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Times have definitely changed and personal trainers are not seen as such a luxury item any more by a lot of people... but for some the idea of hiring a trainer is way out of their realm of possibility.

And even more today, there are some amazing advances in technology and research that the top trainers would definitely be able to give an athlete of any type some good info to make their programs stronger and more efficient.

So, I am always curious to know why people DO or DO NOT hire a trainer.

Are there no intelligent trainers in your area or facility?
Do you think you have all the info you need?

Let me know what you think..
Billy

I have...
Beginning of September, 2008, after 20 years of my yo-yo workouts and hating my plateauing, I hired an ex-competitive bodybuilder, now a trainer/nutritionist. Best decision I have ever made, in regards to my keeping up my fitness regimen. I thought I had been doing everything right, and for the most part I had been, but she, yes, SHE (a female ex-competitive bodybuilder from the 80s and 90s) has re-taught me a lot about how I am lifting. In just over a year, I have seen better and faster gains than in the previous 20 years. It's been slow, but only because I am impatient to get in as good a shape as 99% of the guys on RealJock. And that I have the feelings of running out of time to enjoy being in shape. But after seeing and talking to a few 45-50+ year olds on this site, having that personal trainer is great. Plus, I have 2 goals: my 30th High School reunion is next summer, and as a former wallflower, I want to show all the jocks (including the dozen or so that I was in love with then) that have lost it, that I have prevailed... also the big 5-0 is in 2 and a half years...
So, as I am learning, it is never too late to take on a personal trainer. Make sure though, that he/she is VERY knowledgable, very professional.

I have one now. I've been seeing him for 13 weeks. We did new measurements yesterday and in that time I have lost 11cm from my waist, 6cm from my hips and 2cm from my chest and close to 8kgs in weight.

Why did I get one in the first place? Coz I was plateauing in my workouts and I wanted a program that was sport specific. While I have PT qualifications, I haven't done anything like that and figured I may as well hire someone who has. I do view it as a luxury but it's one I'm willing to pay for, even if it means going without other things (clothes, going out, etc). I view it as part of a whole lifestyle change, and I'm really glad I did it.

I have as well.

I have been working with a trainer for almost 2 1/2 years now, was 2x a week but we have moved it to 3x a week, on top of my other days I workout on my own the total is 5x a week, about 7 hours. My club has an all you can eat plan for personal training so it doesn't cost any more.

He is a NASM certified trainer, and does competitive weightlifting. For me I needed someone to really kick start my fitness program, I had basically been a desk jockey for 15 years and had added about 60 pounds of fat. Now I'm back down to 207 and feel better now than I ever have. My trainer changes our program frequently, gives me a program to follow on the days I don't work out with him, and he keeps me very motivated to keep pushing my limits. I'm doing things now I never thought I would be able to do. It's been a very positive experience and I wouldn't change it.

I think it is important to make sure you hook up with the right trainer, I get along with mine, and his focus is making sure I'm doing things with the correct form and that I'm always challenging myself.

I totally believe in using a trainer to achieve optimun results...I have worked with trainers since I first started working out at the age of 30 and weighed 130lbs at 6 ft....its been a long hard road to gain almost 50lbs of pretty good quality muscle...I studied every trainer for awhile in the gym...watching how ther worked with thier clients...how attuned they were to thier form and movement...and have worked with great guys...I've been with my current trainer for 3yrs next month...we do some crazy ship! Weights, plyo, endurance, tabata, bosu, bands....sometimes I feel like I'm training to join the circus...Today I worked with a 2nd trainer who I'm going to work with once a week doing more high rep, and cardio endurance to get rid of this stuborn 1 or 2 lbs...in addition i take the occational pilates class and walk and run the bleachers....I would love to have a nutritionist....but i eat really good, and don't really think thier would be much to change...Good Question!! I'm in SF often and will take note of your gym, and contact you for training...the problen I've encountered in using a new trainer for a one time deal is there usually don't work me hard enough(understanably due to fear of injury)

i have had 3 trainers:

trainer No 1 was a body builder...i was 150kg (planet sized) he halve my body weight befor he he quit as A PT

trainer no 2 : gay ...didnt want me to surpass him in his fitness and had me do stupid balance stuff for a year.................i fired him, i wanted mass not a stron core (yaht i already had)

trainer 3 : 4 weeks on holidays....in ireland.............saw i wasnt training my legs, i left ireland with legs that were in agony...AND very muscular....i learned alot from him


been without a trainer for 2 years and noiw thinking about getting another!.........i have talked to him, but i am going to do with him i never did with all the others..............interview him to see if he and I's objectives are the same or compatible!

reseaerch your trainers ...see and watch what thier clients become!.....the proof is in the pudding.

good luck

Not to hijack the thread but... Yes I'd hire a trainer..

I have no idea how to go about doing this though? I definitely don't want the ones hired by my local gym (LA Fitness.)

They seem to be uninterested and not certified.

I had a trainer until recently and got some good results, but not nearly as good as I wanted. I still learned a lot though. Unfortunately the company got kicked out of my gym and won't refund me or the other members for the unused sessions. Ugh.

I would recommend hiring a trainer though, especially for people just starting out in the gym.

DO NOT hire a trainer in a chain gym, like 24hr Fitness, LA Fitness, etc. Yes, they are certified, but train mostly average, overweight people that just want to follow through with their New Year's resolutions. They are also more like salespersons, at least at the 24hr chains, roping in members then giving them little or no training.

I suggest hiring a private trainer. Mine I mentioned above has her own private studio, with weights and equipment far superior than in a public gym, and maintained far better as well. Because of where I live, my sessions, about an hour and a half, are very cheap. She also owns a supplement store, with far better quality than say a GNC, or any of the other stores that are similar. I buy all my supp's from her, so she can monitor my progress with them.

I have no qualms about training with a female. She has almost 30 years experience, far more than a chain gym trainer (or most trainers that have never competed and do training more as a hobby). Plus her own workouts that she did while training to compete. I would put her up against ANY male trainer I have ever seen, heard, watched, read about, etc!!!!!!
If a female trainer is good at her job, DO NOT be a sexist idiot, they can be just as good, or better than, a male trainer!
I know that by next summer, my big goal, I will have significantly better photos to add to my profile here on RJ.

I feel like I hit a plateau. I'm bad at creating my own workout plans. So, I'm thinking of hiring a trainer for a few sessions to create me a new plan and to work out with him a couple of more times to ensure my form is correct on the new exercises.

Most trainers at commercial gyms are trainers on paper. By that I mean, they're certified and nothing more. They're either out of shape themselves, or they lack the ability to apply their knowledge when working with their clients. And I've seen a few trainers use their time with their clients to do their own workouts. Awful.

Would I get one? No. I've been lifting for over 10 years. I think I'm doing fine on my own. I'm willing to put the time/effort into doing my own research. The internet is full of information. And there are lots of fitness related communities/forums out there to pick some brains and ask questions. Some people are too busy for all that, and would rather have a trainer tell them what exercises to do and what foods to eat. Nothing wrong with that. To each his own.

However, if I was training for a particular sport, I'd hire a trainer that was actually experienced in that particular sport. No point in hiring a trainer with a bodybuilding background, if you're training for a triathlon, right?

Speaking of experience and background, Craigjd brings up a good point. Talk to your trainer and make sure he/she can help you achieve your goals. If you want to be muscular, then you should be hitting the weights and not pulling on rubber bands or balancing on balls. If your trainer can't deliver, then it's time to find a new one.

I have a trainer. After working out for quite sometime based on varios workout routines available in magazines and online, but not seeing much difference, I decided to get one. He is simply amazing. Other than designing a great routine, he is a fun guy who continuously keeps making workouts fun. After starting to train under him I even joined a couple of classes he was taking at my gym.

if I had the money...

Hey, this is a great thread...something I've been contemplating as well! Can those of you who've hired trainers give some additional information:
-# of sessions per week?
-or what sort of schedule do you maintain?
-train at their gym or your's?
-rough cost per session?

thanks, I've been considering this as well as I need something to kick start my workouts again...

I hope to hire a trainer again. I had one for about 6 months and it was the best thing I have done to help my workouts; I learned a lot from a great trainer at Ballys in Virginia Beach. The main roadblock for me is economical. A good trainer is definitely worth the price, it's just a price I can't always afford.

Having a trainer is a GREAT way to get back on track with a fresh workout program and accountability in nutrition (which plays a huge role in your fitness results). If you're in the L.A. area and need a trainer, then I'm your guy!

I worked with one in chile, but was not super overwhelmed. I´m going to work with a guy I know in the UK for a bit, but I can´t do it every week because of cost (and it kinda gets on my nerves... I don´t need the help discipline wise)

I recently hired a trainer at my gym. I see some guys are saying not to do that, but obviously it depends on the trainer. I got back from 2 months in New Zealand, and my ex- was looking noticeably more ripped and strong then when I left. So I hired the same trainer he did and I've been very happy. I've also hired a coach for Ironman training. Again, a good trainer/coach is worth whatever you pay them!

I would hire a personal trainer, because even though I love working out I am a little ADD when it comes to the weights. Cardio and swimming I can stick to with ease, but training with weights I tend to notice that I don´t do them fully, and I do need someone there to 1) show me how to properly do the exercises and 2) to push me!

have thought about it, but tough to find a good one.

I have one now - and have for the past 9 months or so.
I've had to go through a few to find one that worked for me.

I have the trainer for 2 main reasons: 1) I have a really hectic schedule and don't want to have to plan out a workout schedule, I like to be able to delegate that and just show up and do whatever he has planned for the day and 2) I wouldn't push myself as much if alone, and would probably convince myself that I was "too tired", or "would go later" etc...and miss days here and there.

We meet for an hour 3x/wk and he gives me homework for 3 other days of the week. With Sunday off.

It get's expensive but it's worth it to me -- and in my geographic area it's probably a lot cheaper than in some regions.

After taking off the weight I gained back, my gym offered a good deal,so I chose Adam. He is in great shape and makes me work. Since I have a left hip replacement,through him I found out that I am not strong enough and need to strengthen the muscles that were cut,years ago. He is well educated in this area & pushes me to make choices.Plus,he is easy on the eyes...

I've had a few trainers and from my experience its a real hit and miss affair.

My advice is:

- Get someone around your own age, sex and body type
- Be VERY specific about what you want to achieve. It makes both them and you more accountable.
- Avoid the trainers at chain gyms. They are more salespeople than anything else, many with very minimal qualifications. Having said that, I found my best trainer at a chain gym, but even he used to slag of the other trainers he worked with.
- If you are not getting results them give them the boot. I wasted a lot of time with trainers waiting for them to come up with the magic formula that would work for me. They never did.
- Above all, look for someone who actually likes you as a person, and who is interested in you as well. It will make a big difference if there is a bit of chemistry there.

After reaching a plateau in my own workouts, I started working w/a personal trainer. It's been 2 months & the change in routine is just what I needed!

A personal trainer provides you with a an objective perspective on your progress and can see gains you don't recognize or improvements you need.

My guy is the best! He's extremely knowledgeable and has got me on a "strip down to build up" program-- completely different from what I thought I wanted/needed and the change has been incredible! Endurance has increased dramatically and he pushes me beyond my expectations--just what I need!

You need to communicate clearly w/your trainer & let him/her know exactly what you want to achieve & make sure that he/she is blunt about what you really need--you'll be surprised at what they see that you don't.

I also prefer that mine is straight. Keeps things strictly business. (yeah, yeah, I'll probably get a lot of flak for this, but it's my preference.)

Only problem is the cost! In Brazil, personal trainers are provided for free by the gym as it's just common sense to prevent members from hurting themselves at the gym.

I'm lucky in that I teach mine English in exchange for personal training, so it's win-win!

Just a tip if you do work out in a chain gym and have to go in that direction - you can learn a lot about someone's knowledge and dedication to craft by watching the trainers interact with their clients. It can help you eliminate a lot of people right off the bat, and from there you ask questions of the prospective trainers to see what they know and what their credentials might be.

Also, the point made earlier about avoiding trainers who are not in shape themselves is spot on.

I just don't trust or respect any of the trainers I have come in contact with. From my view you pretty much have these really fit attractive people who tell other not so attractive how to workout without giving them a solid nutritional foundation or being able to relate to the emotional aspects of being heavy and unattractive.

I may not be the most built guy at my gym or have the tightest abs but I'm convinced that I have made the largest transformation in the last two months and the largest transformation overall and without using a personal trainer to get there.

Don't get me wrong, a personal trainer is great for form and spotting you but this idea that a trainer perfecting ones form or doing chest presses on a stability ball is going to be that special "trick" to accomplish what people dream of is not realistic.

I think a good trainer is a must for any guy wanting to achieve his personal best. I have had the best of the best trainers and lifting coaches from my H20-polo days, and they're the reason I'm in the shape I'm in for this age. I'm not saying I'm perfect - no way - just grateful for all I learned from them.

I am a personal trainer, I have always done group work though because I prefer the social aspect of it
I run marathons, do triathlons, compete regionally in tae kwon do, cycle/spin, box, am a dancer and do cardio kick boxing.
I train because it's fulfilling. I focus predominantly on helping friends lose weight and get a base level of fitness.

I find that relationship unbelievably fulfilling and I love helping people I care about feel stronger, sleep better and feel better about themselves. And I do it for literally a fraction of what a someone who doesn't love them will charge. Why do I charge? Because people are motivated when they shell out money, they are giving you license to make them work for what they want.

On any level whether it is to get a base level of fitness, establish new life patterns for exercise and nutrition or whether it's to get ripped or be a contender in an athletic field, a personal trainer is exactly that, "personal" and it should be treated as such. There has to be trust, communication and support not for a month or two but as an ongoing commitment to another.

Otherwise, your just being bossed around.

That said, I realize I am way to invested in my clients to do it as a career...

I don't have a PT. First I don't think there are alot of good trainers in my area. Secondly I feel confident right now in my ability to make gains on my own. I will say that I would like someone there to push me and spot me on heavy lifts. Someone to talk to and support you is a great thing too. My fear with getting a personal trainer is that I would get hooked up with a know it all who would insist on doing everything his or her way. I know what i am doing and know what i want. Its their job to help me get there.

i'm considering to hire at least to get me started and maybe for good if i like him, you know hehe. Anyone know the ballpark rates of good looking trainers these days? I'm in NJ.

Hey just ran into this thread and thought it was interesting that there are so many opinions about the benefits and liabilities of personal trainers, but not much about the alternatives.

The reason I joined this site was--call me crazy--because of the fitness articles! Really, there is some good sh*t on this site. Some of the video demos show you how to do an exercise as well as most PT would, and it's free!!

Yeah of course a trainer is invaluable if you are
A) a newbie
B) have an injury or some problematic issue
C) have hit a plateau that you can't get over

But by and large I think they are not necessary for the majority of guys on here who work out 3 or more times a week and know what they are doing. So am I the only guy who uses online info like this site and others to help educate myself regarding form and exercises??

Hey there. Thought I'd give my two cents here, since I've been working out with a trainer for the past 10 months.

I had always been super skinny and had gotten into running in my early 30s. I ran my first marathon two years ago and had started lifting weights on my own, but didn't really know what I was doing and wasn't making any progress after a while. Once I had enough dough, I decided to hire a trainer. I've had two of them over the past 10 months, and I've seen them 3 times per week. I've made a ton of progress, and now I'm finally ready to be set free and do it all on my own.

My advice to anyone interested, especially at the chain gyms (I work out at New York Sports Club, which is very hit or miss for the trainers; there are even a couple of fat ones, which just boggles my mind): Spend some time watching all the trainers at your gym. Who has the body type you want? Who has clients that look good? Who has clients that don't look good? Which trainers look really engaged with their clients and which ones are texting on their cell phones or checking out the hot guys/girls while the client is doing reps? Who is ALWAYS there and super busy? If they're always busy, always working, look great and their clients look good--then you should chat them up. They will give you a free session to see how you like it and tell you what they can do for you. If you don't think it's a match, then don't be afraid to say no and try someone else. It's a lot of money to pay, so you should work with someone you like and who is effective.

One more piece of advice: A lot of these trainers are not reliable schedule-wise. Don't be afraid to fire someone if they don't show up or are often late. A problem like that will only get worse.

But once you get it right, working with a trainer can teach you a lot and can get you to places in your training that you didn't know you were ready to go. I highly recommend it for anyone who has the time and the money and is feeling a little bit at sea.

I would love to hire a PT but the cost is prohibitive to me. Even the low cost trainers (which I'd be skeptical about) start at about 2.5 times the cost of my monthly gym membership and that's for a single session.

I simply read everything I could get my hands on and filtered out the enormous amount of bad writing and bad advice with research. I paid attention to the common concepts which amount to the fundamentals. I watched what the guys with the bodies I aspired to did and kept in mind what their age was. I also read up on the real science of training and muscular development as well as nutrition and and kept abreast of new research (that was peer reviewed.)

I'd love to work with a trainer, but it's just too expensive for me right now.

Yes, I would suggest hiring a tainer, but it depends on what you want. Observe what the guy/gal looks like. Ask questions.

If you want to get big and bulky, hire a trainer that is big and bulky and he will show you the correct way to do standad kinds of weight lifting exercises.

If you want to trim down and loose weight, hire a trainer that specializes in that.

In my case, I didn't want to get any bigger or bulkier, so I contacted a trainer who is lean, defined and flexible looking. I explained to him that I wanted to learn new exercises that would improve posture, flexibility, balance and fluidity in movement. I also wanted to learn exercises that resembled movements that I do in everyday life and work, like twisting and bending and breathing right.

I purchased a 10 session pack...used only 6 of them. The trainer complimented me on my progress, told me he has taught me everything he possibly could, and then referred me to another trainer that specialized in pilates and the "core".

I'm happy with the results and have used what I learned to invent other exercises. The human body is designed to move in many different ways so anytime you are using any muscles with resistance in any movement/direction, it helps.

I have had two trainers. The first had been over 300lbs and lost about 120lbs--that was what I needed since I was about 320 when I started with him. At the time I had trouble moving because of muscular pain. We spent months on flexibility with active isolated stretching which loosened my hips enough that I could do squats. It was the combination of strength training and flexibility that helped my back in combination with physical therapy. Unfortunately, he was about 20 years younger than I and had unrealistic ideas about how much strength training I could do. To lose the weight I needed to do the gastric bypass because I could never get enough energy to work out and make meals at home.

Currently I'm 5'11" and 220. I would like to lose about 20lbs. I am working with a trainer
(female) who is very smart and very good. I am working on core strength and flexibility at Lifetime Fitness. I am taking fitness areas sequentially because I just can't do it all at once. I play racquetball and do some cardio. I am postponing the strength training until I feel my core is strong enough. At 52 years old, I feel pretty good and enjoy life. Yes, I recommend personal training. It is helpful to match the trainer to your needs, to find out if the trainer is willing and able to help you reach your goals, not theirs.

In a heart beat.
Two things: 1. Money 2. I think it would be hard to find someone.
Things I am looking for: Educated, Realistic, Engaged, Demanding, Back ground in Excercise and Nutrition, Very Creative

If I didn't have a trainer waiting for me at the gym three days a week, I'd never set foot in the gym.

paradox saidIf I didn't have a trainer waiting for me at the gym three days a week, I'd never set foot in the gym.

That's exactly why I need one! Motivation!

I have a trainer - see him 2x a week, do the other 3x a week solo.

Why I like him:
1) he's pretty good at mixing things up so that my muscles get regular 'shocks' and I don't get bored/unmotivated . . . and
2) I don't have a workout buddy so it helps having him there to yell at me AND get the weight off me when I've hit failure..

At the turn of this year something in me changed (perhaps midlife crisis?) and I accepted that my remarkable self-discipline when applied to work ethic completely fails me when applied to pursuing a healthy lifestyle (yes, I needed about 10 years to come to this realization).

The Internet was great in terms of getting tips for hiring a personal trainer. I found a site here where professionals self-advertise, I made a list of my goals and my availability and what I thought I might like/dislike, I contacted and interviewed three PTs and... of the two I preferred I went with the one I could afford (a the cost of cuts elsewhere of course).

In the 8 weeks until my birthday we met three times a week - once to run, once to do a mixture of calisthenics and once to box) - and I lost 9.5 kilos (20 pounds more or less). Most of it was fat, about a half-kilo of muscle too. Then we shifted to more intense muscle building.

10 months later I have never felt better. I have never looked better. At 42 I get more attention than I got in my 20s. My sex life (including with my husband of 14 years) has improved remarkably.

If you're one of those people like me who lack the self-discipline to get the results you want on your own then I think hiring a PT who you feel you can trust is a better investment than nearly anything else you could buy!

I hired a trainer cause I'm pretty novice - I was doing "men's health" routines which were fine, but I wasn't getting the results I want. I go to gold's, yes it's a corporate gym, and they do try to sell me shit, but I'm usually a cheap bastard. My trainer competes, he's my height, and has the build I want, and is straight - which I find he's more into teaching techniques and form than vanity stuff.

I've been going for 2 months now, and I've definitely been seeing results, I lost a bunch of belly and gained a bunch more definition and strength. They're totally worth it for the experience but watch the cost.

In DC, corporate trainers are $80-$100/hr depending on the gym, the trainer, and how many you bought. I have friends who go to "boutique" gyms with trainers going from $50-$80/hr. Shop around, interview, see what's right, and don't get caught into a contract if you're not sure.

Nope I seem to be fitter than most in my city
I'll take my chances by training myself

I'd like to. I'm thjinking of getting one at my school. It would be one of the ones that the school is training in their degree programs. I'd like to gain 10lbs in my upper body.

Only into month 2 but it's been an excellent investment. I pay for 5 sessions a month for my partner....and for the first time in his life, he's dedicated. He even uses his program when he's travelling for work because his trainer has customized an on-the-road program for him.

I train myself and I could have trained my partner but giving the job to a pro was what finally got him to take his training seriously.

I've been with my trainer for 2.5 years. He is great, although I had 3 other crappy trainers before I got to the current one. The best part is he doesn't try to sell me supplements (a lot of trainers at chain gyms have sales quotas) and helps set realistic goals.

When picking a trainer- he/she should be 100% committed to your fitness goals and help keep track and teach you to maintain your new lifestyle. I saw a guy a month ago "working out" with his trainer. He was on a stair machine for 15 minutes and the trainer was on his phone on the other side of the gym. I told him to get his money back.

Happy trainer hunting.

I'm halfway through my 66-session plan with a trainer at my gym and I feel that it's paying off-- I've bulked up more on the top than I suspect I would have on my own and having someone to hold me accountable keeps me from slacking off like I have too often in the past when just working out by myself. And when I did everything on my own if I got really sore I slacked off, if I got injured I pretty much bailed out for months at a time, and I didn't really enjoy myself. But I have a pretty good rapport with my trainer, he pushes me to work harder, he adjusted my routine when I hurt my back, and it's actually kinda fun working with him-- I laugh a lot during our sessions (him too) which I never did just slogging along solo. Plus.. well, full disclosure.. the fact that he's crazy hot makes it a lot easier to haul my butt to the gym and spend those three hours a week with him. Getting a shape more like his is one of my motivations and since he did it to himself he has some ideas about how to move me in that direction.

All in all, I find that it's worth it. Though I'll be better-positioned to say for certain in another 11 weeks or so.

No... I never have a personal trainer. I don't need them.

I went through WITS(World Instructor Training) and got my certification for about the same price as hiring a PT for a month. I have used it to help myself and a few friends, but now I would never need to hire one.