A question for personal trainers/ fit people

[Sweetnlow]

I've previously had personal training at my gym and I'm considering starting again when the gym reopens.

However I hate 'conditioning' in the gym. I.e I hate doing sledge pushes, ball slams, Burpees, assault bike type stuff which always seems to be on the end of the session.

I want to lift weights with good form with a PT and then do my own cardio outside of the sessions. I.e swimming, running, cycling etc.

Every time I mention this to a PT they pull a face and tell me that I have to do conditioning in the PT sessions and it's pointless to just lift weights.

Do you have any thoughts on this? Are they right, would I be wasting my time to do just an hours weights in the gym and nothing else?


I feel really self conscious in the gym which is why I'm considering a PT to help with the weights.

[MeltsAway]

But really, it’s all about what you want.

I’d deadlift all day everyday but my body wouldn’t take it. So it’s good to do other stuff and my PT makes it fun.

[MeltsAway]

I disagree. I do all sorts of conditioning cardio and weights work with my PT. the sledge is great for strength - I can push over 200kgs using it which is amazing all over strength training.

I like the variety of moving in different ways and also the new skills I learn - explosive jumping using plyo boxes for example. But I train twice a week with a PT and the rest of the time I’m in the dance studio - there’s nothing like 5 proper 90 min ballet classes a week to train your core!

I’m also too lazy to do the kind of mad, think I’m going to be sick metcon I do in PT sessions

[Daisy03]

I think he's definitely just following a script and I wouldn't be happy paying for that.
It will work well for some people, but if you are motivated to do your cardio, and know what you need to do then it's a waste of your time. Like you I used a PT to help me with weightlifting, until I was confident I could go it alone

[EmmaStone]

I don't do conditioning with my PT (maybe the odd burpee as part of a circuit), I seem to recall him telling me early on it was pointless him overseeing cardio with me - I could be doing that in my own time. We usually end a session (before stretching off) with an abs blow out. I don't see a PT at a gym though, he has his own studio that I go to.

[Spodge]

I don't do any conditioning with my PT. I hire him to check my form on weights, not supervise cardio. For sure you should do some, but the trainer should be perfectly happy for you to do that by yourself, maybe with some suggestions from them as to duration and type.

[MrsTophamHat]

That would give me doubts too. It would feel like they just want to do a copy and paste session with every client rather than actually listening to your personal goals.

[Sweetnlow]

Thank you! I agree, I've never quite understood the instance on the conditioning... I want their help with learning to lift heavy with great form, but I always feel I have to hold something back for the last 10 minutes of the session which is saved for a horrendous conditioning session 🤢

I wonder if they worry that clients will complain that they haven't had their money's if they don't leave the session a sweaty out of breath mess!?

On more than one occasion I've had to abandon the conditioning part of the session because I was being pushed too hard and thought I was going to be sick.

I don't like pushing myself in that way on the gym... I'd much rather push my cardio limits on a run, or in a pool training session!

[LordEmsworth]

Yes, you need to find another PT. My PT tailors everything to my goals, I run on non-weight days and my sessions with him are all geared towards lifting more/heavier. The gym PTs sound like they've been trained a certain way so train everyone the same...

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

That sounds weird to me. I see a trainer twice a week. We do one session of Pilates/barre with stretching and then one session with heavier weights.

I do the occasional sledge push, but it's probably only a few minutes out of the session and not every time. I told her I hate ball slams and burpees, so we don't do them. I do my cardio in my own time.

I'd push back on the trainers more! Or at least get them to explain themselves better?