£0.00
I saw a trainer in the gym last weekend - he was with a client who was deadlifting. To my horror, he wasn't even watching his client - he was looking at his phone, (possibly googling 'how to deadlift'?). The deadlift is a great exercise for building strength and mass IF done correctly - poor form in this exercise can result in some serious damage. When a client pays £30+ for an hour with a personal trainer they should expect the undivided attention of that trainer. If any of you are paying for Personal Training right now, make sure you are getting what you've paid for.
Most importantly you should be able to trust that not only does the trainer have your best interests at heart, but they know what they are doing and will put your safety above everything else.
Here are some things to look out for:
Your trainer immediately assumes your goal is to lose fat / get fit
'YAWN' - most people seeking the services of a PT will say that they want to lose weight, get fit or get stronger. But without follow up questions they are never going to understand what that means to YOU as an individual. In your mind ''getting fit'' may mean that you want to be able to kick a ball around with the kids without getting out of breath. In the mind of the PT, you want to become an olympic sprinter. BIG difference! If your PT doesn't delve into exactly what you want to achieve, and what that will mean to you they will not be able to meet your needs.
Your trainer does not take the time to find out what activities you enjoy, what you dislike and (most importantly) WHY you like/dislike these things.
If you loathe every session with every fibre of your being, then there is no way that you will maintain either the intensity or the frequency when you're training by yourself. Getting fit and maintaining a healthier lifestyle is about sustainability - if you can't sustain the effort, then any improvements will be short lived. Of course your trainer is there to push you beyond what you think you're capable of - it's what we do, but it still has to align with YOUR goals, not what your trainer thinks you need.
Your trainer keeps you on a treadmill /bike/rowing machine for most of your session.
If this is what you've asked for then fair enough - but most people can handle a treadmill without needing to pay £30 an hour to have someone watch them do it.
Your trainer doesn't progress your workouts and seems to be making it up randomly as they go along
If your training isn't progressive then you won't progress - it's as simple as that.
Your trainer is distracted and not giving you their full attention
This one is a no brainer - any trainer worth their salt will watch you when you're performing an exercise. It's why you pay them. Your safety should be the most important thing in any session - even the best trainers use trainers to help them with correct form.
Your trainer is more interested in 'cheerleading' and counting your reps than actually giving you advice and corrections on your form
If you are considering getting a personal trainer, do your research. There’s a few great ones we’ve seen and worked with but the best in our humble view is @jarethpt1996 who offers exceptional online programmes and genuinely good coaching. He is always careful to understand not only what you want to achieve but also who you are as a person and what you’re motivated by. (We’re not doing this for commission either – he’s a really fantastic coach and an all round good egg!!) If you want to learn more then head over to his Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/jarethpt1996?igsh=MWww-ZGJ1b213Z3lrYw==
Happy Training!