Which personal trainer would you choose?

[CovidCorvid]

I’m looking to lose weight. Had a taster session with two different trainers at the gym and really liked them both. Which do you think I might get better results with as I have no idea how to choose?

Trainer A was more of a traditional heavy free weights focus. So lots of deadlifts, squats, leg press, bench work with dumbbells. Really pushed me with heavier weights.

Trainer B was weights focused but mainly cable machine and also incorporated cardio stuff into the routine to get my HR up such as battle rope slams.

I did feel I was going to puke with trainer B and didn’t with trainer A. Which also means I enjoyed trainer A’s session a bit more.

Would it really make a difference which one I choose? Both the same price. A has slightly better availability. Do I just toss a coin?

Oh I'm going to tell him to weigh me, and tell him to bollock me if I'm not losing weight. The scales do a fat weight and a muscle weight so should be able to tell if it's a weight lifting muscle increase weight gain/plateau.

The scales put you in a category as well and before covid I was in the "above average muscular" category and now I'm in the "solidly built" category. ffs

I got weighed but told him not to tell me… ( I was very overweight). I didn’t realise the stats would upload on the gyms app until the stumbled across them one day. That was a shock I needed to have.

I’d go for A as I like weights more than I do cardio. Weights also shape my body well. Cardio bores me.

A.

Personally I would go with A because I've seen better results with free weights and you don't need a trainer to do cardio - that's easy to do on your own.

I would also be wary of someone in a first session telling me to 'cut carbs' (unless you are diabetic or other carb-related health problem). Cutting carbs is not necessary for weight loss and comes down to personal choice.

For me, Trainer A.

But before I worked with a trainer who introduced me to proper weight lifting, I would have gone with Trainer B.

Working on heavy weightlifting (well at first I was only dead lifting 40kg!) has been a revelation, in my late 50s/early 60s.

My PT sessions tend to be a mix of both lifting heavy stuff, and then cardio/body conditioning/moving around. 30 mins of weights - deadlifts or squats, then probably work on lats via a cable machine or banded assisted pull ups; then 30 minutes of metcon (metabolic conditioning): box jumps, burpees, SkiErg, assault bike, sled, lunges, ball slams, wall balls ...

The list of torture goes on (my PT calls them "games").

But it works for me - I do 2 sessions a week, plus a couple of group Bootcamp/Pump classes & I am strong AF. Solid abs and thighs, and can even almost do a full hand release push up!

But the burpees make me want to die.

I never in a million years thought I'd be doing deadlifts in the gym - but my body is changing!

It's a revelation, isn't it @Tinselandlights ? I love having biceps and hard abs (not a 6 pack - to much elderly crepey skin). But squats & deadlifts give you abs and quads to die for. I love it.

A by a country mile. BUT I would want A to do me a programme I could follow outside of PT sessions.

Trainer A, as others say you can do cardio in your own time.

I've been with my PT for five months and it's definitely worth it for learning to lift etc properly and to motivate you towards your goals.

I would go with trainer A, to be honest. Mostly because you enjoyed the session more, which is important.

I am starting with a PT as well, we are going to do free weights and cardio together. Basically anything we can in order to quickly drop as much weight as possible in order to start IVF.