I have a couple questions to the world. I'm looking for insight from clients and would be clients alike. You could call it market research, but since I've given up on caring about the business and am barking up a career change anyway, it's more just general curiosity.
If you've ever hired a PT, what factors led to you doing so? If you're still with a PT, what is it that keeps you coming back? If you're not still with a PT, what would make you want to hire another PT (or rehire one you've worked with before, as the case may be)?
If you haven't ever hired a PT, what factors would result in you wanting to invest in one? Why do you not currently train with a PT?
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I'll go first.
I've never hired a PT, and right now I wouldn't be keen to anyway. I survive on 2-for-1 deals, so I couldn't afford it if I did want it. However, if I were in a situation where I could afford a PT and had the spark of enthusiasm to really commit to a specific goal more than I am already (you know, enough to want the benefits of a competent PT), I would seek someone who specialises in whatever area of fitness it is I want to get better at -- eg if I really wanted to improve my Olympic lifts, enough to put my money where my mouth is, I'd seek out a good Oly lifting coach; if I really wanted to get better at bodyweight exercises, I'd seek out a good gymnastics coach. At the moment, I don't have the money to put it where my mouth is, so PT isn't an option right now; no one's trying to sell to me right now, so you can be sure that I'm not making excuses. I'm also satisfied with how I'm travelling fitness-wise. If I could afford a PT and were willing to adhere to their plan and instruction, would I benefit from it? Yes. But right now I have neither the money nor the care-factor, in all honesty. I would need to have both those things, plus access to someone who's really good with the area I want to focus on, in order to want a PT.
If you've ever hired a PT, what factors led to you doing so? If you're still with a PT, what is it that keeps you coming back? If you're not still with a PT, what would make you want to hire another PT (or rehire one you've worked with before, as the case may be)?
If you haven't ever hired a PT, what factors would result in you wanting to invest in one? Why do you not currently train with a PT?
<><><>
I'll go first.
I've never hired a PT, and right now I wouldn't be keen to anyway. I survive on 2-for-1 deals, so I couldn't afford it if I did want it. However, if I were in a situation where I could afford a PT and had the spark of enthusiasm to really commit to a specific goal more than I am already (you know, enough to want the benefits of a competent PT), I would seek someone who specialises in whatever area of fitness it is I want to get better at -- eg if I really wanted to improve my Olympic lifts, enough to put my money where my mouth is, I'd seek out a good Oly lifting coach; if I really wanted to get better at bodyweight exercises, I'd seek out a good gymnastics coach. At the moment, I don't have the money to put it where my mouth is, so PT isn't an option right now; no one's trying to sell to me right now, so you can be sure that I'm not making excuses. I'm also satisfied with how I'm travelling fitness-wise. If I could afford a PT and were willing to adhere to their plan and instruction, would I benefit from it? Yes. But right now I have neither the money nor the care-factor, in all honesty. I would need to have both those things, plus access to someone who's really good with the area I want to focus on, in order to want a PT.
. At the moment I am really looking to hire a pt. Why? Because especially as a woman I find it difficult to reach certain goals I have with the general information I find online. I want someone who can sit down with me and exactly tell me what I need to do, how many times and when. Also because i'm a perfectionist and I want to know I'm doing my absolute best to reach my goal. And I want someone who can reassure me from time to time that I'm on the right track. So those are my reasons for hiring a pt. However I find it pretty difficult to select one. I find that a lot of the pt's promote them selfs mostly to men (in my area). Or I feel like they can tell me how to lose weight, but they won't be able to tell me how to lose exactly that last fat layer and replace it with the right amount of muscle mass. i also find it hard to trust a pt who doesn't have the greatest body himself. I have a few young guys walking around my gym that I could hire, but I just don't feel like there is much that they can help me with. Also I have been in a lot of forums asking some of the same questions as you answered for me. And you were the only one for example who told me about the pre-fatigue training. It's information like that, that I would be looking for a pt to tell me, not just the general stuff, to eventually end the session with me still unconvinced. Obviously I'd want my trainer to have the proper certification and diplomas.