Are Personal Trainers Worth It?

In a one word answer… YES! But the right one can make all the difference in the world.

I wanted to add an additional 10-15 pounds on my frame but I wanted to make sure I did not add to much fat along with it. I had always wanted try a personal trainer but never had been able to find one that I clicked with.

Luckily my wife was working with a trainer who basically spent more time on his phone than training her, and did not really listen to her. She ended up frustrated and eventually quit. So I knew what I did not want in a trainer.

While she was doing that I looked around at the other personal trainers in the gym and found a guy who really paid attention to his clients. I remembered I had never used my initial free training session when I singed up so I approached him and he was happy to give me the free session even though I had been there a year already.

So I showed up for the initial session and I told him what I wanted to do, and he laid out a quick plan for me then we hit the weights. Since I was already adept at lifting weights we concentrated on strength training techniques and progressive overload.

During the session we talked and flushed out my training plan to my satisfaction and I signed up with him for 2 months. And the rest is history, a sweet history of incredible gains and a positive personal training experience.

So here is what I learned from my experience with a personal trainer…

was it worth it… YES, Yes and more Yes!

• Picking the right personal trainer is the most important part of the process. I took a long time to select a trainer, and I asked others about his training, and watched him as he trained others.
• Get a free session to make sure you are compatible. I used my initial free training session, and if you do not have one, ask for a reduced price for the initial session.
• Explain your goals, do not be afraid to explain anything that will help or hinder those goals. I explained how I wanted to gain muscle, told him how I liked to work out, and discussed current injuries and training hindrances.
• Ask lots of questions, I asked how many people has he trained my age, what was his philosophy on training, and nutrition.
• When training do not be afraid to push yourself, but listen to the trainer on technique and form. If you have pain SAY SOMETHING, dont push through it to injury.
• If for any reason you do not like your trainer, then quit them. It is OK to switch trainers if you are not achieving your goals or do not get along. This was my hard earned money and I was determined to get every penny’s worth.
• Make sure you set goals, and keep in mind your progress. Increase training as needed. I always kept in mind my goals and I tracked them. I increased my training intensity as needed.
• When its done, then its done. When you have reached your goal dont be afraid to go it alone. Of course my personal trainer would have loved for me to continue on, but I felt like I needed to stand on my own for a while. Go back if you need to and when you need to.

In the end my personal trainer was WAY WORTH IT… but only because I made it that way. And that is how I believe you need to approach personal training. A personal trainer will only be worth it if you treat it as another tool to help you reach your goal.

Remember we are athletes, we train with weight to improve our bodies. It may not be a recognized sport but it is to me a sport. Almost every sport on the planet spends time in the weight room. We just happen to do it for a life style.

This is one of the most solo sports I have ever done, there is no team, no opponent on the other side, just you, your thoughts, and the iron. Personal training is just another tool you can use to achieve your goals.

Good luck and let me know how your personal training experience is in the comments below.