I was wondering if anyone has experience with an online fitness coach or trainer?

talk to swolecat ;) he's great

dont fool around, there is no one that will get you to your goals faster and easier than SwoleCat

http://www.vizualxcellence.com/

Thank you very much, I will definately look into this.

Agreed, SC is the man.

dont fool around, there is no one that will get you to your goals faster and easier than SwoleCat
If your goals include obtaining the physique of a bodybuilder and the mindset to match.

If your goals are to incorporate healthier foods into your diet and to achieve and maintain a healthier body weight, there are better options, in my opinion.

If your goals are to incorporate healthier foods into your diet and to achieve and maintain a healthier body weight, there are better options, in my opinion.

Same here. I'm sure there are some trainers that can prove invaluable. However, I'm not trying to look like a bodybuilder or a magazine cover. I just want a healthy body and I can and have achieved that on my own through learning and education. :read: :tucool:

If your goals include obtaining the physique of a bodybuilder and the mindset to match.

If your goals are to incorporate healthier foods into your diet and to achieve and maintain a healthier body weight, there are better options, in my opinion.

I guess I should have been a little more detailed in what I am looking for.

I have done 3 - 12 week challenges and have had ok results. I am a 5"7" 137 lb. female with approx. 23% bodyfat. It took me 3 months to go from 25%-23%. I feel like I eat very clean with maybe 1 cheat meal a week. I work out 6 days a week incorporating lifting and cardio.

I just took a week off from overtraining and burn-out and after reading all these posts here am ready to get back.

Would a online trainer help me get to my 18% or should I start an online journal here on the forums, post my weekly photo's and daily routine and see what critiques you fabulous people can give me?

Thank you for all your help!!

Try your efforts here first. Start a journal, post pics, get advice here and then if you still need that extra "umphh", then get a trainer.

Many people here have been to Swolecat and had absolutly amazing results. However, many people who were on his plan seem to have fallen of the wagon of late, maybe his programme is hard to stick to for a prolonged period of time ? If your looking for a true life change then go to Jeremy Likness (who sponsors the site), he will get you making permenany changes. Check his site out or email him. He is a nice guy. :)

If your looking for a true life change then go to Jeremy Likness (who sponsors the site), he will get you making permenany changes. Check his site out or email him. He is a nice guy. :)[/QUOTE]


Reno,

I am a HUGE fan of Jeremy's. I have read his book twice and I encourage anyone who hasn't to do so. I tried blogging on his site and he was wonderful. I just enjoy the forums here so much since all of you are pretty much on the same quest.

I think I will take your advice and try this here and see how it goes. I will post my journal tomorrow and get started today by taking pictures and measurements etc...

I am currently on Swole's SGX (Cutting) program and I can honestly say that for me, it is the fastest way to drop body fat. I am a huge fan of his and would recommend him and his SGX program to anyone without hesitation. I think Guava's bodybuilder comment is a little strong, Swole IS a big guy as are some of his clients, but following his programs for a couple of months is not going to give you 22" arms, lets be realistic here, those physiques take YEARS to build. You do not develop a body builder's body overnight no matter how good your nutrition or training plan is or how many supplements you take.

IMHO, if your goal is to drop body fat as quickly as possible while retaining your lean mass, Swole is the man to see, bar none.

I do not follow Jeremy Likness' program(s), however, I do enjoy his books and articles on training, nutrition, and "lifestyle". He has an excellent way of connecting with the reader / listener that is rare outside of mainstream professional writers. I have not retained his services as a fitness coach, so I can't speak from first hand knowledge about the effectiveness of his plans.

Mugsy

IMHO, if your goal is to drop body fat as quickly as possible while retaining your lean mass, Swole is the man to see, bar none.

Agreed.

If however, you wish to make a complete change you can continue throughout your whole life, Jeremy is the man. :)

Ill be sure to check out your journal. PM me when you set it up.

I have subscribed to Global Health & Fitness because it was recommended by Tom Venuto and I am very happy with it. Lots of different coaches for different aspects, and quick answers via email whenever I have something to ask. Their forums are on the quiet side, but I think it's because most of the communication is via email. Tom himself is the GHF fat loss expert. For training I am looked after by Dani Myers and she is great, has lots of good advice and answers to everything.

I love the forum here though, I am new to it and it's great, one of the most active I have found. I don't post much as a beginner but I lurk around a lot. :d_biggrin

Vincent.

I love the forum here though, I am new to it and it's great, one of the most active I have found. I don't post much as a beginner but I lurk around a lot. :d_biggrin

Vincent.[/QUOTE]

Hi Vincent,

I was a member once and they do have nice online tools but the forums are horrible. The forums here are the BEST!

I am getting my act together today and I hope to start my journal tonight. I am going to try to do this on my own and with the money I saved will buy myself something every month. I am going to start today by contributing to this site.

Thanks for the input, it is really appreciated.

I am getting my act together today and I hope to start my journal tonight. I am going to try to do this on my own and with the money I saved will buy myself something every month. I am going to start today by contributing to this site.
I look at this the other way round if i have a 6 month goal and i get there in 4 months cause of SCs insite then the time i have saved is worth a order of magnitude more than the consult fee.
Widers

I guess the answer is "it depends." I hired SC for SGX last summer and after a month dropped it as the results were negligible. obviously it has worked for others here.

I also think it's difficult for a trainer to provide detailed and accurate assistance via email or telephone.

In addition to the wealth of information in the forums, I would suggest checking out Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto (http://www.burnthefat.com) He presents the information in everday language that anybody can understand. The chapters on the mental aspect are worth the price alone, IMO.


Jason

IMO as well. I can't speak too highly of Tom Venuto or his book, what they have brought to me is invaluable. I started on BFFM on 21st September, the day after I downloaded it. I still consider myself very much a beginner, but I am already a changed person.

Vincent.

oh crap, yeah, *headsmack* I forgot about BFFM... I keep meaning to re-read it and it's sitting there in its binder taunting me. must. find. more. time.

I keep both BFFM and Leanness Lifestyle in pdf format on my PDA so I can read them at the gym or whenever I have a few spare minutes. Very sound information in both ebooks.

I actually have BFFM and LL and have read both of them at least twice.

My plan of attack will be mostly BFFM. I can't wait to get started.

i just bought BFFM, and although I have not yet started to read it (only on first chapter) does it really go into how to gain muscle while losing fat? or is that just a catchy name.

i really really need, and will lose fat, but I am at a loss of what to do

It explains how to gain muscle and it explains how to burn fat. Indeed.

However, it also teaches you that you must focus on either one. You cannot build much muscle while losing fat (cutting) and you cannot burn much fat while building muscle (bulking).

The two are not completely mutually exclusive though, you can build a little bit of muscle while cutting (especially if you are an ex-athlete recovering muscle or a beginner), you can also burn a little fat while bulking (with cardio), but mostly you should expect to do these things in different phases.

The first part is about motivation. It's important and useful.

Vincent.

I'm throwing in my two cents to check in with Jeremy. We have two great fitness coaches at our disposal here with Swolecat and Jeremy. Both of them are equally adept at helping you to acheive whatever goal you may have, but I think that each probably has their own area of expertise.
If you think that you might feel more comfortable with a female online coach, then you may want to check out one of the best...Kelli Calabrese. (http://www.kellicalabrese.com/)

I guess the answer is "it depends." I hired SC for SGX last summer and after a month dropped it as the results were negligible. obviously it has worked for others here.

I also think it's difficult for a trainer to provide detailed and accurate assistance via email or telephone.

Its shame you didnt have the patience to stick at it. My first month wasnt dazzling by anymeans, but a couple more weeks in and i had more than made up for it.
Widers

Agreed. Right after the one month mark is when you all of a sudden look in the mirror and say "holy crap, is that me?"

Its shame you didnt have the patience to stick at it.My first month wasnt dazzling by anymeans, but a couple more weeks inand i had more than made up for it.
Widers

what program did you take, supirman? does he basically just put you through a good nutrition and workout regime through emails?

Like, I want to look similar to you did in that right picture, but first I need to cut, because my belly is way too large to start bulking like that

SGX from swolecat.

Agreed. Right after the one month mark is when you all of a sudden look in the mirror and say "holy crap, is that me?" d'oh!

OK, maybe I was expecting miracles or something but I figured after a month I should have seen some kind of result besides a lighter wallet and a deep loathing of fasted a.m. cardio.

I should probably give it another shot if it really does take that long to crank up the works.