Talk to me about PT's

[mumtosnchild]

I recently joined a gym and had a quick induction but thinking I might benefit from some sessions with a personal trainer. I'm 16 stone and trying to lose weight and improve my health following a diabetes diagnosis. The gym I belong to has a number of personal trainers each with their own Instagram page.

At the moment I am mainly doing cardio - treadmill, bike, cross trainer with some hand weight exercises. I don't think I am getting the most out of the gym eg they have a lot of weight/cable machines which I don't know how to use.

How does one choose which personal trainer to go for? I am also not clear how personal training works - do you just book a single session at a time or are you committed to a bunch of sessions? What questions would you ask? Do you have a consultation first?

Any advice welcome as never had a personal trainer before.

You can book any setup with a PT you want. A single session to give you a routine, a block of sessions, a session every week in perpetuity. You shouldn't need to arrange a PT session just to get info on using the machines though - ask the gym for an induction. That should include showing you how to use the machines.

A PT will want to know what your goal is - lose weight/build muscle/train for a triathlon/ whatever. Choosing a PT that is right for you depends on what your goals are. PTs will usually say in their bio if they have any particular interest or specialism - e.g. some do pregnancy/postpartum fitness, some have experience helping people with injury recovery, some are more into diet, etc. and of course they have different personal styles varying from gently-gently to hardass. You could ask at the gym reception based on what you think would suit and they could potentially suggest which PT would best fit your goals.

I think making a start is the hardest bit so good for you😀.

I'd recommend a PT if you can find one that you click with and who knows their stuff. Strength training is important and is part of what the NHS recommends for all healthy adults. I started in the gym at about the same weight and started with small group circuit style strength classes (high reps low weights) but then got more into heavy lifting (low reps high weights) and am now fitter and stronger than I have ever been.

If your gym does good Pilates classes that is a good start as well - bodyweight strength training but all done very carefully with a focus on form. I also did aqua aerobics and a class that was strength and conditioning but aimed at newbies/returners to exercise/post partum etc and they were also a good intro to strength. So if your gym has helpful people at the desk I would talk to them about PTs and possible classes. But don't jump into weights without knowing what you are doing as you will be more like to get discouraged/injured.

Good luck and have fun!

Whether it's a single session or block or ongoing really depends on how they run it. Mine I pay monthly and get my sessions, I'd have to cancel to stop. When i was looking round others you'd pay for a block.

In terms of which to pick, see if what they say the do fits with your goals. Then pick one you like the look of. Having a PT is a bit like having a relationship so picking one who you think you'll like and be able to work with is important.

Resistance training of some kind is important, and would help you with most goals, and confidence. A little known secret is that heavier people are often strong!

Not much training is needed if you stick to dumbbells, though it may need guts to visit that area of the gym. 4 basic moves: press overhead, lie on a bench and push upwards ('bench press'), bend over and lift weights to your body ('row'), hold weights and pretend to sit down ('squat'). A PT would help to check you do them well, and suggest how many sets/reps (e.g. press 8 times, rest, repeat).

Personally I would have a standard free induction and then do about six weeks of using the equipment twice a week - just 2-3 sets of 8-12 and add a bit more when you can. The reason for that is you will build up a baseline so when you then use a PT to get a programme you will get so much more from it as you will be able to lift more than you thought! That was my experience anyway.

I've just come to this board to write this exact post OP! I've only been going to the gym for 3 weeks now and only feel comfortable on the treadmill/bikes/stair master. Keep looking at the weights machines but not brave enough to have a go on my own. I am really self conscious exercising in front of people, so when it comes to the weights I'm worried people will know that I don't know what I'm doing and I'll look daft!

@Where2GoNext I hear you! I can promise you any proper lifter wouldn't think ill of you for not knowing, they'd be celebrating you trying. There are lots of people using them not quite right. And lots of people wouldn't be looking at you anyway.

As I'm more experienced this isn't something that worries me as I know I know stuff, so I'd now be much more likely to go and ask someone if I can't use a piece of kit. Last two times in unfamiliar gyms I've been and asked someone how to adjust safety arms. There's no reason I'd know how to use a piece of equipment I've not used before.

But this is what having a PT is really good for as then they show you. And they should also give you knowledge you can then apply in other situations. Strength stuff is sooooo much more fun than the cardio machines.

Personally I love my PT and credit her with changing my health. I deliberately asked at the reception for someone who could train a post menopausal woman who detested all forms of exercise and would be whiny and swear a lot (I'm a dream client!). They laughed and said they had the perfect one and she is. Knows when to push me, knows when not to give me burpees and knows when I say fuck off it's to exercise not her 😃

To begin I booked a block of twice a week, now I see her once a week and she gives me a routine for the rest of the week (two more sessions as I go three times a week now) and then the block lasts much longer.

Ask around at the gym or watch the PTs training other clients and see which ones you like the look of. Book a trial and see how you gel, if it doesn't work for you then try another until you get a good fit.

Good luck and congratulations on starting