Has anyone used a personal trainer before?

[InfiniteGerbils]

I’m interested to know if anyone’s used a PT before for getting fitter; whether it be to lose weight, build muscle, restore the core etc.

How does it work? I have zero willpower. Do they meal plan for you? Did yours operate from a gym only or gym/home/park/whatever?

And moreover how much did it cost (I’m sure it’s prob more in London/SE)?

Thinking of getting one as I need a “flying start” at shedding 10kg

I've used a PT before and actually worked as one too.

PTs aren't qualified to meal plan but they can go over your food diary and recommend improvements. E.g. don't drink wine every night, try 2 glasses a week and try having a salad with your lunch to increase your veg intake.

Some PTs are tied to gyms but others can come to your home or meet you in the park. Prices vary greatly - I've seen £35 and £120 per session (in London).

Generally PT are good for personalised excercise plans, switching up your routine if you're in a rut or standing over you and keeping you going.

However, if you're just out of shape and a bit overweight, it might also work to just join a mixture of classes + try to follow the healthy eating guidelines.

I've used one however I do find they push you but I think I personally got the same outcome from attending classes as its more a case of pushing yourself more than you would on your own perhaps

I have a pt for 1 hour a week.
I used to do it in a gym, but then she moved to her own studio.
I like being pushed so I do more than I would on my own.
I sometimes have issues with my knees, but she's very good at working with my current capabilities. Finding something else that still burns calories or builds muscle if anything causes pain.

For the last year ds has been going to a PT once a week, it is £30 for 1 hour 1-1, or £250 for 10 block of weekly bookings (but flexible if you need to move or postpone). The PT works out of his own gym which he also rents out to one other female PT. To be a client you need to do a 1-1 session at least twice a month.

As well as motivating you and making you feel good about achieving, being a PT client should ideally give you access to other classes/sessions as 1 hr a week isn't enough. ds's PT runs a clients only 1 hour teen cross circuit class for £5 a week which around 8 kids including ds go to. ds also has a clients only gym membership £20/month which he can use as often as he likes Mon-Fri 4pm-6pm (there are ladies circuit training and adult 1-1 sessions after 6pm) and all weekend, he uses it twice a week on Sat/Sun mornings for 45mins at a time with plans the PT has written and keeps up to date with current ability for him.

His PT had an initial session with him and discussed his goals, whether it was strength, fitness, toning he was looking for, discussed his diet, how often he wanted to train, any health issues etc. Then did weights/measurements and a fitness test as a starting point. ds's PT is particularly interested in sports/fitness PT training rather than bulking up and also teens (he used to be a youth footie coach), he also discussed with us not overdoing it at his age as it can have an impact on growth plates etc.

He doesn't give him a diet plan but talks to him about what he is eating and drinking and suggests tweaks (and ds listens to him!). He has an active clients only facebook page which clients share meal ideas on.

A couple of times a year he pushes clients out of the their comfort zones with a sponsored activity and has a couple of nights out a year, ds doesn't go to them all yet as too young but I have taken him to a couple, there are all shapes and sizes there and there is a big team spirit. All money made goes to a local children's mental health charity.

So all in a whopping £140ish a month, but he gets such a lot out of it and it has been worth it. Before he started ds wasn't in a good place, he was the only one of all his friends kicked off his footie team after 8 years of playing together, other teams had folded and his team took in better players. He suddenly had nothing to do while friends were at 3 x weekday training/matches and his confidence was at an all time low). The PT sessions and addons have really lifted his confidence and mood.

I'm in Essex. The general cost here is about £40 per hour for a 1-1.

I signed up for an initial block of 3 sessions at an introductory rate at our gym. I was terrified but wanted to know how to use weights to help stave off osteoporosis. I needed to lose weight but that is a sensitive subject for me so I told the trainer that discussion was off limits. He was fine about it, but equally would have discussed food issues with me had I wanted. We have one PT at our gym who is qualified on the nutrition front and she will obviously go into more depth but I have no experience so can't comment.

What I can say is that I fell in love with the gym. Kettlebells started me off and then I moved to boxing. Three years down the line and I have done a session every week (would do more if I could afford it, and go to the gym every day anyway).

Points to consider:

Gyms take money off PTs. I didn't realise how much but ours creamed off 50%. The advantage was the gym being a stakeholder for the money so you could safely book a block in advance and get it cheaper. If the PT left the money was safe with the gym and could be used for another PT or refunded. The disadvantage is that you run the risk of paying for a sausage factory approach, with PTs who get disgruntled and leave frequently. It takes a while to get into a groove with a new PT so annoying if there is high staff turn over.

A PT running their own show out of their own gym, or renting space in a commercial gym, is a slightly different kettle of fish. They have more control of their career and in theory are likely to stay around longer. I tried one of those, but he left suddenly for a career change and with no onwards referral, so his clients were stuck for a while. He did not expect me to pay for weeks or months up front, but some do and if they leave and don't refund you it's obviously a problem.

I now have a PT who comes to my home once a week for boxing and core work. That works well for me and we will do some gym based weights work in future. But I am fairly confident on the weights I now want to use so can do it by myself.

Give it a go. You may love it; you may not. But ultimately your success is down to you and how much you are prepared to put in.

I have a weekly session with my PT. I've been training with him for around five years. He's amazing and makes my list of the top 5 men in my life. Without him I'd be ..... oh, I dread to think

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace

Jumping in - is your trainer based in a gym? Do you stay in the gym? Do you train outside?

And how much does it cost?

Sorry - QUESTIONS

My trainer works from a private fitness studio, rather than a public gym. There's no general public there: just other clients with other trainers.

In between sessions I train at a regular gym following the programme my trainer gives me

I pay £35 per hour (I'm in the north) but I believe new clients pay £40. My trainer has masses of experience and is an award winning bodybuilder (masters class: he's in his 40s). I feel really lucky to have found him