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Original poster

Personal trainer

26 replies

LucieB · 16/06/2003 11:48

am thinking this might be a good line to move into. Really unhappy in my job and have experience of participating and competing in a sport at a high level. Am very good at motivating myself and have done a fair bit of sports coaching. Just a quick survey - who out of the mumsnetters would pay for some personal training?

OP posts:
aloha · 16/06/2003 12:10

I have done so, but had to give it up as it was so expensive. I have two friends who use one, one is very rich, the other lives beyond her means! However the trainer I used before my tax bill took priority seemed very booked up.

motherinferior · 16/06/2003 12:16

I tell you what I seriously think is worth investigating - postnatal personal training. The NCT has some people listed, but very few. I would seriously consider a bit of investment in one of those.

Twink · 16/06/2003 12:16

Me !

I have had weekly sessions for the last 2 years and it's made an enormous difference to/for me. My other exercise sessions are now more productive too.

It IS expensive but I cut back in other ways, and I think that having an active, fit mother is good for dd.

Original poster
LucieB · 16/06/2003 12:21

I was in the gym up till I was 33 weeks pg with DS and thereafter I swam up till the day before he arrived! I definitely think being fit before helped with a quick recovery following the birth and feeling well and healthy is important for your own and your family's well-being.
Thanks for all your comments. Oh - and how much do personal trainers tend to charge?

OP posts:
bossykate · 16/06/2003 12:31

yes - has made a world of difference to my confidence (if not my bodyshape - don't do sessions often enough). i found my trainer through Absolute Fitness . they charge approx £50 per session bookable in set of ten.

motherinferior · 16/06/2003 13:02

OK, so when are you going to get me back into lithe postnatal shape?

Crunchie · 16/06/2003 17:00

I don't use a personal trainer but I do go to the gym. My understanding is that most of the people who work there also 'freelance' as personal trainers. They do regular stuff at the gym, but start to build a client base from members. It doesn't seem to be something that they go into directly as it is difficult to build up a client base. I agree with motherinferior, look at pre-post natal as a specialiasm. Exercises need to be done differently then and if you know someone specialises in that you maybe willing to pay for it. I did pre/post natal classes and enjoyed them, but the gym couldn't advise me on other things I should be doing.

Go for it!

Tinker · 16/06/2003 22:16

LucieB - I would pay if I could but the cost seems prohibitively expensive to me. I think it would be the only way I could be 'persuaded' (except by beetroot and Twink ) to do some exercise, plus, since I'm effectively stuck in the house after 7.00, gyms are pretty much out of the question. Off the top of my head, maybe you could advertise to do it in groups of 2 or 3 to keep the price down but your fee the same? If you were going to do pre/post natal, perhaps you could advertise in the local clinics. Sharing the cost would have appealed to me. Good luck

expatkat · 16/06/2003 22:20

A lot of people I know in London use/have used them. I think you'd be likely to find work if you went into that field.

bossykate · 16/06/2003 22:41

i do not work for absolute fitness - honest! - but following on from tinker's point, the cost is the same per session for up to four people so if anyone is interested in this option and has three friends also interested it would be a lot more do-able financially.

Lindy · 17/06/2003 00:12

I wouldn't!! I make myself exercise regularly - I use the local council fitness centre which is excellent - £5 for an hour's aerobic class AND creche for my DS - I personally wouldn't dream of forking out for a personal trainer - although I could afford it if I chose to. I also do fitness videos at home and another class in our village hall (£3!!).

A good friend has tried to set up as a personal trainer but found it very difficult to get clients, she has now had to look at a different career.

I guess it does depend where you live - we are in quite a rural area which probably doesn't help.

Sorry to sound so blunt - but just being honest!

SueW · 17/06/2003 07:33

I wouldn't either - especially at £50 per session and 10 sessions min. I think the thought of coughing up that kind of money would galvanise me into action! The local health club charges £25/hour for a personal trainer with 10 sessions for £199.

However, there's no doubt a market - it's just a case of knowing whether or where it is local to you and what price to pitch it at. Also could you become qualified so that you can offer something else and perhaps freelance for a number of gyms. A postnatal exercise teacher I used to know held classes at three different David Lloyd clubs and a couple of other gyms and also offered personal training - she advertised in NCT newsletters.

princesspeahead · 17/06/2003 07:45

my dh has a pilates trainer that comes to the house and charges £50 ph (in Wiltshire). In London he used to have to go to his teacher and it cost £65 per hour. I think as a lot of people get shorter and shorter of time, and need a kick in the bottom to get motivated and do anything, personal trainers are becoming more common. But I think it depends where you live - if you are in London you will very quickly build up a client list through word of mouth, in other bits of the country where there is less spare cash washing around, it may take longer.
think the pre and postnatal thing is a good idea as well, although you do need special training for this, it is easy to get very wrong.

CAM · 17/06/2003 12:05

£50 per hour!! Gosh, I'm falling off my chair!! I used to go to a very small Pilates class which cost £7 an hour and I've now found one which costs just over £4 per hour if you buy a block of 6 in advance. And my teacher is superb!

Sonnet · 17/06/2003 12:20

I'm with Cam - falling off my chair...

I found a daily walk ( only way DD would sleep in day) and sit ups twice a day got me back into pre natel shape twice! ( don't know if it would work agian though!)

But - if I could afford it I'd do what Princesspeahead's Dh does and get a pilates instructor to the house - luxury....hope you join in Princesspeahead!!

princesspeahead · 17/06/2003 12:57

too lazy I'm afraid.
money well spent though - he has previously broken his back (and ribs, and legs, and punctured his lungs, long story) and has had to have it fused and this is the only thing that he has done which gives him some flexibility and movement in it. much more successful than the physiotherapy he had for years. so not quite as much of a luxury as it sounds - more a necessity.
but obviously it is nice that he can afford it...

princesspeahead · 17/06/2003 12:58

which is also why classes don't work for him - he needs very specific one to one teaching.... I think I'd actually prefer a good small class - lucky you having such a nice one near by CAM!

Sonnet · 17/06/2003 13:08

Princesspeahead - back - ribs - legs - goodness!!I won't even ask what he did!! - sounds like it is a necessity and I hope it continues to help....

princesspeahead · 17/06/2003 13:14

it was pretty bad - given 24 hours to live at one point...

Sonnet · 17/06/2003 13:15

Princesspeahead - back - ribs - legs - goodness!!I won't even ask what he did!! - sounds like it is a necessity and I hope it continues to help...

I do like the idea of a personal trainer coming to my house though - they'd be no more excuses for not going to the class!...when it's a cold dark rainy winter night or when it's a lovely summer evening and the garden and glass of wine are tempting me astray....I've got to admit that the "idea" of the body beautiful fades slightly in this weather when faced with a large glass of chilled white wine!

Sonnet · 17/06/2003 13:21

sorry - postings seem to be happening when I don't mean them to - I was a mumsnetter virgin until today!

I am so sorry to hear that Princesspeahead - how anybody copes with that is beyond me, particularly with a family - you must have such strength to cope - I would imagine that it focuses you on what is important in life! - All is OK now though?

princesspeahead · 17/06/2003 13:24

actually all this happened before we even met so I missed the excitement. just had to deal with a bit of the aftermath and actually he is completely fine now (12 years later) as long as he keeps up the exercise. otherwise he siezes up...

Sonnet · 17/06/2003 15:28

Glad to hear it.....

I hope I wasn't being insensitive - as a mumsnett virgin this is all rather new and I'm aware of the pitfalls of email!!!
I'll look forward to "Chatting" again

Have fun!

princesspeahead · 17/06/2003 15:33

no, no, not at all! don't be silly. and I agree - 40 minutes brisk walk a day pushing a sleeping baby in a pram shifts a hell of a lot of weight and you can pretend you aren't exercising if at the end of it there is a shop or two...!

enjoyed chatting to you too...

AliP · 17/06/2003 17:14

Hi LucieB - I am planning to return to my personal trainer after my 6 week check as i had suspended my sessions once i was pregnant as i was just too knackered! I paid £180 for 10 sessions to a trainer who works at my gym in Merseyside. I think it is a god thing to do but do know of people locally who wanted to set themselves up but priced themselves out of the market - if you set your rates right and suss out your market (the pre/post natal sounds good) then it is probably worth giving it a go.