Massive Muscles

Is it worth getting a personal trainer?

I want to get fit and build muscle as quick as possible. I know the basics of weight training and cardio but I’m not sure if that’s enough. Does a personal trainer really help you get better results?

Popularity: 23%

Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

August 24, 2006 | In Questions |

13 Comments »

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Just like there are differences in doctors, every personal trainer is different. Most will undoubtably have more and differing knowledge on muscle building than you do and can help guide you, but what a personal trainer will provide you with is accountability. Accountability is critical for most people who are trying to develop new habits. A good personal trainer will provide education, support and accountability. If those three items are met by a personal trainer, you will see progress.

Dr Dean

Comment by Dr Dean Micalizio — August 24, 2006 #
Yes, having a trainer will keep you motivated! In addition, a good trainer should have you do a program that will entail progression and varuety. Both are keys to reaching yur fitness goals.

Comment by Joe Franco — August 24, 2006 #
Hello,
I am currently working with a 45 year old lady who has tried to lose weight for the past 45 years. Well to be honest, she could never lose any thing and KEEP it off. You know the ritual, lose 5-10 lb but quickly gain 10-15lb.

Janet has lost over 36 lbs int he past 2.5 months. She credits all of it to the knowledge that I bestowed upon her.

I have many of clients that are experincing the same benefits working with me or my trainers.

I would advise you to
a. seek professional help with your fitness goals.

b. consider purchasing a few informational products that are related to your goals.

You can view my latest book at http://www.burn-more-fat.com

I hope this helps,

GOD BLESS
Matt Shuebrook

Comment by Matt Shuebrook — August 24, 2006 #
Yes, like with most sports, working with an experienced trainer will help you attain your goals faster, better and safer. The key to choosing a personal trainer for muscle building is to do some homework, check around the gyms, and ask people who got the results you are looking to achieve who they worked with. Depending on your budget, at the very least it is worth working with an experienced fitness trainer for several weeks to get a training program established that works best for you. You can also team up with your friends and negotiate with a fitness trainer for group rates.

I work as a director and trainer of fitness trainers for the International Sports Sciences Association, and know from experience that fitness trainers certified by the ISSA learn about how to create strength and muscle building programs. The ones who take my Specialist in Performance Nutrition course also learn about nutrition for fitness and sports, including bodybuilding. Then there are trainers certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association you can look for too. While fitness training certifications are a nice credential to have, there are many trainers who are qualified from their own experience as an athlete, and some of the best muscle building trainers might not be certified. Also, most of the top sports researchers are not certified.

The final credential is if a trainer gets you the results you want. In my experience, most people should be able to experience measurable improvements in strength and lean body mass within 3 weeks. If this is not happening, have your fitness trainer re-evaluate your program. If you are still not experiencing measurable results then start looking for another trainer. Also, make sure your nutrition and supplement programs are adequate, to get the best results from your training program.

Good luck.

Comment by Daniel Gastelu — August 24, 2006 #
Trainers obviously help (good ones that is) otherwise there wouldn’t be millions of them around the world. My suggestion would be to hire one that is right for you. Some specialize in women, sports specific, post rehab or whatever. You’ll need to locate a trainer who has years of successful expierence helping people hypertrophy (either with or without the aid of additional “supplements”) I suggest the natural route, but some “Dr. Frankenstien” type of trainers may suggest something else since you say you want “to get fit and build muscle as quick as possible” Be patient, find the right trainer, and let genetics do it’s thing!

Comment by Clark Bartram — August 25, 2006 #
Depending on your current level of knowledge and training experience, a personal training can be very helpful. There are basically two types of personal trainers out there, (1) someone that works with you in the gym during your workouts and (2) someone that creates a plan for you, let’s you follow the plan on your own, and communicate throughout the process. #1 would be better suited for someone who doesn’t have experience in the gym and #2 would be better for someone who feels confident in the gym but would like an edge in creating a training and diet program. I myself do online personal training where I create programs for people then communicate and work with them along the way. This is much cheaper than working with someone every day in the gym and allows me to work with more people.

Comment by Derek Charlebois — August 25, 2006 #
With 38 years of training experience and 32 years of personal training, I can say that anyone that makes an attempt at being in their best shape without a trainer and without the knowledge to do so is naive.
A qualified personal trainer is necessary if you care to be the best you hae ever been.
Day after day I watch hundreds of people train incorrectly and eat poorly because they “think” they have the knowledge.
Magazines lie…people train incorrectly in most gyms so following poor advice is not the answer.
Find someone who is the best…someone who has a track record. Someone who has helped hundreds or thousands of people get in shape…and then hire them so that you can attain your goals and be the best that you can be!
Sincerely & Respectfully,
Mr. USA John DeFendis-
Bodybuilding, Weight Loss & Life Coach
Director of Personal Training - Coop’s Health & Fitness
The BEST Personal Trainers in the United States

to view website click here–> www.DeFendis.com

Bio:
John has been a Personal Trainer for over 30 years.
He started training people and helping them reach their goals long before
Personal Training was a business. His love for the gym and helping people is
what inspires him to be passionate about his work.
His expertise lies in:
Weight Loss, Toning, Shaping, Firming, and Bodybuilding/Fitness.
John has trained thousands of overweight people with incredible success. One
of his biggest accomplishments is that he has taken over 100 pounds off of
more than 200 individual people in the last 2 years with his ULTRA FIT program.
He recently took over 50 pounds off of the Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. John also trained 17 Senators & Congressman at the Congressional
gym. He also trained clothing designer Calvin Klein, the CEO of American
Express Jim Robinson, Professional Ballplayers Mike Piazza and Luis Alicea,
and performed several Seminars for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals,
and Phoenix Suns. Mr. DeFendis has personal trained Professional boxer AndrewGolatta and over 300 champion titleholders in
Fitness & Bodybuilding. He has been featured on 24 national and International
magazine covers and won the Mr. USA title himself.
John hosts his own radio talk show on:
Fitness, Nutrition, Sports, Weight Training and Weight Loss.
He has written a syndicated Newspaper column called “The Fitness Expert” that
is carried in 28 different newspapers, and he has won “Trainer of the Year”
for the last 9 years for the state of Florida.
John is also the Director of Exercise for the IFPA
(They certified the Olympic Doctors in 1996) John DeFendis has been featured on these television shows: Hard Copy (4 times)ABC T.V.’s 20/20 with Barbara WaltersNBC Sports, The Joan Rivers Show
Good Morning America

Comment by Mr. USA John DeFendis — August 25, 2006 #
Getting a personal trainer is a great idea for anyone looking to get the results they desire. Whether it be motivation they are seeking or knowledge, basically anything can be accomplished through a trainer. Many people go to a gym and simply go through the motions and have no clue what they are doing, a trainer will help you understand why you are doing certain exercises and how to do them correctly. They are also a wealth of knowledge on nutrition and can help you change your diet to either lose or gain weight according to your goals. All in all, when you have reached a plateau or feel like you aren’t getting anywhere and need some motivation and a change, a trainer is a great start to get you back on track!

Comment by Matt Weik — August 25, 2006 #
Having a personal trainer or coach can lift your fitness progress to new levels IF you hire the right trainer.

Whats the right trainer for you?

Know the exact fitness goals you want to achieve and find a trainer that has helped others with the same goals.

Ask to see or talk to some of his clients if possible. Pictures or testimonials from clients are a sure sign of satisfaction.

Most of all, if you you hire a trainer and do exactly as they say but don’t get the promised results, find another trainer!

A good coach or trainer will TEACH you how to train and eat correctly so that you can progress to doing it all on your own.

Power Health Always, Dan Przyojski

Comment by DAN PRZYOJSKI — August 25, 2006 #
I do not think personal trainers at the local
commercial gyms are worth the money. If you
are serious about changing your body, you
need to hire someone that’s actually done it.
Not a $50 an hour spotter.

Comment by Chuck Schwiederek — August 25, 2006 #
Absolutely! A good trainer will help you get results and an outstanding trainer will have you exceed your wildest dreams and expectations.

Search for a trainer like you would a good defense attorney or surgeon. Remember you are giving someone the responsibility to literally shape your body and health (your most significant assest).

Be sure to interview the trainer (you need to be sure you like and trust the trainer and agree with trainer methods). Ask to speak to several of the trainers clients (a good trainer should have plenty of clients who would be more than happy to talk about their experiences).

Be sure to ask the trainer if she/he is certified, insured, cpr certified, and is operating a legit business. Be leery if the price is below market value

Comment by Kimberley Garrison — August 25, 2006 #
At most gyms and fitness centers, you can ask a question and every trainer will have a different response based on what worked for them. Answers should be based upon anatomy, not personal experience and results.

One-on-one personal training with an educated trainer should only be about you. Programs are developed specifically to meet your body type and how your body works.

Working with a trainer means constant supervision and continued motivation. They lend the benefit of expertise, a team…a true professional reliable, and dependable. The greatest benefit is the belief of philosophy:

“It is safe, effective and takes less time to achieve ultimate results if the training is taught and performed correctly.”

The goal of the Personal Trainer is to establish objective decision making into the implementation of exercise, to omit the conventional cookie cutter type recommendations you would find at the local fitness center or gym, to look beyond traditional exercise myths and incorporate sound movements.

Trainers maintain the desire to impart only the truth about exercise. I always have believed that a moment of insight is worth a lifetime’s experience. We are all victims of the my guru can beat up your guru mentality, which encourages the pubic to become followers of some genetic gym/fitness trainer’s own personal experiences. I have learned most trainers who are employed by a Gym or Fitness center are nothing more than RENT-A-BUDDIES. (DON’T PAY FOR THAT)

I believe that personal experience, and the way an exercise feels, is the furthest thing from anatomical efficiency, joint function, and muscular action. The science behind the movements, correcting posture so the exercise can be performed safely, more efficiently and with less struggle is what I recommend. Do your homework when it comes to hiring someone who is litterally working on your wellbeing!

Dave Parise C.P.T.
www.resultsplus.com
203-288-8822

Comment by Dave Parise — September 8, 2006 #
To find a good trainer, you must find some one that has done what they preach, not a person that got some certificate. Some people that are certified definately know what they are doing but there is some that don’t have a true passion in what they do. Ask other people about the trainer. Word of mouth is the best advertising. Also you want to have a trainer that you can look up to and they are well respected because if you don’t look up to them they will not motivate you. Allways remember though that they can not do the work for you. YOU MUST GIVE 100% to expect results!

Comment by Josh Mrosko — September 13, 2006 #