I get one (maybe two?) free session with a PT at my gym, and even tho I've been going for 6 weeks now - I'm taking them up on it. While I was doing my HIIT (eliptical), I saw this asian guy working on the Cybex doing some crazy stuff. I walked past him while he was resting and told him that looked pretty hard core. While I was resting - he came up and introduced himself. He looks like he's knows what he's doing, so I'm gonna go fora session with him.

I'm gonna tell him everything I've been doing, and my diet.

one question - do you tip personal trainers?

I get one (maybe two?) free session with a PT at my gym, and even tho I've been going for 6 weeks now - I'm taking them up on it. While I was doing my HIIT (eliptical), I saw this asian guy working on the Cybex doing some crazy stuff. I walked past him while he was resting and told him that looked pretty hard core. While I was resting - he came up and introduced himself. He looks like he's knows what he's doing, so I'm gonna go fora session with him.

I'm gonna tell him everything I've been doing, and my diet.

one question - do you tip personal trainers?

No. But be prepared to pay well for a good trainer. With my current trainer (best I've ever had), who is a senior trainer at the gym, is normally $60 per hour, which I've found seems to be the standard rate in this area (DC Metro). I sign up for the 3-month (12-week) plan, paying 4 weeks at a time for a discounted rate of $52/hour.

The biggest thing to remember when working with a trainer is this: Ask questions! If you don't understand why he's having you do something, ask him to explain. A good trainer will take the time to make sure you understand what you are doing and why, not keep you in the dark, and should sit down with you to come up with a plan based on your current fitness level and goals, and take periodic (4-6 weeks) muscle size and body fat % measurements so you can see the progress you are making.

With my current trainer (best I've ever had), who is a senior trainer at the gym, is normally $60 per hour, which I've found seems to be the standard rate in this area (DC Metro). I sign up for the 3-month (12-week) plan, paying 4 weeks at a time for a discounted rate of $52/hour.

What does a personal trainer do that you would want to see him regularly? It always sounded like a good idea to go for two or three sessions, but what more can you learn beyond that?

What does a personal trainer do that you would want to see him regularly? It always sounded like a good idea to go for two or three sessions, but what more can you learn beyond that?

Depends on the trainer and what you already know. The best trainers, IMHO, are the ones with a strong background in exercise kinesiology and can teach the proper way to lift, watch and correct your form, vary the workouts and individual exercises to hit all the parts of a given muscle group, properly track your progress (noting failure points, when to increase/decrease weights, track time-under-tension, etc.). I could go on, but that should give you an idea of how effective the right trainer can be.

Besides, do you really think you can learn everything you need to know from just a couple of sessions? People devote careers to this (i.e. the trainers!) and they still don't know everything. And sure, you can read books and forums for info, but how do you make sense of conflicting information and determine what is best for you.

Think of it like investing your money for the long run. Would you rather deal with day trading, or trust your money with someone who does that sort of thing for a living? Is that any different from the investment you're putting in your body?

I used to think trainers were a waste of money; everything I needed to know was out on the Internet, so why bother?

However, I now believe a GOOD trainer can be worth the $$$, because there is no comparison to reading about something and then trying it, versus someone who has learned about it and can WATCH what you are doing and offer suggestions to improve the effectiveness of your workouts.

But dang, they are SPENDY.

Not a requirement, but a good trainer can get you the results you want faster then most people can do on their own.

-Allen

There's also the motivational factor that there's someone in the real world is looking over your shoulder.

well I get a free session... so I'm not worried about that
but do I tip him!?!

i dont think you need to tip someone who is pulling in that much money per hour.

well I get a free session... so I'm not worried about that
but do I tip him!?!
Not unless he gives 'extras' ;) :D

Seriously though, if it comes as part of the gym membership, then I'd say no.

Ok, thanks for the tip (ha get it?)... I feel very weird about NOT tipping people - I don't have a lot of money ,but I really really like to tip... *shrug* I just didn't want to offend him.

Ok, thanks for the tip (ha get it?)... I feel very weird about NOT tipping people - I don't have a lot of money ,but I really really like to tip... *shrug* I just didn't want to offend him.

Tipping a personal trainer would be like tipping a college professor or martial arts instructor.

That being said, if you stick with a trainer for a while that you really like (professionally ;) ), then a small Christmas present, to say thank you, would be ok, but only if you want to. They don't expect anything from you...other than effort. :)

Ah, that makes a lot of sense. I can't afford to have one for a while, but I hope I'll have someone to say "Hi" to at the gym ;)