Personal trainers - are they worth it?

[ShirleyPhallus]

I’ve plateaued from my current regime + coupled with a long holiday and being busy with work means I’ve got a bit soft around the edges recently.

I had a PT yonks ago at fitness first and he was pretty useless. I’m now at a better gym and just signed up again for some PT sessions to get me going again.

Anyone had very good experiences with PTs?

Yes and no. I have had 3 in my life time. 1 not bad but bit too enforced fun. 2 mediocre but number 3 Jesus he was AMA OMG and removed all my baby weight and transformed my figure. Ime more work less banter is the key

I have the basic PT qualifications. There was a wide range of abilities on the course, most of whom passed, tho the assessment was a bit of a bloodbath.

I would definitely look at a PTs other qualifications, experience & testimonials. Look at what that are interested in & what they specialise in & see if it fits with your goals.

Look for someone with passion & interest in the whole nutrition/strength/flexibility/longevity spectrum...well, depending on what you want from PT.

I've had a few over the years. One actually worked me so hard I fainted! Unexpected.

I saw one for a few months very intermittently when I was trying to lose baby weight, and it worked.

I've now been seeing my current PT for 4 years, and he's been brilliant. He's well qualified, runs from his own gym (rather than as part of a bigger gym), and has managed to completely change my mindset as an exercise avoider, to someone who actually gets twitchy if I'm not doing something. He keeps me accountable - if I'm not doing stuff in between sessions, he's quite blunt in telling me I'm wasting my money in seeing him. Plus the pain of a session with him without having exercised in between isn't worth it .

My purpose has been to get stronger and get to a certain level of fitness. Plus keeping accountable. I probably would carry on working out on my own now if I didn't see him, but he always pushes me harder than I'd push myself, and I just see it as an investment in myself. I don't have gym membership, so my £60 a month (ish) that I pay him replaces that IMO.

EmmaStone you pay £60?! How often do you see him?!

Haha, It's £30 a session - I'm currently seeing him fortnightly (although have been weekly in the past).