Hiring Personal Trainer - Any advice or experiences?

funshine

funshine

New member
Update - Hiring Personal Trainer - Any advice or experiences?

So forever I have thought about hiring a personal trainer to work with me but I always let the thought of $$$$ cut that idea short. Not anymore though....my life, my health, my body, my happiness is worth it...I am worth it!

So I've contacted a trainer and me and my husband will be meeting with her tomorrow evening to discuss options, get an assessment done, etc.

I've googled and found some really great questions to ask her that I might not have thought about but I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice or suggestions that might not have been brought up?????

Also anyone have any stories from your own personal experience of hiring a trainer?????...I'd love to hear them!!!!!
 
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Hey Funshine,

I had a personal trainer for the better half of a year and loved every second of it. I got hurt working out at the gym with my looser boyfriend at the time and decided I needed someone who knew what they were doing to help me out. I did research online and found one of the best trainers in town (and most expensive)!! But it was totally worth it! I can't put a price on what he taught me and I was sad to stop training with him, but I couldnt pay for both school and a tainer so I had to make the decision... school of course.

But I say go for it! You have nothing to loose and everything to gain especially knowledge you can take and use forever!

Cheers,
MissDFITT
 
thanks for the replies....that link was great and I appreciate the encouragement to go forward with it!

tonight I meet with the trainer and I'm super excited!
 
I hope all goes well with the trainer :)

I don't have any experience with a personal trainer, so no help there, sorry.
 
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I forget what's in that thread, but ask these questions:

1. What certifications and education to you have?
2. Do you prefer to use machines or free weights and why?
3. How long have you been training?
4. What's the best way to lose the fat on my trouble spots?
5. How will you integrate nutrition into my program and relate it to my goals?

I could write 50 more questions but there are sufficient for determining if a trainer is a boob in my eyes.
 
Steve I pretty much had all of those questions on my list and she answered them all....it felt good to know that she had answered all of my questions I had written down....but I still pulled out the list to let her know that I wasn't walking into it blindly!

My list included questions about experience, qualifications, references, results, assesments, type of training, what kind of support, a checklist of questions/forms that should be asked of me.

I'm super excited...we start on Monday and she'll be meeting with me at my gym 3 times a week for an hour each session.

My husband whom has never struggled with his weight was right by my side helping answer questions and ask questions as well. When we were on our way home after the meeting I thanked him for also supporting my decision to go ahead with this as financially it is kinda a lot of money that we could be putting towards other things....but that looking ahead in a year if I were sitting next to him at my goal weight...the way it would feel...there isn't a price you could put on that and that I'm sure I'd be looking back to this night and thinking I'd pay 10k if I knew it would get me there!

anyways .... I'm excited to say the least!!!
 
As I say, finding a good trainer is hard. When you do though, they are worth their weight in gold. Money is nothing without health. Beyond health, reaching your physique goals is one of the greatest things you can ask for.

Glad to hear she lived up to the expectations you had and you were comfortable.

Sounds like a good match.

Now it's time to put her to the test for real and see if she can get you results. Don't lose that critical edge. Just as easily as you hired her, you can fire her. A lot of clients get in tight with their trainers on a friend level and then it becomes hard to fire them for not doing their job well. Remember what their job is, remember what you want from them, and keep it business before friendship.

Good luck!
 
I agree with Steve about the money part... I was forking over tons of money and everyone thought I was crazy! But it was totally worth it in my eyes and even now that I no longer have a trainer I still use the concepts I learned!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Cheers,
MissDFITT
 
funshine said:
So forever I have thought about hiring a personal trainer to work with me but I always let the thought of $$$$ cut that idea short.
Click to expand...

I hear this alot. Personal trainer is too expensive....etc., etc.

I pay $90 a week for my trainer, and she is worth every cent. I do not go to a gym, it is a private studio, and I do my cardio on my own. My workouts are consistent, she knows exactly how to work my body to get great results, and she knows how to plan my workouts to keep my muscles guessing and to avoid personal boredom. There is no skipping on reps, sessions, or weight amounts when you have someone standing over you. Many people's jaws drop when they hear how expensive it is, but, the very same people that feel I pay way too much for my trainer, are the same people that think nothing of a $150 bar tab every weekend.

Good Luck.
 
getoutside said:
I hear this alot. Personal trainer is too expensive....etc., etc.

I pay $90 a week for my trainer, and she is worth every cent. I do not go to a gym, it is a private studio, and I do my cardio on my own. My workouts are consistent, she knows exactly how to work my body to get great results, and she knows how to plan my workouts to keep my muscles guessing and to avoid personal boredom. There is no skipping on reps, sessions, or weight amounts when you have someone standing over you. Many people's jaws drop when they hear how expensive it is, but, the very same people that feel I pay way too much for my trainer, are the same people that think nothing of a $150 bar tab every weekend.

Good Luck.
Click to expand...

It's all about priorities. Personally I would rather have a personal trainer than a bar tab, but then again I don't drink ;)

Funshine, I hope all is going well with your trainer :)
 
getoutside said:
I hear this alot. Personal trainer is too expensive....etc., etc.

I pay $90 a week for my trainer, and she is worth every cent. I do not go to a gym, it is a private studio, and I do my cardio on my own. My workouts are consistent, she knows exactly how to work my body to get great results, and she knows how to plan my workouts to keep my muscles guessing and to avoid personal boredom. There is no skipping on reps, sessions, or weight amounts when you have someone standing over you. Many people's jaws drop when they hear how expensive it is, but, the very same people that feel I pay way too much for my trainer, are the same people that think nothing of a $150 bar tab every weekend.

Good Luck.
Click to expand...

How many sessions per week for 90, if you don't mind me asking?
 
Steve said:
How many sessions per week for 90, if you don't mind me asking?
Click to expand...

Don't mind at all. For $90 I get three sessions, each session is one hour long, and its just me and my trainer. We're in a private studio gym so I don't ever have to wait for any equipment, there's no one staring at me, the towels are clean, the equipment is clean and well maintained, she also does some of my nutrition, vitamins, body fat and measurements. And most importantly, her body has very little fat and is rock solid, she definetly knows her profession.
 
That's actually relatively cheap for a trainer, believe it or not.

Good for you.

Oh, and her having a rock hard body means very little. Her ability to reach you, motivate and educate you, and most of all get you the results you desire mean the world.
 
Update!

Just an update on how things are going with my trainer.

I am training 3x a week with her, paying $90, and she weighs me, takes my measurements, is guiding me nutritionally, and of course training me.

Last week was my first week with her. The first session we trained but it was more showing me some things and seeing where I was at.

THEN

the last two sessions she worked me thats for sure. It's great though I love it. She is pushing me to do things I would NEVER do on my own at the gym and I definately need that! I'm scared to try new things for fear that I can't do them or that I will look silly....but I assured her that I definately need her to make me do the things I'm uncomfortable with because clearly the comfortable hasn't got me too far!

I'm not sure why but I haven't told anyone I know about me hiring a personal trainer. I just think they would think it's a waste of money or not really be happy for me and what this can bring..... I don't really feel like I need to deal with that. Did anyone else feel that way?
 
I can understand that you are apprehensive about telling people that you have hired a personal trainer. People can surprise us negatively or positively (most often they react the opposite way we thought they would), and I think if you are going to tell people you need to be ready for a mix of reactions.

What you learn from this personal trainer is going to stick with you, so even when you no longer need a personal trainer, you will still have the information. Also, your results are going to speak for themselves – and when they really start showing, no one is going to doubt that it was money well spent. :)
 
funshine said:
Just an update on how things are going with my trainer.

I am training 3x a week with her, paying $90, and she weighs me, takes my measurements, is guiding me nutritionally, and of course training me.

Last week was my first week with her. The first session we trained but it was more showing me some things and seeing where I was at.

THEN

the last two sessions she worked me thats for sure. It's great though I love it. She is pushing me to do things I would NEVER do on my own at the gym and I definately need that! I'm scared to try new things for fear that I can't do them or that I will look silly....but I assured her that I definately need her to make me do the things I'm uncomfortable with because clearly the comfortable hasn't got me too far!

I'm not sure why but I haven't told anyone I know about me hiring a personal trainer. I just think they would think it's a waste of money or not really be happy for me and what this can bring..... I don't really feel like I need to deal with that. Did anyone else feel that way?
Click to expand...

If you feel better keeping it to yourself, than do that. This is your experience, and I know firsthand, its well worth it, I love working with my trainer, I see new changes in my body every week. Whatever you do, give it 2 months, and listen to her when she tells you what to eat, during this time your trainer is conditioning you, and you'll feel lots of changes, but you may not see them right away. However once you start seeing the muscles under that fat, you'll be really motivated. Also, if you want to be different, you have to do different. Your friends may not approve of your trainer, but they won't achieve the body that you will, either.

Good Luck and enjoy the time with your trainer.
 
Yeah.. I spent about $3,000 on my trainer up until May. Most of my family is cool with it, however my in-laws could care less, just than I am wasting their brother/son's money. Either way, it was money very well spent. I learned a lot, lost a lot, now am on my own, too broke to afford it anymore, lol. He was awesome though, actually he just said he was going to give me a free session next week so, yay for free. Anyhow.. pay attention, ask questions, and make your money work for you. :)
 
Only $90.00 a week for three one hour sessions. Thats not bad at all. Even at 24 hour Fitness it was 50.00 per hour (This was three years ago) and that was the worst trainer I've ever seen. Didn't really know anything about nutrition other than what the diet plan from the computer said, and I think he was more intrested in talking with the girls in the gym then watching and advising my workout. He didn't last long, and it burned me a bit on training at the time, but then I found another trainer that had his own small gym, and that was great. A bit more expensive (65.00 per hour), but was worth it for twice a week for about 4 months (Then the job went to crap, and I had to drop).
Good luck!
 
Thanks everyone for all of your positive comments...it's really appreciated!!!!

I have slowly...and I mean very slowly started to tell a couple people (a friend, my step mother in-law, and my sister) that I have hired a trainer and so far their respsonses have been pretty positive. Only my friend started asking questions about the fiancial aspect of it but simply because she is my workout buddy and would love to be able to hire a trainer herself.

It is quite an expense...I mean I'm dropping $360 a month for a personal trainer plus $25 a month for my gym membership. That is not cheap...but money isn't everything...and me and my husband both agree that it will be money well spent if it is what helps me reach my goals. And just because I'm going 3 times a week now doesn't mean I have to forever.

So far I'm still pretty happy with the overall experience I have had with my trainer. I am down 7.5lbs in 2 weeks which I don't think is too bad...I know it can be better when I learn to eat better. Of course it's easy to be told what to eat...but the reality is that it doesn't just all of a sudden become easy overnight so I'm gradually making more and more changes.

I'm pumped with my results so far and my mini goal is to be down another 8lbs in the next 2 weeks. I'd be thrilled with that and I know it is totally doable being the weight I am starting from.

THanks again everyone for all of your support!!!!!
 
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