What's up with personal trainers ...

[bgnb]

read the other threads and thought it was all a joke ...

nope.

tossed the bowflex, started with the basics: squats, deads, bench,

got some great advice here except: go see a trainer.

Hit the local gym ... lotsa free weights and squat racks and
figure the trainers will know what to do ...

Big dude, obviously doing something right but as I tell him
that I want to concentrate on the basics, he keeps mentioning
a Bossa ball ...

I say squat, he says bossa ...

Do they get royalties from using those things???

Other questionable thing was that I want 3 (three!) exercises
to concentrate on ... he wants to put me on a program!

Including the bossa ... which may have some merit as a suppository
if he mentions it again because you know where its going to end up!

Squat, Dead-lifts, Bench Press ... what is so difficult to understand???

thanks for letting me rant ...

and no, no other gym within 35 mile radius ... will get some help
on form for basic 3 and go back home!

[Stenn]

got some great advice here except: go see a trainer.

Here's some more great advice: go see a DIFFERENT trainer.

But then, you probably already figured that one out. Sounds like the one you ran into was a one-trick pony. He was trying desperately to teach you the one thing he knew.

If you can't find someone who knows and is willing to teach you the basics, then I recommend the book, Starting Strength, by Rippetoe and Killgore. It's the best guide to the basic lifts that I know of.

[NotTooLate]

Here's some more great advice: go see a DIFFERENT trainer.

But then, you probably already figured that one out. Sounds like the one you ran into was a one-trick pony. He was trying desperately to teach you the one thing he knew.

If you can't find someone who knows and is willing to teach you the basics, then I recommend the book, Starting Strength, by Rippetoe and Killgore. It's the best guide to the basic lifts that I know of.

Here's another good book

Strength Training Anatomy by Frederic Delavier

This book has good pictures and shows the muscles (highlighted) that each exercise stresses. Proper form and special information to avoid injury are included. It's formatted in sections for easy access to work on each body part. Highly recommended.

[NuclearArms]

If the trainer is working 'for your specifc needs' fire him. Look for some else in the gym that apears to be doing things with good weight and form and see what advice they can give you.

[wide lats]

If your trainer disagrees with what you know as 100% fact drop him like a bad habit.

[ntrllftr]

If there is no gym resonably close and it's most likely difficult to change personal trainers at the same gym because of uncomfortable feelings.

Maybe just start off real light and ask other people in the gym to help spot and ask them questions. Thats how I pretty much learned also by reading tons of magazines. Just a thought.
Good luck!

[davesporty]

Can he speak English???

Look in google under "bill starr 5x5 " that is what you want.

[Drew23]

Find someone at the gym who is squatting a lot of weight. Ask for help.

[Stenn]

and no, no other gym within 35 mile radius

I just had another idea. Try calling some of those gyms that are outside your 35-mile readius and ask them if they have someone there who can teach you the basics. If so, sign up for a short-term membership, learn what you can, and then bring what you know back to your local gym. A long commute to the gym once or twice a week for a month won't kill ya. If you're lucky, one of those remote gyms will be a powerlifting gym.

[Luke Whippo]

Squat, Dead-lifts, Bench Press ... what is so difficult to understand???

and no, no other gym within 35 mile radius ... will get some help
on form for basic 3 and go back home!

thats the thing they really are difficult to learn, the squat is by far the hardest, I don't care who teaches you if your not "gifted" in that area it MAY take long? everyone squats differant, the P.T.'s are usually taught "one way" or taught squat,deads are bad, what can you do?

the internet is a good place to start, get some books, ironmind has lots, check the powerlifting/olyimpic style training info on the net, really the best teacher for me was myself on these exercises, and it took over 5years.
experiment and just doing it works really.

[lukamar]

Big dude, obviously doing something right but as I tell him
that I want to concentrate on the basics, he keeps mentioning a Bossa ball ...

First of all you should have watched the guy train a customer. Sometimes the flashy packaging pulls you in, but the toy inside has no substance.

There are a number of reasons a trainer would use a Bossa ball. One of them. is if your balance sucked and he wanted to improve that before you started lifting so you don't hurt yourself. We will never know what he was thinking but it's always easy to point a finger. Just because he uses a piece of equipment you have a mental block with, doesn't mean that piece of equipment won't help.

During your consultation, you did pay for one didn't you? Otherwise you just got some offhand free information. He may have picked up on something you said. Maybe you told him that you sometimes felt faint when you got up fast, maybe he got you to squat and then noticed your balance was not good. Maybe he doesn't have a clue. Who knows, not us, it's just expedient to blame the PT.

If you TOLD him you only wanted to do this and that, maybe the Bossa Ball thing was his way of telling you politely he didn't want to train you, because there is nothing worse than trying to teach someone that thinks they know more than you do, PT or not.

[Olie]

Here's another good book

Strength Training Anatomy by Frederic Delavier

This book has good pictures and shows the muscles (highlighted) that each exercise stresses. Proper form and special information to avoid injury are included. It's formatted in sections for easy access to work on each body part. Highly recommended.

X2.
Great book, we have it here and are on our second copy as the first wore out. exrx.net has all of the lifts with videos so learning the form can be a little easier due to references. I also second the idea of watching others and if you can, ask for some tips from the "experts". I never had a problem helping someone out and squats are one of my best form exercises.
Good luck and as Jesse always said, "Squat more!"

[ntrllftr]

There are a number of reasons a trainer would use a Bossa ball. One of them. is if your balance sucked and he wanted to improve that before you started lifting so you don't hurt yourself. We will never know what he was thinking but it's always easy to point a finger. Just because he uses a piece of equipment you have a mental block with, doesn't mean that piece of equipment won't help.
.

Wax on Wax off Danielson.
Good point, maybe go back and ask the dude if this is why he was doing the Bossa ball thing. I personally believe in just doing it but who knows what is totally correct.

[John Prophet]

I will offer one POSSIBLE explanation....but its just speculation.

the average gym trainer makes his bread and butter from training "soccer moms". Thats where the $ is because thats where the numbers are.

If that trainer is only seen working out people with free weights he can forget being approached by the soccer moms. So maybe thats why he is leading you toward the ball, lol. for whatever reason that is what is being hyped right now. People want to believe that something like laying on a ball or some other gadget will somehow get faster results. So the trainer feels he must be seen using the ball or using resistance cables or some other "shortcut"

Myself, I am a thru and thru free weight guy and I have a grand toal of 2 clients at the moment. See my point?

[jtroster]

My gym seems blessed with good trainers including one winning bodybuilder.

[Star_Rider]

What in the world is a bossa ball--is it what's known as an exercise or physio ball, or is it one of those half-sphere things you balance on?

[EYE FOR DETAIL]

What in the world is a bossa ball--is it what's known as an exercise or physio ball, or is it one of those half-shere things you balance on?

USE IT TO STRENGTHEN THE CORE

[John Prophet]

bosu http://www.bosu.com/

probably the term "bosu" gets thrown around a lot now incorrectly



side note...whenever I see 'As seen on TV" I instantly tune it out as garbage, lol

[bgnb]

well, i got a punch card so i can use the gym and a package
of three 'training' sessions ...

i will stay at the squat rack until my time is up ... trainer or
no trainer ...

As for him wanting to train me ... all i want is to learn proper
form on squats (he can just watch and see if my hips shift, back
rounds, etc etc) and correct me.

My 'thing' is that I would expect a 'trainer' to be thrilled to have
someone WANT to learn how to do it properly ... I said over and
over that the 'weight' was not important, proper form, proper form
and proper form.

I will give this guy a reasonable chance and take it from there ...

If not, long drive up the highway ...

BTW: thanks for the advise on training books! will see where I
can find them!

[John Prophet]

in this world...even with trainers, mentors, teachers...in the long run we all still basically have to teach ourselves. Even if u think about the Bible..the disciples only had Jesus with them for 3 years then they were on their own, lol

[IR45N]

bosu http://www.bosu.com/

probably the term "bosu" gets thrown around a lot now incorrectly



side note...whenever I see 'As seen on TV" I instantly tune it out as garbage, lol

FCOL! re bosu(ck). So, now you can look like you're training to be a Sea World act?! No thanks.

side note...the ASOTV food sucker; where you can keep food fresh vacuum packed for SIX YEARS (or whatever) mesmerizes me. Kind of an oxymoron item for BB'ing though. The food would be long gone in six hours.

[design2]

Here's another good book

Strength Training Anatomy by Frederic Delavier

This book has good pictures and shows the muscles (highlighted) that each exercise stresses. Proper form and special information to avoid injury are included. It's formatted in sections for easy access to work on each body part. Highly recommended.

Amen! Strength Training Anatomy is my lifting bible. Great book. For a tremendous web site that has it all, including video demos of lifting routines for all the muscles groups, this site is all you will need:

http://www.exrx.net/Exercise.html


design2

[greenamphibious]

take the money you pay for a trainer and pay your internet bill. EVERYTHING you need to know is on the WWW.

[Outdoor Girl]

Can't really help with your situation but can agree with a rant about personal trainers. There are many good ones out there and I have the utmost respect for them - they need to know a ton of information and then be able to apply it differently to a variety of clients with varying needs.

At the same time, there are a lot of bad trainers, too. At my gym some of the trainer egos are huge and anyone not training with them at that time are just in the way. I've been cut in front of for cardio and weight equipment more times than I can count. I've also cringed watching one trainer have clients do circuit training using horrible - and dangerous - form.

Thanks to those who posted some book options, much appreciated.

[NPC_Jim]

New Age Trainers.

Remember most gym hire the following.
Good looking face, don't want to scare the customer.
Good body, for many it in the genes already.
Some certification, book learned and often not correct.

I'd allways search out the guy doing something odd, but shows results. Often he had some old school method from the 50's but damn it worked.

Look for someone with a competative training level that might even be preping for a show. Watch them change their body from off to on-season.

[tolewfo]

A trainer can be great...

I see here on this board that everyone is down on them. I can credit a trainer with showing me how to lift properly, eat right and in turn I have lost over 80 lbs.

I agree that you are really the one in control of your progress but a trainer can point you in the right direction. You just have to find the right one that doesn't have a personal agenda.

Don't discount getting a good trainer because people on this board don't like them. I would encourage you to do some homework and asking a lot of people about trainers who are near you and can help you acheive your goals.

[bigcityboy]

read the other threads and thought it was all a joke ...

nope.

tossed the bowflex, started with the basics: squats, deads, bench,

got some great advice here except: go see a trainer.

Hit the local gym ... lotsa free weights and squat racks and
figure the trainers will know what to do ...

Big dude, obviously doing something right but as I tell him
that I want to concentrate on the basics, he keeps mentioning
a Bossa ball ...

I say squat, he says bossa ...

Do they get royalties from using those things???

Other questionable thing was that I want 3 (three!) exercises
to concentrate on ... he wants to put me on a program!

Including the bossa ... which may have some merit as a suppository
if he mentions it again because you know where its going to end up!

Squat, Dead-lifts, Bench Press ... what is so difficult to understand???

thanks for letting me rant ...

and no, no other gym within 35 mile radius ... will get some help
on form for basic 3 and go back home!

How long did you train with the bowflex? Can You squat olympic weights? It is very easy to hurt Yourself if You just jump in and want to 'O'lympic squat.
It involves your back your thighs your calves.
Maybe He is thinking outload, some muscle heads do this.
Do you have a foundation?

[Star_Rider]

bosu http://www.bosu.com/

probably the term "bosu" gets thrown around a lot now incorrectly

Thanks! That's what I thought, but when I Googled Bossa Ball, I got a lot of links to this GIANT outdoor trampoline game. LOL!!!

in this world...even with trainers, mentors, teachers...in the long run we all still basically have to teach ourselves. Even if u think about the Bible..the disciples only had Jesus with them for 3 years then they were on their own, lol

Well, technically that's incorrect. Jesus told the disciples he would not leave them alone but would send the Holy Spirit to help them along. Example:

John 14:25-27 (New International Version)
25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

[John Prophet]

yes, u r correct. The holy spirit is my only training partner...then again I imagine I have offended him so badly that he just waits in the car sometimes

He also told them "I will be with you always...even unto the end of the age"

[bgnb]

How long did you train with the bowflex? Can You squat olympic weights? It is very easy to hurt Yourself if You just jump in and want to 'O'lympic squat.
It involves your back your thighs your calves.
Maybe He is thinking outload, some muscle heads do this.
Do you have a foundation?

lots of years on the bowflex,

but i did emphasize NO weight on the squats ... just want proper
form so I don't hurt myself ...