Post: #1

How much would you guys pay for a personal fitness coach? College student here ..so it gets relatively expensive for me.

Looking at $150 for 4 sessions..at a gym.

Worth it? Had a free session and was told my form was way off for squats.. he didn't even let me touch power clean/press

Post: #2

I wouldn't pay anything because I have some meat head friends that are always willing to help me. But maybe your friends aren't too into the gym.

I can't gauge a price, but form is crucial, especially when doing more complex lifts like squats, deadlifts, and power cleans. It is probably worth it to get a bit of coaching and get your form locked in on the basics.

Get coached for a few sessions, that go work out on your own. Or find a buddy that is really into the gym and have him help you out.

Post: #3

There are a lot of personal trainers out there that do more harm than good. A friend of mine who's a physical therapist has joked about being grateful to those personal trainers for so much business they bring him.

That said, the injured people are probably older like myself. Young bodies are harder to damage and bounce back pretty quickly.

Not sure why anyone would pay for a personal trainer when there is so much information on the internet for free.

Or just go to a gym and watch a guy's form. Go up and ask him about the excercise he's doing. Most people in the gym are happy to help out any way they can. That's been my experience anyways.

Post: #4

I wouldn't pay anything just watch YouTubes and go through trial and error. Start with a barbell program and focus on doing the lifts properly (they aren't hard).

StrongLifts and persistence, no money.

Post: #5

The $150 would be worth it if the 'fitness coach' was actually competent. Unfortunately, I have yet to meet a single 'fitness coach' that knew anything worthwhile about teaching the basic compound exercises.

If you don't have access to a competent strength coach, you're probably better off video taping yourself and then posting it on the Starting Strength forums for critique.

Post: #6

Chances are your squat form is bad due to lack of flexbility etc. I've had the same problem too but it can fixed over time with specialist stretches.

But of course he's going to say your form is bad, he wants you as a client.

$150 for 4 sessions is well-priced but it really depends on his experience as a trainer.

How long have you been lifting for? Sometimes it's better to be lifting for a few years, taking videos and getting critique online and working hard before going to a specialist for specific advice.

Post: #7

Most trainers at commercial gyms have no idea what they are doing IMO. So its not worth it in most instances. If you're going to a private gym and the guy is actually knowledgeable, for sure, go for it. As said above, its worth just getting to know people at the gym, because they can teach you far more than any unqualified trainer could.

Post: #8

I agree with everybody that you don't need to pay for a coach. There are some great resources online to help you with form. Check some body building websites they usually have videos on performing exercises. Trainers can help you with things like making sure your shoulder blades are pushed together and just little nit picky things that most people in the gym would be happy to help with. Even if you are on campus most people in the gym that I have met are friendly no matter how deep their tank is. Just don't take everything you hear as truth. If you get any joint paint stop and do something else until you can get advice on proper form. A trainer might get you good advice on proper form for proper muscle activation, if the trainer actually knows what they are talking about. In most cases a trainer is not worth the money unless you literally have 0 experience, no spotter, and are too scared to ask questions.

Post: #9

Watching a video doesn't mean your going to do it right. I am not a personal trainer but I have been training long enough to not let my ego get in the way.
I follow some guys on YouTube more for entertainment than anything, one of these guys is very popular and trains hard but eats at Denny's afterwards.
Sorry but that wouldn't work for most people, of course he is "natural".
Even the pro body builders have personal trainers, so I am sure none of you are pro's.

Post: #10

Find a trainer that looks how you want to look. A trainer provides more benefit than just form...he helps keep you motivated, and you can work harder when you have a guy pushing you to failure. Not everyone has the same drive/desire to be in the gym. Friends are great, if you can exercise in the same gym on the same schedule.

I really disagree that most can just watch youtube videos then go to the gym and have good form; how can you tell what your form is like? $150 for 4 sessions is cheap as hell. In DC it is more than 2x that. I write this from the perspective of someone who is not an athlete but who wants to get bigger. If you just have the knack for this sort of stuff, maybe a trainer is not needed (same as if you have the knack for a subject you don't need a tutor).

Post: #11

A personal trainer can be very helpful especially if you're starting out, but....CHECK THEIR CREDS! Has this guy competed? Is his in shape now? If not...was he in shape? What certifications does he have? Have you seen him lift? The strong majority of personal trainers...especially at gyms...are terrible. If you're going to do it, check their résumé and talk to old clients.

The thing about some personal trainers...is that they know if they do a crappy job...you'll come back for more training! You want a guy who has done compound lifts for years. You want to go to this guy, be honest, and tell him you just want some form checks.

Ideally, you should do maybe two or three sessions in a week to get the ball rolling. Then, do one session every 5/6 weeks so he can spot check you. If you are up front about this to a trainer, and he respects you for it, you've found a keeper.

Post: #12

While the pricing isn't bad, I will say that having a personal trainer isn't really that necessary, especially if you've got some friends who go to the gym. If you don't have lots of friends who go to the gym, make some friends at the gym, it's super easy. As a college student you probably don't have that much cash and your capital can probably be applied much more productively

Post: #13

When I first started lifting I went to a specialised power lifting gym and so should you - one that has nothing but barbells, steel plates and squat racks. Those guys know what they are doing and you will end up with much better form than going to a regular gym. They aren't too common and you may have to drive a little further, but any decent size city should have at least one.

Once you have perfected your form, you can then choose whether to stay at the same place, or go to a regular gym that is more convenient to you. However you will probably stay at the same place because you will progress much faster - you will be around guys who are serious and knowledgeable about real lifting, and you won't be distracted by looking at girls on treadmills or disgusted by faggots doing nothing but endless bicep curls.

Post: #14

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Post: #15

(05-20-2014 08:13 AM)Dan Woolf Wrote:  

(05-19-2014 01:34 PM)peterthephoenix Wrote:  Chances are your squat form is bad due to lack of flexbility etc. I've had the same problem too but it can fixed over time with specialist stretches.

What kind of stretches do you mean? My squat form would improve massively if I got more flexible.

Hip flexibility and flexibility throughout the lumbar and thoracic spine specifically. If your knees track inwards to any degree it is due to an imbalance/weakness in the hips.

Post: #16

(05-20-2014 08:13 AM)Dan Woolf Wrote:  

(05-19-2014 01:34 PM)peterthephoenix Wrote:  Chances are your squat form is bad due to lack of flexbility etc. I've had the same problem too but it can fixed over time with specialist stretches.

What kind of stretches do you mean? My squat form would improve massively if I got more flexible.

Here's a few off the top of my head. Hold all these for a long time - 20-30 sec.

* Regular hamstring stretches (bend over touch your toes)
* Lay on your back, arms out like a T. Raise one knee and roll that knee over your body so it touches the floor on the opposite side. Roll your head to look down the opposite arm (arms both still touching the floor in a T form).
* Frog squat - basically, squat down like you're down in the hole. Hold that - you can put your hands together like you're saying grace and use your elbows to help push your knees apart.

Yoga stuff like down dog is also good, if you use good form (down dog done properly you're sucking your gut in, it feels like you've got a rope around your hips pulling you up in the middle).

Basically, I feel like my tightness comes out of the posterior chain - calves, hamstrings, glutes, lumbar. Stretch slowly & deliberately. 10 minutes in the morning does wonders if you do it every morning.

Post: #17

Used to be a personal trainer, until I realized I barely made any money. Go to a private gym instead of commercial like everyone mentioned. Make sure when you first start seeing him, question the shit out of him (certain lifts, hitting goals, diet, etc). Ask "why," all the time. You are going to be overloaded with information but you will retain most of it because you have the motivation to improve yourself. Record everything. I'm sure you will if you invest in a quality person to train you. When I was younger, I was fortunate enough for my parents to invest the money for my own benefit. Have had a great relationship with my trainer for 10+ years. Whenever I plateau or cannot figure out how to attain a certain goal, I ALWAYS give him a call or visit his facility to know what's up.

Post: #18

(05-19-2014 03:20 PM)Menace Wrote:  Find a trainer that looks how you want to look.

The only way I'll accept this is if you watch him:
a) train others
b) train himself
and they're both similar workout styles.

Way too many trainers do heavy compound lifts for themselves, but tell clients to do bosu ball squats while juggling dumbbells.

"I'd hate myself if I had that kind of attitude, if I were that weak." - Arnold

Post: #19

a really great ressource to learn on the cheap is to buy a fitness program like Insanity or Power 90. Both of them helped me learn how to use correct form and how my body reacts to strees after working out. Great learning aid to start off.

Post: #20

Update: I took your guys's advice and didn't pay up. I made some excuse up like not enough time which is partly true..The trainer ended up spending a couple minutes correcting my squat today.. so win-win! Got my squat down!

But my deadlift is really wonky... so have been watching youtube videos, but not enough so far to correct..

I like the suggestion you guys gave about finding a private gym/only weightlifting. Unfortunately I'm moving around too much, I'm rarely at a single gym for over a month. Example: I will be at 3 different locations over the summer... barely a month at each gym.. also don't have friends at the gym since I'll be the new guy everytime.

At college... well i get the huge college gyms for free.. my lifting friends graduated so Ill have to make new ones..

Done P90x before and in the process of doing SS.. not really feeling my arms worked out that much.. Biceps/forearms specifically. rest of the body feels great

Post: #21

If you're looking to improve your form use really light weight when you start out. Like squatting only 80 pounds. Then watch youtube videos on perfect form and look in the mirror when you do the exercise. Film yourself if you want. Ask guys who you see have good form (similar to the videos) to correct what you are doing. Most form problems stem from doing way too much weight.

If you are looking to do Olympic style lifts though, (clean and snatch, etc,) get a trainer. That shit is dangerous and you can really hurt yourself without proper coaching.

Post: #22

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Post: #23

A personal trainer(a good one, not the one that thinks you can burn fat and build muscle at the same time) is pretty benefitful for the form. Unfortunately, I cannot afford it at the moment, but if you can, try to learn the form as soon as possible with his help and then leave him. After your form is pretty solid, you can find a lot on the internet until you hit a plateau.

Post: #24

If you really give a shit about lifting you should be able to read up on form, look it up on youtube, etc., and figure it out yourself. All you need is access to a gym, a library or internet, and some free time - which apparently you have.

If you've never lifted before and don't know how you could easily select a very shitty coach who will fill your head with bullshit nonsense ideas that you will start repeating ad nauseum to everyone in your vicinity with even a modicum of interest in lifting once you make some minor gains.

Post: #25

Blackliter, If you're moving around I suggest checking out free passes at gyms. Ballys can give out 2 week passes for $20 which includes 2 personal training sessions. The personal trainer I used was okay.

Other gyms may offer something similar.