is a personal trainer worth it?

[Julz]

Not to knock Josh or anyone else on here who is a PT, but is it really worth it? The gym I just joined is a good deal at $35 a month (thanks to corporate discount). Tonight I had a free session with a PT and of course at the end he tried selling me the service. Another $149 one time fee and then $39 per session, minimum of 4 sessions per month. That's a lot of dough! He "talked to his boss" aka he left the desk for a few minutes, who knows if he really did call his boss, and said that they can take it down to 2 sessions per month still at $39 each. I said I really need to think it about it and talk it over with my bf (who is nonexistent..it kinda just came out haha), so he is giving me another free session on Monday. I think I'd rather just buy one of those little BMI handheld things and thats it. They have PT's standing around the floor anyway if I were to need to ask a question or something.

[E36Guy]

I went on the PT trial at LA Fitness when I first got the membership and the price they told me at the end.. No... not worth it to me. Idk, maybe its just me.

[count_schemula]

I regret it so far.

I say that while admitting I need a lot of what they have to offer, but so far, my enthusiasm has been replaced by the sick feeling that I just wasted a lot of money.

My advice, join the gym, and just keep an eye on things. You can always sign-up for a trainer, YOU CANNOT UNSIGN UP FOR ONE.

[Sportsmedjosh]

No problem Julz. While I do personal training, I'm a kinesiologist my main focus is physiology and biomechanics. My main research interest is aerospace physiology and reducing body density loss in space.


I think you will also notice a good trainer from a bad trainer, my approach is to help individuals learn as much as they possibly can so they no longer need me. IMHO a good trainer is the one who is working to be unemployed.

[count_schemula]

Originally Posted by Sportsmedjosh

I think you will also notice a good trainer from a bad trainer, my approach is to help individuals learn as much as they possibly can so they no longer need me. IMHO a good trainer is the one who is working to be unemployed.

I agree, and what really gets me is, that is more or less what I admitted I was after (3-4 months), and after the high of working out wore off, I realized that they had ZERO interest in helping me get what I wanted/needed and EVERYTHING to do with trapping me in their scheme.

It's my fault, for being such a wide eyed puppy about it, but, at this point, I'd have to say it's more about their sales system and less about truly happy satisfied customers.

I will work harder to improve the situation on my end, but I will always feel a little scammed by the whole deal, which is a shame really.

[Julz]

Originally Posted by count_schemula

I realized that they had ZERO interest in helping me get what I wanted/needed and EVERYTHING to do with trapping me in their scheme.

That's how I felt when I left last night. At first I really thought he had my needs in mind but after I said multiple times that I needed to think about committing $300 up front and then $150 a month for a year on top of the gym membership, he basically turned into a salesman trying to be all crafty "calling his boss" to "see what he could do".

[Sportsmedjosh]

Originally Posted by Julz

That's how I felt when I left last night. At first I really thought he had my needs in mind but after I said multiple times that I needed to think about committing $300 up front and then $150 a month for a year on top of the gym membership, he basically turned into a salesman trying to be all crafty "calling his boss" to "see what he could do".

Thats sad, please tell me you guys just didn't do machines the entire time also.

[Julz]

we spent about 20 minutes going over past workouts, what did work what didn't work, my level of commitment, goals etc. Then we did the various machines/free weights for 30 minutes or so, then was the sales pitch. No cardio. I have another free session on Monday so we'll see what we do then.

[Sportsmedjosh]

Keep us updated.

[davdrums3d]

I had the SAME experience as E36Guy... since we were both there. This big buff guy showed us a couple of machines. No freeweights. No cardio. My main focus is losing weight, but it didn't seem he was focused on that at all. After about 10 min or so of that we went to his desk and out came the sales pitch.

I really would have liked a PT. I like the idea of someone telling you what needs to be done. Oh well. I'll do it on my own then!

[E36Guy]

Originally Posted by davdrums3d

I had the SAME experience as E36Guy... since we were both there. This big buff guy showed us a couple of machines. No freeweights. No cardio. My main focus is losing weight, but it didn't seem he was focused on that at all. After about 10 min or so of that we went to his desk and out came the sales pitch.

I really would have liked a PT. I like the idea of someone telling you what needs to be done. Oh well. I'll do it on my own then!

I totally forgot that he didnt even mention anything up the upstairs portion (all cardio equipment). He just shows us the machines and said that's pretty much all we'd need to be doing..

[Julz]

Originally Posted by E36Guy

I totally forgot that he didnt even mention anything up the upstairs portion (all cardio equipment). He just shows us the machines and said that's pretty much all we'd need to be doing..

The personal trainer I had said that weight loss is 50% weight training, 40% food and 10% cardio. Maybe that's why?

[count_schemula]

I had a better experience today.

It's still not where I want it to be, but, I can def say that she pushed me harder than I would have by myself.

[Joefitnesstails]

Totally depends on the trainer and the chemistry between Trainer/client

Atmosphere and surrounding attitude of the place matter a whole lot I think.