Still on vacay- this post was written in advance
Today, I'm happy to have a guest post from Trainer Rob. I just finished my first 12 week program with him, and you guys have seen the results! I get a lot of emails from people asking me questions about personal trainers and such, so I asked Rob if he'd mind writing up his thoughts on personal training and how to find one that works for you. I have exercised without a trainer and with a trainer… no matter which way you do it, you can find success! The key is to just get in the habit- make exercising a mandatory part of your routine. I never thought 12 weeks ago that I would be someone who worked out 5 days a week, without fail, but it's mandatory for me now. Yes, I am pushing myself, but I also am being pushed by Rob, and that's something that I needed. You might not need that, and that's wonderful! But take a look at what he has to say.
Hi Skinny Emmie blog readers! I am Trainer Rob and am honored to guest blog while Emmie is on a much deserved vacation. I want to address some key issues you should be focusing on when looking for a trainer.
First, you should know that I myself have a personal trainer. People at the gym ask me all the time, “why would a trainer have a trainer?” Well, I do not claim to know everything! The knowledge and expertise of my trainer is priceless to me. I love the extra push I get from my workout with my trainer. And I love the accountability which admittedly is no longer about my weight and more about my intensity.
Here are some thoughts on a few specific issues with personal trainers:
1) Finances: I respect everyone's personal budget! And I understand that not everyone can afford to train once per week or even once per month. But, I also know that EVERYONE can cut a few things out of their budget to make it more attainable! How so? Well, a good trainer will be willing to draft a custom program for you that will last 8 -12 weeks. They should be willing to email you video links to specific moves listed. Let's assume you stay on a program for 12 weeks… that is 4 programs a year at say $50 per program. $200 per year for custom workouts designed by a professional. 54 cents a day! Cut out one diet soda and there is your training money.
2) Make sure there is more than just a “training” session. Of course, your trainer will work you out, supervise your form and push you hard. But make sure they don't just have you sign the log book and say “see you next week.” If you are not going to be on a specific custom program at the bare minimum make sure they are going to give you weekly homework in between meetings.
3) Ask the trainer to explain their overall theory. A good trainer should always have a methodology. I believe that exercise dictates diet and health. When I explain this to clients, I try and push them hard to be mindful of their eating habits. And working hard at the gym will help dictate a stronger mind. It is hard to binge eat pizza the night before a tough high intensity cardio day!
4) Ask the trainer to explain how they plan on implementing their theories with a specific methodology. For example: I use a heart rate based interval training system for cardio training that increases aerobic endurance and is guaranteed to force you to think twice about picking up that piece of cheesecake. My weight lifting programs are custom designed but also are challenging. The gym is a place to work hard for 45-60 minutes 4-6 days per week. Make sure the trainer is helping you to do that.
5) Move the muscle not the weight!
Ask your trainer how much they can bench press. Why? Well, the answer to this question will tell you a lot about them. My answer is a) who cares and b) it depends how many reps I am doing and how much chest work proceeded the press. If they answer “315 pounds” – interview more trainers. Weight lifting is about form and not weight. The harder you contract the muscle the better off you will be. You will isolate your muscles better and save yourself a lot of joint pain. Make sure they emphasize form over weight!
6) Try their method for at least 12 weeks. I offer a $99 trial pack (3 sessions) as part of a marketing package in order to get new people to try my training. It is a good deal considering the client gets a custom program and 3 one hour sessions. Some people continue on and train further and of course some were looking to learn as much as they can for just the $99. The people who did not train further…well, I just hope they tried my system for the prescribed 12 weeks despite not “training” with me. There are no quick fixes! Try your trainers method for 12 weeks before you decide if you like it or not. And if you didn't follow everything they suggested well, don't blame them if it didn't work 😉
If you guys have any other questions, you can always email me… [email protected]
You can also leave comments here as well. But if you have more specific questions, Rob is great about corresponding through email. I promise he won't bite! I'd also like to know in the comments: have you used a personal trainer before? Do you use one now? Discuss amongst yourselves and I'll hop back in when I'm back from vacay!
