Actually, while I'm paying more than the $24 a month I was paying at 24 Hour Fitness, is it most definitely not the priciest gym in our area - not by a LONG shot. (My local Equinox must be the only one without cabana boys... ) Since I go to the gym at least once a day, why not enjoy it? (not to mention that I'm actually saving money now - since yoga/pilates studios around here typically charge from $8-$18 per class while here, it's all-inclusive, in a nice CLEAN yoga studio - I generally go to at least 2-3 yoga or pilates classes per week).

I agree with you that people should 'take charge of their gym experience' but there are enough people who are afraid to even set FOOT in the gym because of the *perception* that they'll be 'bullied', laughed at, or made fun of behind their backs. (this is the marketing strategy that Curves uses - and I can't say that I care for it at all ) I was teased unmercifully in junior high and high school gym class - I know I'm not alone in that experience - and IMO many folks who would BENEFIT from going to the gym might have had similar experiences in school and thus, believe that they're going to get the same treatment at a 'grown up' gym. 'Tain't so - at least in my own experience - even when I was obese.

Bella- You've already gotten a lot of good advice here. I just wanted to chime in and reiterate some of it. I was going to suggest that you take a look at Body for Life for Women but MrsJim already mentioned that. Even if you don't want to incorporate the entire program, it will give you a better understanding of how cardio, weight training and proper nutrition work to build a better body.

My advice would be to ignore the trainer. As was pointed out above, you are not paying her to train YOU. Those evaluation and gym orientation sessions are different from working with a trainer. If you had been paying for a session with her and she gave you that program, I'd ask to speak to the Director of Training or Personal Services, or whatever they call it at your gym.

If you do that much cardio, you certainly will see results on the scale, but 25-40% of your weightloss may be muscle loss. Not what you want! This will slow your metabolism (not speed it up as suggested somewhere above). You'll end up a thin flabby person.

All my weightloss clients do weight training from the day they decide to walk into they gym. Unless they have orthopedic issues, we do mainly free weights and very few machines. You can do multi-joint and multi-muscle group exercises that are far more effective with them than parking your rear on a seat and doing a machine press. If your goal is isolation of specific muscles (bodybuilding and sculpting) machines do a great job...but if your goals is strength and fat loss, the more work you can do, the better.

My most successful weightloss clients do 4-5 days of cardio of between 30-40 minutes depending on the type and what else they are doing that day, and 2-3 one hour weight sessions a week. And eat correctly

As a trainer, I agree with some of the points made by saengerin, but I think some of her comments are way off the mark. First, no gym can get insurance if they hire uncertified trainers. Yes, there are trainers out there who are uncertified, but they are working on their own. They probably have no business insurance either. Be an informed consumer and ask! There currently are no national standards for certification. Some certification programs are great, some could come out of a cracker jack box. But the actual certification doesn't mean a trainer is good or bad. Experience, empathy, people skills all come into play as well as knowing the correct form for a dumbbell row.

Bella- Don't be cowed by a thin trainer. You know this is wrong for you. Arm yourself with some knowledge. MrsJim gave you a couple of good sources, pop into Ladies who Lift and ask whatever you'd like. If you want to work with a trainer, interview THEM. Yes, it is a business but it's not a very lucrative one. Most of the people in the profession really do care and want to help people, because we sure aren't doing for the big bucks!

I've never seen fat women bullied in a gym either. Not when I was fat and not now when I'm not. I do understand the "everyone must be staring at me" feeling, but that's not bullying, it's a self-perception issue.

Mel

The unfortunate thing about stereotypes is that they're so often wrong.

You may look at that 'skinny' trainer and think that she's only out for the money and doesn't understand fat girls ... but what if that skinny trainer was once a fat girl herself? Who became a trainer because she's passionate about helping other fat girls?

Stereotyping and bashing thin people, fat people, personal trainers, or anyone else really doesn't get us much of anywhere, does it? Much better, in my opinion, to discuss issues without savaging whole categories of people.

Of course there are good trainers and bad trainers out there, just like in any other profession. But I think it's grossly unfair to say that 'a lot of them don't know crap'. The personal trainers who I work with are incredibly knowledgeable, caring and compassionate people, always looking for ways to better serve their clients. They're NOT in it for the money -- a good thing because it's sure the wrong profession for someone just out to make a buck!

Gotta to heartily agree with Mel and MrsJim on what a tremendous disservice it is to perpetrate the myth that fat girls are bullied or mistreated in the gym 'all the time'. I NEVER experienced anything but encouragement and support when I joined my gym, despite weighing 257 pounds. Certainly *I* felt awkward and self-conscious, but that was my issue -- without exception I was treated with kindness and respect.

I basically live in the gym these days and again have NEVER seen or heard of anyone being bullied or mistreated due to weight (or anything else for that matter).

Meg (former fat girl and current personal trainer )

I'd just like to add that if you find the right trainer, he or she can seriously change your life. I am lucky enough to have found a FANTASTIC trainer who has really helped me to turn my life around.

My trainer listens to every question, every concern, and every self-doubt that I have -- and is ALWAYS 100% supportive. She never promised me "2 pounds lost a week" or any of the other commercial nonsense that some gyms (around here anyway) try to throw at you. In fact, she never promised me ANYTHING except that I'd get out of it what I put into it....she had no "juicy" promises, no wildly ambitious plans...she simply educated me. And that's why I like to call her "Coach," because that's what she REALLY is...a true mentor who has taught me everything I DIDN'T know about nutrition and exercise. I also call her "Yoda" because she is so wise , but she's convinced I call her that cuz she's short .

My point is that there are MANY trainers out there who are true gems. You just need to find the right one for you. Would you rather go to the hairstylist who looks at you for 10 seconds and says "WOW! I know just what we can do with this horrendous mess!" and sends you home with some kind of funky new hairdo that's great for the cover of Cosmo but not at all something you can live with? -- or would you rather go to the hairstylist who says "Okay, what would you like done today?" The trainer-client relationship should be a partnership based on your hopes and goals, and it is a relationship that should be complete with trust and support. You need to feel confident in their expertise and be able to trust that they have your best interest at heart. And you will find a trainer like that if you look -- because a good, ethical trainer (of which there are MANY, MANY, MANY!!!!!) is "in it" to help people...it's their job to guide, teach, and support their clients so the clients can lead a healthier (and hopefully, happier) life.

You didn't marry the first man you ever met, right? Or buy the first car you ever saw? Why keep the first trainer you ever met? I don't actually know if this IS the first trainer you ever met, but I hope you get my point ----> WHICH IS ----> sometimes you have to do a little searching to find just the perfect match. AND YOU DESERVE IT!!!

(Sorry...I think I got a little overexcited. I just love my trainer, that's all I was really trying to say, I guess.)

And first, let me say this:

I'm sure all you people who train here are perfectly lovely people, and I'm sure none of you know a single trainer out there who is incompetent. (Lucky you.) You are, after all, spending time on this website trying to help people, and I'm sure you are well-educated and committed to your craft. No where will you find me saying the entire profession is populated with criminals, and no where will you find me making stereotypes. I'm just telling you what I've seen.

EVERY PROFESSION HAS ITS HACKS. LOTS OF THEM. A HACK IS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW ENOUGH "CRAP" ABOUT THEIR PROFESSION. THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION ON EACH OF YOU PERSONALLY, SO IF IT DOESN'T APPLY TO YOU, DON'T ASSUME I MEAN YOU.

Bella has said some pretty alarming things, and I will recap them here for you since we seem to have forgotten her problem in the heat of defending a concept:

I'm a bit puzzled by my trainer's advice for my routine though... I specified that I do want to work with weights as well as cardio but she said I needed to wait on that. Then she proceeded to give me routine without watching me perform at all or getting anything other than my measurements, weight and body fat percentage

My common sense tells me that might be too much but after all she's the trainer...

Well, she didn't ask my fitness level

I did ask specifically about the weights several times but she just basically said it was against their policy (??????).

As for asking the trainer I saw, truth is I'm intimidated! It's so silly but I feel like I have no business contesting what she tells me. I mean, really, which one of us is thin and fit after all!?

She doesn't really welcome questions either but I know it's my issue and not hers.

I feel more comfortable advocating for that than going through all the trainers at the gym, which all seem to have the same style as the one I went to.

I might see if I can meet with her tomorrow and get this over with *gulp*

Bella has gotten hold of a hack. A hack who won't listen. A hack who won't answer questions. Now Bella is intimidated by her. BULLIED. I've told you I've been bullied, and now you've heard it from her, too, so you all have now officially "heard of it". K?

My point to the original poster is this: hacks are everywhere. In every profession, EVEN THAT OF PERSONAL TRAINERS, EVEN IF THERE ARE NONE ON THIS BOARD. Be a good consumer. Demand the best. You would never let a person selling you clothes intimidate you into buying an outfit you knew didn't fit. This person is merely a hack who doesn't know crap. That should in no way make you feel like you are being "bad".

If you are in a corporate gym that has a corps of trainers (many of whom are heavily pressured by management to SELL, SELL, SELL), then it is doubtful they will let you bring one in from outside, unfortunately. What you CAN do, however, is go as a guest to your trainer friend's gym, and let him/her train you there, and then you can take your new skills back home to your own gym.

Question everything. You are not the only person dealing with intimidation at the gym, it's not just a "perception" thing, and it's only a "myth" to those who have never experienced it or refuse to see it when it happens. You don't have to stand for it. People who intimidate are standing between you and your birthright: health, strength, and vitality. Find a trainer you can work with, whose face you just can't wait to see at every session, and get strong.

There's some really great advice in this thread, it's interesting to see how varied everyones experiences are. I think everyone has agreed that it's important to get enough of the right kind of exercise to help you reach and maintain your goals. And of course if you are not happy with your trainer (or dentist, or mechanic, or accountant, lol) find another

Since this thread has veered off path, let's just close it and wish Bella the best. Please feel free to open another thread if you need further help in this situation. Good luck!