Trainers at my gym

B

Boybert

Cathlete
So DH and I went to the gym this morning. While I was doing my free weights thing I was sort of watching this one trainer out of the corner of my eye work with this guy. The trainer had him doing a bench press movement on the stability ball. I noticed the trainer had him going at warp speed and kept saying "good form" to him. I had two thoughts...the form was not controlled at all and it seemed impossible for him to be getting anything out of that at the speed he was going. Now granted I'm no trainer but I'd like to think I learned a thing or two from Cathe. My DH thinks they don't know how to train & are just paid to "help" people out. At our gym, anyway.

It just seems a shame to me if a lot of "trainers" are like this and so many people are getting wrong advice on how to lift safely and effectively to maximize gains. Sigh....just thought I'd share a couple of thoughts. I do know there ARE great trainers out there but I guess you really need to do your homework to find them. Have a good rest of your day everyone.


"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"

Debbie
 
Hey Debbie, have you ever thought about becoming a personal trainer? I'm sure you'd be good at it. I know your hands are full with Boybie right now, but in the future?:)

I never do a bench press on a stability ball, even with light weights. I have scoliosis and feel safer when I'm on my step bench. I have questionable bones and bad joints, which is why I take time upping my weights, and when I do, I microload. Right now, I'm working my way up to a 12-lb. db for core work, so I can progress to 75 lbs. for bb rows. I know my back can tackle the weight, but I want my core to be strong enough for it first.

Pinky
 
Pinky - hey girl! Thanks for answering. I already know you're a smart cookie w/ handling your weights ;) I think people who don't know rely on others who hopefully do know. They just don't know that the trainers don't....huh????? LOL. I think you get my crazy drift.

Funny you should mention personal training. I actually would love to pursue that when Boybie is a little older. I feel like I have learned so much already and want to know more and help others, the right way. So that would be cool, huh? A social worker turned fitness buff. Booo yah!!


"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"

Debbie
 
Funny you should mention trainers.....

I had an annoying experience at my Gym a few days ago. They do a free body age assesment there that calculates your body fat with calipers, so I had it done to see how I was progressing. Well, it has to be done by a PT, and she was sooo annoying. At my gym they totally want you to go only to them so they can make money (which is their job, I know) and discourage you from doing weights on your own or in classes. I told her I do Cathe for my weights, and she blew that off (kept saying Kevin Feedricks--after she said she knew who I was talking about). I realize you need to know what you're doing to weight train properely, but I have Cathe! I know she's going to keep seeking me out......so annoying! For all you good PT's out there, keep up the good work--I don't mean to offend, just vent my personal experience.

Kelly
 
There are a lot of people who just can't seem to believe that you can be taught good form & proper technique on a DVD. Both trainers and a lot of people out there think that in order to progress, you have to be in a gym. The problem is that in some gyms, you need not be certified or even if you are, they just take your certificate and assume you are great without ever testing your abilities. Passing the test does not a good PT make! If someone wants a PT, they really DO need to do their homework and make sure that person is qualified!

I went to a trainer years ago and he was VERY qualified. He was also very fair b/c for me, he created a routine, went through it with me for two weeks and then said "see ya" until I next contacted him to change it up. along with a very fair (almost unfair to him) price. Well, I found the Firm tapes during one of our absences and after a few months I had made dramatic changes to my body. The next time that I saw him, he gave me compliment after compliment and when I told him what I was doing, he sort of blew it off and didn't believe it was a home exercise tape that made me progress so nicely. While I realize that PT in the gym is his JOB and something that he doesn't want to knock, you have to give credit where it is due. He later apologized and said that he didn't mean to discredit my work but that he never saw someone that exercised in their living room make that much progress...he didn't even see me after a few years of Cathe ;)
 
Hi Debbie!

I agree with you and what was happening really doesn't sound right. Being an AFAA certified personal trainer myself, I would just wonder if that "trainer" was certified. I'm thinking not. To become certified, you do go through quite a bit of training and the first thing you learn about is SAFETY! I think a lot of people call themselves trainers so it's always a good idea to check credentials and always ask for a few references before you hire someone.

I absolutely believe that those of you who have worked out with Cathe know proper form!! Cathe is impeccable about that!:)
 
As a person who has taken the two day personal trainer certification class I can personally attest to the fact that you don't really have to know much to be a personal trainer. I have been asked more than once to work as a personal trainer at the gym I work out at without any question as to whether I actually know anything about form or exercise science. Not saying this is all gyms or all trainers but some of them are not very well trained.

KIM
 
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