[OakDawg]

I went into the gym the other night and the guy behind the desk asked me if I wanted to save money on my membership. I was skeptical, but he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. So I signed up. With the deal I got I get 5 free one hour personal training sessions. I have no need for a trainer, I'm pretty well versed in excercise science, how to push myself and how to reach my goals. However, I'm always interested in new ideas and could use someone to bounce ideas off of.<br><br>
For those of you that use or have used personal trainers, how does a session usually go? If I give them a rough outline of what I'm doing and what my goals are, do you think they'd be willing to make suggestions as to what I could add or improve? How educated are these people? Are there certain things that they won't be willing to help me with?

 

[muzicgrl]

<br>
I think that really depends on the gym and who they hire. You could always just schedule one and see what happens before you decide about the other 4. If it was a waste of time at least you only wasted an hour!

 

[Horrible Peanut]

They're just going to use those five sessions to convince you to buy more sessions by criticising your current regime.<br><br>
Don't let them push you around.<br>
If he gets mouthy- don't be afraid to toss him into a full nelson for the count <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[refinnej10]

Maybe go in with a list of excercise types/workouts that you're familiar with and ask the trainer if there's something outside of that list they could recommend?<br><br>
For example, maybe you're really well versed in lifting, but don't know how to incorporate using the stability ball or something like that.<br><br>
I think that starting with a list of your goals and a rough outline of your plan for getting there is also a good idea (as you mentioned).<br><br>
You could also develop a list of questions that you know the answer to which you could pose to the trainer as a sort of pop-quiz to see if you're going to believe another word that comes out of their mouth.

 

[OakDawg]

I like that idea. Thanks <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[purple hayes]

Dear Penthouse Forum, I never thought this would happen to me, but...

 

[wyrillco]

Make sure they have a real certification. ACE and ACSM are good, I believe, but there are a lot of others out there that are a little sketchy.

 

[purple hayes]

Like CISSP? <img alt="surprised.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/surprised.gif">

 

[OakDawg]

If TG was a trainer at my gym, I'd have no worries.

 

[wyrillco]

<img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"><br><br>
QN is an ACE certified trainer. TJOCF is also certified, I'm sure, but I don't know who by...<br><br>
Maybe one of them will chime in.

 

[Stitcher]

My trainer at the gym has worked with me for almost 5 years now.<br>
She knows me....<br>
can tell when I'm getting "fluffy"<br>
and when I'm getting bored.<br><br>
She gets that I'll swim through almost anything, but that running is a struggle, still.<br><br>
I was VERY lucky to hit it off with her the first time we met, though.<br>
We are so comfortable with each other, that sometimes other members think we're sisters from the way we talk to each other. It's fun!

 

[QuixoticNotions]

ACSM, too. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
You'd want one certified by a NCCA-accredited program: ACE, ACSM, NASM, NSCA, NCSF, NFPT. And of course one with an outlook similar to yours doesn't hurt... someone you click with.<br>
There are good and bad personal trainers out there like anything else. They're free, right? Go in with your plan and your goals and see what they have to say. You know enough that you'll know the ones that are just ridiculous.<br>
If nothing else, you get some more input and someone pushing you.