to enjoy, but - in the true nature of someone who LOVES what he does - was encouraging me to do BB - presumably b/c he thinks I'll love it as well.

So what qualifications to look for in a BB coach? Of course someone with experience - and someone I mesh with. We seemed to get along quite well initially, but workouts will show. Anything else?

 

[SteelWeaver]

I could imagine having a male lifting partner, but not a male trainer. I just feel there's stuff about women that only women know, can sense, you know? But maybe that's just me - I AM rather women-oriented after all ...

Personality is a big one - if you don't feel you can be up front and direct with the person without feelings of discomfort, that's not such a good idea. Like, if they're pushing you on a move where you KNOW you can't do more, and they insist, you need to be able to tell them without feeling like they think you're a wimp, you know? Pushing where you need a push and pushing past where you are capable of pushing are different things.

Does he have school qualifications? Experience is good, qualifications AND experience are better. Ability to focus and plan, and EXPLAIN those plans and goals and objectives, etc.

A TRUE love of iron

Glads, but you DO love BB'ing, don't you? I mean, way back when ... you were complaining that you had to quit benching for OL, and hated that ...

Give it a whirl, girl

If it's worth anything, I go to Gold's, and I found my trainer there, and she DEFINITELY knows her stuff, and we get along like a house on fire. I'm truly lucky.

 

[Gladiola]

As for what I WANT to do, I can't make up my mind. & I can't keep being lazy while trying to figure it out - I'm going to try *something* else! I'm not jumping in with both feet this time - I'll try a couple workouts with him, incorporate a few of his ideas (like abs more frequently, for example, & holding isometric poses between sets) & go from there. I already know about diet fairly well, I think.

Steel - he does have qualifications - he's NSCA certified, which is one of the best. Not sure if he has a Bachelor's degree.

Hadn't thought of the issue with a woman being more in tune.. but I tend to get along better with men anyway, even though I find women quite sexy!

 

[manny78]

Is this what you want to do?

yup and also are you ready for the "real thing" after ? I saw what some coaches did to BB females (suggesting insane cycles, turning them into God knows what). ANyway good luck and hope you take the right decision.

 

[Gladiola]

Yup, you got that right, Spatts! Besides, this guy said he was all natural, so I doubt he would encourage me to be anything but. He could have been lying, but I doubt it.

We talked for a while & he discussed intensity in workouts - I have the impression he was trying to say, "Look, if you don't like pain, don't even consider trying BB." Initially, he probably presumed I didn't really understandintensity of workouts.

I made it VERY clear to him that I'm quite a fan of pain! Matter of fact, there was often LESS intensity in the Olypic Lifting workouts (except the damn squats), & I missed it from my former BB training.

After chatting for over an hour, he joked that he could tell I was a tough one & didn't want to mess with me!

 

[bignate73]

how is his posing? have you seen tapes of his shows?

as a BB coach, i would think that would be an important factor, since chances are he will coach the "presentation" portion of your training as well. if he sucks at posing and is helping your routine (if its bb'ing), your physique can be the best and it wont matter. i can hide a diamond in my pocket, it wont shine unless i get it out. get the picture?

new ab moves are great but programming is going to make the difference. using your individual recovery times to your favor. NSCA doesnt stress programming very much. especially the CPT cert. CSCS might, but if he has that then he has a field related degree as well, and should be good to go.

make sure you click with him, hes focused on what you want, has a good eye for strong/weak points. etc. that way you can focus your efforts into the proper areas.

 

[Serenity Head]

Well Girl here is my 2 cents on the issue,

As of lately I am sick and tired of bullshit trainers taking advantage of clients, especially women. I recently talked to aa women who paid $60/hour and he started her on cardio and walked away for 35 minutes...not acceptable.

If he knows his stuff, is motivating and never seems to put money above you than go for it. I am currently working on becoming a med. doctor and MFS(master Fit trainer). My main mission for the years to come is to become politically active and create a national law requiring a state license to become a trainer. Think ablout it, hair dressers, tatooists, estheticians, nurses, doctors, ect all need state licenses to practice, not stupid certificates.

I could have been mentally retarded and passed my nutrition and fitness trainer exams. All I am saying is that 90% of trainers know jack shit and half the people on this board are more qualified to train you....I am more than willing to hook you up with training advice, nutrition and supplement advice.

Oh yeah, I would have to disagree with the women should have a women trainer...you just need the right trainer to understand you, regardless of the sex.

Just make sure you shop around before you get hooked on this trainer. I would be happy to help aid you in your decisions in a trainer.

 

[slinky]

Here, here, Serenity! Well said!

It is much more important to get a trainer who trains according to invidual needs, as well as invidual's experience.

Also someone who is a exceptional listener, communicator and problem solver. Degrees are important, but I feel that many trainers w/degrees let that degree do the talking rather than pure knowledge and experience. I put knowledge and experience up and above importance over degrees.

I see alot of trainers (yes, w/degrees) who are not capable of explaining the simplest of exercises in a way that a newbie (to training) could comprehend.


Just my .2 cents.