To pay for a personal trainer

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I'm meeting with a personal trainer tomorrow. I want to improve my fitness and get toned, after a bigish weight loss.

I just feel totally intimidated by the thought of a Proper Fit Person judging me! Will they test my fitness and body fat? Will they laugh afterwards at my beanpole arms, non existent upper body strength and loose, flabby skin?

I've got no idea what is reasonable cost wise, either.

Would anyone share their experience of using a PT and was it helpful/good value? Thank you!

Well you'd be very unreasonable to use them but not pay

There are a lot of PTs about so no-one can tell you what you'll get. I've been seeing a PT for nearly a decade, once a week; I pay £35 an hour; he doesn't laugh at me; isn't bothered about my measurements unless I am, but focusses on fitness and strength; and obviously doesn't laugh at me because why would I pay someone to do that?

So I have had a good experience and consider it excellent value. Look out for qualifications, experience & insurance. And also, if you like them - no point if you can't stand being around them...

Well you'd be very unreasonable to use them but not pay

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Thanks, that's good to know yours is such a positive experience.

I have used them both on and off for many years.

You are a paying customer and you need to find a PT that helps you achieve your goals.

That said ....... I have always found them to be professional and motivating..... so good luck and seriously well done on taking the step to improve your health.

I'm going to my PT's wedding on Thursday! I've been training with him for 7 years, and he is genuinely only concerned about my health and fitness.

It's the job of a PT to help you improve your overall fitness and to focus on whatever areas you deem to be important, so there will be no judging.

But if you feel that there is, or if you don't feel happy in any way, then you move on.

I had one for a year, to get me back in good habits after kids and not looking after myself for years

It was hard, but great. Money very well spent, just make sure you find one that you like and suits you. Young men can be a bit oblivious to understanding the middle aged female body but friends I have LOVE a buff 20yr old bloke yelling at them....

Mine was a woman my own age, she was very good, which was perfect

Ds had a PT and he is £30/hr or £25/hr (paid in one or two instalments ) if you block book 10 sessions.

Their job is to motivate you, make you feel comfortable with them and make you feel amazing about the fact you are up for the challenge of being fitter. If she/he doesn't make you feel that way you haven't clicked with them so try another one.

Highly recommended, make sure you get the right one. Cost £25 to £35 outside London. Tell them what your goals are and what you do and don’t enjoy. Cheaper than therapy .
Good luck

They wont be judging you! Their job is to help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be. Reasonable/normal price is around £30 per hour. Good luck :(

I use a PT alongside my friend. He charges £30 an hour for one person or in our case £35 an hour for a group session. We are in the Wiltshire area.
My fitness has improved loads since using him and he's pushing my friend and I towards our joint goals at a rate I would never have imagined. Would 100% recommend using a PT.

Ditto . Worth the money and if truly professional would not be judgy or anything nasty etc re where you are in your fitness stage currently.well done for your weight loss and have fun getting fitter and firmer etc.

I love my PT. She's got me lifting my own body weight and I'm in my fifties.

I have been working with my PT just over three months and can already deadlift 10kgs over my body weight, which I am chuffing delighted with!
He’s a good egg, motivates me with lots of positive feedback but also doesn’t mess about or cut me any (unnecessary) slack.
I’ve never once felt judged by him, he just wants to see me progress. Doesn’t mean I don’t get embarrassed sometimes (yesterday, when I slapped myself in the face repeatedly with a skipping rope), but I know that’s just me and my insecurities and not him!

I've seen a number of different PTs over the years. Some okay, some amazing. I'm qualified as a gym instructor so I'm quite picky about who trains me. I'm not paying for someone whose knowledge is only the same as mine. I will test any new PT by deliberately adjusting my alignment when I'm doing an exercise and if they don't spot it and call me out on it, that's a fail and I won't book any future sessions with them.

As a middle aged woman (I don't like writing that but at 49 I have to face facts), I find it makes a big difference to have a very experienced trainer who can accommodate my various aches, pains and old injuries and can work around them without having a negative impact on my training. Some less experienced trainers are a bit more cookie-cutter and their programmes are great for people in their 20s/30s but not so great for those of us with ageing bodies.

But it also depends on how you get on with your trainer and what motivation style works for you. For example, there's a PT in my gym and when she's training clients all I can hear is her saying "that's amazing, you're so good" every 10 seconds. I'd hate that! My trainer gets told off if a "that's good" slips out with a me yelling "stop it, you're jinxing me!". Horses for courses.

These may give you a few things to consider:
www.menshealth.com/uk/health/a756299/how-to-spot-a-good-personal-trainer/
www.menshealth.com/uk/building-muscle/a749783/7-ways-to-spot-a-bad-personal-trainer/