Working out with a trainer more than once a week????

[renaissancewoman101]

Would any of you consider working out with a trainer more than once a week (like twice), or would it be too cost-prohibitive for you?

 

I enjoy my half hour workouts with my trainer and he pushes me to do more than I think I can do. I usually am hot, tired, and sore for a day or so after working out with him. I don't like longer workouts since I tire out.

 

I seem to get more out of working out with the trainer than me working out on my own. Not sure why. I get hot, sweaty and sore too on my own, but it seems working out with a trainer uses up more of my core body strength.

 

My doctor is happy that I got on an exercise regimen and says my core workouts, along with my cardio stuff (elliptical) will help with asthma and my breathing.

 

I think I would get even more out of my workouts and helping me to lose weight if I worked out with my trainer twice a week (but I am not sure how to swing the cost right now since I am not working ). Right now my mom is paying for my trainer costs and for the swimming. I pay for the gym out of my savings.

 

Did any of you find working out with a trainer twice a week, to be more beneficial than once a week? Or were you able to do it on your own?

[lemon_meringue]

I train 3 times a week with my trainer. They definitely push you to your limit. It is a bit costly, but the results are worth it.

[renaissancewoman101]

I train 3 times a week with my trainer. They definitely push you to your limit. It is a bit costly, but the results are worth it.

 

I know. I wonder if I could invest the money from my savings into working out twice a week for a short amount of time, like a few months, and see how that goes. Like I probably can accomplish more in a few months, than me working out once a week indefinitely?

[sophie274]

I know. I wonder if I could invest the money from my savings into working out twice a week for a short amount of time, like a few months, and see how that goes. Like I probably can accomplish more in a few months, than me working out once a week indefinitely?

 

The thing is, Ren, that you're trying to build a lifestyle and good life habits out of your exercise regimen. Ideally, what you're doing now will help you develop good exercising habits, a taste for an active life, and help you acquire the gym skills and knowledge and motivation to keep this up and continue to challenge yourself.

 

I know you want to see results, but I personally would never dip into my savings to pay for a personal trainer, which I consider a luxury (although a very healthy luxury for sure). Pushing yourself to the limit is great, but I believe financial security is a higher calling. You don't want to be fretting over money in the future because you wanted personal training, do you?

 

I would enjoy the once a week session for now, and consider increasing your regimen once you can comfortably do so, financially. Just make sure you pay close attention and apply the principles he uses to your own work-out. Remember how you felt when you really pushed yourself and try to take yourself that far on your own.

 

You'll get the best results, both health and appearance wise, from consistent physical activity over the course of your life, not from one high intensity period. It can help to jump start, but you're already taking swimming lessons and going from an inactive lifestyle to working out several times a week including once with a personal trainer - that's one heck of a jump start. If you stick to a good diet, you'll see results.

[renaissancewoman101]

Sophie, you are right. I have a hard time remembering all we do in our workouts, so when I try to replicate it on my own, sometimes I am not doing it all right. I wish I had a photographic memory. I tend to work better and remember things, the more I repeat them.

 

I am pushing myself because I feel that this is the only thing I can accomplish right now at this point in my life

 

I have been job hunting for the past few months, and I have found NOTHING!!!!

 

That makes me feel bad, like I am a loser, and that I can't accomplish anything.

[sidehop]

What about a workout partner? Once you get the basics down you can always push each other during a workout.

[renaissancewoman101]

I don't really have friends down here who would want to work out with me.

 

And I tend to stick to myself when I workout at the gym. I don't really see it as a way to socialize, more as working out and then leaving.

[pinkelephant]

you could have him write down a work out list for you. they usually happily complide. that way, you could work out on your own. have you considered joining a class? i love them because they also push me to do more than i would on my own.

[CaptainNapalm]

I personally wouldn't spend a penny on a personal trainer. Working out is just as much a mental task as it is physical. Because you're mentally not strong enough to push yourself to your ultimate potential you have to hire someone to push you and at the same time burn holes in your pockets. Train your mind and focus as hard as you train your body and you will never need a personal trainer again.

[alli]

What about a workout partner? Once you get the basics down you can always push each other during a workout.

 

I was going to suggest this as well, but I saw your post that your friends aren't into it. I can see that happening. At my old job, they all thought I was a health & fitness freak because I guess in comparison to them I am. But at my current job in the military, I'd say I'm just "in shape" & eat moderately healthy, nothing outstandingly different or superhuman. You probably won't have any luck convincing a friend to get in shape with you. People get pretty stuck in their ways & if they don't want to work out, you'll never get them to do that!!

 

I also don't really talk to people at the gym either. Maybe you could enroll in a fitness class? Not every gym has classes, but a lot of them do. If the gym you are currently in doesn't offer classes (ie spin class, abs focused workout, etc) maybe consider switching to a gym that does after your contract with your personal trainer expires. But a class (mostly the peer pressure) will keep you pushing yourself beyond your comfort limit, where you would normally rest if you were alone. Minus the cost of a personal trainer. Plus, you might have a better chance of getting to know other women at the gym & find a workout buddy if you all repeatedly go to the same, smallish class & get to know each other over time.

[sophie274]

Sophie, you are right. I have a hard time remembering all we do in our workouts, so when I try to replicate it on my own, sometimes I am not doing it all right. I wish I had a photographic memory. I tend to work better and remember things, the more I repeat them.

 

I am pushing myself because I feel that this is the only thing I can accomplish right now at this point in my life

 

I have been job hunting for the past few months, and I have found NOTHING!!!!

 

That makes me feel bad, like I am a loser, and that I can't accomplish anything.

 

You're not a loser, Ren. There are so many people who have had trouble finding work these past few years. It's really not a reflection of your value as a person. I know a ton of of people who have been laid off or who have been unable to find work after graduating from college.

 

And I think it's great that your work-outs give you a sense of personal accomplishment - they should! You're doing so well. Just think, just a month ago (I think) you weren't working out at all, and now you're swimming and doing personal training and getting in some exercise more days than not! That's fantastic. I think you are right to push yourself, but you also have to have realistic expectations, otherwise you are setting yourself up for failure. And you need to keep sight of the long-term goals, which I think are a healthy lifestyle and financial stability, and not compromise them for short-term results.

 

Why don't you ask him if he can write down your exercise regimen on a card for you? I'm sure he'd be happy to do that. A lot of my friends who are very fit keep notebooks with logs of their daily exercise, details such as weights and reps for weightlifting, that kind of thing. I think it's a great way to keep track of your improvements and to job your memory if you're trying to recreate a work-out. You can bring that notebook along to the sessions with the PT, and when you rest write down what's been done (or you can ask him if he would mind jotting things done for you - I'm sure he wouldn't!). You can also write down what you do without him and show it to him so that he can keep up with your progress or make suggestions to you.

 

And I think a personal trainer helps make you mentally strong and teach you how to feel ok pushing yourself. It's very helpful for me to have someone cheering me on and giving me confidence and showing me what I can do. I like the extra help having a teacher or PT gives you.

[renaissancewoman101]

Sophie, thanks for the reassurance. I do like having a personal trainer pushing me on and helping me do it the correct way so that I don't hurt myself. Also, I am learning stuff that eventually, down the road, I can do on my own when I decide NOT to have a personal trainer anymore.

 

I will email him (he always encourages me to email him with questions between workouts, if I have any), about maybe giving me written instructions on what we have been doing. He did give me a handout with some of the core routine that we did (and that he wants me to do in the morning when I get up), and I have been doing them faithfully most mornings.

 

Right now the biggest obstacle to my healthy goals, is probably my eating habits. I am slowly trying to change them. It's not easy, but baby steps are the way for me to go.

 

Yes, I feel like a failure that I lost my job and haven't had any luck in finding anything, but, in a way, it has allowed me the time to improve on parts of my life.

 

For example:

 

1) I am taking care of my health now aka working out, exercising most days.

 

2) I am taking care of some health issues I have (sleep apnea issues and other health-related things).

 

3) I am actually LESS stressed than I used to be.

 

4) I am starting to go out of my circle a bit (Just tonight, I went to a Yelp party and met some cool people).

[itsallgrand]

I think you've got the fitness bug. I'm so excited for you!

 

Slow n' steady, yup. You've got all this motivation rarin' now; if you focus in on learning about nutrition and eating and applying that....there will be no stopping you.

 

p.s. I saw that pic of you with those jeans and you are looking so shapely, Ren! Congrats, there is progress going on there for sure even if you haven't seen your weight go down just yet.

[renaissancewoman101]

I also don't really talk to people at the gym either. Maybe you could enroll in a fitness class? Not every gym has classes, but a lot of them do. If the gym you are currently in doesn't offer classes (ie spin class, abs focused workout, etc) maybe consider switching to a gym that does after your contract with your personal trainer expires. But a class (mostly the peer pressure) will keep you pushing yourself beyond your comfort limit, where you would normally rest if you were alone. Minus the cost of a personal trainer. Plus, you might have a better chance of getting to know other women at the gym & find a workout buddy if you all repeatedly go to the same, smallish class & get to know each other over time.

 

My gym DOES have fitness classes (yoga, bosu, spin, etc). I know i should check out the fitness classes, but I have a bad habit of working out when I want to. I also feel weird when I work out with a big group of people. I guess that is my hermitlike personality coming out.

 

I should give one of the yoga classes a try.

[renaissancewoman101]

I think you've got the fitness bug. I'm so excited for you!

 

Slow n' steady, yup. You've got all this motivation rarin' now; if you focus in on learning about nutrition and eating and applying that....there will be no stopping you.

 

p.s. I saw that pic of you with those jeans and you are looking so shapely, Ren! Congrats, there is progress going on there for sure even if you haven't seen your weight go down just yet.

 

thanks!

 

I'm just happy I can fit in things now, even pants and capris that only a few months ago, I couldn't even button

 

I know I am toning up and losing some weight.