First time at the gym - personal trainer?
Discussion
Hi,
Looking to get myself down the gym asap, 30 odd yrs old and never stepped foot in the place, looking to build strength so going for weight / resistance based training, would it be ideal to get a PT so that I get the basics right? I am planning on attending mon / wed / fri so I was thinking either get the PT to go through my first 6 sessions or once a week for 6 weeks.
Thoughts?
Looking to get myself down the gym asap, 30 odd yrs old and never stepped foot in the place, looking to build strength so going for weight / resistance based training, would it be ideal to get a PT so that I get the basics right? I am planning on attending mon / wed / fri so I was thinking either get the PT to go through my first 6 sessions or once a week for 6 weeks.
Thoughts?
PTs can be a bit iffy. If you have no clue then they should be good enough to get you started.
If you feel the need to take the next step, it's worth the effort to get a PT recommended by 'someone who knows' at your gym- research properly. Some we see at your typical 'lifestyle gym' (which I frequent) are at the least naive, IMO sometimes potentially dangerous.
Having said that, you're correct thinking solid, professional advice is beneficial.
If you feel the need to take the next step, it's worth the effort to get a PT recommended by 'someone who knows' at your gym- research properly. Some we see at your typical 'lifestyle gym' (which I frequent) are at the least naive, IMO sometimes potentially dangerous.
Having said that, you're correct thinking solid, professional advice is beneficial.
As have been said a lot of PT are not much cop. There are some who have done sports science degrees and have a good grounding in it, others seem to have done one BTEC and think they are experts. I watched the PTs in my gym the other day standing texting on his phone whilst his client was don doing dead lifts with a bent spine. I thought the whole point of a PT is that they show you how to do it PROPERLY!
Most of the large gym chains (Virgin, Bannatynes etc.) will give you an induction, show you how to use the kit, and give you a basic workout plan.
I am a member of Virgin and they do this. They also review it every 6 weeks.
Personal trainers are very expensive (approx £30/hour) and there is no need for a beginner.
Most of the large gym chains (Virgin, Bannatynes etc.) will give you an induction, show you how to use the kit, and give you a basic workout plan.
I am a member of Virgin and they do this. They also review it every 6 weeks.
Personal trainers are very expensive (approx £30/hour) and there is no need for a beginner.
I was thinking the same as 944fan.
Initially you need to lift you personal fitness, which can be done easily without much assistance.
Basically my starter is warm up, the on bike pedal at around 70 revs for 1 minute at a level that is reasonably comfy but not easy, then do 1 minute as fast as I can peddle on same level, repeat for 12 minutes. Then walk on treadmill at about 4.5 to 5 km/hr at around 5% for five minutes, rest a minute, then repeat.
As I have felt this easier I up the reps/effort level etc.
I am now thinking PT for a couple of sessions to give me more ideas
Initially you need to lift you personal fitness, which can be done easily without much assistance.
Basically my starter is warm up, the on bike pedal at around 70 revs for 1 minute at a level that is reasonably comfy but not easy, then do 1 minute as fast as I can peddle on same level, repeat for 12 minutes. Then walk on treadmill at about 4.5 to 5 km/hr at around 5% for five minutes, rest a minute, then repeat.
As I have felt this easier I up the reps/effort level etc.
I am now thinking PT for a couple of sessions to give me more ideas
I would echo all of the above.
I'd also add that if you're involving weights in your routine you either should definitely seek advice from someone or at the very least don't do anything at all you're even slightly unsure about.
The path to injury can be very very short.
The gym staff should at the least be able to help / show you how to use the equipment etc safely just don't assume they'll be able to take yo uall the way through whatever transformation you're hoping for.
I'd also add that if you're involving weights in your routine you either should definitely seek advice from someone or at the very least don't do anything at all you're even slightly unsure about.
The path to injury can be very very short.
The gym staff should at the least be able to help / show you how to use the equipment etc safely just don't assume they'll be able to take yo uall the way through whatever transformation you're hoping for.
If you want to learn how to build strength and muscle then avoid all life style chains and go for a old school lifting gym. You won't get any better advice than from folk who do this day-in-day out year round.
About 95% of PT's are completely useless and my advice would be to not take advice off anyone who hasn't done it themselves.
I spent some years in life style gyms talking to PT's and went to a old school gym and found out more in 3 months than I did for years in those gyms.
About 95% of PT's are completely useless and my advice would be to not take advice off anyone who hasn't done it themselves.
I spent some years in life style gyms talking to PT's and went to a old school gym and found out more in 3 months than I did for years in those gyms.
Ordinary_Chap said:
If you want to learn how to build strength and muscle then avoid all life style chains and go for a old school lifting gym. You won't get any better advice than from folk who do this day-in-day out year round.
About 95% of PT's are completely useless and my advice would be to not take advice off anyone who hasn't done it themselves.
I spent some years in life style gyms talking to PT's and went to a old school gym and found out more in 3 months than I did for years in those gyms.
Whilst I agree this is very sound advice. I feel the OP at 30, never having stepped into a gym before might find these places a little bit intimidating maybe.About 95% of PT's are completely useless and my advice would be to not take advice off anyone who hasn't done it themselves.
I spent some years in life style gyms talking to PT's and went to a old school gym and found out more in 3 months than I did for years in those gyms.
944fan said:
Ordinary_Chap said:
If you want to learn how to build strength and muscle then avoid all life style chains and go for a old school lifting gym. You won't get any better advice than from folk who do this day-in-day out year round.
About 95% of PT's are completely useless and my advice would be to not take advice off anyone who hasn't done it themselves.
I spent some years in life style gyms talking to PT's and went to a old school gym and found out more in 3 months than I did for years in those gyms.
Whilst I agree this is very sound advice. I feel the OP at 30, never having stepped into a gym before might find these places a little bit intimidating maybe.About 95% of PT's are completely useless and my advice would be to not take advice off anyone who hasn't done it themselves.
I spent some years in life style gyms talking to PT's and went to a old school gym and found out more in 3 months than I did for years in those gyms.
All depends how much you want it I guess.
Ordinary Chap has given some great advice, get your ass to a bodybuilding gym if you are really interested in succeeding.
Lifestyle gyms aren't too bad if you just want running machines and cardio but there isn't many places which have alot of freeweights/benches/squat racks/barbells which bodybuilding gyms do.
Ordinary Chap has given some great advice, get your ass to a bodybuilding gym if you are really interested in succeeding.
Lifestyle gyms aren't too bad if you just want running machines and cardio but there isn't many places which have alot of freeweights/benches/squat racks/barbells which bodybuilding gyms do.
As a PT, I actually agree with most of the above! Many are utter cowboys. Just like anywhere in life, you get the good and the bad.
However, the bad tend to be found in the same place - those are the PT's who work in a gym. Invariably many have completed course far worse than a BTEC (actually before I did my degree I did a BTEC in place of A-levels and I thought it was the better course by far, even over the degree
). I'm talking crash courses from average Joe to PT in 6 around weeks. Six! If a PT has learned their stuff with places like Training Room or Premier Training, run a mile. Even better, record their antics on a smartphone, dob them in and get them banned from ever practicing again. You would be doing the industry a favour! 
I'm guessing most, if not all, of the above experience has been from gym-based PT's? Which says it all. Many are not much beyond a Fitness Instructor, in knowledge, skill and intelligence. Yes, they irk me bigtime and I want them all exterminated, but hey-ho it's not a perfect world...
Freelance PT's are the complete opposite end of the spectrum and are the types who often work with professional altheletes at some point or other on proper periodised programmes incorporating diet and exercise in the most anal way possible. Far more than anyone on this forum ever has I wager, from what I have read anyway. I've never seen this kind of service with gym-employed plebs, even with the most expensive gyms around like David Lloyd. It means nothing what gym it is, it seems.
People who need PT's are those that plateau, have no idea what they are doing, struggle with diet or exercise, have money to burn, what the fun, want variety or as I often find, need help pushing themselves or have no idea HOW to push themselves. I often plan a session for client on how to identify what "pushing" is - what the different pains are - basic exertion to hard exertion to the burn to muscular failure to over-training etc. - as many I meet who seek a PT, don't actually have a clear idea of what exercise actually is or what it feels like. Also there are other pains that they need to identify like sore, sharp, ache, burning, throbbing, shooting, tightness, DOMS etc. as they all mean something different.
Anyway, I could go on all day.
However, the bad tend to be found in the same place - those are the PT's who work in a gym. Invariably many have completed course far worse than a BTEC (actually before I did my degree I did a BTEC in place of A-levels and I thought it was the better course by far, even over the degree
). I'm talking crash courses from average Joe to PT in 6 around weeks. Six! If a PT has learned their stuff with places like Training Room or Premier Training, run a mile. Even better, record their antics on a smartphone, dob them in and get them banned from ever practicing again. You would be doing the industry a favour! I'm guessing most, if not all, of the above experience has been from gym-based PT's? Which says it all. Many are not much beyond a Fitness Instructor, in knowledge, skill and intelligence. Yes, they irk me bigtime and I want them all exterminated, but hey-ho it's not a perfect world...
Freelance PT's are the complete opposite end of the spectrum and are the types who often work with professional altheletes at some point or other on proper periodised programmes incorporating diet and exercise in the most anal way possible. Far more than anyone on this forum ever has I wager, from what I have read anyway. I've never seen this kind of service with gym-employed plebs, even with the most expensive gyms around like David Lloyd. It means nothing what gym it is, it seems.
People who need PT's are those that plateau, have no idea what they are doing, struggle with diet or exercise, have money to burn, what the fun, want variety or as I often find, need help pushing themselves or have no idea HOW to push themselves. I often plan a session for client on how to identify what "pushing" is - what the different pains are - basic exertion to hard exertion to the burn to muscular failure to over-training etc. - as many I meet who seek a PT, don't actually have a clear idea of what exercise actually is or what it feels like. Also there are other pains that they need to identify like sore, sharp, ache, burning, throbbing, shooting, tightness, DOMS etc. as they all mean something different.
Anyway, I could go on all day.
GarryA said:
I am planning on attending mon / wed / fri so I was thinking either get the PT to go through my first 6 sessions or once a week for 6 weeks.
Thoughts?
Anyway, to the OP. This depends 100% on you. Only you will know if you are the kind of person who can push themselves to the absolute max or if you are a quitter. As I say, PT'ing is science and it operates soley in the relms of truth. So be truthful to yourself first as aks yourself: Are you a quitter, or can you push yourself to the point of total pain, total failure, total exertion, everytime? I.e. can you really work by yourself or do you think you would need help?Thoughts?
I go to the gym at our local golf / spa / country club hotel. It's not exactly cheap - but the cardio kit is cutting edge, plus they have a good selection of weight machines along with a full range of dumbbells - plus you get the motivation of a nice steam room / sauna / hot tub and pool at the end of a hard gym session.
Anyway, they have a couple of personal trainers there - they're employed as assistants who man the front bench, help clean down the machines etc - but can take on Personal Training work as well. Seems to work very well for them, as the clientele generally have plenty of disposable cash for such luxuries.
My point is, though, that one of the PTs is very, very good - enthusiastic, helpful, attentive with his clients and really does know his stuff. (I used to be a county level athlete, so can spot a cowboy a mile off). He also runs some fantastic (and great value) circuit classes in the function suite twice a week.
Sorry for the long reply - but I think what I'm getting at is that it's often worth looking at places like I've described if you want decent training and a more luxurious and motivating environment than many of the chain or 'real' gyms offer.
Anyway, they have a couple of personal trainers there - they're employed as assistants who man the front bench, help clean down the machines etc - but can take on Personal Training work as well. Seems to work very well for them, as the clientele generally have plenty of disposable cash for such luxuries.
My point is, though, that one of the PTs is very, very good - enthusiastic, helpful, attentive with his clients and really does know his stuff. (I used to be a county level athlete, so can spot a cowboy a mile off). He also runs some fantastic (and great value) circuit classes in the function suite twice a week.
Sorry for the long reply - but I think what I'm getting at is that it's often worth looking at places like I've described if you want decent training and a more luxurious and motivating environment than many of the chain or 'real' gyms offer.
LordGrover said:
If you feel the need to take the next step, it's worth the effort to get a PT recommended by 'someone who knows' at your gym- research properly. Some we see at your typical 'lifestyle gym' (which I frequent) are at the least naive, IMO sometimes potentially dangerous.
Having said that, you're correct thinking solid, professional advice is beneficial.
Of all the advice this is what I agree with most. I know all the PTs at my gym, I chat with them, and I know the ones I would ask advice from.Having said that, you're correct thinking solid, professional advice is beneficial.
If you're not the type to push yourself to vomiting, tooth-aching, light-headedness or total exhaustion, then get a good PT and tell him to beast you till your gums bleed.
Hoofy said:
Halb said:
vomiting, tooth-aching, light-headedness or total exhaustion,
That's almost like a checklist! Weird how the teeth can ache. 
I tend to do 2 out of the 3 sessions at full intensity. If I do all 3 sessions absolutely flat out I always get tooth ache but I also get ill fairly often as well. I'm only ever sick after extreme leg sessions.
When most people talk about over-training, they never get anywhere near over-training and have no idea what it is because they've never experienced it!
Ordinary_Chap said:
Hoofy said:
Halb said:
vomiting, tooth-aching, light-headedness or total exhaustion,
That's almost like a checklist! Weird how the teeth can ache. I tend to do 2 out of the 3 sessions at full intensity. If I do all 3 sessions absolutely flat out I always get tooth ache but I also get ill fairly often as well. I'm only ever sick after extreme leg sessions.
When most people talk about over-training, they never get anywhere near over-training and have no idea what it is because they've never experienced it!
You have to be more determined and have exceptional willpower to get to that point.
Most of us will rarely if ever go that far.
LordGrover said:
Ordinary_Chap said:
Hoofy said:
Halb said:
vomiting, tooth-aching, light-headedness or total exhaustion,
That's almost like a checklist! Weird how the teeth can ache. I tend to do 2 out of the 3 sessions at full intensity. If I do all 3 sessions absolutely flat out I always get tooth ache but I also get ill fairly often as well. I'm only ever sick after extreme leg sessions.
When most people talk about over-training, they never get anywhere near over-training and have no idea what it is because they've never experienced it!
You have to be more determined and have exceptional willpower to get to that point.
Most of us will rarely if ever go that far.
Back again,
Well I've been for my gym induction today, I had a free PT session to use so I got the PT to do the induction at the same time, she was a freelance PT, the gym has got rid of all its own PTs as they had a bad rep.
She took me through warming up and how to use the machines as mandated by the gym, but suggested free weights and cable machines are the way to go if I want to achieve my goals, so she gave me a bit of a general fitness plan to mess about with until we can meet next friday and start some proper training. Bonus of hitting the gym at 3pm was that it was dead so everything was available.
Enjoyed it.
Well I've been for my gym induction today, I had a free PT session to use so I got the PT to do the induction at the same time, she was a freelance PT, the gym has got rid of all its own PTs as they had a bad rep.
She took me through warming up and how to use the machines as mandated by the gym, but suggested free weights and cable machines are the way to go if I want to achieve my goals, so she gave me a bit of a general fitness plan to mess about with until we can meet next friday and start some proper training. Bonus of hitting the gym at 3pm was that it was dead so everything was available.
Enjoyed it.
GarryA said:
Back again,
Well I've been for my gym induction today, I had a free PT session to use so I got the PT to do the induction at the same time, she was a freelance PT, the gym has got rid of all its own PTs as they had a bad rep.
She took me through warming up and how to use the machines as mandated by the gym, but suggested free weights and cable machines are the way to go if I want to achieve my goals, so she gave me a bit of a general fitness plan to mess about with until we can meet next friday and start some proper training. Bonus of hitting the gym at 3pm was that it was dead so everything was available.
Enjoyed it.
Was she fit? Any......you know...extras?Well I've been for my gym induction today, I had a free PT session to use so I got the PT to do the induction at the same time, she was a freelance PT, the gym has got rid of all its own PTs as they had a bad rep.
She took me through warming up and how to use the machines as mandated by the gym, but suggested free weights and cable machines are the way to go if I want to achieve my goals, so she gave me a bit of a general fitness plan to mess about with until we can meet next friday and start some proper training. Bonus of hitting the gym at 3pm was that it was dead so everything was available.
Enjoyed it.
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