I belong to the YMCA and the organization has some trainers that you can hire at $35 an hour, I believe. You also get an orientation to the weight machines, which I did quite a while ago. I've been working on the weight machines, and thought I'd try their Women on Weights class. For some reason I thought it was working with free weights. Turns out it was working on the weight machines, and it was at a time that was really crowded. Since I already do weight machine circuits and I'm claustrophobic, I quit the class. I'm doing well on the weight machines (I believe it's what's getting me into sz. 14 jeans comfortably and sz. 12 jeans tightly at 193 lbs.), but would like to start working on getting some good muscle definition.

Anyway, I'm thinking about using their personal trainers, but I'm not sure how to choose one (and there are only three). If you've used a personal trainer, what kind of questions did you ask? What should the personal trainer ask me? What kinds of things should they do for me or can I expect from them? I want to spend my money wisely and get the most out of one or two sessions.

Thank you!

Our Mel (meliris) would definitely be the inhouse expert on personal trainers as she's one herself!

But meanwhile, you might want to check out an article on the Krista Smash! Weights for Women website called "How to choose a personal trainer".

http://www.stumptuous.com/personaltrainer.html

GREAT ARTICLE, karen. thank you.

i've had mixed experiences with trainers, but since i decided more than a year ago that i needed to work with one, i kept going. the current one is ok. goes by the clock [a negative], but shows up reliably, contacts me regularly, mixes up the exercises, listens [most of the time, but he's a real talker!!!]

my favorite one is a former olympic sprinter and bodybuilding champion. a true role model for me [not that i'll ever actually RUN!!!!]. But she switched gyms and i haven't been able to contact her. she was absolutely the best.

sooooo all this longwinded stuff to say: keep trying until you find the right fit. and while one or two sessions will help you a lot, i'd like to suggest that you get a regular 'tune up.' maybe every 4-6 weeks... just to keep you on track, and so that you don't overexercise one part and ignore another one.

Jiffy- You said exactly what I was going to say. I don't think 1 or two sessions with a trainer is enough to do more than a bit more orientation. It's really not long enough for the trainer to figure out what works for you, or for you to scratch the surface of a good trainer's knowledge of various ways to work different body parts, different methods of training and which would be right for you.

My gym sells a "promo" package of 3 sessions to new members at a reduced rate, and even 3 sessions don't begin to cover the myriad of possibilities for workouts. One of the reasons to hire a trainer is to learn how to work all muscle groups, and if you are doing a 3-4 day split, you're just not going to have time to go through a variety of exercises and learn correct form.

One of the best ways that my clients use me is to go through each of their lifting days once or twice depending on how comfortable they feel in the gym, then come back on an ongoing basis every couple of weeks to change their workouts, get a check-up on their form, etc.

I still use a trainer for leg day- not because I don't know what I should do, but he pushes me harder than I could push myself alone. Also, even after 2 1/2 years and certification as a trainer, I'm still learning new things from him.

I would first find a trainer that you like to spend an hour with. Then if you have any medical conditions, ask if he/she has worked with similar clients. State your goals and listen to how the trainer suggests you work towards them. Anyone can hand you a circuit training routine, stand beside you and count to ten or twelve. Make sure that you are going to get what you want before you pay for training time.

Mel

my gym runs some great specials a couple of times a year. 3 sessions for 99 with a free 23 day membership gift certificate. i get 3 of these at a time, and then get more.
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they also run discounted rates the more sessions you buy. yes, it CAN get a bit pricey, but using a trainer, and the gym membership might also qualify for tax deductions, anything over 7.5% of your income. so, depending on your financial situation, you could actually get some money back!

by the way, i forgot to mention that the current trainer is VERY CUTE. and he keeps saying that he's going to push me, but the moment i say that it's too much, he backs off., but he also knows that i'll push myself harder than he'd EVER push me. i've actually managed to impress him!!!

DID I MENTION THAT HE'S CUTE?????

Intersting topic. I met with a trainer from the Y on Saturday. How did I pick her. Just kinda the luck of the draw, you turn in a medical form and they "assign" you a trainer. But I asked for this lady because she is a friend of a friend.

It was a VERY enlightening session. Basically she said, MORE CARDIO!!!! She helped me trim my Tues/Thurs weight sessions (which we taking me 50 min) so that I will have time for 30 min of cardio 1st (which I wasn't doing, didn't have time). Then she figured out my target heart rate range and helped me realize that even when I was doing cardio, I wasn't giving it enough. For example, it took a speed of 3.4 on the treadmill to get me to the low end of my target. A normal treadmill speed for me is 2.4. So I get to keep the weights, and now be more likely to hot my goal of 6 days of cardio. Should be interesting.

I liked her. She is very fit, but still kind of a normal person. I think that's more realistic for me instead of the chiseled goddess I always picture in my head. The treadmill at that speed gave me shin splints. Any ideas??

sandi... i can't go above about 3-3.2 mph on the treadmill without knee problems. and that doesn't begin to help me hit my target. soooo, i increase the angle... up to about 8-10. ask your trainer about that. we gotta take care of our joints...

slower speed.. more exertion...

and it sounds like you're in EXCELLENT hands here...

and the next thing: THE EVIL INTERVALS!!!!!

Sandi -- Congrats on the Trainer! That increase should make you see some more results in the next few weeks... The shin splints went away for me after a while, but there is also a machine at our gym to work just that muscle or there are other alternatives with cable machines, ask your trainer...

Thanks, all. That was a great article, too.

The little Y that I go to for strength training only has a couple of trainers, and I'm kind of ambivalent about both. I also go to a bigger Y, where I do cardio. I'm thinking about checking out the bigger Y's trainers so hopefully I'll be able to choose someone that I would enjoy working with rather than having to settle.