Should I get a personal trainer? Online or in person?

[newfunahead]

So I work out 3-5 times per week but I need to focus on my belly and targeting my specific goals I think. I am considering getting a personal trainer and have seen some online but I'm not sure if I will be focused enough to make sure I work out as I should if it's an online trainer.

I have looked at the trainers in my gym which will be minimum of £50 per session or I could work with a PT in the park which would only be £30 per session.

What would you do? Also have you had good results with a PT? I'm not sure I could commit to 3 workouts per week with what I'm currently doing

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

I’m a low carber and got my body fat from 25% to 19%. You don’t need carb (I mean sweets, pasta, breat and rice) to increase muscle mass.

[NT53NJT]

33% body fat isn't as bad on a female as it is for a male. Female healthy is around low to mid 20s iirc.

Cut carbs? Hmmm...carbs are a source of energy which help you build lean tissue and the more lean muscle you have the more calories you burn which means the more energy you'll need to maintain lean tissue.

[newfunahead]

Thank you all for the replies! So I had my first PT session today which went well. He measured our body fat percentage which was not great!

Mine is 33% and when I've looked it up online the charts state that I'm obese considering I have a healthy BMI I don't think I'm obese and I do work out 3-5 times per week (excluding this new PT session)

Can anyone give advice on body fat percentage?

Also he did say I will have to cut carbs as people don't generally need much carbs and I love them

[NT53NJT]

It all depends on if you have the time to do the research yourself and how motivated you are training alone.
Alot of people use a PT for the company and they get more done in the company of someone else.
I know I get more done when my training partner is with me but I don't need a PT because I know from research what I need to do

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

Love my PT, she's such an expert and seems to know how to pitch the exercise just right. 3 of us go together which is also v motivating.

I can barely walk or lift my arms the next day but I love it!

[Chocolate1984]

I hired my first PT in the months before my wedding & he changed my body shape. I attended the gym regularly & considered myself fit but he pushed & really taught me not to give up. He also used specific exercises to slim & tone my arms as my dress was sleeveless. I didn’t have any weight to lose & I did only lose a few pounds but I lost inches of my waist & hips. I was a great shape.

I’ve been seeing my current PT for nearly 2 years after ballooning to nearly 18 stone through illness. I could hardly walk & she was essentially my last hope. I thought she’d be gentle on me as I was so unfit & heavy but she worked me hard & I lost 4 stone in the first 6 months. I can now squat & deadlift 9 & 6 stone. I would never have achieved that on my own. This PT also matches me up with people of a similar fitness so sometimes I share session reducing the costs.

Get a good PT and you can achieve anything.

[Parker231]

I’m lazy so without a personal trainer I don’t really get much done. I have one session a week on a 1:1 basis and another in a group of six. It’s definitely been worth it in improving my fitness level.

[austenozzy]

Ditto banana ‘s answer. My group isn’t CrossFit specifically but is similar in that it’s functional fitness with focus on different muscle groups each time with a bit of conditioning and abs and what not in the mix too. They are PT led, so assistance or a bit of a push when needed but it’s far cheaper than 1-2-1s.

I found being outside the best antidote to going stale in a gym. I had a series of PT sessions to learn the techniques of deadlifts and other weighted stuff then started the group sessions. Some of our sessions are by a lake and others are on the beach. I love them and have made some really good friends.

[Peacefulbanana]

would you consider crossfit? mine is very much more like a small group PT session.

[newfunahead]

Thank you for the reply, I might see if I can find someone to share a PT with, as it is very costly

[BorchesterTowers]

PS you can't spot reduce a fat tummy, but you can improve all over fitness, and that will help reduce around your middle too. My PT told me that the best exercises for abs are pull ups & dips, and then squats. Because you need core strength to do them.

[BorchesterTowers]

I love my pt. He pushes me beyond what I think I am capable of and keeps me improving my form and capability

This. I cannot believe the things I do when my PT pushes me. And I do them safely, so I feel confident about doing whatever he asks me to do (although I swear at him a LOT).

I am quite evangelical about my trainer - and personal training altogether. I've been going to gyms on & off since the 80s, but I've never had the results I've got from 5 months (so far) of weekly PT sessions.

You don't need to do 3 PT sessions a week; just one. Could you share it with someone else to cut your costs?

[newfunahead]

Thank you for the replies and sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been on holiday. I contacted the guy that is £30 per hour and he wasn't great at getting back to me, he said he would call then didn't even bother. I will keep looking as I need to get moving with my fitness and sorting out my belly :)

[carrie74]

Agree with saving. Especially with your specific goals, and your current workout regime, a PT could just hone your technique and get you onto other things. I see mine weekly/fortnightly (depending on my schedule and money situation!), and then do stuff in between. If I Don't do the stuff in between, I'm wasting my and his time and money.

I think the outdoor one sounds good and would also indicate a good range of replicable-at-home exercises, rather than reliance on machines at the gym.

[savingmysanity]

I love my pt. He pushes me beyond what I think I am capable of and keeps me improving my form and capability. I have had great results and am significantly stronger and fitter, I also work 3x harder when he is there pushing me. I would recommend a PT wholeheartedly, you could do 1 session a week with the PT, get a programme put together for you to follow independently for your other two sessions.