Had a free personal trainer session, thinking of booking some more.

[pudding]

I decided to make getting fit and healthy my next goal.

Realistically its been my goal for ages but never seem to get there.

I had a personal trainer session yesterday, it was boxing orientated for an hour.

If I don't think about paying for something like this and just ask myself 'is this helping me to reach my goal'  I'd say without a doubt it is.

I think its the appointment, the knowledge of the trainer and the trainer pushing me further. For me it's kind of the opposite of buying an exercise DVD playing it 3 times and putting it on a shelf to collect dust.

Not particularly mustachian to shell out a load of cash on this, but they are having a member day at the gym on Thursday and she sessions are on sale at a hefty discount.

If I book them, I'll be booking 12 and I'll update my progress and if it was worth it.

[use2betrix]

How much are they?

I'd be insanely choosey about hiring a trainer. I've been weight lifting about 15 years in big gyms all over the country. I have seen some absolutely garbage trainers I wouldn't waste my time with if they begged me to let them train me for free.

My last gym we watched a woman with the worlds most hideous squat form, wearing a training shirt and training people a week later.

Fitness is such a fad, people think a few months lifting and an online cert make them qualified to give advice.

[pudding]

How much are they?

I'd be insanely choosey about hiring a trainer. I've been weight lifting about 15 years in big gyms all over the country. I have seen some absolutely garbage trainers I wouldn't waste my time with if they begged me to let them train me for free.

My last gym we watched a woman with the worlds most hideous squat form, wearing a training shirt and training people a week later.

Fitness is such a fad, people think a few months lifting and an online cert make them qualified to give advice.

Maybe I'm being a bit hasty.   I think its more time and energy I need and I'll get in the gym on my own.

[FIFoFum]

They get you to sign up for 12 sessions now because most people never use the vast majority of them. Money for the trainers for no work!

If you are not already a regular gym goer and don't have fitness built into your routine, it is unlikely that spending this money will change you or the underlying habits blocking you.

There are some people who do better if they "pre-commit" $ to something, but that's not the majority and 12 is a lot (as opposed to 3 or 4 at first to see if you even use it, like the trainer, etc.).

[Lagom]

A good trainer is absolutely worth the $$$, even for a mustachian. Most trainers are not good. Just do your homework and you should be able to tell the difference. I personally pay $150/month for a small private gym that includes programming and drop in training hours with well-qualified coaches that I trust. Worth every penny.

[pudding]

Im just aware of time flies by and can think about doing this and that, then still look the same 3 years later.

I have an account at bodybuilding.com and I upload my weight and picture each week.   I still look the same as I did when I opened it about 3 years back.  No fatter not thinner.

I think the important thing is to note that its what I have going on in my work life that decides how much I get in the gym

Maybe I'll book 3 or 4 and see how it goes.

[use2betrix]

Im just aware of time flies by and can think about doing this and that, then still look the same 3 years later.

I have an account at bodybuilding.com and I upload my weight and picture each week.   I still look the same as I did when I opened it about 3 years back.  No fatter not thinner.

I think the important thing is to note that its what I have going on in my work life that decides how much I get in the gym

Maybe I'll book 3 or 4 and see how it goes.

I've worked 72-84 hrs the last couple months and kept my fitness level up. Diet and sleep are like 80% of most people's goals, lifting is like the other 20%.

You just have to learn and maximize efficiency in everything. I'm in insanely good shape but haven't exercised more than 3 days a week all year. It's all about making the most of everything inside and outside the gym.

[MasterStache]

Im just aware of time flies by and can think about doing this and that, then still look the same 3 years later.

I have an account at bodybuilding.com and I upload my weight and picture each week.   I still look the same as I did when I opened it about 3 years back.  No fatter not thinner.

I think the important thing is to note that its what I have going on in my work life that decides how much I get in the gym

Maybe I'll book 3 or 4 and see how it goes.

I've worked 72-84 hrs the last couple months and kept my fitness level up. Diet and sleep are like 80% of most people's goals, lifting is like the other 20%.

You just have to learn and maximize efficiency in everything. I'm in insanely good shape but haven't exercised more than 3 days a week all year. It's all about making the most of everything inside and outside the gym.

+1 It doesn't matter how much effort you put into the gym if you don't have your necessary food intake down pat. I can tell you from experience years of working out, sometimes hardcore, my body never really changed because I knew nothing about the food I was putting into my body. If you don't know much about working out, maybe a personal trainer can have some benefit. But I don't see how they can offer motivation if you aren't really motivated to begin with. 

[LZZ]

If you enjoyed your trainer and you know you're going to make it to the 12 sessions then I say go for it.

I belong to classpass ($125 per month in NY for 10 sessions) - and I go - because I've paid for it, and they ding you with a cancellation fee if you don't.  I really enjoy the classes/instructors I go to and I can not self motivate myself to do the same thing via online videos/dvds. 
Not very frugal in the mind of some on here, but health/fitness wise - very beneficial.

[Mattzlaff]

I'll share my experience with a PT.

I didn't know a thing about the gym until I got a trainer. I went 2 times a week I built up a good routine with him, we had fun every session and they were a decent price. Honestly the only thing keeping me going to the gym was knowing that if I missed a session I would lose money and not get a slight return. I also got in the best shape of my life. I started to go to this gym regularly outside of my sessions.

But

He got too friendly stopped focusing on the work outs and started to be that "you're my best friend guy" even though we had never hung out outside of the gym. It started changing the schedule and he lost focus on the work out aspect of it and as I don't like spending more than 1 hour in the gym to begin with. I eventually stopped going because it was too distracting and I got weirded out by this guy I barely knew calling me his best friend...Haven't been back in a gym since.

So I guess....buyer be ware about who you sign to be your trainer haha.

After my hunting trip...I'll try the gym again...no trainer.

[Adam Zapple]

Im just aware of time flies by and can think about doing this and that, then still look the same 3 years later.

I have an account at bodybuilding.com and I upload my weight and picture each week.   I still look the same as I did when I opened it about 3 years back.  No fatter not thinner.

I think the important thing is to note that its what I have going on in my work life that decides how much I get in the gym

Maybe I'll book 3 or 4 and see how it goes.

I've worked 72-84 hrs the last couple months and kept my fitness level up. Diet and sleep are like 80% of most people's goals, lifting is like the other 20%.

You just have to learn and maximize efficiency in everything. I'm in insanely good shape but haven't exercised more than 3 days a week all year. It's all about making the most of everything inside and outside the gym.

Are you on a specific program?  I am in the same boat in that I have much less time now but am in much stronger than I've been in my life, only working out 3 times a week.  I've been doing a program called "stronglifts 5X5" for about 6 months and its been life changing.  I can't recommend this program enough to people short on time.  Free app, free reading material.  No thinking involved...just follow the app. 

[soccerluvof4]

Im just aware of time flies by and can think about doing this and that, then still look the same 3 years later.

I have an account at bodybuilding.com and I upload my weight and picture each week.   I still look the same as I did when I opened it about 3 years back.  No fatter not thinner.

I think the important thing is to note that its what I have going on in my work life that decides how much I get in the gym

Maybe I'll book 3 or 4 and see how it goes.

I've worked 72-84 hrs the last couple months and kept my fitness level up. Diet and sleep are like 80% of most people's goals, lifting is like the other 20%.

You just have to learn and maximize efficiency in everything. I'm in insanely good shape but haven't exercised more than 3 days a week all year. It's all about making the most of everything inside and outside the gym.

+1 It doesn't matter how much effort you put into the gym if you don't have your necessary food intake down pat. I can tell you from experience years of working out, sometimes hardcore, my body never really changed because I knew nothing about the food I was putting into my body. If you don't know much about working out, maybe a personal trainer can have some benefit. But I don't see how they can offer motivation if you aren't really motivated to begin with.

In a nutshell^ +2- Some people go to the gym because they think they can eat more. Thats a sad reason.  Its probably 75% diet 25% exercise. While both are important the old saying "you are what you eat" is true.  I dont care how many situps you do, if your not eating right you wont have a 6 pack unless its one you want to drink!

[pudding]

Im just aware of time flies by and can think about doing this and that, then still look the same 3 years later.

I have an account at bodybuilding.com and I upload my weight and picture each week.   I still look the same as I did when I opened it about 3 years back.  No fatter not thinner.

I think the important thing is to note that its what I have going on in my work life that decides how much I get in the gym

Maybe I'll book 3 or 4 and see how it goes.

I've worked 72-84 hrs the last couple months and kept my fitness level up. Diet and sleep are like 80% of most people's goals, lifting is like the other 20%.

You just have to learn and maximize efficiency in everything. I'm in insanely good shape but haven't exercised more than 3 days a week all year. It's all about making the most of everything inside and outside the gym.

+1 It doesn't matter how much effort you put into the gym if you don't have your necessary food intake down pat. I can tell you from experience years of working out, sometimes hardcore, my body never really changed because I knew nothing about the food I was putting into my body. If you don't know much about working out, maybe a personal trainer can have some benefit. But I don't see how they can offer motivation if you aren't really motivated to begin with.

In a nutshell^ +2- Some people go to the gym because they think they can eat more. Thats a sad reason.  Its probably 75% diet 25% exercise. While both are important the old saying "you are what you eat" is true.  I dont care how many situps you do, if your not eating right you wont have a 6 pack unless its one you want to drink!

I hear this a lot, but honestly if I go to the gym 3 x a week I can eat and drink some beer and still do ok ... if I dont go to the gym I can try eating less but not much difference.  The conclusion for me is its 60 percent gym/ 40 % diet

[cheap_lifts]

Jumping in here as someone with almost 20 years in the fitness industry (mostly as a collegiate strength coach, now running a sports performance/fitness center.

Lots of great info on here, in fact nothing that I have any objections to, which is more than I can say in any fitness site's forum that I have read/commented on in the past.

I believe that hiring even a $200/hr personal trainer is worth it, IF it is the only path to improvement. IMO all this saving is worthless without the health to reap the benefits from. The question that you need to ask yourself is what do you need to get you where you want to be? The cost worth every penny if it gets the results you want.
If you are a complete beginner, and/or want someone to talk with during your sessions, maybe a personal trainer is the way to go. Want to be with a big group and enjoy the social/competitive aspect of working out? Maybe group classes is best. Just need a little direction and want to be held accountable? Maybe Lagom's situation of a higher monthly membership but with coaching (personally my belief of the most value and the way I run things at my gym) is the way to go. Totally self sufficient? You can either rent the equipment (which is what you are doing with any typical gym membership) or buy it for a home gym.

As mentioned in other posts, as with a lot of other services, when choosing where your fitness spending is going, be slow to hire and quick to fire. Some red flags to look out for in my opinion:
-Any trainer that talks about how great they are/what they offer UNLESS it is related to how it's going to help you (YOU are the customer, almost everything should be about YOU)
-Any trainer that promises quick results. I know it sucks, but fitness is a process. It takes dedication and commitment. To use fat loss as an example, losing ten pounds in a month for anyone other than extremely obese individuals is not only unlikely, it is dangerous.
-Any initiation/cancellation fee. A gym that has these are more interested in making money than serving their customers
-Any long term contracts initiated by them. Year long contracts that get you a better deal (after the gym has been tried out for a few months) is ok, as long as it is your decision.

There are more fitness options than even I know about (and it's my job to know about them). The key is to find what consistently gets you closer to your goals.

[pudding]

Jumping in here as someone with almost 20 years in the fitness industry (mostly as a collegiate strength coach, now running a sports performance/fitness center.

Lots of great info on here, in fact nothing that I have any objections to, which is more than I can say in any fitness site's forum that I have read/commented on in the past.

I believe that hiring even a $200/hr personal trainer is worth it, IF it is the only path to improvement. IMO all this saving is worthless without the health to reap the benefits from. The question that you need to ask yourself is what do you need to get you where you want to be? The cost worth every penny if it gets the results you want.
If you are a complete beginner, and/or want someone to talk with during your sessions, maybe a personal trainer is the way to go. Want to be with a big group and enjoy the social/competitive aspect of working out? Maybe group classes is best. Just need a little direction and want to be held accountable? Maybe Lagom's situation of a higher monthly membership but with coaching (personally my belief of the most value and the way I run things at my gym) is the way to go. Totally self sufficient? You can either rent the equipment (which is what you are doing with any typical gym membership) or buy it for a home gym.

As mentioned in other posts, as with a lot of other services, when choosing where your fitness spending is going, be slow to hire and quick to fire. Some red flags to look out for in my opinion:
-Any trainer that talks about how great they are/what they offer UNLESS it is related to how it's going to help you (YOU are the customer, almost everything should be about YOU)
-Any trainer that promises quick results. I know it sucks, but fitness is a process. It takes dedication and commitment. To use fat loss as an example, losing ten pounds in a month for anyone other than extremely obese individuals is not only unlikely, it is dangerous.
-Any initiation/cancellation fee. A gym that has these are more interested in making money than serving their customers
-Any long term contracts initiated by them. Year long contracts that get you a better deal (after the gym has been tried out for a few months) is ok, as long as it is your decision.

There are more fitness options than even I know about (and it's my job to know about them). The key is to find what consistently gets you closer to your goals.

I think I fall into the category of someone who knows his way around the gym and has a pretty good foundation, but has neglected the gym for a while and got a bit fat.

I've identified that my situation has come to be due to been working a lot!  and not going to the gym.  I'm on staycation now and I've been stepping up my working out with pretty good results. I don't think I'll have to work as intensely from now on.

So I decided against hiring the trainer for now.  I went to check out a boxing and muay thai gym close by to where I live.. first impression was good,

I like the idea of fitness, learning fighting skills and a group class. Plus one month of classes costs the same as the trainer for an hour and a half, so good value.

[MrsDinero]

I was working out with a personal trainer while I was pregnant and plan to start back up again.  I don't see having a personal trainer as facepunch worthy so long as you are working towards your goal and doing your best to eat healthy.  I loathe lifting weights.  On my own I would rather just run and run and cycle and run.  When I work with my personal trainers we focus on weights and the things I would much rather avoid.  It has helped me get in better shape.

[marty998]

My gym holds a variety of classes for full members - spin, aqua, boxing, cross fit as well as yoga and pilates.

I don't usually get to go to the classes apart from spin on the weekends because they are mostly during the day during the week, but I had a day off yesterday, so thought I would try out the pump weights class.

Should have been an easy hour of lifting light barbells up and down to music. Or so I thought.

The instructor was helpful.. I said I'd never done weights before and she said it's best to start off with the lightest 2.5kg plates on each end. I wasn't too embarrassed about this, as the others in the class had the same weights on their bars.

10 minutes in I start thinking, hey this is pretty good. Warm up finished and the 20 others in the class (all women) start throwing on more weights... double or even triple what they started with.

I carry on... slightly out of time with everyone else, but still trying to keep up as best as I can but about 40 minutes in my arms gave out.

We then had to do pushups.

Now if any of you have tried to do pushups with exhausted arms.... you just end up flat on your face. The lady next to me looked like she could go all day. I was gasping for breath and Julie the instructor says I can go for spell on the bike to give my poor arms a rest.

It gives me a little time to notice that all of the women have incredibly toned muscles... maybe only 1 or 2 of them you'd say had a really fit body, the rest were your typical average types. I just want to hand in my man card.

At the end I rejoin everyone on the floor for the final routine... cannot lift the bar over my head anymore. The ladies finish strong as you'd expect. I got talking with a couple of them after the class...one said she brought her husband a month ago... he didn't make it to the end either and has not wanted to return since!

However, I might return on Sunday. I guess I just want hot arms, whatever the initial embarrassment.

[cheap_lifts]

Jumping in here as someone with almost 20 years in the fitness industry (mostly as a collegiate strength coach, now running a sports performance/fitness center.

Lots of great info on here, in fact nothing that I have any objections to, which is more than I can say in any fitness site's forum that I have read/commented on in the past.

I believe that hiring even a $200/hr personal trainer is worth it, IF it is the only path to improvement. IMO all this saving is worthless without the health to reap the benefits from. The question that you need to ask yourself is what do you need to get you where you want to be? The cost worth every penny if it gets the results you want.
If you are a complete beginner, and/or want someone to talk with during your sessions, maybe a personal trainer is the way to go. Want to be with a big group and enjoy the social/competitive aspect of working out? Maybe group classes is best. Just need a little direction and want to be held accountable? Maybe Lagom's situation of a higher monthly membership but with coaching (personally my belief of the most value and the way I run things at my gym) is the way to go. Totally self sufficient? You can either rent the equipment (which is what you are doing with any typical gym membership) or buy it for a home gym.

As mentioned in other posts, as with a lot of other services, when choosing where your fitness spending is going, be slow to hire and quick to fire. Some red flags to look out for in my opinion:
-Any trainer that talks about how great they are/what they offer UNLESS it is related to how it's going to help you (YOU are the customer, almost everything should be about YOU)
-Any trainer that promises quick results. I know it sucks, but fitness is a process. It takes dedication and commitment. To use fat loss as an example, losing ten pounds in a month for anyone other than extremely obese individuals is not only unlikely, it is dangerous.
-Any initiation/cancellation fee. A gym that has these are more interested in making money than serving their customers
-Any long term contracts initiated by them. Year long contracts that get you a better deal (after the gym has been tried out for a few months) is ok, as long as it is your decision.

There are more fitness options than even I know about (and it's my job to know about them). The key is to find what consistently gets you closer to your goals.

I think I fall into the category of someone who knows his way around the gym and has a pretty good foundation, but has neglected the gym for a while and got a bit fat.

I've identified that my situation has come to be due to been working a lot!  and not going to the gym.  I'm on staycation now and I've been stepping up my working out with pretty good results. I don't think I'll have to work as intensely from now on.

So I decided against hiring the trainer for now.  I went to check out a boxing and muay thai gym close by to where I live.. first impression was good,

I like the idea of fitness, learning fighting skills and a group class. Plus one month of classes costs the same as the trainer for an hour and a half, so good value.

Awesome to hear! Whatever continues to get you moving and enjoying life. As a wise fish once said "just keep swimming"