Had a session with a PT

[MistySkiesAreGone]

I had a free intro session with my gym PT. She asked about goals, current fitness, diet etc. We then did about 30m in the gym. We used some of the machines I'd already done, but at a higher weight than I thought I could do. Surprised myself! Also some new ones in (what I think of as) the big guns area. My goodness I didn't think I could have done some of it, and still not sure if I can when she is not there! She did lightly assist a few reps, although said she barely did anything.

She uses Trainercise where I can log the workouts and get suggestions if I'm starting to find it too easy. She said do it 4x a week for results so need to get a good routine of doing this.

I don't know if we did as much as I wanted, I want to do core too but they are all glutes and arm exercises, but then I don't know until I do it what the effects will be.

How have others found PT?
One question, when is better generally to do weights? Is it best in the morning for muscle recovery?

Also noticed my cellulite is the best its looked this afternoon. It does change day to day. I think I'm going to go for 4 weeks of a one a week sessions, then maybe do once a fortnight or once a month.

Hello! I've just started with a PT (not attached to a gym) after years of not going to the gym and booking classes and going about a third of them due to work etc.. I've only had 2 sessions in the local park but it was really fun. I thought I'd be self-conscious but I wasn't after a while. They brought lots of kit and we did all sorts of weights and resistance for about an hour. I wish I'd done it years ago! Ache now though. I do it in the mornings when I can but most weeks in the evenings as I am at work in the day. It's hard to sleep if I do it too late.

I am seeing a PT in the gym and it’s great. Like you, using loads of machines and free weights that I would never have had the confidence to do on my own. PT checks my technique, which is important to me as being over 50 I need to be careful not to injure myself. They push me further than I do myself. Initially I was only going to do 5 sessions but have carried on. I always thought I would hate going to the gym but weirdly I now actually look forward to it.

It’s not cheap but it’s my investment in myself - after years of paying for kids music lessons / clubs / hobbies I decided it was time to do something for myself!

Women can almost always lift more than they think they’re capable of. You should be lifting 8-10 reps and finding the last few a challenge

Your cellulite will definitely look better after lifting weights, mine has almost entirely disappeared

You don’t really need to do core specific exercises tbh, if you’re doing compound lifts then they’ll work your core anyway

@Seaweasel that sounds great being outside! I had that experience about a late night workout ... when I've got into a run of mornings my brain seems to look forward to getting up and doing something active before it's done anything else.

@Circethemagician I totally get that re. an investment. Ive sort of being doing more and more and I like my little gym circuit but knew I could see more progress (that's instagram for you) so thought I'd take up the free taster on offer at my gym. I wasn't expecting to sign up but she knew she had a system where you can only access the app if you book weekly one to ones. I could probably remember what she gave me without the app .. but I'm not fully confident and I know she will push me and help with form and progression exercises so like you I thought I'd go for a block....even though it's a stretch at the moment. I'm thinking the skills of how to lift etc. are really worth investing in for later on. So good you are investing in yourself, I feel that's good too.

@ShirleyPhallus Yes we did 10, she then did some dropped sets where we'd do another 10 at a lower weight, sometimes they were the same weight. I am so delighted at the possibility of getting rid of cellulite. I'd massively improved my legs from doing spin twice a week (but may cut down to once a week now) but my bum and back of legs is another story and only helped by walking and water but then it's always back the next day, it was the only thing slightly bothering me, and while my aim is never perfection it's always nice to be able to improve slightly, delighted it might disappear!

That's quite good to hear re. abs as I bloody hate plank! It definitely looks better today anyway.

So excited to see how it goes in the next few weeks.

*I knew I mean

How often does a PT expect to see you? I mean, if you planned to go to the gym 3 times a week would they be with you all 3 times, or just once a week?

I am only seeing mine once a week, I guess you can see them more but I couldn’t afford that!

However, on the days I go on my own I make a note of what I’ve done on an app so they can see it. So it gives them an idea what other exercises to focus on for our next session.

I think eventually I’ll be able to do it on my own without the PT, but I am still learning a lot at the moment. (I’d never been to a gym before this).

I adore mine and whilst she's young enough to be my daughter I think I prefer to my actual horrid teens.

She's quite new and affiliated to my gym so she's fairly affordable as these things go. For a monthly fee I get a weekly 1:2:1 session, a programme and I can message her for help.

She definitely pushes me re what weights I can manage. She's setting me achievable goals and she makes me challenge what I use in terms of going to the scary free weights bit, using different machines etc.

I was planning on just having her for a month or two but actually dh has convinced me to find the money to keep her on an ongoing basis. Like a pp, a lot of money has gone into kid's activities over the years and now they've outgrown those, it's my turn.

Aww these are lovely to read. Mine has a sliding scale i.e. 1, 2 or 3 or 4 one to one sessions a week. I just do one, then the other two I will go alone, but as PP said you log it on an app. Mine also does weekly photo and progress check in. Not sure what that will involve yet, but when I first started fitness I took a weekly photo and can honestly say this kept me going- some weeks I felt fat but I could look at pics and measurements and see tiny amounts of progress, which have all added up, so I'm happy to continue a photo.

I mean bloated rather than fat, hate use of word fat!