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Original poster

If you wish you had a Personal Trainer or went to the gym, what stops you?

227 replies

Watchkeys · 05/07/2023 09:55

I'm curious about this, as a PT myself. I'm sure there's billions of people out there who are too shy or not financially able or... well, I wonder what else stops people. I train beginners and my aim is to get non-starters started, and build confidence.

What would help you get started?

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 05/07/2023 10:19

I love my PT. Just started a few months ago.

What I don't like about it is how exhausted I am afterwards and how much my muscles hurt.

Moodycoo · 05/07/2023 10:23

Embarrassment/lack of fitness/exhaustion/lack of time/intimidated

Pick any of the above.

UrsulaIsMyQueen · 05/07/2023 10:24

Lack of time (well, child free time). If I’m not working, I have my 3 young children with me.

LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 05/07/2023 10:26

I have a physical job and I'm always too tired and sore after work to do any exercise.

User19844666884 · 05/07/2023 10:29

I had a PT and ended up injured and very ill.

She seemed determined to “transform” me in as short a time as possible, and to be fair I went along with it. She had me working so hard that I would have to stop to throw up, and then keep on going.

I ended up badly aggravating a prior injury that now causes significant daily issues 10 years later. And either the intensity of the sessions triggered a metabolic disorder (which has since resolved) or it was a remarkable coincidence.

I would still consider a PT again, but it would need to be someone much more gentle and long term, ideally working alongside a physio, who could work with me on a slow and steady plan to incorporate the right kinds of exercise into my daily routine. I’m talking ( year plan, not 10 week plan.

mindutopia · 05/07/2023 10:38

Time - there is no free time. It's kids until they go to school and then it's work and then after work, it's kids and animals (we have a small farm) and dinner and bedtime and no one is properly asleep until 10pm. Obviously, I could in theory leave dh with the kids in the afternoon/evening, but it would still be me running around feeding horses and picking up horse shit at 11pm in the dark. I suppose I could hire out all those jobs (child and animal care), but that's like a third salary every month, which we don't have.

Mutabiliss · 05/07/2023 10:38

This will sound a bit odd, but I really dislike extreme enthusiasm and PTs are always very young, outgoing and noisy. I would hate someone whooping and 'motivating' me. Pre-kid when I had time and money to go to the gym, I liked to be left alone to get on with it. I've no interest in learning about macros or doing weird extrovert exercises where everyone is looking at you.

Also I'm middle aged, tired and have a lot of responsibilities that come above going to the gym, and I don't think a gym bunny PT would understand that.

mindutopia · 05/07/2023 10:41

Oh and I would add that it's also time in the sense that it's a drive to get anywhere. I suppose a PT could come to me, which is something to consider, because I could find 30 minutes for that if I didn't need to leave the house. But there is a great gym that I'd love to join, but it's still 20 minutes away. I definitely don't have 40 minutes of time for driving on top of a workout in a day.

sunshineandstrawberryjam · 05/07/2023 10:46

Personal trainer - money.

Gym - I go 3 ish times per week. I have off weeks and I would love to go more reliably or more but there just isn't time, without giving up on something else, like sleep or my relationship.

Mushroo · 05/07/2023 10:52

Money is the main one.

Then having to invest the time to find someone I click with. I find one to one interactions quite intense and if I didn’t get on with the trainer I would just dread the sessions.

Also most of the trainers at my gym are men in a different phase of life so not sure it would be the right fit.

I’d pay well though for a small group (say 3-4 people) women only weight focussed session a couple of times a week.

Myotherusernamesafunnyone · 05/07/2023 10:52

Time
Money
Enthusiasm
Not necessarily in that order

Begonne · 05/07/2023 10:56

Time & Money are the biggest factors.

And I would also absolutely need someone to call to my door in order to remind, motivate and find my shoes.

But the biggest one is that I’ve never met anyone who understands my weird body (except on the internet where groups of people like me can gather). I get migraines from cardio, can be brilliantly coordinated one day and a klutz the next, and I have weird joints that sprain themselves. I have a lifetime of sporty people thinking I’m making bizarre excuses. But the more I learn about how my body works, the less I’m inclined to go near anyone in normal exercise culture.

NoSquirrels · 05/07/2023 11:00

Mushroo · 05/07/2023 10:52

Money is the main one.

Then having to invest the time to find someone I click with. I find one to one interactions quite intense and if I didn’t get on with the trainer I would just dread the sessions.

Also most of the trainers at my gym are men in a different phase of life so not sure it would be the right fit.

I’d pay well though for a small group (say 3-4 people) women only weight focussed session a couple of times a week.

I think this is exactly my feeling on it. You’ve described what I’d like well too - a smaller group of people at my stage/level; the idea of having to find the right person who was challenging enough but not too full-on etc. There’s a PT nearby who offers a coffee and initial chat for free, and whilst I haven’t taken that up yet it actually does make me think OK, that’s less intimidating than showing up to a trial gym session. Perhaps I will … at some point …

(inertia is the other big block next to money!)

I understood what the PP meant about relationship fatigue - I find these semi-professional but intimate sorts of interactions/relationships challenging for some reason. I don’t think it’s weird to feel this way particularly at an intense parenting stage of life, actually.

Arewehumanorarewecupboards · 05/07/2023 11:01

I love my pt but talking to others it seems that they would prefer someone over 25 (I don’t mind, mine is young and I am old).

thismeansnothing · 05/07/2023 11:04

Money. I love exercise. I love going the gym. But I can't afford a monthly membership then the price of PT sessions on top. The next one is time. An hour in the gym isn't an hour wehn you factor in travel time to and from and waiting for equipment to be free at peak times.

Make do with Les mills on demand. Cheaper. I can do it in the garden or the garage whenever I fancy

Minikievs · 05/07/2023 11:07

I'd love a PT but don't have the money.
Gym membership is £30 pm so that's ok but a PT is out of my financial reach

Natsku · 05/07/2023 11:07

The cost. I'll be joining a gym in the autumn once I'm registered as a student as its a lot cheaper for students. A PT is way out of my price range. I did like when my physiotherapist guided me through gym exercise though, it was very helpful.

Lds1 · 05/07/2023 11:13

Gym no idea what the best workouts for me would be and when I went didn't really have much effect.

Personal trainer - money, I'd love one to come to my garden maybe 4 times a week, some one to motivate and tell me what to do

BCCoach · 05/07/2023 11:21

I would probably benefit from some S&C training but my main sport already takes up 10+ hours a week which basically leaves me only time for a bit of yoga which I can do at home. I did do one winter in the gym a few years ago and certainly got a lot stronger (ended up being able to squat my own bodyweight for 5x5) but was permanently knackered and it really affected my endurance, which isn't great when you do an endurance sport.

Orangelover · 05/07/2023 11:30

I'd love a PT but with my mortgage having just gone up due to interest rates stuff like this is just not an option at the moment.

I do go to the gym but time prevents me from going more and i'm more into classes because I don't have the self motivation for the gym. I exercise to maintain my health, not because I enjoy it and if I'm having a busy week I tend to have to prioritise other things.

I wish I was one of these people who get all these crazy endorphins and go solidly 3-4 times a week but just doesn't seem to happen for me.

Original poster
Watchkeys · 05/07/2023 11:30

@Mutabiliss

This will sound a bit odd, but I really dislike extreme enthusiasm and PTs are always very young, outgoing and noisy

Doesn't sound odd at all! The 'noisy' aspect especially. Personally, working out is a time to get some peace, for me. Time to myself. I don't want someone bouncing and shouting all over the place, even if it's all in encouragement of me.

OP posts:
quikquiknamechange · 05/07/2023 11:31

Money. Feeling like I had to commit to a regular slot for the foreseeable future when actually sometimes my life isn't that predictable.

I hate public gyms.

I live rurally so going to a gym / PTs personal gym means at least a 20 minute journey so minimum 40 mins travelling by which point I could have done a session at home.

I do also understand the post about establishing and maintaining a relationship as I find it hard not to chat as hate awkward silences!

ABugWife · 05/07/2023 11:33

I have had various PTs in the past and I reallly enjoy having someone do the planning on my behalf and encouraging me.

I just can't afford one right now. I believe they are worth what they charge (generally speaking) I just don't have it spare right now.

AtomicBlondeRose · 05/07/2023 11:33

I hate the idea of someone telling me what to do (yes, even if I've agreed to it!) and also find the idea of being trapped into an ongoing relationship horrible. Like, if you don't get on with them you have to end it with them, and then they might not like you - that just stresses me out so much I'd rather not start at all!

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 05/07/2023 11:34

I won 3 sessions with a PT in a raffle several years ago. I was very open and honest with her and let her know that I wouldn't ever be able to afford have her permanently but that I would be more than happy to sing her praises on social media to raise her profile and help generate customers who could afford her charges.

As I had limited time with her I asked her to teach me how to run. She didn't really know where to start with that, so didn't give any advice. She also kept saying things like 'ooh, I didn't expect you to be able to do that' when she gave me an exercise to do.

The whole experience was excruciating. I couldn't wait for it all to be over. Never again.