PT For Only Form

[gmitch321]

If you were a personal trainer and I approached you saying that I really want to do the Rippetoe's program and your only purpose would be to help with form on these compounds, would you like that? As a PT, would you rather set me up on your own program?

Thanks.

[Kiknskreem]

Don't trust some random PT to be a proficient teacher at the barbell lifts.

Buy the book and watch a lot of videos. Check out Rippetoe's forum at www.strengthmill.net.

[Mighty Matt]

Chances are, the PT would be less knowledgeable about Rippetoes than you. This being said, you would have to explain the workout and provide him/her with the information.

What you need to do is study the workout and get a gym partner to spot your lifts.

[nickmanzoni]

Chances are, the PT would be less knowledgeable about Rippetoes than you. This being said, you would have to explain the workout and provide him/her with the information.

What you need to do is study the workout and get a gym partner to spot your lifts.
What?

Like some gym rat is going to know more than a GOOD personal trainer?

This forum is going downhill fast.

[HardGainer82]

Chances are, the PT would be less knowledgeable about Rippetoes than you. This being said, you would have to explain the workout and provide him/her with the information.

What you need to do is study the workout and get a gym partner to spot your lifts.

What kind of trainers do they have where you are?

[robplaysgeetar]

What?

Like some gym rat is going to know more than a GOOD personal trainer?

This forum is going downhill fast.

Yes, but where can we find GOOD personal trainers that didn't just breeze through their certification? Just because someone has a certification doesn't mean they retained any knowledge they learned or that they have good form.

[nickmanzoni]

Yes, but where can we find GOOD personal trainers that didn't just breeze through their certification? Just because someone has a certification doesn't mean they retained any knowledge they learned or that they have good form.
You ask for experience, client testimonials, certifications are almost not important in our field IMO. I know people with ACE certs who don't know circumduction from circumcision. That being said: ask. You'll know right away if you're being sold, or if the pt is an idiot, or if they know what they're talking about.

[Kiknskreem]

You'll know right away if you're being sold, or if the pt is an idiot, or if they know what they're talking about.

People who are able to tell things like that do not need personal trainers.

OP, the program Starting Strength is based around a book whose entire purpose is to negate the need for a coach.

[hublife]

I am NOT a professional spotter.

[Kiknskreem]

I am NOT a professional spotter.

You're indignant about teaching someone the barbell lifts but you'd be willing to train someone on a bowflex if they wanted?

[nickmanzoni]

People who are able to tell things like that do not need personal trainers.

OP, the program Starting Strength is based around a book whose entire purpose is to negate the need for a coach.
I don't see your logic.


You can understand what someone means without knowing the context of a conversation. If I were to correctly tell someone how strength training can potentially cause more fat loss than cardio the following may happen:

1. the potential client will understand a different way to exercise.
2. the potential client will at least assume you're intelligent
3. the potential client will ask for more information.


At no point did I spout out numbers, was inarticulate, or unpersonable. I simply acted like a true personal trainer. And with the information comes practical use of said information, leading to an agreement towards working together.


abadiabadiabadi..... that's all folks!

[Kiknskreem]

I don't see your logic.

People obviously do not know that they are being sold right away, or the PT is competent or an idiot, as evidenced by the fact that the trainers that suck are the norm, yet manage to stay in business.

If you can "know right away that you're being sold", you're smart enough to figure things out on your own.

The book is designed to take the trainee through the lifts and the program without the need for a trainer.

[nickmanzoni]

If you can "know right away that you're being sold", you're smart enough to figure things out on your own.




I disagree. I know nothing of computers. I needed someone to come with me to pick one out. If I had gone out to by a computer without any knowledge of it, I would expect to look out for some common questions asked about computers, and expect to have similar answers at hand when given to me. If the salesman doesn't know how/ or can't answer those questions, I just won't buy. If he answers the questions, and I feel satisfied, I probably would be inclined to ask him more about the computer, and then decide to buy.

[Kiknskreem]

I disagree. I know nothing of computers. I needed someone to come with me to pick one out.

Computers ain't strength training..

[nickmanzoni]

Computers ain't strength training.
But in this day and age, just as important

[robplaysgeetar]

People who are able to tell things like that do not need personal trainers.

OP, the program Starting Strength is based around a book whose entire purpose is to negate the need for a coach.

Starting strength was written FOR coaches, not to negate a coach.

[bigred90]

Take the money you'd spend on guessing wether or not the PT knows his stuff, buy Starting Strength and a cheap video camera. Record your lifts so you can learn to coach yourself, and also post them up in the powerlifting/strongman section, they live off doing the lifts in starting strength and will be able to help you a lot.

[Kiknskreem]

Starting strength was written FOR coaches, not to negate a coach.

That would be Volume 1 which is no longer being printed nor distributed by Rippetoe.

Volume 2 is written from a trainee perspective.

[TeddyTank]

But in this day and age, just as important

http://boingboing.net/images/294168009_b25decaddf.jpg

[robplaysgeetar]

That would be Volume 1 which is no longer being printed nor distributed by Rippetoe.

Volume 2 is written from a trainee perspective.

Ahhh, I've only read parts of the original from the coaching perspective. My bad! Also been reading some Stuart Macrobert :-D. I'm finally off of the 4 day split and now am on an upper lower with 2 exercises per upper body part, and 3-4 exercises for legs so it's been a while since good old rippetoe. Also, yes, that means two exercises for arms, one bi and one tri. All the pulls and presses should help blast the rest of my body :-p.

[gmitch321]

In response to a couple of the comments;

someone said that the PT is not a professional spotter, but that is not at all what they would be doing. Proper form is one of the most important things in lifting and they would be assisting in that.


I have a question, though. Why is this Starting Strength full of so many complex lifts like the power clean, dead. Is it really safe for me to read a book and try to re-enact these dangerous movements from images, without guidance?

The gym I go to is a YMCA and there is only a handful of PTs there (I think). I doubt that the Y breeds the best trainers, but they are supposedly reputable.



So what is the verdict? Should I keep doing these complex lifts by myself (I would not be able to get anyone else) or find a PT who is probably inadequate in training these lifts?

I have the book already, and have been reading it. I guess the only other recommendation for me would be to record the lifts. Ok.

[Kiknskreem]

Why is this Starting Strength full of so many complex lifts like the power clean, dead. Is it really safe for me to read a book and try to re-enact these dangerous movements from images, without guidance?

I have the book already, and have been reading it. I guess the only other recommendation for me would be to record the lifts. Ok.

All of those issues are dealt with in the book.

[hublife]

You're indignant about teaching someone the barbell lifts but you'd be willing to train someone on a bowflex if they wanted?


Umm...I was just simply stating that I'm not a "professional spotter" I would help them with the form and what not but I'm not going to show up and have my client tell me what were doing that day. I probably wouldn't take them on as a client. I would however help them understand the program they copied off the net and teach them the form...for FREE.

Make sense?

[EMISGOD]

If you were a personal trainer and I approached you saying that I really want to do the Rippetoe's program and your only purpose would be to help with form on these compounds, would you like that? As a PT, would you rather set me up on your own program?

Thanks.

If you explained up front that coming to me was for the sole purpose to have me watch you and look for form errors, I would look over your entire proposed program, decide if it was acceptable to me (in this particular case, yes) and go forward from there.

[Kiknskreem]

Umm...I was just simply stating that I'm not a "professional spotter" I would help them with the form and what not but I'm not going to show up and have my client tell me what were doing that day.

Make sense?

No, it doesn't make sense to me.

You won't let a client dictate their own programming but you have no problem letting that same client dictate their primary training modality (in this case, bowflex)?


If I have a client who bought one of these and is excited about their new thousand dollar purchase and wants me to show them how to do it, guess what...I'm going to do it.

Isn't that letting the client tell you what you're gonna do that day?

And another example....


I'm a personal trainer but I'm a business man first. If someone wants to pay me to teach them how to use a thigh master I'm gonna do it.

So again, I fail to see why you would be so indignant about just teaching someone the lifts who is doing their own program, especially in the face of these other, contradictory statements.

[John Prophet]

think about it....some gyms dont even ALLOW deadlifting. In other gyms u cant be a fly on the wall all day long and not see anyone squat.

Ill be honest, if someone asked me to recommend a local trainer (besides myself with my powerlifting background) to teach them how to squat, bench, and dead, I wouldnt be able to recommend anyone.

as far as rippetoes etc you are almost going to have to go to a powerlifting gym to get any help.

for instance, even in a gym with some hardcore bbers, the squat and bench form will be totally different than what u need for powerlifting. I mean, what good is it going to do u to be taught by a guy who benches flat backed with his feet up on the bench and he only brings it down to about 4" off his chest?


everybody talks about "gee, youre not even a real trainer if all u do is teach people exercises". I have to strongly disagree. Sadly, most trainers CANT EVEN DO THAT MUCH...at least as far as squats and deads go.

[hublife]

No, it doesn't make sense to me.

You won't let a client dictate their own programming but you have no problem letting that same client dictate their primary training modality (in this case, bowflex)?



Isn't that letting the client tell you what you're gonna do that day?

And another example....



So again, I fail to see why you would be so indignant about just teaching someone the lifts who is doing their own program, especially in the face of these other, contradictory statements.

Both of those were in regards to a specific piece of equipment. Like I said before I would be glad to "help" someone out with teaching the form and what not. Perhaps I would work with them for a few sessions till they felt comfortable. But long term I'm not going to keep a client who wants to do a routine that is strictly of their choosing. One that i have no input on.

However, perhaps this client would be open to me implementing my knowledge in addition to their program. This I would be open to doing. I really don't see how this is so confusing.

Also just so were clear I would train a client on a bowflex. I would NOT train them on that piece of equipment EXCLUSIVELY. Much like what I've said I would implement the bowflex at their request but I'm also going to involve exercises of my choosing. Much like I would the client in this thread.

[Kiknskreem]

Fair enough.