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A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

The truth about what you should really get from a personal trainer and their 'real' professional levels

83 replies

Exercise1Girl · 10/02/2009 22:15

I see a lot of confusion and uncertainty amongst women concerning using a personal trainer.

As I've been PA to one of the highest qualified one-to-one Exercise and Nutritional specialists in the UK and Europe for near on 20 years now, I know precisely what a 'real' one actually is, what should be delivered,at what level and to what depth.

So if you need some very straight talking, clinically factual, no nonsense advice on what's exactly what in personal training, please feel free to ask away!

OP posts:
Exercise1Girl · 13/02/2009 22:21

Hello Liffey
The bit that follows your 'PS' piece is a classic example of your ignorance of academic facts..

Biomechanics is arguably the most technically demanding of all the Sports Sciences...check it out. It's a very complex discipline indeed in the technical calculations of loads, angles of velocity etc,leverage dynamics etc.Let alone developing the ability to 'see' it taking place, when someone simply walks past you or turns in a certain way. It takes years.

To say 'there's a lot to know' is a formidable understatement and doesn't cover the intellectual, level of that which there is to know.

The vast majority of the population couldn't grasp Biomechanics either!

I'm a Hons 1st graduate in Sports Science and far from stupid (despite what your opinion might be) and passed out top of my graduation class at University, but Biomech, at advanced level, I freely admit, is way beyond my intellectual capacities. It's such an involved marriage of physiology, mathematics (which are a real nightmare, involving matrix algebra etc) and exercise dynamics. The boss' training alone took 12 years.... considerably more than a doctors training.

All exercise taken freely as in going out for a jog has risks for anyone, but after personal biomech analysis, the risks are almost totally removed.

So......... if you said to someone, that's it's totally possible to have the way you move analysed in depth. The advice you would be given from the results will make you dramatically safer in terms of sprains, strains and overworking whilst also making you less tired. You'll enjoy your jog more as a result and also have less fatigue afterwards. This will result in your fitness improvements happening sooner along with an unconditional guarantee that no hidden biomechanical/musculo-skeletal problems are in progress in any way...they'd say no?....The answer is blatantly obvious, but such a service is ONLY possible from advanced expertise in Biomechanics.

Look up Biomechanics Liffey, before you start comparing it with your college biology and physiology experiences.

When someone is presented with hard clinical facts about something they know virtually nothing about..then ignores them, stating they're 'too dull to read' .....then resumes their opinion with someone who's been involved in it professionally for 20 years (the boss 40).....the behaviour doesn't deserve comment.

There's a very strong aroma indeed about this ( completely regardless of no admission) of someone close, or a relative/friend being a 'personal trainer' or using/have used one!

The statement I made about there being personal trainers and personal trainers is very true. However, despite what you think, it doesn't mean that I'm implying that those working with just a year or a few months/weeks of training should be denied a living.

But it is the much greater levels of knowledge and expertise the 30 odd advanced UK Personal Trainers possess, that renders them the ONLY level of personal trainer that can categorically guarantee results with zero glitches/injury...and that's just one advantage area they have over the field, but definitely the most important.

OP posts:
moondog · 13/02/2009 22:24

Have you nowt better to do Exercise Girl?

Exercise1Girl · 13/02/2009 22:24

The 'aroma' bit is intended for others you probably know personally who are probably connected to your view on this, depite your own 'personal trainer' background.

Note the word 'view', which means a personal take..not clinically established fact.

OP posts:
andyrobo237 · 13/02/2009 22:32

Is there a point to all this??

Exercise1Girl · 13/02/2009 22:36

When it comes to taking the time to prove a professional point to someone Moondog,...'nothing better to do' isn't relevant.

The boss has to deal with 'mistakes' that personal trainers make all the time and with Liffey, it's just been proven..She didn't know there was a difference biology, physiology and biomechanics which is a very different field to the first two, and that's from a 'qualified' personal trainer!

The boss did 37 appearances as Expert witness last year in the UK, Ireland and France...all injuries caused by personal trainers; all settled out of court.

If PT training was infinitely better, the boss would need to do less Expert Witness work.

No moondog..my time spent making the point, isn't a waste of time.

OP posts:
moondog · 13/02/2009 22:38

Carry on, m'dear.

FrannyandZooey · 13/02/2009 22:41

what a strange thread
you are odd

Exercise1Girl · 13/02/2009 22:41

Of course.

Every week, I have contact with on average 8-10 people seeking advice from the boss.Easily near 98% of the time, they've used personal trainers with a year or less training.

They've either had poor results, sustained injuries, or felt they were paying too much for what turned out to be too little expertise.

So when one of the possible culprits ( and I'm not saying Liffey personally here), make statements which are both technically incorrect and factually wrong. It needs to be addressed.

OP posts:
Exercise1Girl · 13/02/2009 22:43

Try saying 'strange thread' and 'odd' to people with back problems, damaged knees or groin strains.

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 13/02/2009 22:44

goodnight all

moondog · 13/02/2009 22:46
Grin
ThingOne · 13/02/2009 23:13

PMSL at a personal trainer being more qualified than a doctor.

Need more beer and a crate of chocolate, clearly, and then a Personal Trainer (with capital P and T) to explain to me that I should have had a glass of water and a banana.

SalmonintheLiffey · 14/02/2009 11:26

Ha ha joyless-exorexicgirl. You're slightly mentally ill funny.

Exercise1Girl · 14/02/2009 13:14

Actually Thingone...three of the boss' close friends are GPs and they acknowledge freely the levels of the boss' equality in his own field.

Again..its the standard of personal trainers that you've come to think of as the level they all all are, so save the mirth for when you get your facts straight a little more.

And as for you Liffey...go away and get some more studying in (large amounts, if you want to be a proper one

OP posts:
SalmonintheLiffey · 14/02/2009 13:30

I don't want to be a PT, I said that about 30 posts back.

But you misunderstood me, not the other way 'round.

If you are still arguing that biometrics is on a par with rocket science, then you're on to a loser there!!! Maybe you should log off Mumsnet and apply to Nasa. How have they managed without you?

I am thinking what a great shame it was that Einstein wasted his life so tragically. He should have been a Personal Trainer. It breaks my heart.

I did study human bio, physiology and anatomy at ucd way back in the 90s, but I remember some of it!, so this thread is becoming a bit surreal. Aren't you this guy's secretary? Well, there are secretaries and secretaries aren't there!!

moondog · 14/02/2009 13:48

I love this thread.EG is barking.

SalmonintheLiffey · 14/02/2009 13:54

nee naw nee naw nee naw, oh there's the ambulance now!!!

She'll probably tell the paramedics they knew nothing about biometrics!

moondog · 14/02/2009 13:56
Grin
Owls · 14/02/2009 13:59

What a great thread

Wonderfully weird.

sagacious · 14/02/2009 14:08

Well fuck me I just want someone to yell at me so I jog faster...

Exercise1Girl · 15/02/2009 10:33

Dear oh dearie me..isn't it always the case that when people know very little, they always either make inane remarks or turn to generalised banality with what they imagine to be humourous comments.

Lets get precisely specific then for
Thingone.....The boss has one MSc and two Hons 1st degrees in Exercise, Nutrition and Physiotherapy...that's 11 years of degrees

Add to that 2 Advanced Clinical Diplomas of 2 years each, that's another 4 years.

In total, that's 15 years of training.

So take note of that whilst you change your underwear after your assuming that all personal trainers are not as qualified as medics.

Great thing about people's passions is that most people thunder on regardless of ewhat facts are..me..I do so based on clinical fact..so as far as mentally ill is concerned....get yourself a check up.

OP posts:
poshtottie · 15/02/2009 11:33

Exercise1girl, Is your boss Australian?

Exercise1Girl · 15/02/2009 16:32

My Mother was Welsh and my Father was French, but I suspect that you have some sort of humourous punch line ready for my reply...lol.

Hello to everyone who's been 'fencing' with my PA on here. I've just discovered what's going on and been discussed, having looked over all that's transpired over the last two pages.

My PA is as you've all discovered, very dedicated to quality control, although pressing her points home on here has been done by her in such a very intensly zealous way,it has of course, raised the most civilised of hackles, when pursued so relentlessy.

She does speak from 22 years on the inside of personal training matters though and has, to be fair, seen a great deal of physical traumas caused by insufficient skills and knowledge of it's exponents.Her sister was one of them; left with a permanent lower back condition due to not being motion tested properly at the beginning by a personal trainer and the apparently perfectly acceptable exercise format at the time, causing a gradual shift in the lumbar discs over a 7 month period.

Her personal zeal is fuelled by this particular personal experience and more understandable as a result.

I've discussed this with her earlier today, once I'd found out about her being on here and now know she came on here to help and advise others who want to exercise. But she's pinpoint clinical in her delivery and although perfectly correct in her statements, has not toned matters down proportionately, resulting in the possibility that she's actually put people off exercise.

This is unacceptable and she realises that, as the bottom line is that regardless of how much you would like to do so, you can't save everybody and people must be allowed to retain personal trainers as and when they please, and enjoy the exercise they're seeking.

I've asked her to please just openly advise people on here who have genuine questions in Exercise, Injury and Nutrition, not pursue personal trainer levels any more and not keep mentioning my background. This is her forum and nothing to do with me, although now I know of it,I would help as and when I can with any question assistance that I can.

Please ladies (and my PA included)can we have some pleasant harmony on here, sheath the swords and with a little luck my PA can help some of you with good guidance.

Thanks. The inadvertant villain of this whole piece!

OP posts:
Exercise1Girl · 15/02/2009 16:34

I hope things are more calm now.

OP posts:
poshtottie · 15/02/2009 17:16

No I had no punch line regarding my question. It reminded of a physio who went down the line of Personal training some time back and is now practicing in London. I thought you and he were the same person thats all.

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