How many of you use a personal trainer?

[The Rock!]

I notice in the gym the really jacked guys never use a trainer, Now its my thought that these guys know the movements and how to properly execute them so they don't really need it until its contest time.

But then again, I see wannabe meatheads slamming weights down and have no clue as to what they are doing. So I was wondering how many of you guys use a PT.

[Noles12]

I have never used one in my life but i see no porblem in it if they are truly a good trainer.

I have learned what works over years in the gym and personal research.

A trainer can be great for guidance if you arent sure of proper lifts and are just starting out. I feel many guys in the gym could use some guidance from what i see

[Windex]

I personally use a trainer specifically to improve form and give a little guidance and working on technique. Extremely beneficial comparative to having other people showing you where you're more likely to inherit their lifting mistakes and youtube is mediocre at best.

[Damuscleman2011]

I am some what new, or at leasr gettin back into the gym, so yes I am looking into getting a PT.

[wmaousley]

I do, and that's only because it comes with my membership package. Otherwise I wouldnt!!!!!!

[lifter65]

gottta be careful about pt's, many are trash, but some are gems

[t-gunz]

a lot of guys that are very big prob did get a trainer or at least online so once they get enough knowledge the can go solo.

[pebble]

It is a lot smarter to get a strength coach than a personal trainer.

[Windex]

It is a lot smarter to get a strength coach than a personal trainer.

Completely false. The best trainer is the one who is the most knowledgeable, won't jerk you around for your money, and is best suited to achieve your goals. There are tons of useless ones who get their certificate online or understand less than the average Kineseology student and then there are the gems.

[pebble]

Completely false. The best trainer is the one who is the most knowledgeable, won't jerk you around for your money, and is best suited to achieve your goals. There are tons of useless ones who get their certificate online or understand less than the average Kineseology student and then there are the gems.

In either case you would make sure to get someone good at what they do (knowledgeable) so that's a moot point. What I am suggesting is the average person will get more out of spending an hour with a strength coach than a personal trainer.

Edit - Generally strength coaches have more education required to get their cert - CSCS vs. ACE

[PurpleOnes]

I haven't used personal trainerI don't have currently money for that. I want to become one. Mainly I want to help people achieve personal goals.

[Black]

I haven't used one and don't really ever plan on it. All but one at my gym don't seem to know much (when I watch how they train). It doesn't seem like they try to push their clients or motivate them. I don't know. I know if I was a trainer, I would work my clients ass off. The more they feel and gain, the more they'll come back to you and the more money you'll have.

As far as which certifications are desired (CSCS, online, etc.), I don't think that is as important as some may think. I know plenty of people who have gone to school to get their BS or MS, and I wouldn't listen to shit they have to say. It proves to me that anyone can go to college. How many people do you know that went to college and now suck ass at their job?

I would look more at their physique and (if they are good), pictures of their clients. There is a trainer in my area who used to play college football and was also a college wrestler. He has his ISSA PT cert (online) and is TRX Trainer certified. This guy is in tremendous shape and he has trained all types of athletes (from high school, college and some pro). He runs his own fitness studio and company. So education and certs don't always mean someone is better.

[Das Boot]

never used one i always chat up the guys that look redonkules in the gym and ask to work with them and try and keep up and throw a few questions in through the casual banter.

[jimmyinkedup]

Quick story re: a personal trainer. I trained for years without one. Alone , with some amazing partners and made great progress. Got certified on my own - for my own edification - not to work as a PT - figured i knew all i needed too and stayed up on new techniques and so on. I was self motivated and pushed as hard as i could always (or so i thought). Then i met a guy that changed my opinion on what makes a good trainer and how to judge. My perception was , like someone above said look at the trainers pyhsique etc. I saw trainers so out of shape i wouldnt let them train my dog. Then I met Big Bob. He was about 9 years older than me and fat. Had to be 330 - we started talking and he said he wanted to train me - no charge. I blew him off a few times and finally I agreed to "work out with him"- mainly to get him off my back. He showed up with a gym bag full of all different handles and chains and hooks to attach to machines I was like "oh christ". Long and short of it - i ended up having him train me for 6 months. He pushed me farther than i thought i could go - even compared to training with partners in the past i felt surely got my best.... they didnt - he did. He had me do so many exercises i never did - old school stuff...chains attached to lat pulls down for back , jefferson lifts , using incline benches to do cable crossovers and many, many more. I hit my muscle groups from so many angles - always varied workouts , pushed harder than i ever thought possible and made the best progress of my life. He had me doing some off the wall stuff - people used to look and after 4 months of training he had others asking him to train them. My progress was evident and people noticed. This was 7 years ago or so id say and I still to this day keep in touch with him but he moved to cali and believe it or not trains some college and a couple pro football players! Anyway it can be tough to find a good trainer but this guy who , if i went by apperance, i would never let train me , taught me so much and helped me attain the best gains of my life. To this day i encorporate things he taught me and regularly pass them on to people i train with.
My point - well rather than how they look - look at how they focus on their clients - this guy was 100% focused on me , what i was doing , how i was doing it , and pushing me to the max and past. He cared - and it seems to me was giving as much as i was while he was working me out. Also look at how their clients look more so than how they look. PT's are a dime a dozen - good ones are hard to find - this guy changed my impressions of who can benefit from a trainer and what to look for in one.

[Black]

^Good points jimmy. When you became certified, what certification did you get?

[rodosman]

I dont personally used a PT, but I think PT's can be extremely useful are used at every level from beginner to professional level.

[PK-V]

Quick story re: a personal trainer. I trained for years without one. Alone , with some amazing partners and made great progress. Got certified on my own - for my own edification - not to work as a PT - figured i knew all i needed too and stayed up on new techniques and so on. I was self motivated and pushed as hard as i could always (or so i thought). Then i met a guy that changed my opinion on what makes a good trainer and how to judge. My perception was , like someone above said look at the trainers pyhsique etc. I saw trainers so out of shape i wouldnt let them train my dog. Then I met Big Bob. He was about 9 years older than me and fat. Had to be 330 - we started talking and he said he wanted to train me - no charge. I blew him off a few times and finally I agreed to "work out with him"- mainly to get him off my back. He showed up with a gym bag full of all different handles and chains and hooks to attach to machines I was like "oh christ". Long and short of it - i ended up having him train me for 6 months. He pushed me farther than i thought i could go - even compared to training with partners in the past i felt surely got my best.... they didnt - he did. He had me do so many exercises i never did - old school stuff...chains attached to lat pulls down for back , jefferson lifts , using incline benches to do cable crossovers and many, many more. I hit my muscle groups from so many angles - always varied workouts , pushed harder than i ever thought possible and made the best progress of my life. He had me doing some off the wall stuff - people used to look and after 4 months of training he had others asking him to train them. My progress was evident and people noticed. This was 7 years ago or so id say and I still to this day keep in touch with him but he moved to cali and believe it or not trains some college and a couple pro football players! Anyway it can be tough to find a good trainer but this guy who , if i went by apperance, i would never let train me , taught me so much and helped me attain the best gains of my life. To this day i encorporate things he taught me and regularly pass them on to people i train with.
My point - well rather than how they look - look at how they focus on their clients - this guy was 100% focused on me , what i was doing , how i was doing it , and pushing me to the max and past. He cared - and it seems to me was giving as much as i was while he was working me out. Also look at how their clients look more so than how they look. PT's are a dime a dozen - good ones are hard to find - this guy changed my impressions of who can benefit from a trainer and what to look for in one.

Especially true for veteran PT's

I myself have never got a PT as I am one lol

If someone offers me PT session I tell them if they can teach me one new piece of information I will pay them. If I learn nothing new then.... good luck

[wmaousley]

Quick story re: a personal trainer. I trained for years without one. Alone , with some amazing partners and made great progress. Got certified on my own - for my own edification - not to work as a PT - figured i knew all i needed too and stayed up on new techniques and so on. I was self motivated and pushed as hard as i could always (or so i thought). Then i met a guy that changed my opinion on what makes a good trainer and how to judge. My perception was , like someone above said look at the trainers pyhsique etc. I saw trainers so out of shape i wouldnt let them train my dog. Then I met Big Bob. He was about 9 years older than me and fat. Had to be 330 - we started talking and he said he wanted to train me - no charge. I blew him off a few times and finally I agreed to "work out with him"- mainly to get him off my back. He showed up with a gym bag full of all different handles and chains and hooks to attach to machines I was like "oh christ". Long and short of it - i ended up having him train me for 6 months. He pushed me farther than i thought i could go - even compared to training with partners in the past i felt surely got my best.... they didnt - he did. He had me do so many exercises i never did - old school stuff...chains attached to lat pulls down for back , jefferson lifts , using incline benches to do cable crossovers and many, many more. I hit my muscle groups from so many angles - always varied workouts , pushed harder than i ever thought possible and made the best progress of my life. He had me doing some off the wall stuff - people used to look and after 4 months of training he had others asking him to train them. My progress was evident and people noticed. This was 7 years ago or so id say and I still to this day keep in touch with him but he moved to cali and believe it or not trains some college and a couple pro football players! Anyway it can be tough to find a good trainer but this guy who , if i went by apperance, i would never let train me , taught me so much and helped me attain the best gains of my life. To this day i encorporate things he taught me and regularly pass them on to people i train with.
My point - well rather than how they look - look at how they focus on their clients - this guy was 100% focused on me , what i was doing , how i was doing it , and pushing me to the max and past. He cared - and it seems to me was giving as much as i was while he was working me out. Also look at how their clients look more so than how they look. PT's are a dime a dozen - good ones are hard to find - this guy changed my impressions of who can benefit from a trainer and what to look for in one.

So very true and thank you for sharing your experience. As another example take a look at Sibil Peeters who trains alot of top IFBB PRO's, she is as big as a toothpick and has been around since Jesus was a baby. I am sure alot of people don't know about her, and if they were approached by her she would be turned down as you said based off her looks.