Those of you with trainers

How often per week do you see them?

So I've totally slacked lately and have to regulate my diet and get on a firm excercise program.

I am interested in pursuing personal training but was curious to know how many times per week you recommend sessions?

Any info would be helpful!

I started out having her twice a week

now since I know what I am doing I have her once week and she wrote me a program to do on my own another day

Are you allowed pick your trainer or do gyms normally assign you?

I go once a week.
I dont think I culd handle nay more than that!


But I do go on my own at least 2-3x a week besides my trainer appts.

How many days? 2 is probably right for both the wallet and the need.

Picking the trainer is the hard part. You will need to find somebody who is going to motivate you and help you produce results. Certifications and phyique should have NOTHING to do with your decision. While at the gym, observe the trainer with other clients. See how he/she acts.

things to notice:

What exercises are they doing?
() if a trainer is standing with a client (during session) while the client is on a treadmill - don't bother! I also say the same thing with curls (but that is a much longer post).

Is he/she quiet or constantly providing feeback?
() Form is never perfect. The trainer should be saying slow down, keep the elbows in and constntly be giving feedback

Is the trainer 'drifting?'
() The clients should be the trainers ONLY concern, if you see him/her checking somebody out, talking to other people (or whatnot) then stay away!

**Questions to ask a trainer. These are some that they should be able to answer (but many cannot). All are common problems but often overlooked. A good trainer or coach should be able to answer all of them.**

Q - What can you have me do to straighten out my shoulders? They seem to be rounded forward and the palms of my hands are facing my body when standing relaxed.

A - (If you are in the majority in regards to shoulders) He/She should reccomend external rotations exercises, strengthening posterior deltoids and the smaller muscles in the back and limit the internal rotator exercises (bench press, lat Pull-Downs). Also some agressive stretching if you are in the extreme tightness category.

Q - When squatting and lunging my knees bother me, should I stay away?

A - It is USUALLY a form issue. Many times the person is allowing the knee to cross the toe line and that causes knee pain. A person should 'break at the hip' (moving the butt backwards to keep a straigh shin line). The back should be arched. It could go further into the ankle comples or imbalances in the Hip Abductors / aductors (give him/her extra credit for mention those).

Q - How should I stretch before a workout

A - Dynamic before - static after. Dynamic stretching is moving stretching. It will loosen the muscles in a fashion more suitable for what they are about to do. Static stretching (standing still) is for afterwards UNLESS you are extremely unflexible then agressive static stretches will be needed.

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Posted by Nic and Ant

How many days? 2 is probably right for both the wallet and the need.

Picking the trainer is the hard part. You will need to find somebody who is going to motivate you and help you produce results. Certifications and phyique should have NOTHING to do with your decision. While at the gym, observe the trainer with other clients. See how he/she acts.

things to notice:

What exercises are they doing?
() if a trainer is standing with a client (during session) while the client is on a treadmill - don't bother! I also say the same thing with curls (but that is a much longer post).

Is he/she quiet or constantly providing feeback?
() Form is never perfect. The trainer should be saying slow down, keep the elbows in and constntly be giving feedback

Is the trainer 'drifting?'
() The clients should be the trainers ONLY concern, if you see him/her checking somebody out, talking to other people (or whatnot) then stay away!

**Questions to ask a trainer. These are some that they should be able to answer (but many cannot). All are common problems but often overlooked. A good trainer or coach should be able to answer all of them.**

Q - What can you have me do to straighten out my shoulders? They seem to be rounded forward and the palms of my hands are facing my body when standing relaxed.

A - (If you are in the majority in regards to shoulders) He/She should reccomend external rotations exercises, strengthening posterior deltoids and the smaller muscles in the back and limit the internal rotator exercises (bench press, lat Pull-Downs). Also some agressive stretching if you are in the extreme tightness category.

Q - When squatting and lunging my knees bother me, should I stay away?

A - It is USUALLY a form issue. Many times the person is allowing the knee to cross the toe line and that causes knee pain. A person should 'break at the hip' (moving the butt backwards to keep a straigh shin line). The back should be arched. It could go further into the ankle comples or imbalances in the Hip Abductors / aductors (give him/her extra credit for mention those).

Q - How should I stretch before a workout

A - Dynamic before - static after. Dynamic stretching is moving stretching. It will loosen the muscles in a fashion more suitable for what they are about to do. Static stretching (standing still) is for afterwards UNLESS you are extremely unflexible then agressive static stretches will be needed.

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well said Ant! I wasted too much time and money on trainers that looked 'good' but would stand there, give me lame exercises that I was doing already (I would tell them I wanted to amp up my routine, not pay someone to watch me do the same old - I never said it like that, I'm nice - but you know what I mean) - or, and this got me - stand there and count my reps!!!

I gave up on trainers - luckily, FH is a fitness fanatic as well, so he helps me out for free when I need it!!

I go once a week but next month I am going twice a week

Each session is an hour

My trainer is also a class instructer and I take her classes 3 days a week