nervous about personal trainers...

hey everyone,

i'm really really really wanting to get into shape... i've only got 10 pounds or so i want to lose but more than anything i want to be toned... i've been 20 pounds lighter before but it just doesn't matter what weight i am if i don't LOOK good...

anyway, i really know that i need a personal trainer, but for some reason i am SO nervous to go to one... i don't know why!! i guess i'm scared i won't be able to do the exercises... i'm a 22 year old female, and i feel like i should be able to work out with ease... but even though i've been on the "thin" side all my life, i've NEVER exercised....

I"M SCARED!!!
 
Dont be scared...have you tried working out in the gym on your own w/out a trainer first?? I take classes at the gym that dont cost extra and then I go into the weight room and lift weights between classes...there is a supervisor in the weight room that shows you how to use the equipment properly....try that first if youre scared to have someone over you all the time :p
 
Be clear with the personal trainer about what your goals are -

I know from personal experience there are a ton of sucky ones out there... so before signing up for many sessions -try a trial session to make sure they can work with you and you can work with them... interview them and ask what their methods are for teaching you and training you... the trainer should push you a bit, but not push you tot he point of frustration...
 
Stay strong,

It is not you that should be nervous about your personal trainer, but your personal trainer should be nervous about you. Our job is to cater to you, it is you that has to be kept happy, that should be the center of their attention.

You never need a trainer, but if you get one here is an article I wrote on how to pick a personal trainer. Good luck if you choose to pick one out in your area, and remember to be picky!
 
Yeah. . . Just get a friend, or website like this one.. for motivation. You won't have a personal trainer with you forever so you really should learn to do it on your own.. and look to friends for advice and faith.
 
Yeah. . . I think trainers are a waste. Just get a friend, or website like this one.. for motivation. You won't have a personal trainer with you forever so you really should learn to do it on your own.. and look to friends for advice and faith.

I don't know if I agree with this. A good personal trainer is worth his/her weight in gold. That I know for a fact.

A friend can motivate you all they want, but that does nothing for education. And like it or not, education is a huge part of the process when it comes to successful, permanent weight loss. Not only education, but also learning to apply things to your own personal situations.

A good personal trainer will show you the map of exactly how to get to where you want to be, safely and effectively.
 
that article has lots of interesting info but one thing thatin ir
That being said you up your chance of getting a better trainer if they have a good certification
I'm actually curious here... What do the trainer certifications signify - I've been in technology entirely too long and am the possessor of more certifications than pfizer makes little blue erection pills... I'm alittle jaded and skeptical about them. About the only thing those certs do is say I could pass a test... Not that I have any practical knowledge of the subject matter...

So what's really involved in receiving the certifications.

The last personal trainer I had had NASM, ACSM, ACE next to her name - and she wasn't overly helpful.. Ok so I know I'm a pain in the ass and very difficult but she had one size fits all mindset when it came to workouts that certainly don't fit all...
 
Certifications mean nothing at all.

Anyone can pass a test.

But there are a few certifications, ACSM being one of them, that are more in depth in their education and requirements. That being said, this by no means signifies a person as being "good" at what they do, if they have the certification.

It is just one step, of many, that one should take when selecting a personal trainer.

If someone does have one of the good "certs" it is good reason to believe that they care about the profession and go the extra mile.

If someone does not have one of the good "cert" is doesn't mean they are are incompetent though. I know quite a few trainers who have no certs and are amazing.

Like I said, it is one of many characteristics to look for.
 
agreed and let me quote myself from my article.

"Now let me pre-empt this with the fact that a trainer could have a college degree, all kinds of certification and years of experience and be horrible. It doesn’t take much to memorize stuff from a book to take a test."
 
thanks guys for all your support!!

i guess i feel like i need a trainer because i don't know what i'm doing!! i've never really worked out... i'm 133 pounds and i've always been on the "thin" side... but i'm a skinny chubby person..lol... i don't have any muscle tone.... yea i can read all i want from a book, but i totally believe in the value of a coach...and steve i agree with you that having a friend to work out with isn't always a good thing... i want results!! not someone to just chat with...

i'm going for a consultation tomorrow with a personal trainer, and the testimonials and before/after pics are phenomenal.. so i'll let youguys know how it goes!!
 
thanks guys for all your support!!

i guess i feel like i need a trainer because i don't know what i'm doing!! i've never really worked out... i'm 133 pounds and i've always been on the "thin" side... but i'm a skinny chubby person..lol... i don't have any muscle tone.... yea i can read all i want from a book, but i totally believe in the value of a coach...and steve i agree with you that having a friend to work out with isn't always a good thing... i want results!! not someone to just chat with...

i'm going for a consultation tomorrow with a personal trainer, and the testimonials and before/after pics are phenomenal.. so i'll let youguys know how it goes!!

Sounds great! If anything, let the PT show you how to properly execute the various exercises. If they have you sitting on machines for a majority of the workout, you know they are a boob. The focus should be compound exercises using free weights. Also, ask how they plan on coupling the program with your nutrition and weight loss goals.

As long as you know how to execute the exercises, you can figure out the rest from places like this forum, which actually has some knowledgeable people that can help you periodize your own program to meet your goals.

But if you find that the trainer is worth the money, then I wouldn't blame you for sticking it out with him/her. As I said before, a good one is worth their weight in gold.
 
Stay strong,

It is not you that should be nervous about your personal trainer, but your personal trainer should be nervous about you. Our job is to cater to you, it is you that has to be kept happy, that should be the center of their attention.

You never need a trainer, but if you get one here is an article I wrote on how to pick a personal trainer. Good luck if you choose to pick one out in your area, and remember to be picky!

thanks leigh!!! this is a great article...

i guess more than anything i'm self conscious about my lack of knowledge in working out, and i'm not sure of my abilities.....
 
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