Having a knowledgeable trainer

bkmuscledad

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If you're someone who's always worked out on your own, and have made up your own workouts from researching workout sites and recommendations from various sources, there's a huge difference when you have someone guiding you who really knows what he's/she's talking about.
I recently have begun working with a new trainer, and I'm feeling results faster, and in ways that I didn't think possible. Even though the weights I'm using with him are often lighter than what I was lifting by myself, my muscles are being activated many times greater.
I know finding a good trainer is like trying to find a good doctor, but if you can find one, you will progress faster than you can imagine.
This brings up a good question for those who have been working out for a while and may know better:
How do you know a good, knowledgeable trainer vs one who just has the title, and isn't so effective?
Here's how I know about my trainer. I spend a lot of time at the gym, and in doing so, have spent considerable time watching the trainers. Some are employees of the gym, and some are private. I watched how they interact with their various clients, and also look at the spectrum of their clients. One stood out, because I saw him customizing workouts for people from all levels of fitness, from serious body builders, to housewives, to elderly and handicapped. I watched him listen to them. He himself is a perfect physical specimen. We chatted, we discussed his training and schooling. He also teaches karate and nutrition. The ultimate proof, however, has been the results in strength, endurance and flexibility I've gained.
I had avoided a trainer for a long time because I figured I could do it myself with good research and consistent hard work. I now realize that I would be much further along by now if I had been more open to the idea sooner.
Does anyone have any thoughts or experience on this subject?
 

Plasticroad1

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I know we've messaged before so you might remember a little bit of our conversation.

I hired trainer after trainer for years. I never got the results I wanted. I was always given a workout plan and macro plan and I followed them to a T. But the results didn't show. I finally found someone that taught me the HOW and the WHY behind what he was teaching me. He told me WHY he picked the different exercises for me. He talked me through how my macro nutrients were important and why he selected those numbers. He answered my questions whenever I had them.

What do you know - I got results!

I'm not a trainer MYSELF and I love doing the same for people. Everyone's plan should be different and customized to their own specific needs and desires for change. I have a wide array of clients all wanting different results. I work with all of them over text, email, and facebook to craft plans for them to get maximum results!
 
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bkmuscledad

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I know we've messaged before so you might remember a little bit of our conversation.

I hired trainer after trainer for years. I never got the results I wanted. I was always given a workout plan and macro plan and I followed them to a T. But the results didn't show. I finally found someone that taught me the HOW and the WHY behind what he was teaching me. He told me WHY he picked the different exercises for me. He talked me through how my macro nutrients were important and why he selected those numbers. He answered my questions whenever I had them.

What do you know - I got results!

I'm not a trainer MYSELF and I love doing the same for people. Everyone's plan should be different and customized to their own specific needs and desires for change. I have a wide array of clients all wanting different results. I work with all of them over text, email, and facebook to craft plans for them to get maximum results!
Of course I remember our conversations, J. I appreciate your comments here, and it's great that you've taken that gift and pass it forward to others. I'm sure it must be very fulfilling to see a client get excited over his or her results and transformation. People often struggle and give up because of frustration and lack of direction. I wasn't giving up no matter what, but I needed the help to get me to the next level. I feel that I've made more progress in the short time with him than in all the previous months on my own. I told him so, but he corrected me, and he said that I provided an excellent foundation from which to build going forward. That was also encouraging, knowing that it all that effort wasn't wasted.
 
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Stratavos

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I'm familiar with having trainers help occasionally, but being part of the working poor I certainly can't afford one consistently. It's akin to having a coach for sports, their outside perspective and knowledge of the exercises/sports is always helpful, especially when they know what they're doing.

Plus, when you've shared your goals with them, they often can think of other parts and exercises that you were neglecting that can help you get to your goals in just as much time, or even sooner :D
 

bkmuscledad

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I'm familiar with having trainers help occasionally, but being part of the working poor I certainly can't afford one consistently. It's akin to having a coach for sports, their outside perspective and knowledge of the exercises/sports is always helpful, especially when they know what they're doing.

Plus, when you've shared your goals with them, they often can think of other parts and exercises that you were neglecting that can help you get to your goals in just as much time, or even sooner :D
Cost, as in all things, is definitely an issue. I found that with my guy, by discussing strict budget limits at the first conversation, he was able to come up with a solution that worked well for me.
 

MisterB

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I recently have begun working with a new trainer, and I'm feeling results faster, and in ways that I didn't think possible. Even though the weights I'm using with him are often lighter than what I was lifting by myself, my muscles are being activated many times greater.

Ding ding ding--we have a winner. You've discovered big body-building secret--quality over quantity. Correct form is crucial to maximizing your lifting results. Every Time. Once you master the correct form for a given exercise, weight increases will come. And then you'll be pounding out the increased weights with correct form. And maximizing the effects on your body. And as a result, you blow up with muscle; just as you state here. It really is that simple.

Couple this revelation with good nutrition, hydration and sleep, and your body will respond. Like crazy. You know it now @bkmuscledad. Cuz your mirror doesn't lie, eh? Congrats to you!
 
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bkmuscledad

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Ding ding ding--we have a winner. You've discovered big body-building secret--quality over quantity. Correct form is crucial to maximizing your lifting results. Every Time. Once you master the correct form for a given exercise, weight increases will come. And then you'll be pounding out the increased weights with correct form. And maximizing the effects on your body. And as a result, you blow up with muscle; just as you state here. It really is that simple.

Couple this revelation with good nutrition, hydration and sleep, and your body will respond. Like crazy. You know it now @bkmuscledad. Cuz your mirror doesn't lie, eh? Congrats to you!
Thanks for the words, Bro, and the encouragement. Looking forward to tomorrow!
 
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There is value in a trainer. The only stipulation being that they can teach you something you don’t already know. People who pay trainers who often don’t know much more than they do are simply paying a friend to work out with half the time or having someone make sure they show up. But if that’s what it takes to get them to the gym than so be it. Will your progress be faster with a trainer? With a good one possibly yes. Do you need one to make gains if you focus on form and technique and make a point of learning how your body works, how to eat, what to eat, and how to move... no.
 

bkmuscledad

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There is value in a trainer. The only stipulation being that they can teach you something you don’t already know. People who pay trainers who often don’t know much more than they do are simply paying a friend to work out with half the time or having someone make sure they show up. But if that’s what it takes to get them to the gym than so be it. Will your progress be faster with a trainer? With a good one possibly yes. Do you need one to make gains if you focus on form and technique and make a point of learning how your body works, how to eat, what to eat, and how to move... no.
I agree with what you say about the difference between a good, effective trainer, and someone who's just there. I even mentioned that in my opening post. However I don't know if I agree entirely, @hung9thick , about the value once you've found one. Many guys THINK they know how their body works, and THINK they know how to move, but just think about all the voluminous information that's out there on the internet and in magazines, and is being said at the gym or in the supplement store, some of it good and some of it Bro-science. It's like trying to diagnose an illness by yourself by reading WebMD. For example, I made some great improvements on my own, doing just common sense things, but I know that I'm limited when it comes to moving further. I think if you're lucky enough to find an effective, knowledgeable trainer, it's definitely an asset. Like I said, in the short time I've been with him, having made just some minor adjustments, I've seen a marked difference.
 
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