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I can't even begin to tell you how true that sentiment is. I've had a few personal trainers since 2012, some good and some bad, but I truly believe in them. I'm going to go through my time with two of them - one good, and one bad, and try to show you what I think makes a personal trainer a good one. So, let's start with the bad one first. I moved to upstate NY, joined a gym, and that month they had a special to workout with a trainer. The trainers at this gym work set hours, and truly are not very flexible with their time. (Issue 1). So, I met with and got paired with a guy named Malcolm. He seemed nice enough, but he didn't seem to truly care about my progress. Part of their program is that every month I'm supposed to be measured for my progres, and Malcolm never did it. I went almost every day for a half hour a day with him for a month, and not once did I get remeasured (Issue 2). Now, when I first signed up, they asked me my goals, how I wanted to achieve them, and how they could help. Great,right? So I told them... I said I wanted to work towards running a 5k and I wanted to tone up. I didn't have a specific weight loss number in mind, but I wanted to be healthier and run a 5k. This goal setting was done in 2014. I have yet to run my 5k (issue 3). Okay, so goals are set and I work out with Malcolm after my measurements are taken and my fitness evaluation is done. It's all going well. Day 2 comes, and we work on weights. Day 3, and I start realizing that he's paying attention to others in the gym, and not counting my reps (issue 4). Day 4, and he's stopping mid workouts to talk to his buddies (issue 5). Etc etc etc. You see the picture, right? This goes on. I stop setting up times, he NEVER reaches out (issue 6) Meanwhile, I'm locked in to my personal training session for a full year. The gym has been paid. No one has called me in regards to setting up sessions (issue 7). I still have about 50 outstanding sessions I have to use. I've been paying for a gym membership I haven't used in a year, because I can't cancel it until I use up my personal training sessions. Guess I should do that soon.. I'll report back on the hopefully new trainer I get for those. On top of all of that, he just didn't care. He told me I should be eating about 35% protein, 35% carbs, and 30% fats. When I asked how, he just said more chicken. He didn't have anything more than that. No meal plans. No helpful hints on how to increase my protein and cut out my fats. What a healthy fat is verse a bad fat. Nothing. He left me alone to learn it all. I mean, that is fine, but you are there to help me figure it out, aren't you? So why not try? He simply didn't care. We never truly bonded. He NEVER really tried. Even when I got engaged, he didn't say congratulations or try to push me harder to keep me on track as I planned my wedding. It just wasn't what I expected. Not after having such a great one in Darryl.... Now, the good. Darryl and I worked together for about a year, I think. We met once a month for an hour. He showed me new equipment and moves, constantly switching it up so I never got bored. He also tweaked it to my mood (I'm looking at you, Aunt Flow). I have also had knee problem my entire life, because I'm an idiot and injured it as a child. But, Darryl knew about it, and he made sure if it was acting up to switch the workouts. Instead of running on the treadmill, he'd have me use the elliptical. He actually TRIED to keep me safe and happy. Darryl worked total body most days. We typically started with cardio, and ended with a row. In between, we'd focus on target areas, sometimes we'd run some stairs and then do jumping jacks and russian twists, followed with weightex crunches. Some days we would do bridges and back extensions. Some days we'd use the pull-up machine so I could get my muscles used to the movement. It was always different. Always difficult. And always fun. Darryl also took videos of me doing my workouts so I could watch my progress. Also so he could teach me what I was doing wrong. It was great. I loved the real time feedback, and the ability to see me making progress. It was even better when I did things quicker or more easily than Darryl expected - I was even progressing quicker than my trainer could see. And this was just working with him once a month! Darryl also told me what type of the group classes I should be taking. He KNEW I didn't like working out alone, and that I would go to the classes with friends. He also told me what to work on if I did come. Darryl would even help me out when I was at the gym and he qas free. He'd come over and see how things were going. Check in. See if I needed tips, or help. We had developed a mutual understanding and formed a bond. We shared personal stories about each other and connected. It was a great experience, and one that I value. I even baked him a pan of black bean brownies for his birthday! I am still in touch with Darryl, not so much Malcolm. Whenever I am in the city I try to make it a point to see him or have a workout session. That's where the bond comes in. I honestly believe that, if you have the financial capacity to have a personal trainer, you should. I think its a great way to be introduced to new machines and moves, and if you find the right fit, you form a unique bond and always have somrone you can turn to if you need them. The key take away that I think you should know is to make sure to try out different trainers. Each has a unqiue style, and one person may be 10x better for you than the last one. Don't be afraid (or lazy) like I was to ask for a change and try someone new. You are paying for a service, and YOU deserve the best.
Xoxox
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Beth MetzgarI'm a 28 year old accountant trying to make it in the crazy world of accounting, while staying accountable to myself for my fitness goals. You'll find my thoughts on various programs I've tried and what's worked for me and what hasn't. Archives
December 2016
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