To hire PT or not?

[tazui1982]

Hi,
I need second opinion hiring a PT to motivate me and most importantly someone to make sure that I'm squatting and deadlifting with good technique. I'm currently in VIetnam and my currently gym is offering me 50 sessions with PT at $1100. I've been training consitently for 2 years and can bench a bit. I haven't squatted and deadlifted for a few years because due to incorrect techniques, as least that's what I suspect, always give me bad lower back pains when I pass 250 lbs for squat and 300 lbs for deadlift. However, I want to do them again as part of my strength building and endurance. I did front squats a bit 2 weeks ago and pulled a tight muscle on my lower back, that's why I decided to ask a PT to take a look at my lower back and form in general. Of course, he critised the form and said that whatever I've been doing it's all wrong.
THey gave me 1 demo session for free and PT was kinda motivational, but I didn't like the fact that he was making me squat 4x12 reps at my max, same went for bench and I kinda feel overworked a little bit.
Anyway, should I hire a PT? WHat do you guys think? Or should I stick to my normal routine, which looks like this:

Mon: Bench press (190lb 4 x 10), dumbell press (65lbs 4 x 8), triceps (20 mins cardio post work out)
Tues: Swimming for 40 mins
Wed: Back, rowing, Lat pull down, pull ups, chin ups
THu: Swimming
Friday: Leg Press and OHP (110 lbs 4 x 6) and lat raises.
Sat: Rest or Swimming depending on my mood
Sun; Rest


I feel like I've stalled because most of my lifts are not increasing. I put on a bit of weight but feel OK in general, no mood swings or tiredness. But after 1 demo session with PT i feel like overan by truck. Not a great thing in my opinion.

ANyway, please advise if I should hire a PT at 1100 USD for 50 sessions or should i find my own source of motivation to keep pushing forward.

[mtpockets]

Youtube is a great resource, and it's free..

[BromanianDL]

post a form video of your lifts.

[drudixon]

Post your videos to YouTube and share here. Lots of great coaching on technique to help you.

No on PT

[weiss1967]

If you want to hire PT, make sure this is someone who actually lifts, big strong dude you would like to learn from. It has to be male, women cannot coach men, pathologically. Most PTs I came across are only good for total newbie to show them some basic stuff. Some of them have wrong ideas on "correct form" because they themselves never lift anything more than pink dumbbells. 50 sessions is too much, it is not educational. If you have self-discipline to train on your own and still want to hire PT, make it 5 sessions at most.

[KidFreeze]

I also say Youtube.

[xsquid99]

Basically you don't need a PT, you need a strength training coach who trains and understands barbell movements. Most PT's these days are great at making you tired, but don't have the first clue about actually strength training with serious weight.

Unfortunately you're in Vietnam, so seeking an old school type gym filled with barbells and iron plates where you would find the right type of coach may be pretty difficult.

Alan Thrall is my go-to YouTuber for lifting movements. Link in my signature below.

[OldFartTom]

Because you're talking about buying 50 sessions in one go, I'd suggest you are REALLY sure the coach is good and what you need. Imagine getting that feeling you made a mistake in the very first session.

Can you book 2 or 3 sessions with the person first?

[tazui1982]

post a form video of your lifts.

I just started squatting like 130 lbs so ít light but I will post a video as soon as hit 200. Thanks

[tazui1982]

Because you're talking about buying 50 sessions in one go, I'd suggest you are REALLY sure the coach is good and what you need. Imagine getting that feeling you made a mistake in the very first session.

Can you book 2 or 3 sessions with the person first?

Hi, unfortunately i will have to pay for 50 sessions in advance.

[tazui1982]

Basically you don't need a PT, you need a strength training coach who trains and understands barbell movements. Most PT's these days are great at making you tired, but don't have the first clue about actually strength training with serious weight.

Unfortunately you're in Vietnam, so seeking an old school type gym filled with barbells and iron plates where you would find the right type of coach may be pretty difficult.

Alan Thrall is my go-to YouTuber for lifting movements. Link in my signature below.

Ah yeah i ve been watching his vids, great vids and great beard lol.

[OldFartTom]

Hi, unfortunately i will have to pay for 50 sessions in advance.

Why won't they let you get 2 sessions to try it first? I think that's a big red-flag right there.
Save your money

[Garage Rat]

Yes certainly educate yourself at least with basic technique issues first.
Define your goal with your training.
Is it pure strength,bodybuilding ,some of both?
If you get a trainer make sure as mentioned they are themselves educated on what they are doing.
If your trying to get stronger you may want more of a strength coach than bodybuilder.
If your just after technique issues it shouldn't take fifty sessions maybe five to ten to get you in the right direction.
Motivation that is something that is personal to each individual in inspires them.
Making strength gains can be inspiring and also getting more developed with your physique can do the same.
You need to find or know what your motivation is or you will probably just stay as you are.
Have some goals.

[xsquid99]

I just started squatting like 130 lbs so ít light but I will post a video as soon as hit 200. Thanks

Why would you wait until you're lifting more to post a form video? Don't wait. Just because you're not lifting very much is no reason to delay fixing any potential issues, that's completely asinine.

[NorwichGrad]

It sounds like your goal is to increase your back squat and deadlift.

You don't need a PT for that. It's the information age. Don't be afraid to use existing technology.

Posting vid here would be a good start. Then take it from there.

[sunsean]

I agree with everyone else that a PT isn't really necessary. In today's world all the information you could ever need is at your fingertips.

That said, $22/session for PT is actually very cheap compared to US prices. Not saying you should do it, though, that doesn't mean it's good or worth it. IMO the real value of a PT isn't the information they provide, but some people do benefit from having someone stand over them pushing them through the workout. It can be a good way to jump start fitness for someone who is struggling to motivate themselves.

[Farley1324]

I just started squatting like 130 lbs so ít light but I will post a video as soon as hit 200. Thanks

Post now.

[LJB1]

PT's can be a bad move, I had one for a while before I knew better who was a complete walter mitty fantasy seller. He actually wasted my money because what he was doing was giving me military punishment exercises so I'd feel worn out but they would do very little. He got called out because a friend of mine is a legit British army fitness instructor explained to me what he was doing. Oh I was young and nieve back then.

[tazui1982]

I agree with everyone else that a PT isn't really necessary. In today's world all the information you could ever need is at your fingertips.

That said, $22/session for PT is actually very cheap compared to US prices. Not saying you should do it, though, that doesn't mean it's good or worth it. IMO the real value of a PT isn't the information they provide, but some people do benefit from having someone stand over them pushing them through the workout. It can be a gouod way to jump start fitness for someone who is struggling to motivate themselves.

22 bux in Vietnam is like 122 bux in the US since my income is 10k usd per year. I asked my wife to join weight lifting with me and she has been an excellent spotter, hope.to go from there. I asked her, jokingly, to scream like an army drill instructor to motivate me but she thought it was weird.

[tazui1982]

Post now.

https://youtu.be/rIDthUh7eN4

Some how i think leaning forward is wrong. Please help me correct my form. Thanks

[tazui1982]

PT's can be a bad move, I had one for a while before I knew better who was a complete walter mitty fantasy seller. He actually wasted my money because what he was doing was giving me military punishment exercises so I'd feel worn out but they would do very little. He got called out because a friend of mine is a legit British army fitness instructor explained to me what he was doing. Oh I was young and nieve back then.

I had 1 demo session with PT and it was definitely more motivating than training with my wife. With that said, i was concerned because he was making me bench 4 sets x 12 reps with my 6 rep max weight. I felt a huge burn in my pecs but didnt like the fact that he didnt explain how, when and why, just kept saying keep pushing and rest for 2 mins on compound excercises. Pt himself could squat 400 lbs and bench 275 lbs so i thought it might have been a good idea.

[Farley1324]

https://youtu.be/rIDthUh7eN4

Some how i think leaning forward is wrong. Please help me correct my form. Thanks

Can you get the camera closer? You're on the right track. I wouldn't change anything with your forward lean at this time. Can't tell but maybe you aren't getting full depth, or not every rep, but at that distance and with the safety in the way it's hard to tell. Crease of hip to or below top of patella is the mark

[tazui1982]

[QUOTE=Farley1324;1591586221]Can you get the camera closer? You're on the right track. I wouldn't change anything with your forward lean at this time. Can't tell but maybe you aren't getting full depth, or not every rep, but at that distance and with the safety in the way it's hard to tell. Crease of hip to or below top of patella is the mark


Here is the closer look, please critique my squat.

https://youtu.be/K6_ut9prnH0

[dazlittle]

It has to be male, women cannot coach men, pathologically.

why?
One of the best strength coaches I have ever met is Female, and she has a long track record of training men.

[drudixon]

[QUOTE=tazui1982;1591869941]

Can you get the camera closer? You're on the right track. I wouldn't change anything with your forward lean at this time. Can't tell but maybe you aren't getting full depth, or not every rep, but at that distance and with the safety in the way it's hard to tell. Crease of hip to or below top of patella is the mark


Here is the closer look, please critique my squat.

https://youtu.be/K6_ut9prnH0

Its a good looking high bar squat. You're not going lower because you're running out of ankle. Either a) increase ankle flexion via mobility work or b) learn to sit back more. BTW your shoes suck, get weightlifting shoes if you are going to keep high bar squatting in which case option a is solved.

[Farley1324]

Here is the closer look, please critique my squat.

https://youtu.be/K6_ut9prnH0

Some of what you need is practice and repetition (video yourself and watch all working sets). Your depth is inconsistent. Some of those were to depth, some were a little bit high. Also work on the walkout, aim for three steps total to get you right where you want to be...first foot takes a step, second food a small step, first foot comes back to match and you're done taking steps.

Think about loading your hips as opposed to loading your knees, make sure your weight is centered over the middle of your foot and not up towards the balls of your feet. It's a good start.