Personal Trainers - a good idea?

SinaWil

I've been going to the gym for years, had totally plateaued and was not seeing any progress whatsoever.

I got chatting to one of the trainers who offered to do me up a programme.

I thought i'd be given one of those sheets of exercises to do but this entailed weekly meetings where he would put me through my paces.

During the first introduction session i had to stop as i was going to puke.

During the second he had me lifting heavy weights until the pain was unbearable, during which he alternated between works of encouragement and barking at me.

At the end my ears felt blocked and my arms were like jelly.

I could hardly hold a bottle of water afterwards.

He said that in order to build me up he has to traumatise my muscles?
That i would have to push through the pain which is temporary.

I like him, he's a sound head, but i'm absolutely dreading my next session.

I'm just wondering if this approach is normal?

I want to get fit but i still have to get up for work in the morning

Alf Veedersane

Did he look at your form on the weights at all?

SinaWil

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Did he look at your form on the weights at all?

Yes, he knows his stuff and pays great attention to my form.

Insists it's done correctly which is good.

It's the intensity of the work outs which blindsided me..

conzy

You will always push a bit harder when working with a coach.

A good coach will push you to the limit, not past it.

You need to either man up, or talk to the PT about the intensity.

SinaWil

conzy wrote: »

You will always push a bit harder when working with a coach.

A good coach will push you to the limit, not past it.

You need to either man up, or talk to the PT about the intensity.

I hear ya

At times it's hard to know what your limit is?

Alf Veedersane

SinaWil wrote: »

I hear ya

At times it's hard to know what your limit is?

If your form is still solid, then you're probably ok.

Mellor

SinaWil wrote: »

It's the intensity of the work outs which blindsided me..

Pushing yourself a bit further is normal with a trainer, or with a partner.
But if these sessions are much more intense than what you were capable previously, it's probably a case than you had gotten a bit complacent.

SinaWil

Mellor wrote: »

Pushing yourself a bit further is normal with a trainer, or with a partner.
But if these sessions are much more intense than what you were capable previously, it's probably a case than you had gotten a bit complacent.

I agree, i was certainly complacent.

I'm just hoping that i don't faint or puke during my next session

Reps4jesus

I think a month or two of personal training is a good thing if you have a good trainer. They will help with your technique and probably push you harder than you are likely to do on your own.