What to expect from a personal trainer?

[MeIAm]

I have been a member of my gym for approx 3 years yet have only been a handful of times

I think this is part laziness, part embarrassment as I don't know what I'm doing and I am very unfit! As in I cant swim a full width (width not length!) of pool without getting out of breath!

My gym has personal trainers, I have emailed and asked for prices, they do it as a block booking of 5 which works out as £23 per hour. I can afford this but I can't afford to just throw the money away (which is what I'm doing at the moment with unused gym membership!)

So, am I too unfit for a personal trainer?
Has anyone unfit had one?
What happens? We would be at the gym, I'm not sure when the busy times are as I walk out if there are even 5/6 other people there
Will they expect me to be able to exercise without breathlessness already?

I really want to improve my fitness and feel having an appointment with someone will make me go!

[MeIAm]

Oops I apologise, that was very long!

[Tomorrowisanewday]

Make a list of what your goals are, they will ask that first.

You sound a lot like me, and being with a trainer makes me able to be in the gym when it's busy, rather than thinking everyone will think I shouldn't be there.

At your first session, they will see what you can already do, and what level you are at generally. Trust me, the thought of it is more frightening than the reality. I've found it's worth every penny. Good luck x

[MeIAm]

Thank you for answering. I contacted a pt and my first session is tonight! I'm already incredibly nervous!

[KateDaniels2]

I was extremely unfit when i got mine. I even pointed out he might not want me as a client.

He was great. Mainly because he built my confidence. I stayed with him 4 years. Tbh i out grew him because his nutrional knowledge wasn't great.

He helped me get strong, lose weight but alot of his food advice was built around male body builders not middle aged women with pcos.

But i loved that he never made me feel shit when i couldnt do something.

I actually gave up the gym in favour of kickboxing. I had done kickboxing as well for a while but now do that. They incorporate weights and things into it. Again my kickboxing trainers are really supportive, never make me feel shit. Thats whats most important for me.

[StillMaidOfStars]

S/he will work with you to your goals. Start easy - 5 min jog on treadmill? Or cycling? 10 press ups? 20 body weights squats?

They will have seen it all and I know my PT likes the early fitness journey - more satisfying to see big improvements (as happens early on)

[MeIAm]

Well I survived!

I started with 10 minutes on cross trainer, 40 seconds each of things like squats/burpees/plank and about 5 other things that I can't even remember the name of. Coped with all of these until he got me to lie on my back and do some other things which were supposed to be easier - I just couldn't do them! I couldn't physically hold my legs in the air , had to do them ones on the leg weight machine thing! So, we went onto next task - involved boxing gloves and me hitting pads, I loved this! Then onto two ropes that I had to kind of flick and then circle and finally 10 minutes on the rower.

Not a lot I know but that's the most I've ever done! He was really nice, encouraging me. I'm so pleased that I actually went ahead with it!

[BIWI]

He should work with you to help you achieve whatever goals you have set for yourself.

At this stage, these can be as vague as you need them to be! But you need to tell him why you want a trainer, and also what you like/don't like to do.

At the same time, he should push back and tell you, e.g. 'you may not like cardio, but we're going to have to do some if you want to get fit'!

But above all, he should make your sessions both challenging and enjoyable. You should come away from every session feeling that you've worked really hard (clue: puce face is usually good!!!). If you feel it's getting too easy, then you need to tell him - it should always feel like it's been a challenge.

It's a really interesting relationship - you spend a lot of time with them - and you should find that they are as invested as you are in achieving your goals.

(Oh, and by the way, your rate is really good! I pay mine £40 per session!)

[StillMaidOfStars]

Then onto two ropes that I had to kind of flick
I do this at the end of some weights sessions.

I call it Rope Wanking

[Strongbeatsskinny]

What to expect from a personal trainer well from my coach I get a detailed nutrition plan plus a workout program designed for my goals which won't be the same as any other one of his clients.
Also does body fat reading with calipers and monthly weigh in also measurement of muscle gains.
One thing that a personal trainer shouldn't be doing is asking you to do cardio when with him he's then just st sat or stood possibly on thier phone while your doing it. They should be teaching you technique and correct form in the weights section this is what truly sculpts our bodies. Good luck in your journey